A medical doctor is a healthcare professional who assesses the patient’s state of health, makes diagnoses, plans and carries out treatment, monitors the course of illness and helps to prevent disease and maintain health.
The medical doctor is one of the fundamental regulated healthcare professions in Slovenia. Practising medicine requires an appropriate medical degree, a traineeship, the professional examination, entry in the register of doctors and meeting the conditions for practising medicine. Independent work in a specialist field also requires the relevant specialisation and licence.
Below we explain what a doctor does, how to become a doctor in Slovenia, how long medical school takes, how the traineeship and specialisation work, what the employment opportunities are and how doctors’ pay is organised.
Medical doctor – a short description of the profession
A doctor is a specialist in medicine who is qualified to treat patients and practise medicine within the scope of their professional qualifications and licence.
A doctor’s work may include:
- examining the patient,
- taking a medical history,
- clinical examination,
- making or confirming a diagnosis,
- planning treatment,
- prescribing medicines and medical devices within their competence,
- carrying out medical procedures,
- monitoring the patient’s condition,
- interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic results,
- working with other healthcare professionals,
- health education,
- disease prevention,
- documenting care,
- communicating with the patient and their family,
- taking part in professional education and research.
SPOT defines the doctor as the fundamental responsible provider of healthcare activity.
What does a doctor do?
A doctor’s work depends on their field and specialisation.
A family doctor, for example, deals with a wide range of health problems, while a surgeon performs surgical procedures, a radiologist works with diagnostic imaging, a paediatrician cares for children and a psychiatrist deals with mental health.
The core of a doctor’s work often consists of:
- talking to the patient,
- taking the medical history,
- clinical examination,
- assessing the state of health,
- making a working or final diagnosis,
- planning treatment,
- monitoring the response to treatment,
- documenting the care provided.
In their work, doctors cooperate with nurses, healthcare technicians, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists, laboratory specialists and other members of the healthcare team.
The doctor and prevention
A doctor’s work is not only about treating disease. Preventing disease and maintaining health is also an important part of medicine.
A doctor may take part in:
- preventive check-ups,
- early detection of disease,
- advice on a healthy lifestyle,
- vaccination,
- monitoring chronic diseases,
- reducing risk factors,
- health education,
- prevention programmes.
The scope of preventive work depends on the field of medicine.
What competences does a doctor need?
The medical profession requires a combination of professional knowledge, practical skills and communication skills. Important competences include:
- medical knowledge,
- clinical reasoning,
- the ability to take a medical history,
- physical examination,
- recognising health problems,
- deciding on further diagnostics,
- planning treatment,
- following up the patient,
- communication,
- working in a healthcare team,
- using medical records,
- knowledge of healthcare legislation,
- ensuring quality and safety,
- acting in medical emergencies,
- lifelong professional learning.
Responsibility towards the patient and respect for professional and ethical principles are especially important in medical work.
Is the medical doctor a regulated profession?
Yes. The medical doctor is a regulated healthcare profession in Slovenia.
Entry in the register of doctors, kept by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia (Zdravniška zbornica Slovenije), is important for practising medicine. SPOT states that a person with the title doctor of medicine is employed as a trainee, and that the traineeship lasts six months and ends with the professional examination.
After passing the professional examination and meeting the other conditions, the doctor is granted a basic licence, or the conditions for independent medical practice are otherwise put in place.
How do you become a doctor in Slovenia?
The path to becoming a doctor has several steps. In simplified form:
secondary school → admission to a faculty of medicine → 6-year medical degree → title doctor of medicine → traineeship → professional examination → entry in the register/licence → employment or continuing into specialisation
A doctor who wants to work as a specialist joins the relevant specialisation programme once the conditions are met.
How long does medical school take?
The integrated master’s programme in General Medicine takes 6 years and carries 360 ECTS.
On completing the degree, the graduate obtains the professional title doctor of medicine (doktor medicine / doktorica medicine).
The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Maribor also publishes data on the current programme, describing General Medicine as a second-cycle integrated master’s programme lasting six years and carrying 360 ECTS.
Medicine in Slovenia is taught at:
- the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana,
- the Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor.
What do you study at medical school?
Medical studies combine basic natural sciences, preclinical subjects and clinical medicine. Areas of study include:
- anatomy,
- histology,
- physiology,
- biochemistry,
- genetics,
- microbiology,
- immunology,
- pathology,
- pharmacology,
- internal medicine,
- surgery,
- paediatrics,
- gynaecology and obstetrics,
- psychiatry,
- neurology,
- dermatology,
- infectious diseases,
- emergency medicine,
- public health.
Clinical practice and work in healthcare institutions are also an important part of the degree.
What comes after medical school?
After obtaining the professional title doctor of medicine, the traineeship follows.
