Specialiseringstjänstgöring

Specialiseringstjänstgöring, commonly abbreviated ST, is a structured, paid training period for doctors who have obtained a Swedish medical license and wish to become specialists. The training combines supervised clinical work with competence development within a chosen specialty and aims to ensure high quality patient care and safety.

It is regulated by the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) and coordinated by health care regions and training units, with input from professional bodies such as the Swedish Medical Association. Training goals and required competences are defined in specialty-specific måldokument or delmål, set to guide progression.

The training is usually conducted as an employment in a hospital or clinic, where the doctor works under a supervisor or mentor, completes a logbook of experiences, participates in regular assessments, and may be required to complete courses in ethics, patient safety, and research methods. The duration varies by specialty, typically around five years, but some tracks may be longer or shorter depending on formal requirements.

Upon successful completion of all delmål and competence requirements, the doctor receives specialistkompetens, enabling eligibility to practice as a formally recognized specialist. In many cases, this is followed by undergoing board certification or formal recognition by the relevant specialty college. The ST period is often a prerequisite for independent practice in the specialty.

The system emphasizes regional variation, workforce planning, and continuous updates to align with international standards; doctors may switch tracks or undertake subspecialization later, and there are pathways combining ST with research or general practice tracks.