This article was written by our guest writer Marina.
Congratulations, you are now approaching your final year of medical school or are about to graduate! Crazily enough, med school eventually comes to an end as well. It might feel like a never-ending period of your life and yet one day you wake up and you are suddenly done.
So with this article we want to help you if you are considering staying in Italy for your specialisation. We’ve also included an interview with a current doctor completing his residency training in Florence, after graduating from the English programme of La Sapienza University as a non-EU student.
How Do You Apply to Residency Training in Italy?
The first thing to consider regarding residency in Italy is the admission test, otherwise called Concorso SSM (Scuole di Specializzazione in Medicina), which takes place once a year (usually at the end of July) and is standardized and identical for all candidates all over Italy.
We know, we know… another test? Even after graduation?? You are probably sighing and rolling your eyes at the idea of taking another multiple choice test that might define your future (or more realistically what you’re going to be doing in the next few months). However, it is not an unachievable goal and the SSM test may seem a lot more doable compared to some of the things you went through in the past 6 years.
Let’s start with some details. First of all, the current SSM concorso has been established in 2014 and since then it has regulated residency admission for every single Specialization School in Italy (both private and public). The test closely resembles (or should we say it was freely copied from) the Spanish residency test, or MIR (Medico Interno Residente) test.
How Does the SSM Concorso Work?
The SSM includes 140 multiple choice questions, which each candidate will be able to answer on a computer screen provided by the test-administering facility. Similar to the IMAT, each correct answer is worth 1 point, unanswered questions are worth 0 points, and a wrong answer results in a loss of 0.25 points.
Your final score for the SSM is calculated by adding up the score you achieved in the test with a few extra points, called “punti curriculum”.
Here’s how punti curriculum work (updated to 2022):
You can get a total of 7 points (max) as punti curriculum. They are assigned to you based on your graduation score and your exam average. The points you can get from your graduation score are:
- 110 con lode = 2 points
- 110 = 1,5 points
- 108-109 = 1 point
- 105-107 = 0,5 points
Also, if you graduated with a research thesis you will get 0,5 points more but only if you upload your frontispiece (signed by your supervisor) while signing up for the SSM exam.
About the final exam average the punti curriculum work like this:
- from 29,5 up = 3 points
- from 29 to 29,4 = 2,5 points
- from 28,5 to 28,9 = 2 points
- from 28 to 28,4 = 1,5 points
- from 27,5 to 27,9 = 1 point
- from 27 to 27,4 = 0,5 points
So, let’s say for example, that you graduated with 110 con lode (good job, doc!) and your exam average was 29,2. That means that your final score in the Concorso SSM will be the score you achieved in the actual test + 2 points + 2,5 points (with half a point more if you uploaded your research thesis).
Hence, your final score is predominantly influenced by the score you get on the test. Yet, we all know how even 0.5 points more may make a huge difference when it comes to rankings and getting some extra points in recognition for all the hard work you may have done during med school is quite nice.
What's on the SSM Concorso?
The contents of the SSM test are quite broad, ranging from preclinical (even biochemistry topics) to strictly clinical questions, and most importantly clinically applied knowledge. Thus you may find questions about hormone receptors, genetic practical problems, but also ECGs to interpret and clinical cases to consider (e.g. picking the right procedure to perform on the patient or the right drug to administer).
AMBOSS a medical education company has created a “study guide” that outlines all of the topics that can possibly be included in the exam, which you can download as a PDF here.
In Conclusion
After this general overview of the SSM test, you need to remember that you are about to graduate med school or have just become a medical doctor, thus you have been preparing for this test for the past 6 years. And even though it all seems impossible at first, you have already gained all the skills you need to deal with the Concorso SSM.
So, do not panic unnecessarily or do not throw in the towel before giving it a chance. Take your time going through past SSM test questions and to review/study from zero the high yield topics, without losing yourself over the tiniest details.
Good luck and we hope to see you soon in the wards all over Italy!
58 thoughts on “Medical Specialty Training in Italy: A Quick Overview for Graduates”
Hello! I was wondering how difficult the SSM test is from a language perspective if you completed medical training in an English program in Italy? I.e. Even if you obtain C1 level, is the medical terminology/technical knowledge (and therefore the exam) much more challenging coming from the English-taught program?
