Jobs for Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery Graduates

The most common clinical officer qualification

The Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery is a three-year course offered mainly by Kenya Medical Training College campuses and other accredited colleges. It trains clinical officers who can take histories, examine patients, make diagnoses, prescribe treatment and carry out minor surgical procedures. In many rural health centres, the clinical officer is the most senior clinician on site, which gives diploma holders real responsibility early in their careers.

Licensing

The Clinical Officers Council (COC) regulates the profession under the Clinical Officers (Training, Registration and Licensing) Act, 2017. After graduating you complete the internship required by the council, pass the licensing examination and register. You must keep your practising licence current and meet continuing professional development requirements to remain employable.

Typical jobs

• Clinical officer in county health centres, sub-county hospitals and dispensaries
• Outpatient and casualty clinical officer in private hospitals and medical centres
• Programme clinician in HIV, TB and maternal and child health projects
• Specialist clinical officer roles after further training, such as ENT, eye or anaesthesia

Entry requirements

KMTC and other public college places are applied for through KUCCPS. The usual minimum is a KCSE mean grade of C (plain) with specified grades in English or Kiswahili, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics. Requirements are reviewed periodically, so check the current cluster subjects before you apply.

Career progression

Diploma clinical officers can take higher national diplomas in a specialty, typically lasting a year or more, or upgrade to a BSc in Clinical Medicine. Both lead to higher job groups in county service and better rates in private practice. Some clinical officers move into facility management, health records, insurance or medical sales.

Applying for posts

County recruitment is the biggest single source of jobs but comes in waves, while private facilities hire throughout the year. Keep copies of your COC registration, licence, internship certificate, KCSE and diploma certificates, KRA PIN and certificate of good conduct ready, because adverts often close within two weeks.