Guidance

How to become a MCA approved doctor

Find out about MCA's recruitment process for approved doctors (ADs).

From:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Published
6 May 2014
Last updated
25 February 2022 — See all updates

Overview

This guidance for doctors takes you through:

  • MCA’s general criteria for ADs
  • types of AD
  • how to apply for appointment as an AD

MCA’s recruitment system has been established in agreement with maritime employers and seafarer’s trade union organisations.

It aims to serve the seafarers working on UK vessels, and holding UK Certificates of Competency (CoCs).

MCA is currently recruiting for ADs

  • Sussex – closing date 14th March 2022
  • Middlesbrough– closing date 14th March 2022

Criteria for appointment as an AD

The appointment of Approved Doctors to carry out ENG1 seafarer medical examinations is restricted to areas where a demand for at least 50 examinations in a year has been demonstrated.

The most suitable candidate is appointed based on qualifications, experience and location.

The full recruitment procedure is detailed in ‘chapter 2 - the role of an approved doctor’, in MCA’s approved doctor’s manual.

The categories of ADs

General list doctors are:

  • available to all seafarers
  • spread over a wide geographical network
  • mainly appointed on a replacement basis

Vacancies are advertised locally using the local CCG; MCA keeps a file on those who have expressed an interest in becoming an AD. You’ll then be invited to apply to make sure of fair and open competition.

All the applications are reviewed by MCA’s chief medical adviser.

Company doctors are:

  • appointed at the request of companies with vessels on the UK flag, subject to the MCA chief medical adviser’s scrutiny of qualifications and experience
  • only able to do medicals on those employed by the shipping company
  • usually contractors to major shipping companies, or providing services to a ship management or crewing company
  • expected to provide a full occupational medical service for the shipping company

Apply to become an approved doctor

Download the application form to become an approved doctor, then send your completed application to the address on the form.

Speculative applications (meaning those not part of a recruitment process started by MCA) will be notified if a specific vacancy comes up.

The chief medical adviser will review your application, then it’ll be acknowledged by the medical administration team.

Further information

Published 6 May 2014
Last updated 25 February 2022 + show all updates

  1. Added recruitment for Sussex & Middlesbrough and removed the closed recruitment in Jersey.

  2. Updated to advise that the MCA is currently recruiting for ADs in Jersey - closing date 21st February 2022.

  3. Updated to advise of recruitment of approved doctors, in Swansea - closing date 9th September 2021.

  4. Shetland AD recruitment now closing 31st August 2021.

  5. Update to notify of recruitment for approved doctors in Shetland - closing 8th August 2021.

  6. To advise of recruitment for approved doctors in Ayr - closing 4th June 2021

  7. Removed recruitment notice for Edinburgh

  8. Update MCA is currently recruiting for approved doctors - Edinburgh - closing date 28th February 2021.

  9. Updated to advise of recruitment for approved doctors in Bristol - closing date 16 November.

  10. Updated to advise of recruitment taking place in Middlesbrough – closing date 22nd October 2020.

  11. Updated to advise of recruitment in Liverpool – closing date 2nd October 2020.

  12. Updated to advise of recruitment for approved doctors in South west Wales – closing date 30th September 2020.

  13. Updated to advise of approved doctor recruitment in London (near mainline railway stations) – closing date 30th September 2020.

