Observership in Jamaica

An observership is a structured, post-graduation clinical training program required for overseas medical graduates who completed their medical degree outside of Jamaica and not at a CAAM-HP accredited institution.

As of the latest update, clinical clerkships completed in Jamaica are no longer accepted as substitutes for observership, and all overseas medical graduates who did not attend a CAAM-HP accredited school or did local clerkship are now required to complete a four-month observership before being considered for internship.

Check if your school is CAAM-HP accredited here: https://caam-hp.org/programs/

During the observership, participants rotate through the four core specialties—Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynecology—spending one month in each. Unlike traditional clerkships, observerships are transitional roles focused on refining clinical skills, integrating into Jamaican hospital systems, and preparing for internship. These placements can be paid or unpaid, depending on your applicant status and available funding.

For non-Jamaican international medical graduates (IMGs), observerships remain highly competitive but crucial for gaining recognized clinical experience in Jamaica. Unpaid observerships are more commonly available and still provide significant value in terms of hands-on exposure, professional networking, and familiarity with local protocols.

While completing an observership, many candidates opt to take the Caribbean Association of Medical Councils Examination (CAMCE). Passing the CAMCE strengthens your future internship application and formally assesses your readiness to practice in the Caribbean region.

Because paid internships are rarely offered to non-Jamaican graduates, the most common and strategic route involves:

1. Completing an unpaid observership
2. Passing the CAMCE, and
3. Applying for internship through official Ministry of Health (MOH) channels.

Applicants who apply for internship but did not attend a CAMC-I accredited institution and completed rotations outside Jamaica will automatically be considered for observership instead. After completing the required four-month observership, you must reapply for internship using the same application form and procedure.

What increases your chances as a foreigner(non Jamaican) of getting a paid observership or internship?

1. Jamaican nationals are prioritized for paid placements, regardless of where they studied.
2. Having done clerkship in Jamaica no longer allows you to bypass observership unless you attended a CAAM-HP accredited school.
3. Holding a foreign medical license may allow direct application for Jamaican registration, bypassing internship in rare cases.
4. Applying outside of the summer cycle may improve chances, as competition is usually lower.
5. Position availability varies yearly depending on hospital needs and government funding.
6. Passing CAMCE is not required to begin observership but will make your internship application more competitive. Although the application form doesn’t yet include a section for this, you may attach your CAMCE results manually.