According to current SPOT data, the traineeship for doctors lasts six months. It takes place under the direct guidance and supervision of a mentor, during which the trainee gains practical and theoretical knowledge and prepares for the professional examination.
The traineeship ends with a test of practical knowledge, which is a condition for taking the professional examination.
The professional examination for doctors
The professional examination for the medical profession is run by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia. The current examination covers three subjects:
- emergency medicine,
- basics of quality and safety in healthcare,
- basics of the legal framework of healthcare.
In emergency medicine the examination consists of written, practical and oral parts; the other two subjects are examined orally.
According to the Medical Chamber of Slovenia, the current cost of the full professional examination for doctors is EUR 300.
Entry in the register of doctors
The register of doctors is kept by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.
To be entered, a doctor must meet the prescribed conditions and submit the relevant application, or entry is carried out in line with the applicable procedures.
The register is an important part of the system that ensures the professional competence of those who practise medicine.
What is a doctor’s licence?
A licence is a public document proving a doctor’s professional competence to practise medicine independently in a specific professional field.
The Medical Chamber of Slovenia states that the basic licence is obtained once the prescribed conditions are met; for doctors who complete their medical education in Slovenia and pass the professional examination in Slovenia, the basic licence is granted ex officio. The basic licence is granted permanently.
In specialist work, a distinction must be made between the basic licence and the specialist licence. A doctor with a basic licence may not independently practise in a specialist field for which they do not hold the relevant specialist licence.
What is specialisation?
Specialisation is further professional training for a doctor in a specific field of medicine.
After passing the professional examination, a doctor can join a specialisation programme. Specialisation is fixed-term postgraduate professional training that ends with the specialist examination.
It allows the doctor to gain in-depth knowledge and practical skills in the chosen field of medicine.
What specialisations are there for doctors in Slovenia?
The Medical Chamber of Slovenia keeps an up-to-date list of specialisations. They include, for example:
- anaesthesiology, reanimatology and perioperative intensive care,
- dermatovenereology,
- family medicine,
- physical and rehabilitation medicine,
- gastroenterology,
- gynaecology and obstetrics,
- haematology,
- infectious diseases,
- internal medicine,
- cardiology and vascular medicine,
- clinical pharmacology,
- clinical genetics,
- clinical microbiology,
- nephrology,
- neurology,
- nuclear medicine,
- ophthalmology,
- oncology with radiotherapy,
- orthopaedics,
- otorhinolaryngology,
- paediatrics,
- psychiatry,
- radiology,
- rheumatology,
- forensic medicine,
- transfusion medicine,
- traumatology,
- emergency medicine,
- urology,
- vascular surgery,
- other specialist fields.
The list and the duration of individual specialisations may change. The Medical Chamber is currently also publishing new or revised programmes, for example a new specialisation or programme in clinical nutrition applying from 1 September 2026, and new programmes in ophthalmology and traumatology from September 2026.
How long does specialisation take?
The length of a specialisation depends on the chosen field. Individual programmes last roughly two to seven years, and some programmes have been changed in recent years.
Examples of current programmes:
- paediatrics – 5 years,
- psychiatry – 5 years,
- radiology – 5 years,
- neurology – 5 years,
- cardiovascular surgery – 6 years,
- maxillofacial surgery – 7 years,
- periodontology – 3 years,
- neonatology – 2 years.
For any given specialisation, always check the current programme of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.
Calls for specialisation posts
Specialisations are advertised according to the needs of the healthcare system.
On 25 March 2026, the Medical Chamber of Slovenia published the call for medical specialisations for 2026, covering individual providers, the whole country and specialisations with a known funder.
The number of posts advertised can therefore differ between years and between specialist fields.
→ Specialisation posts on the portal
→ Specialist doctor: all 49 specialisations in Slovenia
Where can a doctor work?
A doctor can work in many parts of the healthcare system.
Community health centres
In community health centres, doctors work mainly at the primary level of healthcare. Examples include:
- family medicine,
- paediatrics,
- gynaecology,
- emergency services,
- preventive services.
Hospitals
Hospitals employ doctors from many specialist fields. The work may include:
- diagnostics,
- treatment,
- surgery,
- intensive care,
- emergency medicine,
- rehabilitation,
- following up hospitalised patients.
University medical centres
Larger university medical centres offer work in many specialist and subspecialist fields and also include research and teaching.
Private healthcare institutions
Doctors can also work for private healthcare providers.
Health resorts
Some doctors work in health resort and rehabilitation services.
Public health
Doctors can also work in public health, epidemiology, prevention and health policy.
Research and teaching
A doctor can also build a career in research and academic settings.
→ Medical doctor: current vacancies
→ Specialist doctor: current vacancies
Can a doctor work privately?