  14. Update the MCA is not currently recruiting for approved doctors.

  15. Updated to advise of recruitment taking place in Lowestoft – closing date 24 July 2020.

  16. Updated MCA recruitment for approved doctors - Oban - closing date 7 July 2020.

  17. Updated to advise that recruiting for approved doctors in the Leeds area, closing 12th February 2020.

  18. Updated to advise of recruitment at Lowestoft and surrounding areas – closing date 4th October 2019.

  19. Amended closing dates for recruitment in selected areas

  20. Updated to advise of recruitment in Newlyn and Penzance – closing date 30th August 2019.

  21. Updated to advise of recruitment for Approved Doctors in Benbecula – closing date 26th July 2019.

  22. Updated recruitment for Approved Doctors in Birmingham – closing date 26th July 2019.

  23. Updated to advise of recruitment in Holyhead and Anglesey - closing date 26th July 2019.

  24. Updated recruitment for approved doctors in Exeter – closing date 19th July 2019.

  25. Updated recruitment 21st May 2019.

  26. Updated to advise of recruitment in the Aberdeen area – closing 31st March 2019.

  27. Updated to advise that MCA will be recruiting ADs in Antigua - closing 31st Jan 2019.

  28. Added Manchester Recruitment Campaign

  29. Updated page to advise MCA is recruiting ADs in Birmingham till 7th September 2018.

  30. Updated recruitment taking place in, Birmingham and Caithness till the 13th August.

  31. Updated recruitment for Blackpool and surrounding area – closing date 21 May 2018

  32. Updated recruitment, Cornwall – closing date 21 May 2018

  33. Updated approved doctors recruitment, Southampton – closing date 23 April 2018

  34. Updated to notify of recruitment taking place in Edinburgh – closing date 8 April 2018

  35. Updated AD recruitment section

  36. Updated recruitment; South Coast Devon – closing date 8 December 2017

  37. Recruitment update; Anglesey, Bangor and Holyhead area – closing date 27 October 2017

  38. Updated recruitment: Whitby - closing date 6 October 2017

  39. Updated Recruiting in Middlesbrough area – closing date 15th September 2017

  40. Updated - recruiting in Liverpool, Wirral and Chester area – closing date 6 September 2017

  41. Recruiting update; Portsmouth/Southsea area - closing date 21 July 2017

  42. Recruitment update; Horley Gatwick area - Closing Date 10 July 2017

  43. Updated recruitment; Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff and surrounding areas – closing date 21June 2017

  44. Updated recruiting in Aberdeen area - closing date 2 June 2017

  45. Updated recruiting Northern Ireland, Kilkeel and surrounding areas – Closing date 2 June 2017

  46. Updated recruiting Southampton and Surrounding Areas – Closing date 2 June 2017

  47. MCA is recruiting for ADs in St Austell Area - Closing Date 20 January 2017. Immingham vacancy is now closed.

  48. Update recruiting - Immingham Area - Closing Date 15 December 2016

  49. Updated - Bristol area recruitment closed

  50. Doctors vacancy removed

  51. New Approved Doctor vacancy - Bristol area

  52. Added Dartmouth area to current vacancies

  53. Update - recruitment closed in London area.

  54. Update - recruitment closed in Manchester area.

  55. Updated - Southampton area recruitment closed.

  56. Oban and Lancaster/Morecambe trawls removed

  57. Closing date for London updated

  58. New Approved Doctor recruitment area added, Manchester

  59. Update to recruitment areas:; Southampton Area

  60. Closing date for Oban updated

  61. Update to recruitment areas; Lancaster/ Morecambe Area - Closing Date 27 May 2016

  62. New date for recruitment in Orkney

  63. Added details of the vacancy in the Lowestoft area.

  64. Update MCA now recruiting in Glasgow Area - Closing Date 4 March 2016

  65. Updated; No recruitment campaigns at this time.

  66. Updated recruitment; Portsmouth/Southsea Area - Closing Date 27th October 2015

  67. Updated Recruitment: Mallorca to close 8th Nov 2015

  68. Update: Recruitment in Liverpool Area - Closing Date 26th October 2015

  69. No current recruitment campaigns

  70. Holly Head campaign closed 21 August 2015

  71. Trawls at Edinburgh & Grangemouth; and Ipswich now closed.

  72. Update recruitment; London - Closing Date 12 September 2015

  73. Update recruitment of approved doctors; Holyhead - Closing Date 21 August 20152015

  74. Update recruitment; Aberdeen - Closing Date 12 September 2015

  75. Updated MCA approved doctors recruitment - Ipswich - Closing Date 10 August 2015

  76. Updated to include recruitment in Edinburgh and Grangemouth Area

  77. Updated MSN 1822 replaced by MSN 1839

  78. MCA is not currently recruiting approved doctors.

  79. Update Plymouth - Closing Date 15th April 2015 with additional information; Letter to Plymouth Practicitioners 20.03.2015

  80. Updated recruitment; Isle of Wight - Closing Date 31 March 2015

  81. Updated MCA recruitment areas; Liverpool - Closing Date 31 March 2015

  82. Updated Recruiting: Pembrokeshire - Closing Date 6 March 2015

  83. Updated: Currently recruiting approved doctors in Great Yarmouth - Closing Date 6 March 2015

  84. Colchester vacancy date extended 16 12 14

  85. Recruitment campaign for Shetland added 10th December 2014. Two closed campaigns removed.

  86. AD vacancies updated 25 11 14

  87. AD vacancies updated (24 11 14)

  88. AD vacancies updated 12 11 14

  89. AD vacancies updated (16 10 14)

  90. AD vacancies updated (22 09 14)

  91. Update to vacancies (17 09 14)

  92. Updated with AD vacancy details (30/07/14)

  93. Deatils of new AD vacancies added

  94. MCA AD vacancies updated 26 06 14

  95. First published.

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