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
2430 March 2023 — 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 not currently recruiting for ADs

  • Norfolk - closing date 28th April 2023

  • Suffolk - closing date 28th April 2023

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 2430 March 2023 + show all updates

  1. Updated to advise that MCA are recruiting for approved doctors in Isle of Skye - closing 14th April 2023 and Norfolk and Suffolk - closing dates of the 28th April 2023.

  2. Updated to advise that the MCA are recruiting for approved doctors in the Isle of Skye - closing 14th April 2023.

  3. Updated to advise that the MCA is currently recruiting for ADs in Immingham to Grimsby - closing date 13th March 2023.

  4. Updated to advising of approved doctor recruitment in Shetland, closing 31st January 2023.

  5. Updated to advise of recruitment for approved doctors in Tyne and Wear closing date 13th January 2023.

  6. Updated to advise of recruitment of approved doctors Brixham to Plymouth – closing date 16th December 2022.

  7. Updated MCA recruitment of approved doctors - Central London – closing date 24th November 2022.

  8. The MCA has updated recruitment details for Glasgow and Southampton areas - closing date 6th October 2022.

  9. The MCA is currently recruiting for approved doctors in Wales - closing date 12th September 2022

  10. MCA recruiting for approved doctors in South West Wales - closing date 5th August 2022.

  11. Updated to advise that the MCA is recruiting for approved doctors in Cornwall – St Austell to Falmouth – closing date 10th June 2022 and Isles of Scilly – closing date 10th June 2022.

  12. Updated to notify of recruitment for MCA approved doctors in Aberdeen/ Dundee - closing date 24th April 2022.

  13. Updated approved doctors recruitment in Sussex, extended to the 31st March 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  20. Removed recruitment notice for Edinburgh

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  32. Amended closing dates for recruitment in selected areas

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

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

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

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

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

  38. Updated recruitment 21st May 2019.

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

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

  41. Added Manchester Recruitment Campaign

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

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

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

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

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

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

  48. Updated AD recruitment section

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  62. Updated - Bristol area recruitment closed

  63. Doctors vacancy removed

  64. New Approved Doctor vacancy - Bristol area

  65. Added Dartmouth area to current vacancies

  66. Update - recruitment closed in London area.

  67. Update - recruitment closed in Manchester area.

  68. Updated - Southampton area recruitment closed.

  69. Oban and Lancaster/Morecambe trawls removed

  70. Closing date for London updated

  71. New Approved Doctor recruitment area added, Manchester

  72. Update to recruitment areas:; Southampton Area

  73. Closing date for Oban updated

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

  75. New date for recruitment in Orkney

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

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

  78. Updated; No recruitment campaigns at this time.

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

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

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

  82. No current recruitment campaigns

  83. Holly Head campaign closed 21 August 2015

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

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

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

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

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

  89. Updated to include recruitment in Edinburgh and Grangemouth Area

  90. Updated MSN 1822 replaced by MSN 1839

  91. MCA is not currently recruiting approved doctors.

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

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

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

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

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

  97. Colchester vacancy date extended 16 12 14

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

  99. AD vacancies updated 25 11 14

  100. AD vacancies updated (24 11 14)

  101. AD vacancies updated 12 11 14

  102. AD vacancies updated (16 10 14)

  103. AD vacancies updated (22 09 14)

  104. Update to vacancies (17 09 14)

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

  106. Deatils of new AD vacancies added

  107. MCA AD vacancies updated 26 06 14

  108. First published.

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