ICGP 2027 · GP Training Application Cycle · Ireland

The Guide to

GP Training
in Ireland

Four phases. Every ICGP deadline. One clear path.

IPreparation
IIApplication
IIISelection
IVTraining
Scroll to Explore
September 2026 Phase I: Preparation July 2027
I · Preparation
II · Application
III · Selection
IV · Training
↑ Coming Up
I
Phase I● Active Now

Preparation

September to October 2026

The months of quiet preparation: building your SJT and CPST knowledge, assembling your portfolio, and understanding the competitive landscape of Irish GP training. From May–June 2026, ICGP accepts an Expression of Interest so they can keep you updated as the process opens.

Intern & Medical Undergraduate Day
Saturday, 5 September 2026 · Hybrid
Application Part A Opens
Monday, 7 September 2026
Information Webinar (Online)
Thursday, 10 September 2026
GP Training Information Session
Saturday, 3 October 2026 · In person
Application Part A Closes
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
The SJT is the single most important factor in your application ranking. Preparing early gives you the best chance of passing.
Preparation Checklist
Progress
Download the ICGP Application Guide
Review eligibility criteria and timeline
Confirm IMC registration status
Full or provisional registration required
Research your preferred training schemes
Use the Scheme Matcher to shortlist
Register via Application Part A (ICGP Risr portal)
Deadline: Wed 7 Oct 2026 · €150 non-refundable fee
Begin SJT & CPST study plan
6–8 weeks minimum recommended
Identify and brief your referees
Give them plenty of notice
Now is the time · SJT Preparation · Ireland
Master 250+ real ICGP SJT scenarios before October
The SJT is worth 50% of your final ICGP score. Our question bank mirrors real Irish GP training exam conditions, with explanations for every option so you understand the logic, not just the answer.
🇮🇪 HSE TSS Eligible: most Irish hospitals cover the full cost
Start Free →
No credit card · 10 questions free
II
Phase II~6 months away

Application & CPST

November 2026 to January 2027
Critical: The Application Part B window is only 2 weeks. Late or incomplete submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

The critical window opens. Your ICGP SJT and CPST scores are earned here, Application Part B closes fast, and your referees must submit by early January. Precision and preparation are everything.

SJT & CPST
Wednesday 4 or Thursday 5 November 2026
Application Part B Opens
Friday, 13 November 2026
Application Part B Closes
Friday, 27 November 2026
Reference Submissions Open
Monday, 30 November 2026
Reference Submissions Close
Monday, 4 January 2027
Application Checklist
Progress
Complete SJT & CPST
Wed 4 Nov & Thu 5 Nov 2026 · SJT (~45 scenarios) and CPST (~50 SBAs)
Complete Application Part B
Open to successful SJT/CPST candidates · Fri 13 Nov – Fri 27 Nov 2026
Upload hospital experience & supporting documents
Deadline: Fri 27 Nov 2026 · IMC cert, qualifications, clinical posts
Upload all supporting documents
IMC cert, qualifications, GMC (if applicable)
Provide two BST references from supervising consultants
References must be on HSE BST template · deadline Mon 4 Jan 2027
Confirm referees have submitted
Chase them before the deadline

Never start from scratch.

A free account keeps your progress saved across every session, right up to submission day.

SJT & CPST · 4 November 2026 · Critical Gate · Ireland
500+ ICGP CPST questions. Real exam format. Detailed feedback.
The CPST is your gateway to Irish GP training interview. Fail it and the process ends here. Our 500+ question bank covers every clinical presentation at intern level, with explanations for every option, not just the correct one.
🇮🇪 HSE TSS Eligible: most Irish hospitals cover the full cost
Start Free →
No credit card · 10 questions free
"I used GP Journey's timeline and question banks to structure my entire prep. Passed SJT and CPST first attempt and got my first-choice scheme."
Dr. Aoife Murphy · Dublin, Ireland · GP Registrar 2026
III
Phase III~4 months away

Selection & Assessment

February to May 2027

The selection stage is where preparation meets performance. Successful candidates are invited to the ICGP Scenario-Based Competency Assessment (SBCA), your final opportunity to demonstrate the person behind the application. Multiple offer rounds run until all training places are filled.

Scenario-Based Competency Assessment
Wednesday 3 – Thursday 4 February 2027
Scheme Preference Selection Opens
Monday, 8 February 2027
Scheme Selection Closes
Monday, 15 February 2027
Round 1 Offers Open
Friday, 26 February – Wednesday, 31 March 2027
Round 2 Offers Open
Friday, 5 March – Tuesday, 9 March 2027
Round 3 Offers Open
Thursday, 11 March – Wednesday, 17 March 2027
Subsequent rounds until all places filled
Monday, 31 May 2027
ICGP interviews follow a structured competency-based format. Use GP Journey's AI Interview Simulator to practice scheme-specific scenarios before your interview date.
Selection Checklist
Progress
Confirm SBCA invitation via ICGP Risr portal
SBCA: Wed 3 – Thu 4 Feb 2027
Study ICGP competency framework
6 domains tested at interview
Complete 3 full AI mock SBCA sessions
Use GP Journey AI Simulator
Attend GP Journey SBCA workshop
Live sessions available
Select & rank scheme preferences (13 schemes)
Scheme selection window: Mon 8 Feb – Mon 15 Feb 2027
Accept training offer promptly
Subsequent rounds run until all places filled or Mon 31 May 2027

One account. Every mock. Every score.

