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Regarding solutions established for issues not covered in Health Professionals Registration and Licensing Directive No. 770/2013

As it is known, the Registration and Licensing of Health Professionals Directive No. 770/2013 was prepared, approved, and implemented nationwide following the request sent on April 15, 2021 (07/08/2013 E.C.). However, during the implementation process, it was observed that certain issues were not addressed by the directive.

To fill these gaps, inputs were gathered from all regions, joint forums were conducted, relevant stakeholders were involved, and feedback was obtained from various professional associations to establish proposed solutions. Accordingly, the identified gaps and their solutions are attached in a 6-page document. We request that these be implemented effective from June 08, 2022 (June 01, 2014 E.C.).

With regards, (Signature/Stamp) Ayele Teshome Gonche (Dr.) State Minister of Health

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Proposed Solutions Regarding Issues Not Addressed in Health Professional Registration, Licensing, Administration, and Control Directive No. 770/2013

1. Issuing Professional Licenses in Two Professions and Handling Work Experience

• Clinical and MPH: A professional working in a clinical field who earns an MPH can obtain professional licenses for both fields.

• General Practitioner (GP) and MPH: A GP who earns an MPH can obtain licenses for both, and will be granted the title "Public Health Specialist."

• Diploma Nurse to Health Officer (HO): A professional who was a Diploma Nurse and then earned a degree as a Health Officer and passed the competency assessment can only choose one license. If they choose the diploma, the time spent in school for the degree shall be counted as work experience.

• Health Officer to Medical Doctor (MD): A professional who was a Health Officer and then studied medicine and passed the competency assessment can only choose one license. If they choose the Health Officer license, the time spent in medical school shall count as work experience.

2. Professional Titles for Related Education

• Solution: If a professional obtains related education, since the new title is not identical to the previous one, the title should follow the established career progression levels as per the directive.

3. Professionals Returning After a Career Gap (Under or Over 10 Years)

• For Gaps Under 15 Years (Non-Clinical): PMPH, Health Education, and Environmental Health professionals with a gap of less than 15 years are not required to be assigned under supervision, but they must provide proof of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses.

• Clinical Supervision: Clinical professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Lab, Pharmacy, etc.) must be assigned under supervision in a government health facility (preferably a university hospital). The supervisor must have a higher qualification than the professional.

• Repeated Failure: A professional who graduated more than two years ago, has not worked, and has repeatedly failed the competency assessment may request an "under supervision" assignment.

Supervision Duration for Gaps of 10–15 Years:

1. No Experience: 1 year and 6 months under supervision; must pass competency exam afterward.

2. 6 months to 5 years Experience: 1 year and 4 months under supervision.

3. 5 to 10 years Experience: 1 year and 2 months under supervision.

4. 10 to 20 years Experience: 1 year under supervision.

5. Over 20 years Experience: 9 months under supervision.

6. Gaps Over 15 years: No professional license shall be issued or renewed.

Supervision Duration Table (For Gaps under 10 years):

Work Experience	Duration of Gap	Duration of Supervision
No experience	2–3 years	6 months
No experience	4–5 years	9 months
No experience	6–10 years	1 year
6 months – 5 years	2–4 years	6 months
6 months – 5 years	5–7 years	9 months
6 months – 5 years	8–10 years	1 year
5 – 10 years	3–5 years	3 months
5 – 10 years	6–8 years	6 months
5 – 10 years	9–10 years	1 year
10 – 20 years	5–7 years	3 months
10 – 20 years	7–10 years	6 months
Over 20 years	6–8 years	3 months
Over 20 years	8–10 years	6 months

4. Handling COC Passers with a Gap Over 10 Years

• Solution: Passing the COC is a prerequisite but not sufficient alone. Those with a 10–15 year gap after graduation must serve 1 year and 2 months under supervision at a university hospital. If the gap exceeds 15 years, no license is issued.

5. Foreign-Educated Professionals with No Experience

• General Practitioners (MD): 1 year under supervision.

• Other Professionals (including Dentists): 6 months under supervision.

• They must pass the competency assessment following supervision.

6. Professionals from International Organizations (WHO, UNICEF, etc.)

• Solution: Licenses shall be renewed at the Federal level (Ministry of Health) based on their professional experience.

7. Ethiopian Professionals who Worked Abroad

• Licensed Abroad: If they obtained a license in a foreign country, they must authenticate that license to receive service at the Federal level.

• Unlicensed Abroad: If they worked abroad using their Ethiopian license without obtaining a local one, their work experience must be authenticated for a one-time renewal at the Federal level.

8. Letter of Good Standing for Professionals Abroad

• Registered but no conduct record: A letter will be issued stating their registration status, but a Bold disclaimer will be added stating that conduct evidence must be obtained from their specific workplace.

• Unregistered Professionals: If they were originally assigned by the Ministry of Health (before the national assignment system ended), that assignment letter will serve as the basis for regional regulatory bodies to provide service.