Medical category of a doctor: is it important for the patient? Qualification categories of doctors Certification procedure

The category of a doctor is an important indicator of the level of his qualifications and competence. It is assigned based on theoretical training, practical skills and length of service as a medical specialist. Certification is a way to assess a doctor’s qualifications, improve them and confirm them.

Qualification categories: ascending classification

The competence of a health worker is determined during certification procedures. Assignment of a category indicates the professional growth of a doctor, contributes to his further advancement, increases prestige, and has a positive effect on salary.

In this case, the qualification is established for the main or combined position; it can be obtained in several specialties at the same time, if they are related.

Depending on the level of theoretical skills, practical skills, length of service, in medicine a classification of categories is used in ascending order:

This means that the most qualified medical category is the highest. They are usually received sequentially, but exceptions are possible. General requirements for assigning a qualification category for doctors of various specialties (therapist, emergency medical assistant, surgeon, dentist, gynecologist, neurologist, etc.) are identical and include passing tests in theory and practice, as well as an assessment of work experience.

How to get

In medicine, there are types of certifications:

• obtaining the title of “specialist” as a result of assessing knowledge in theory and practice;
• assignment of the appropriate qualification category, which is possible only after certification;
• her confirmation.

Consideration of candidates for appointment as “specialists” is carried out in institutions of postgraduate education. This is a mandatory procedure for taking up the position of a doctor.

The event is attended by students after master's degree, internship, postgraduate school, residency, if there is no certificate of “doctor-specialist”, persons who have not worked for more than 3 years in their specialty, who were not awarded a qualification within the required time frame or were denied it.

Certification of a doctor, nurse, emergency paramedic, and so on allows one to obtain a qualification category and is considered by the state as a mechanism for monitoring the quality of personnel training and services in this area. This event is considered voluntary.

Certification and recertification evaluates the competence of a medical worker and his compliance with the qualification characteristics of the position.

General list of requirements for obtaining categories 1 and 2, in addition to length of service:

• knowledge of theory;
• confident practical skills;
• application modern methods and methods of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation of patients;
• ability to use health-improving diagnostic equipment in the practiced area, analyze qualitative and quantitative performance indicators, and draw up reports;
• educational activities, improvement of practical skills, and so on.

General requirements for candidates for the highest category, in addition to work experience:

• high level of training in theory and practice;
• knowledge of interrelated disciplines;
• application of the latest methods of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation;
• use of modern health-improving diagnostic equipment in the field of practice;
• in-depth analysis of qualitative and quantitative indicators in work, drawing up reports;
• educational activities, improving one’s own skills and abilities, and so on.

Procedure for certification of medical workers

The director of the clinic is directly involved in the procedure for assigning a category to a doctor, who:

• facilitates the collection and submission of documents;
• interacts with the certification commission;
• provides information on the number of employees in a medical organization who have passed the certification procedure or are planning to do so next year;
• brings up to date the employee who is seeking to receive a category.

Documents

If a specialist is interested in conducting certification, he fills out an application 4 months before the end of the qualification period. His sample for receiving, confirming or upgrading a category is presented in the photo.

The list of documents includes copies of the diploma, work book, certificate, certificate of internship, professional training, qualification category.

The papers are sent to the commission by mail or delivered by an official.

Report

The introduction to the category report includes information about the identity of the medical worker and the institution where he works.

The report is prepared in free form, its volume does not exceed 20 pages of printed text.

If the doctor has changed jobs over the past 3 years, information is also provided from the last places. Total term downtime should not exceed 3 months. If the doctor has published works, copies of them are attached to the report for assignment of category. Attached is a list of recently researched references.

The commission sends the finished document to highly qualified personnel for review. The decision to assign a new or confirm an existing category is based on its assessment, analysis of documents and interview results.

Points

During certification, each participant is awarded points, which are taken into account when deciding to assign a category. The indicators are higher for people who participate in conferences, which are held in Russia or abroad, give lectures to colleagues or nursing staff, undergo distance learning or take part-time courses.

