Irish Consultant & NCHD Pay: Your Complete Relocation Guide

Who Qualifies to Work as a Doctor in Ireland

Any doctor wishing to practise in the Republic of Ireland must first register with the Medical Council of Ireland (medicalcouncil.ie). Registration is divided into several divisions relevant to internationally trained doctors:

• Trainee Specialist Division — for doctors entering approved specialist training posts (NCHD roles working towards a Certificate of Satisfactory Completion of Specialist Training, CSCST).
• Specialist Division — for doctors who already hold specialist recognition and are eligible to apply directly for consultant posts.
• General Division — for doctors working in non-specialist NCHD posts.

EU/EEA-qualified doctors generally have a more straightforward route via mutual recognition of primary medical qualifications. Non-EEA doctors (from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sudan, Egypt and elsewhere) are usually assessed via the Certificate of Experience route, verification of primary qualifications through EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) or similar, and — depending on specialty — may need to sit the PRES (Pre-Registration Examination System) exam if their qualifications are not automatically recognised.

NCHD Pay Scales: Intern to Specialist Registrar

Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) are paid on HSE consolidated pay scales, which increase incrementally with each year of service and rank. Indicative 2026 gross salary bands (always confirm current scales on hse.ie before accepting an offer):

• Intern: from roughly €39,000
• Senior House Officer (SHO): roughly €47,000–€65,000 depending on point on scale
• Registrar: roughly €67,000–€78,000
• Specialist Registrar (SpR): roughly €78,000–€92,000

On top of base pay, NCHDs typically receive significant additional earnings from rostered on-call, weekend and out-of-hours premium payments, which in busy specialties can add 30–50% to gross pay. Contracts are usually fixed-term (six or twelve months), rotating between hospitals within a hospital group as part of a structured training scheme.

The Consultant Contract and New-Entrant Pay Parity

Ireland's 2023 Consultant Contract (often called the Public Only Consultant Contract, or POCC) restored pay parity between new-entrant consultants (those appointed after 2012 on lower scales) and consultants appointed before 2012, ending a long-running pay dispute. Under this contract, new-entrant consultants moved onto a salary scale broadly matching legacy consultants, with indicative points ranging from approximately €209,915 up to €252,150 at the top of the scale, plus allowances for on-call and academic duties in teaching hospitals.

Consultants can choose between:

• Type A / Public Only Consultant Contract: full-time, exclusively public practice, generally attracting the higher end of the pay scale and priority points system.
• Legacy Type B/B* contracts: allow limited private practice on-site, held by some consultants appointed before 2023; these are being phased in favour of the new public-only model for most new appointments.

Because pay scales, allowances and contract terms are periodically renegotiated, always verify the current scale directly with the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning office or your prospective employer before signing.

Public vs Private Practice

Ireland runs a two-tier hospital system: the public HSE system (free or subsidised at point of care, funded via taxation and the Public Only Consultant Contract) and a substantial private hospital sector (Beacon, Mater Private, Blackrock Clinic, Bon Secours, and others) which pays doctors on a fee-per-service or salaried basis, often at higher effective rates but without the pension, sick pay and job security of a public HSE post.

Most internationally trained doctors build their Irish career in the public system first — completing specialist training, gaining Irish clinical experience and Medical Council specialist registration — before considering private practice or a mixed public/private career later on.

Step-by-Step: Relocating to Ireland

1. Medical Council registration: submit primary medical qualification, certificate of good standing, English language evidence (IELTS/OET if required) and verification via EPIC.
2. Secure a post: apply directly to hospital groups, via the HSE's national recruitment channels, or through a specialist healthcare recruiter such as Ava Medical, which is always free for candidates.
3. Immigration permission: non-EEA doctors typically require an employment permit (many NCHD and consultant roles are exempt from the standard permit process via the Critical Skills Employment Permit or the Doctors and Dentists exemption) and register for Irish Residence Permit (IRP, Stamp 1 or Stamp 4) on arrival.
4. Tax registration: register with Revenue for a PPS number and set up payroll (PAYE) before your first pay date.
5. Practical relocation: arrange accommodation (Dublin, Cork and Galway have the tightest rental markets), open an Irish bank account, and register with the GNIB/immigration office if required.

Cost of Living and Where to Settle

Dublin has the highest cost of living, particularly rent, with many NCHDs choosing hospital-linked accommodation where available or house-sharing in the early years. Regional hospital towns (Galway, Limerick, Cork, Waterford, the midlands and northwest) offer materially lower rents and shorter commutes, and are often actively recruiting due to rota gaps — sometimes with better work-life balance and faster progression opportunities. Budget realistically: groceries, utilities and transport broadly track Western European norms, while rent can vary two- to three-fold between Dublin city centre and regional towns.

Irish Tax Basics for Doctors

Ireland's tax system has three main components deducted via PAYE:

• Income Tax: 20% standard rate up to a threshold (indicative ~€44,000 for a single person, higher for married one-earner couples), 40% on income above that.
• Universal Social Charge (USC): a graduated charge on gross income, typically 0.5%–8% depending on income band.
• PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance): generally 4%, which also builds entitlement to Irish state benefits and pension.

Doctors relocating mid-year should review emergency tax rules with Revenue, as an unregistered PPS number can trigger higher emergency-rate deductions until sorted. Non-EEA doctors should also check double-taxation agreements with their home country.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

The most frequent relocation mistakes include: underestimating Medical Council document verification timelines (start EPIC verification early — it can take longer than expected); assuming private-sector-style pay negotiation applies to public consultant posts (scales are largely fixed nationally); not clarifying on-call and rota commitments before accepting an NCHD contract; and delaying accommodation searches in high-demand cities like Dublin and Galway.

How Ava Medical Helps

Ava Medical is a WHO-code compliant, ethical healthcare recruitment agency that places doctors into HSE and voluntary hospital posts across Ireland — always completely free for candidates. Our team supports you through Medical Council registration, document verification, contract negotiation and practical relocation logistics, so you can focus on preparing for the move rather than navigating the paperwork alone.

Frequently asked questions