France to Reform Foreign Doctor Certification as 3,800 Admitted in 2024

The French government plans to simplify exams for foreign-trained doctors already working in the country to address chronic hospital understaffing.

In 2024, over 3,800 foreign-trained doctors were admitted to practice in France, a 50% increase from the previous year.
Despite the increase, only 3,235 were admitted on the primary list out of 4,000 open positions, with additional candidates placed on a supplementary list.
Foreign-trained doctors, often critical to hospital operations, face challenges due to limited recognition of their responsibilities and restrictive certification processes.
The French health minister announced plans to reform the certification exam for 2025, aiming to simplify the process for those already working in French healthcare facilities.
Regional health agencies are working to allocate certified doctors to underserved areas while retaining those already in the system.