Points are also awarded for:

• publication of articles;
• publishing of manuals, textbooks;
• public reports at symposiums and in the media;
• dissertation defense;
• obtaining a title, awarding by government agencies.

Certification Commission

The commission conducting certification of employees of medical institutions includes:

• committee- carries out activities during breaks between meetings;
• expert group- participates in the examination and testing of a specialist.

Among the positions included in the certification commission are:

• chairman- controls the activities and distributes tasks among the members of the commission;
• deputy chairman- if necessary, performs the function of the head;
• secretary- registers documents, collects and forms materials, records assigned categories and results of the commission’s work;
• deputyI'm the secretary- during the absence of the secretary, performs his tasks.

The expert groups include doctors of related specialties, which exist in this field. For example, when receiving a category as a dentist, the participation of a periodontist, orthodontist, therapist, and pediatric dentist is required.

The purpose of the commission is to evaluate the professional skills of a medical worker and their suitability for the position held.

Validity periods

According to the rules, certification activities for assigning categories to medical workers are carried out once every 5 years. A qualification is considered valid from the moment the order on its appointment is issued. After 5 years, the category should be confirmed. Otherwise it is lost.

It is advisable for an employee to strive to obtain a higher category, but only 3 years after the issuance of the order to assign the current one.

Since 2012 and this year 2018, a number of pre-existing social benefits (preservation of the category for 1 year upon dismissal due to reduction, completely during maternity leave, child care, deferment of re-certification for 3 months in case of temporary disability, and so on) according to the current order is not taken into account.

Currently, it is possible to extend the period without a retake at the request of the chief physician before the certification commission, on which the final decision depends.

Administration medical institution may send a request to promote the doctor or deprive him of his qualifications ahead of schedule. In this case, the reason is objectively substantiated, and the commission examines the situation in the presence of a specialist. If he fails to appear without a good reason, the decision is made without a medical professional.

Upgrade and confirmation of category

The activities of the certification commission to assign a qualification category take place no later than 3 months from the moment information about the doctor is received by the committee.

Failure to comply with the requirements for documentation may result in refusal to accept it (no later than 2 weeks after receipt).

The commission agrees on the date of the examination. The expert group evaluates certification work doctors, taking into account the requirements, prepares for each review. The examination takes 2 weeks after receiving the report.

The decision of the expert group serves as an indicator of the possible result of the employee’s certification. The latter is informed of the date of the meeting, which includes an interview and testing.

The health worker survey includes theory and practice, according to the requested qualifications.

The test is passed if 70% of the answers are correct.

Certification is accompanied by the execution of a protocol, which is signed by the expert group and the chairman. The final result is recorded in the qualification sheet.

Retaking the exam is only permissible after a year. Within a week medical worker receives a document confirming promotion, confirmation of category or refusal to assign it.

Protest

After the final decision is made by the certification commission, the doctor or medical institution has the right to appeal it within a month.

To do this, write a statement justifying the reasons for disagreement and send it to the Central Commission of the Ministry of Health Russian Federation or to the body under which a certain certification commission has been formed.

Surcharge

An additional bonus to the salary of a doctor, nurse 1, 2, highest category is accrued after the decision of the certification commission on the assignment of qualifications. The specialist has the right to contact the employer to establish an additional payment to the rate.

The head of a medical institution must assign a bonus to an employee. In case of refusal, the administrative penalties: monetary fines, compensation for material damage to the employee. The manager may be removed from his position.

Bonuses for qualifications are paid throughout the validity period of the category.

How to check qualifications

It is important for the patient to know the category of the doctor providing him with medical care. The specialty and qualifications of the employee can be clarified at the reception desk; often the information is indicated on the office sign. A document confirming the data is requested from the doctor himself or the head of the medical institution.

The Ministry of Health is developing federal registers of doctors and the clinics where they work. The first contains information about the doctor’s education, specialization, position, and qualifications. This solves the question of how a person can check the category of a medical worker. However, the Ministry of Health has so far refrained from commenting on whether the information will be available to ordinary users.

