Graduates of Foreign Universities
If you obtained your medical or dental degree from a foreign university and wish to practise in Sri Lanka, you must have your degree approved by the Sri Lanka Medical Council. This section explains the degree approval process.
Your Pathway to Registration
Every graduate who has completed a degree in medicine or dentistry in a foreign university should complete the following steps to obtain registration from the Sri Lanka Medical Council. Please follow these steps as described in order to obtain registration.
Apply for Degree Approval Certificate
To obtain approval for your medical or dental degree from the Sri Lanka Medical Council you must apply online when applications are called and upload all required documents.
SLMC will assign an interview slot, and the date will be confirmed by SMS or email. Candidates who fail to attend the interview without prior permission from SLMC will not be given another slot and must reapply for degree approval at the next opportunity.
At the interview, the degree holder (applicant) should personally hand over the application for approval of the Medical/Dental degree along with the required documents.
You need to upload the original versions of all required documents listed below and submit the same at the interview. The Council may verify the certificate's authenticity directly with the university.
Documents Needed for Degree Approval
Tap a document to see what is required
Create your SLMC e-Services account to begin your online application. Your e-mail address will be your account username.
Please Note
The Sri Lanka Medical Council will not approve your Medical/Dental degree, unless all the above requirements are fulfilled. Without approval of your degree from the SLMC, you will not be able to sit for the ERPM or ERPDS, and hence will not be able to obtain registration to practise as a Medical/Dental practitioner in Sri Lanka.
If you have already submitted your application on a previous occasion but failed to be present at the interview, you need to submit a new application with the required payment. The previous application submitted shall not be valid.
If you have submitted an application but SLMC has rejected approval, you should not re-apply unless the deficiencies indicated for the rejection have been rectified.
If you fail to upload/submit clear copies of the originals of the requested supporting documents, your application shall be rejected and not invited for the interview. (The original of the documents should be submitted at the interview.)
The decision of the degree approval will be informed to you by the Sri Lanka Medical Council by email and confirmed by letter.
If the SLMC accepts your application, you are not required to register for the next available ERPM examination, although the SLMC strongly recommends that you do so.
Apply and Complete ERPM / ERPDS
Once the degree is approved, you can apply to sit for the Examination to Register to Practice Medicine (ERPM) or Examination to Register to Practice Dental Surgery (ERPDS).
This examination is prescribed in terms of Act No. 16 of 1965 and Section 29(I)(b)(ii)(cc) of the Medical Ordinance. It was previously referred to as the Act 16 Examination.
Passing the ERPM/ERPDS enables you to apply for Provisional Registration with the SLMC.
Both these examinations are conducted by the Examination Unit of the SLMC.
Examination Guidelines & Notices
Examination To Register To Practice Medicine (ERPM) In Sri Lanka Guidelines 2025
ERPM Guidelines
Important Notice: Changes to the ERPM Format
Changes to the ERPM Format — Nov 2024
The Examination For Registration To Practice Dental Surgery In Sri Lanka [ERPDS] Includes The Examination Guidelines
ERPDS Guidelines
Complains on Conduct of ERPM/ERPDS Examinations
Complaints on Conduct of ERPM/ERPDS Examinations
ERPM/ERPDS Punishments/Remedial Actions for Examination Offences
Punishments/Remedial Actions for Examination Offences
Once you complete all components of the examination, you can apply for the ERPM/ERPDS completion certificate.
Apply for Provisional Registration
Once you complete the ERPM or ERPDS, you are eligible to apply for provisional registration.
Apply for an Internship
Once you have provisional registration, you are eligible to apply for the internship with the Ministry of Health.
The ERPM and ERPDS merit lists for each internship batch would be submitted to the Ministry of Health by the Council, and published on the SLMC website.