The Conseil National de l'Ordre des Médecins is the professional body that regulates the medical profession in Tunisia. It keeps the register of physicians, applies the code of medical ethics and exercises disciplinary authority. Registration is the legal condition for practising medicine in the country, whatever the country in which the diploma was obtained.
From Latin ordo, rank or order, used in the French tradition for a self-governing professional body; the Tunisian council follows this model of an ordre professionnel.
CNOM Tunisie; Ordre des médecins tunisien; conseil de l'ordre
National Medical Council of Tunisia
The council keeps the register of physicians authorised to practise, applies the code of medical ethics, gives opinions on questions of professional conduct and exercises disciplinary powers. Registration is a legal step in its own right rather than an automatic consequence of holding a diploma, and practice without it is not permitted. The council verifies that the applicant holds a qualification accepted for the purpose, meets the conditions of professional standing and fulfils the other requirements laid down by law.
A physician trained abroad is registered on the basis of the recognition of the foreign qualification, which is obtained beforehand from the competent authority. The recognition decision then forms part of the registration file, together with the diploma, identity documents and the other supporting documents requested. The list of documents and the conditions are set by the council, so it is worth requesting the current list directly before assembling the file, rather than working from what applied to an earlier graduate.
For a student who completes a medical degree in Europe and intends to return, the council is the final step of the path. The usual sequence is to obtain the European diploma, have it recognised, register with the council, and only then take up a post or apply for specialist training. Working backwards from that sequence during the studies, by keeping certified transcripts, course descriptions and clinical training certificates, is the most effective preparation, as described under returning home after studying in Europe.
France has a comparable body which likewise keeps a register and applies a code of ethics, and registration there is equally compulsory. The two registrations are independent: registration in Tunisia does not open the French register, and the reverse is also true. For a diploma issued outside the European Union, registration in France presupposes the authorisation procedure; conditions relating to nationality and professional standing also apply and should be verified individually with the competent French authorities, as set out under practising in France with a Maghreb diploma.
Free and no obligation.