Many thanks in advance 🙂
Hello, in my personal experience the barrier for medical terminology isn’t huge, as most of the terms are derived from latin and greek roots and will be similar enough in both languages. Of course it’s not always one for one, and there will be many cases that you will be lost. The more challenging aspect is the variety of accents, and types of patients (such as poor of hearing) you will encounter, as well as difficulty in expressing yourself in a clear and understandable way. Depending on how strong your accent is people might struggle to understand you even if you speak at a fantastic level, and I think a lot of this stems from the fact that Italians aren’t very used to being exposed to a variety of different accents in Italian whereas in English, since most of the globe will speak some level of English, we are continuously exposed to different accents from all over the world. I’m now at a stage where I don’t know how to refer to some things in English because using the Italian version is so much more natural, or I’ve only ever seen in the context after starting work.
Hello
Thank you for the information,can you give me additional resources to prepare for ssm exam like Qbank (like plabable) or study materials(like plabkeys) or even books
Hello, this is the only free resource I am aware of and used: https://www.medicinapertutti.it/
Hi, when during the recrutation process they will ask for language level? Is PLIDA exam the only one they accept? Of know what are other language exams they accept? Thank you in anvance for the answers
Hi Weronika, from my brief research every ordine dei medici has different requirements for licensing in that city. My best advice would be to contact the ordine dei medici in the cities you are considering specialising in to clarify any points about what language exams they require, and if there are other steps to be done.
Hello i have done my mbbs from tbilisi georgia Mbbs and i have carta di soggiorno so what about next if i come to italy
Hi Kavya, you should contact the ordine dei medici for the city you have your carta di soggiorno in to see what their requirements will be to get licensed.
Hi I hope you are doing great
I have a question to ask regarding recognition of qualifications by Ministero
I know that they will ask about compensatory measures
By any chance you know that how the exam will be conducted like on computers like SSM or some other way and what about the oral exam
If you know someone who has given it or know something about the pattern Kindy guide me
I will really apprecite a response
Thank you
I don’t know the details 100% but I have worked with some foreign doctors who were in the process of getting the omologazione. If I understood correctly you need to submit all of your relative documents to a governing body that will then after some time if approved allow you to sign up for the ministry exam which is held once a year. The exam is made up of different stations that has a mixed component of written, oral and practical. However I have not fact checked any of this information myself so cannot speak to the accuracy, it’s only based on passive conversation with some of these doctors.
Hello! I have a Medical degree from a Greek University, I have medical license in Greece and I have already completed two years of residency in General Surgery, as a prerequisite to continue in Plastic Surgery. What do I have to do to continue my residency in Italy?
Hi Sofia, I don’t want to give you incorrect information as I’m not familiar with a process of transferring from another country. If I had to make an educated guess though your first barrier will be registering with the ordine dei medici whose requirements will change from city to city. You will probably have to complete an Italian language exam as a part of the requirements for registering. After that it’s just about signing up for the SSM and completing the exam to be placed. I would recommend emailing some of the universities you’re considering to do your residency in and asking if they have a transfer process, as well as emailing the “ordine dei medici” of the cities they are located in to clarify the process to get licensed there.
For a non eu citizen graduated from romanian med school ( eu diploma ) can i take concorso ssm ? Will there be a quota since i am non eu citizen?
There is no quota for non eu students, but you will need to register with the ordine dei medici which will have a process to get your degree recognised.
Hello
I’m Italian citizen but I completed my MBBS from Russia so now I want to do residency in Italy can you please help me
This is a lot more complicated, and you’ll need to email the ordine dei medici for the exact process to get your degree recognised.
Hi Serra, thank you for all you precious video. How long do generally the studendents need to prepare the concorsi SSM? Do they enrol in private prepation school like for the MIR in Spain ?
There are many private courses that some students enroll in, but it’s not necessary. It really depends on your foundation and goals how long it would take to prepare.
Hi, Thank all of you for your answers!
I would like to know, for an EU graduated doctor, Is it possible to take extra points from an Mcs degree instead of research thesis? As long as I have not been graduated from an Italian university and this was not a part of my degree, but I did a master later.
thank you!
Theoretically yes, but you can always email universitaly to be certain.
Can you please explain the duration of different specialization residency in italy …
GP training is 3 years. Other specialisations are either 4 or 5 years.
Hi, is it absulutely neccesary to have c1 language exam even if you are a european union citizen?
Is there any chance that you can start specializing and you do the language exam later somehow?
I would.really appreciate some help
Thank you
If you did not graduate in a medical school in Italy, as far as I know proving language is a part of the approval process.
Few questions..
1) is there any quota system in universities for students completing MD from the said university? For eg: if I complete MD from Marche, will it be more easier getting into speciality in that same uni ?