Yes. Under conditions set by law, a doctor can work for a private provider or run a private healthcare practice.
To provide healthcare independently, all prescribed conditions must be met regarding:
- professional qualifications,
- the licence,
- registration,
- premises,
- equipment,
- organisation of work,
- liability,
- documentation,
- other conditions for providing healthcare.
Because healthcare legislation changes, the current conditions must be checked before starting a private practice.
Can a doctor work without a specialisation?
After completing medical school and passing the professional examination, a doctor is not automatically a specialist. The basic licence allows independent work only to the extent permitted by the doctor’s qualifications and licence.
The Medical Chamber specifically points out the distinction between the basic licence and the specialist licence. A doctor with a basic licence may work independently only within a limited scope and may not independently practise specialist medicine in a field for which they do not hold a specialist licence.
Doctors’ pay in Slovenia
A doctor’s pay depends on the type of employment, the post, specialisation, length of service, allowances, on-call duty, overtime and other elements.
Doctors employed in the public sector are covered by the reformed public sector pay system. Since 1 January 2025, a new pay system has applied in which healthcare is part of the third pay pillar – public employees in healthcare and social care. On 1 April 2026 the pay scale was adjusted by 0.9%.
When it comes to a doctor’s pay, it is therefore important to distinguish between:
- basic gross pay,
- the actual gross amount paid,
- net pay,
- allowances,
- on-call duty,
- overtime,
- performance pay,
- reimbursement of expenses.
Because of changes to the pay system and individual allowances, a single figure for “a doctor’s salary” does not necessarily reflect what an individual doctor actually receives.
Are doctors well paid?
When comparing doctors’ pay, the whole pay system must be taken into account. In addition to basic pay, doctors may receive allowances related to working hours, on-call duty, overtime, working conditions and other elements. Total monthly earnings can therefore differ considerably between individual doctors.
With private providers, pay may be set differently from the public pay system.
Is the medical doctor a profession in demand?
The need for doctors depends on how the healthcare system is organised, the age structure of the population, the number of healthcare providers, retirements and the distribution of healthcare staff.
The annual calls for specialisation posts are also an important indicator. For 2026, the Medical Chamber of Slovenia published a call for various specialist fields, with the number of posts set according to the needs of the healthcare network.
When looking for a job, it therefore makes sense to follow:
- the Employment Service of Slovenia,
- community health centres,
- hospitals,
- university medical centres,
- private healthcare institutions,
- calls for specialisation posts,
- the websites of healthcare institutions.
What is a doctor’s working day like?
A doctor’s working day depends on their field.
In an outpatient clinic, a doctor may:
- see booked patients,
- take the medical history,
- carry out a clinical examination,
- order additional tests,
- interpret results,
- prescribe treatment,
- prepare referrals,
- keep medical records.
In a hospital, a doctor may:
- do ward rounds,
- admit patients,
- lead diagnostics,
- plan treatment,
- carry out medical procedures,
- take part in operations,
- monitor patients’ condition,
- work with other specialists.
In emergency work, the focus is on rapid assessment and treatment of acutely ill or injured patients.
What qualities does a doctor need?
Many personal and professional qualities matter in the medical profession.
Responsibility
A doctor makes professional decisions that can significantly affect the patient’s health.
Communication
Complex medical information has to be explained to the patient clearly and respectfully.
Accuracy
Diagnosis and treatment require careful collection of information and its professional interpretation.
Decision-making
A doctor often has to make decisions based on clinical data, test results and professional guidelines.
Teamwork
Modern healthcare is very often teamwork.
Emotional stability
Doctors also face illness, injury, emergencies and death.
Lifelong learning
Medicine develops quickly, so continuing professional education is an important part of the profession.
Is being a doctor hard?
The medical profession can be demanding because of the combination of long training, great professional responsibility, working with sick people and, in some fields, unpredictable working hours.
The pressures may be related to:
- long studies,
- the traineeship and professional examination,
- specialisation,
- on-call duty,
- night work,
- responsibility for patients,
- difficult clinical decisions,
- administrative work,
- emotionally demanding situations.
How heavy these pressures are varies greatly with the field of medicine and the organisation of work.
Doctors and artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are already affecting healthcare. They are being used or developed in areas such as:
- analysis of medical images,
- processing health data,
- clinical decision support,
- documentation,
- administration,
- patient monitoring,
- research,
- developing new diagnostic methods.
The doctor remains responsible for professional judgement within their competence. Artificial intelligence can help a doctor process information, but it does not mean medical decision-making is automatically replaced.
Career opportunities for doctors
After completing their studies and meeting the relevant conditions, a doctor can develop a career in many fields. Possible paths include:
- family medicine,
- paediatrics,
- internal medicine,
- surgery,
- emergency medicine,
- psychiatry,
- gynaecology and obstetrics,
- radiology,
- dermatology,
- neurology,
- oncology,
- anaesthesiology,
- intensive care,
- public health,
- research,
- an academic career,
- management roles in healthcare,
- private healthcare practice.