Your SBCA practice sessions, competency scores, and scheme rankings, all saved so you never lose progress between sessions.

Exams Done · ICGP SBCA is Next · 3 Feb 2027 · Ireland
Master the ICGP SBCA. Know what assessors look for.
The ICGP Scenario-Based Competency Assessment (SBCA) is worth 40% of your final Irish GP training score. It uses a structured competency-based format with simulated patient scenarios. Our prep covers all 6 core domains, with real scenario practice and detailed feedback.
🇮🇪 HSE TSS Eligible: most Irish hospitals cover the full cost
Start Free →
No credit card · Try free today
IV
Phase IV~10 months away

Training Commencement

July 2027

The destination of your journey. Pre-training induction, orientation, and the first day you step into your Irish GP training practice as a GP Registrar: the beginning of everything you worked for.

Garda Clearance & Rotations Issued
~May – June 2027
~8 months
GP Training Induction Day
~Friday, 10 July 2027
~7 months
GP Training Begins ✦
~Monday, 13 July 2027
Commencement Checklist
Progress
Arrange accommodation near training practice
Allow lead time, especially for rural schemes
Review ICGP ePortfolio requirements
Portfolio begins Day 1 of training
Attend induction and orientation
Mandatory for all registrars
Update MDU / MPS medical indemnity
Confirm GP registrar cover is active

The final stretch. Stay organised.

From Garda clearance to induction day, keep your commencement checklist synced across every device, right up to 13 July 2027.

13 July 2027 · ICGP GP Training Programme
Training
Begins.
DAYS FROM TODAY
Every checklist item completed, every exam passed, every interview prepared for: it all leads here. The beginning of your career in General Practice.
Common Questions

ICGP GP Training Ireland: FAQ

The most common questions about the Irish GP training application process, answered clearly.

Application Part A for the 2027 ICGP GP training cycle opens Monday, 7 September 2026 and closes Wednesday, 7 October 2026. These dates are confirmed by the Irish College of GPs. Register via the ICGP Risr portal; a non-refundable fee of €150 applies at this stage.

The SJT takes place on Wednesday, 4 November 2026 and the CPST on Thursday, 5 November 2026. Both tests are sat online. The SJT consists of approximately 45 scenarios and is worth 50% of your overall score. The CPST consists of approximately 50 single best answer questions and is worth 10%; candidates who do not meet the required standard are removed from the process.

The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) consists of approximately 45 scenarios depicting situations a hospital doctor might encounter. It assesses professionalism, empathy, coping with pressure, and integrity, not clinical knowledge. The SJT is worth 50% of your overall ICGP application score and is sat on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

The Clinical Problem Solving Test (CPST) consists of approximately 50 single best answer questions assessing clinical knowledge at intern level. It is sat on Thursday, 5 November 2026 and is worth 10% of your overall score. The ICGP uses the Ebel criterion-referenced method to set the pass mark. Applicants who do not meet the required standard are removed from the process at this point.

The ICGP Scenario-Based Competency Assessment (SBCA) takes place Wednesday, 3 February – Thursday, 4 February 2027. It uses a structured competency-based format with simulated patient scenarios across 6 core domains and is worth 40% of your overall score. Applicants are randomly allocated to a day and time. Following the SBCA, scheme preference selection opens Monday, 8 February and closes Monday, 15 February 2027.

The ICGP GP training application fee is €150, paid at Application Part A stage via the Risr portal before Wednesday, 7 October 2026. This fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the SJT and CPST. Applicants receive confirmation by email.

Round 1 offers open Friday, 26 February 2027. Round 2 opens Friday, 5 March 2027 and Round 3 opens Thursday, 11 March 2027. Subsequent rounds continue until all training places are filled or Monday, 31 May 2027, whichever comes first. No deferrals are permitted by the HSE.

Yes. GP Journey is HSE TSS eligible, meaning most Irish hospitals will reimburse the full cost of your GP Journey subscription through the Training Support Scheme. Check with your hospital's medical education department for details on how to claim.

Yes, the dates on this page reflect the confirmed 2027 ICGP recruitment schedule as published by the Irish College of GPs. We update this page immediately if any dates change. For the most up-to-date information always check irishcollegeofgps.ie directly.

GP Journey · Ireland's GP Training Prep Platform

Everything You Need to
Pass First Time

Many doctors in Ireland have used GP Journey to prepare for the ICGP SJT, CPST and interview. Join them. Start free today, no credit card, no commitment.

SJT Question Bank
250+ real-format ICGP SJT scenarios with full explanations. Understand the logic, not just the answer.
CPST Question Bank
500+ clinical problem-solving questions at intern level. Real exam format. Detailed feedback on every option.
Interview Preparation
Competency-based interview prep covering all 6 ICGP core domains with simulated patient practice scenarios.
🇮🇪 HSE TSS Eligible: most Irish hospitals cover the full cost of GP Journey
Start Free Today →

No credit card required · Takes 60 seconds