2)Are there reserved seats for EU and Non EU like Imat, or all seats are open for all irrespective of their Eu/Non EU status ?
No there’s no quota for that unis graduates or for eu/non-eu status. Every student is thrown in a common pool, and the only criteria is the score they receive on the exam.
This website is a lifesaver. We would appreciate it if you could make a guide for non-EU students.
My question is, does my nationality as a non-EU student affect my chances of getting into residency?
No only your exam results do, but it is harder to register with the “ordine dei medici” and get approved for a visa from what I understand.
Hey serra,I saw your video that you got job at sapienza.I want to ask whether you got the job after passing SSM concorso or you followed some other procedure?What was the other process then?
I got the job way before the concorso
Hello if I failed the SSM once, can I retake it ?
Yes!
Hello, Dr Serra. I am Basically from Pakistan and currently studying as an international medical student in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, the medical degree is called “Doctor of Medicine,” which takes approximately seven years to complete.
I have a few questions:
1. Does Italy exempt the licensing exam if I have an Afghan medical license as well as a Pakistani medical license?
2. In Italy, is it possible to study other medical graduate programs without holding a medical license?
3. Does Italy recognize and accept the Afghan medical degree “Doctor of Medicine”?
4. Also Tell me How to Register For Medical Residency in Italy as NON-EU
Thank you.
1. No, you need to do an exam which is held twice a year to get your degree recognised.
2. No
3. You will need to email the ordine dei medici and go through the process to find out.
4. You need to register with the ordine, and then apply for the concorso.
Hi,
are the SSM concorso exam results better for some unies compared to others?
After graduating from an “English” Italian Medical School, do you have chances to get into a medium competitive specialty?
It really depends on how high you score; you can get into any course that you would like.
whats the minimum required grade for passing? the curiculum thing is very strange
Hello, an 18 out of 30 is the minimum passing grade at Italian universities!
How a Non-EU graduate can go for Specialization in Italy as a resident?
It depends if you are graduating from an Italian Medsical School. If you are, you just need to signup for the SSM concorso exam. If you are not, the process is a lot more complicated and you’ll at least need a C1 PLIDA Certificate.
i’m in the same situation , non EU graduated from italy .
but i took a year gab in my home country, so i don’t have a valide resident permit anymore .
do you think i can come back and gice the SSM exam ?
thank you in dvance
Yes you should still be able to easily.
What are the requirements for eu students studying/graduating from an eu medical school?
Also, what are the requirements in terms of language and proficiency exams? Is English enough or are we required to have a certain level of proficiency in Italian?
The exam and all of the training is completely in Italian. You will need to have as a minimum C1 PLIDA certificate. The application is completed through universitaly → SSM Concorso
Thank you for explaining the process but I have a few questions
-is the test like the imat in the sense that you can repeat it each year? (as i you take the IMAT in 2022 you go to med school in 2022 you go to IMAT in 2023 you go to med school in 2023)
-is there a list for min. score for admission into each specialty at each school?
-are all specialties in Italian?
Hello, yes, you can take the IMAT multiple years, but the score is only valid for that particular year. Admission into a medical specialty is based on scrolling, similar to the IMAT. Yes, all specialties are conducted in Italian!
Hello:) is is also possible to do residency in english or it is just in italian language. If it is what level in Italian is required? Thank you
Hi 🙂 it is only in Italian. You are required a C1 level, but if you graduated from an Italian university, they usually don’t check, even if the course was in English.
How does the choice of specialization work? Do we choose our desired speciality via the score from the exam or is it randomly assigned?
Is this peocedure dependent on the CV like germany?
You make a ranking of your choices for SPECIALTY and CITY and then based on your score will be offered a place from your ranking (if high enough). There is no real “random assignment”. It’s not dependent on the CV, it’s one exam called the SSN CONCORSO.
Is SSM exam in English?
It is in Italian, and all of the training is in Italian 🙂
Hi, i completed the SSM application, but i still dont know where can you do the rankings for cities and schools.
Was it in the SSM application?
Thanks
Hey you do this in September, after all the results are out 🙂
I have done mbbs from china and now looking to pursue specialization in italy, am i eligible? Moreover what will be the direction for such students?
It will be a lot harder as you’ll need at least C1 in Italian PLIDA as well as other procedures. I would look into the requirements for getting your license in Italy with a chinese diploma.
Hi is it possible to work as a doctor without being a specialist in italy
Just with the 6 year md degree.
Or should everybody do ssm
Hello, it is possible to work as a Dr without specialisation but your options will be a lot more limited.