What is the difference between a doctor and a doctor?

It is believed that the concepts of “doctor” and “doctor” are synonymous, which most patients do not doubt and do not see the difference. However, this is not true. A doctor is defined as a medical practitioner who has the appropriate qualifications. Doctor (even in medicine) is an academic degree that follows kmn (candidate medical sciences). At the same time, the person is characterized as a researcher, scientific worker.

Therefore, a doctor does not have to be a doctor at all, just as the latter does not have to have an academic degree, which is the main difference between the concepts.

A doctorate degree for Russia and the CIS countries is the highest scientific level. Therefore, calling a doctor “doctor” is considered unethical. It’s the same as calling any military man a “general.”

To become a doctor, a doctor must defend a dissertation that meets certain requirements. It is believed that a doctor is more of a practitioner, a doctor is a theorist.

It is the responsibility of any medical practitioner to improve their knowledge and skills. Certification is considered one of the methods of training, which has its own requirements and characteristics, based on the results of which specialists are assigned the appropriate category. Each category of doctors occupies a certain level in the hierarchy of the medical field.

Goal and objectives

Participation in the certification process is voluntary. In the process, the specialist’s personal worth, level of knowledge, practical skills, suitability for the position held, and professionalism are assessed.

Certification of doctors for a category carries with it a certain interest:

1. It's prestigious. Allows you to occupy a higher position and allows you to draw the attention of management to yourself. Quite often, the categories of doctors are indicated on signs at the entrance to their office.
2. In some cases, the highest category allows you to reduce moral or physical responsibility to the patient’s relatives. Like, if such a person could not solve the problem, then it is difficult to think what would have happened if a less experienced doctor had been in his place.
3. Material side. Medical categories doctors and promotion through the levels of the medical hierarchy allow for an increase in the basic salary.

Types of certifications

The legislation distinguishes several types of certification activities:

• assignment of the title “specialist” after determining theoretical and practical skills;
• qualification category of doctors (obtaining);
• category confirmation.

Determining the level of knowledge for the designation of a “specialist” is a mandatory step before appointment to the position of a doctor. Conducted by special commissions in postgraduate education institutions. The following candidates will be considered:

• after internship, master's degree, residency, postgraduate study, if there is no diploma "doctor-specialist";
• those who have not worked for more than 3 years in a narrow specialty;
• those who did not undergo certification in a timely manner to obtain qualifications;
• persons who are denied the opportunity to receive the second category for objective reasons.

Each doctor has the right to receive a category in several specialties at the same time, if they are related. The main requirement is work experience in the required specialization. The category of general practitioner is an exception.

Basic rules and requirements

There are second, first and highest categories of doctors. There is a rule of consistency in receiving, but there are exceptions. The requirements are discussed in the table.

Validity periods

According to the old orders, there were certain circumstances that were classified as social benefits and made it possible to extend the period of the current qualification. These included:

• pregnancy and child care under 3 years of age;
• a month after dismissal due to reduction;
• business trip;
• state of temporary disability.

The benefits are not valid at this time. Certification Commission may decide to extend the validity period at the request of the chief physician of the medical institution. If a doctor refuses to appear for the commission, his category is automatically removed after a five-year period from the date of assignment.

Documents

A report on the work done over the past few years, approved by the chief physician of the healthcare facility and the personnel department where the certified person works, is also filled out. Copies of documents on education, work history and assignment of current qualifications are also sent to the commission.

Attestation report

The introduction includes information about the identity of the doctor and the medical institution where he holds a position. The characteristics of the department, its equipment and staff structure, and the performance indicators of the department in the form of statistical data are described.

The main part consists of the following points:

• characteristics of the population undergoing treatment in the department;
• possibility of carrying out diagnostic measures;
• carried out medical work with the indicated results for specialized diseases;
• deaths over the past 3 years and their analysis;
• implementation of innovations.

The conclusion of the report consists of summarizing the results, indicating possible problems and examples of their solutions, and opportunities for improvement. If published materials are available, a copy is attached. Indicated and studied over the past few years.