The current list of specialisations of the Medical Chamber of Slovenia includes many specialist fields and is updated regularly.
Doctors in the public or private sector
A doctor can work in the public or private healthcare system.
Public sector
Employment is possible in:
- community health centres,
- hospitals,
- university medical centres,
- public health institutes,
- other public healthcare institutions.
The public sector pay system applies to the public sector.
Private sector
It is possible to work for a private healthcare provider or to run a private healthcare practice under the prescribed conditions. The organisation of work and pay may differ from the public sector.
Doctors and working abroad
A Slovenian medical degree can be the basis for practising in other countries, but the rules of the country where the doctor wants to work must be followed. For regulated professions, the following may be required:
- recognition of the professional qualification,
- registration,
- proof of language skills,
- a licence,
- additional documentation,
- other national conditions.
For doctors coming to Slovenia from other countries, SPOT also sets out procedures for the recognition of qualifications, which differ depending on the country where the qualification was obtained.
Medical doctor – advantages and challenges of the profession
Advantages
- a professionally demanding field,
- a wide choice of specialist fields,
- the chance to work with different groups of patients,
- opportunities to work in the public and private sectors,
- opportunities for research and academic work,
- the possibility of specialisation,
- the possibility of working in different countries once their conditions are met,
- a variety of career paths.
Challenges
- long studies,
- the traineeship and professional examination,
- a specialisation lasting several years,
- a great deal of professional responsibility,
- working with sick and injured people,
- on-call duty and night work in some fields,
- continuing professional education,
- administrative burden,
- emotionally demanding situations.
What is the future of the medical profession?
Developments in medicine are changing the way doctors work. The profession is affected by:
- population ageing,
- the development of new medicines,
- new diagnostic methods,
- the digitalisation of healthcare,
- artificial intelligence,
- the development of personalised medicine,
- telemedicine,
- changes in the organisation of healthcare,
- the development of prevention,
- a growing need to manage chronic diseases.
In the future, doctors will therefore still need a combination of medical knowledge, clinical decision-making, communication skills and the ability to use new technologies.
Frequently asked questions about the medical profession
How do you become a doctor in Slovenia?
The path includes a six-year medical degree, the title doctor of medicine, a traineeship, the professional examination and meeting the conditions for entry in the register and for practising medicine.
How long does medical school take?
The General Medicine programme takes 6 years and carries 360 ECTS.
What title does a medical graduate obtain?
After successfully completing the programme, the graduate obtains the professional title doctor of medicine.
Does a doctor have to complete a traineeship?
According to current SPOT data, the traineeship for doctors lasts 6 months and ends with the professional examination.
Does a doctor have to pass a professional examination?
Yes. The professional examination is part of the path to meeting the conditions for practising medicine.
Where do doctors take the professional examination?
The professional examination for doctors is run by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.
Does a doctor have to specialise?
It depends on the field of work. Independent specialist practice requires the relevant specialisation and a specialist licence.
How long does specialisation take?
It depends on the specialist field. Current programmes last roughly 2 to 7 years.
Are doctors entered in a register?
Yes. The register of doctors is kept by the Medical Chamber of Slovenia.
What is a doctor’s licence?
A licence is a public document proving a doctor’s professional competence to practise medicine independently in a specific professional field.
How much does a doctor earn?
It depends on the post, specialisation, length of service, allowances, on-call duty, overtime and other elements. The public sector is covered by the reformed pay system, which also includes healthcare.
Where can a doctor work?
In community health centres, hospitals, university medical centres, private healthcare institutions, public health, research institutions and other healthcare settings.
Can a doctor open a private practice?
Under conditions set by healthcare legislation, a doctor can run a private healthcare practice.
Can a doctor work abroad?
Yes, but they must meet the conditions of the country where they want to practise, including the procedures for recognition of qualifications and licensing where required.
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Have you found an error in this description, or does it need updating? Please send corrections to: podpora@zdravstvena.info
Sources and useful links
- SPOT – Medical doctor: official information on the conditions for practising the profession, the traineeship, the professional examination, the licence and the recognition of qualifications.
- Medical Chamber of Slovenia – professional examination: current information on content, dates and costs.
- Medical Chamber of Slovenia – licences: conditions for the basic and specialist licence.
- Medical Chamber of Slovenia – specialisations: current list of specialist fields and programme durations.
- Medical Chamber of Slovenia – calls for specialisations: current calls and information on posts.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor: information on the General Medicine programme – 6 years, 360 ECTS.
- GOV.SI – pay system: current rules of the public sector pay system and the 2026 pay scale.
