An application for a physician's state certificate in Georgia is a written procedure whose every stage — from the list of documents to the appeal of a refusal — is defined by Articles 21, 22, 23, 28 and 10 of the Law on Medical Practice. This page describes the full trajectory of the application and explains the deadlines that keep the applicant protected.
The list of documents
Article 21 of the Law determines the basis for issuing a specialist physician's state certificate: the seeker's written application in the established form; a copy of the higher medical education diploma; a state certificate confirming completion of a postgraduate education (professional training) course in the relevant specialty — residency or an alternative postgraduate program; a recommendation from the head of the course or from the head of the institution where the seeker worked; a state certificate confirming the passing of the certification examination; a document confirming an employment relationship, if one exists; and a description of the works carried out over the last 2 years in the relevant specialty. For persons educated abroad the law establishes two separate tracks: for the first list of countries an application, a copy of the diploma and the certificate of the right to independent practice received there suffice; for the second list a postgraduate-course certificate and a certification-examination certificate are additionally required.
Examination deadlines and the silence rule
Article 22 sets the rhythm of the procedure: according to the results of the review of the submitted documents, the Council adopts a decision on issuance or refusal — no later than 2 months from the submission of the application. The results are communicated to the seeker within 10 days of the decision. The silence rule is particularly significant: where no notice of consent or refusal has been sent to the seeker within 70 days, that person has the right, upon expiry of that period, to begin the activity indicated in the application — administrative silence cannot stop an experienced physician from starting practice.
Refusal and its appeal
Article 23 cuts off the grounds of refusal: the Council may refuse where the documents do not correspond to the requirements of the law; where the seeker requests a certificate for an activity whose right has been revoked; or where the validity of a certificate is suspended and the ground of suspension has not been eliminated. In the event of refusal the Council is obliged to communicate the basis in writing. Refusal on the motive of limiting the number of subjects of independent medical practice is prohibited — no quota exists in the law. A refusal may be appealed to court in the manner established by the legislation.
The examination and the language requirement
Under Article 28 the examination is unified and standardised; it may be retaken within the following year only twice, with a 6-month interval. Article 10 regulates the language rule: knowledge of the state language is mandatory in independent medical practice in Georgia, except where a foreign specialist engages in temporary medical practice or performs one-time medical services.
Preparing the application requires three verifications. First — determining the track: with a course completed in Georgia, a first-list country or a second-list country, the list of documents differs, and an error costs time. Second — formal completeness: the application is written in the established form and every certificate is attached with the correct requisites; an incomplete package is the most frequent ground of refusal. Third — the calendar of deadlines: from the day of submission the 2-month review period begins, then the 10-day notification period, and the 70-day silence barrier upon whose expiry the right to begin practice opens. With these three verifications the application becomes procedurally protected.
For foreign physicians the precision of the Article 10 exception is particularly important: temporary and one-time services are exempt from the language requirement, but permanent independent practice is not; the level of language knowledge should be resolved at an early stage together with the application.
The practical value of the definitions
The block of definitions in the law's definitions chapter names every stage of a dentist's path. Medical practice is the professional activity of a person trained in medicine with the requisite skills and practical experience, pursuing the protection and restoration of human health by recognised medical standards. Independent medical practice is that form of the activity for whose results the person answers personally and for which a state certificate is required. Continuous professional development continues throughout the entire practice of an independent subject and pursues the maintenance of conformity with modern achievements. This chain of definitions shows the dentist that the certificate is not the end of the path — it is the beginning of a continuous professional cycle.
The fourth element of the specialty system — the list of specialties in which a subject with certain diseases is barred from working — applies to dentistry as well: health-status restrictions are verified both in choosing the specialty and throughout the practice itself.
Frequently asked questions
Below are the questions most frequently raised about the application.
Within what period is the application examined?
The Council decides no later than 2 months; the result is communicated within a further 10 days.
What if no answer arrives?
Upon the expiry of 70 days the seeker has the right to begin the activity indicated in the application.
When may a refusal occur?
For non-compliant documents, a revoked right or a suspended certificate; refusal on a numerical-quota motive is prohibited.
Is knowledge of Georgian mandatory?
Yes, for independent practice — except for temporary and one-time services.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The specialists of Legal.ge prepare certificate applications in accordance with Articles 21, 22, 23, 28 and 10 of the Law: we establish your track, complete the document package, protect the deadlines and, where a refusal must be contested, draft the court appeal. Submit a request on this page — let us begin preparing your application.