Points for promotion

Each specialist receives points that are used in making decisions about qualifications. They are awarded for attending conferences, including international congresses, giving lectures to colleagues or nursing staff, distance learning with a final certificate, and taking courses.

Additional points are awarded for the following achievements:

• publishing of textbooks, manuals, monographs;
• publication of an article;
• obtaining a patent for an invention;
• presentation at symposiums with a report;
• speaking in institutions and the media;
• obtaining a title;
• dissertation defense;
• awards by public authorities.

Composition of the commission

The commission consists of a committee, whose work takes place during breaks between meetings, and a narrowly focused expert group, which directly conducts certification of a specialist (exam, testing). Both the committee and the expert group consist of persons holding the following positions:

1. The chairman, who oversees the work and divides responsibilities between the members of the commission.
2. The deputy chairman performs the functions of the chairman in full in his absence.
3. The secretary is responsible for registering incoming documents, preparing materials for the work of the commission, and recording decisions.
4. The deputy secretary replaces the secretary and performs his duties during absence.

Each expert group includes specialists from related specialties. For example, the category of dentist and its receipt/confirmation requires being in the group of a periodontist, orthodontist, pediatric dentist, or therapist.

Order of the meeting

Certification is scheduled no later than three months from the date of receipt of data about the specialist by the committee. If the data does not match the requirements for the latter, the documentation will be refused (no later than 2 weeks from the date of receipt). The secretary of the committee agrees with the chairman of the expert group of the required specialization on the timing of the examination.

Members of the expert group review the certification documents for the category, completing a review for each of them, displaying the following data:

• level of practical skills of a specialist;
• participation in social projects related to the medical field;
• availability of published materials;
• self-education of the certified person;
• compliance of knowledge and skills with the declared category of doctors.

The examination must take place within two weeks from the date of receipt of the report. The result of the review is an indicator of the possible outcome of the certification. The secretary informs the specialist of the date of the meeting, which includes an interview and testing. More than 70% of correct answers allow you to consider the test passed. The interview takes place by questioning the person being certified according to theory and practice, the knowledge of which must correspond to the requested qualification.

The meeting is accompanied by the preparation of a protocol, which is signed by the members of the expert group and the chairman. The final decision is noted on the qualification sheet. A specialist receives the right to retake the exam only after a year. Within 7 days, the certified person receives a document confirming the promotion, reduction or refusal to assign a category.

Extreme measures

The administration of the medical institution can send a request to the commission so that the doctor is deprived of qualifications or promoted ahead of schedule. In this case, documents are sent to justify the decision. The commission considers the issue in the presence of a specialist. Failure to appear without a valid reason allows a decision to be made in his absence.

Protest

From the date of the decision, the doctor or medical institution can appeal the result within a month. To do this, it is necessary to fill out an application specifying the reasons for disagreement and send it to the commission under the Ministry of Health.

Review

Thus, a doctor who has worked for 3 years in a hospital can apply to be assigned a second qualification category. The special commission makes a decision based on the results of reviewing the report on the doctor’s activities, testing and interviews. The category is valid for 5 years.

A doctor can undergo similar procedures to obtain the first qualification category - with at least 7 years of work experience, and for the highest category - with at least 10 years of experience. When passing certification, it is necessary to follow the sequence: you cannot receive the first category without first receiving the second, or the highest without assigning the first.

As a rule, doctors receive categories to receive salary bonuses in a state medical institution, to move up the career ladder (with a doctor with highest category there is always a better chance of applying for the position of head of a department) or simply to improve your own professional status.

As practice shows, the presence of a medical category does not guarantee the high competence of a doctor, but confirms his experience and compliance with certain standards of the medical community. This means that, along with others, this factor can be used as a significant argument in favor of a particular doctor.

All site materials have been checked by doctors. However, even the most reliable article does not allow us to take into account all the features of the disease in a particular person. Therefore, the information posted on our website cannot replace a visit to the doctor, but only complements it. The articles have been prepared for informational purposes and are advisory in nature. If symptoms appear, please consult a doctor.