Decision No. 4306/2003/QD-BYT on the issuance of the Specialty Level I Regulation, the Specialty Level II Graduation Certificate, and the Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate in the healthcare sector.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the Specialty First Degree Regulations, the Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate, and the Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate in the field of healthcare

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

Pursuant to Decision No. 1613/BYT-QD dated 15/05/2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health;

Pursuant to Decree No. 43/2000/NĐ-CP dated 30/8/2000 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law;

Pursuant to Circular No. 30/2003/TT-BGD&ĐT-BYT dated July 1, 2003 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Health guiding the conversion between various diplomas and postgraduate training levels in the field of healthcare;

Pursuant to Decision No. 4305/2003/QĐ-BYT dated August 14, 2003 of the Minister of Health regarding the issuance of the Specialty First Degree Graduation Certificate, the Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate, and the Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate in the field of healthcare;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Science and Training, the Director of the Department of Organization and Cadres, and the Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Health

DECISION:

Clause 4 of Article 6Now hereby promulgates with this Decision the Specialty First Degree Graduation Certificate Regulations, the Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate Regulations, and the Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate Regulations in the field of healthcare.

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentThe Director of the Department of Science and Training shall coordinate with the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health and relevant departments and bureaus to provide detailed guidance, organize the implementation, and inspect and audit the implementation of these Regulations throughout the country.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and replaces Decision No. 2206/BYT-QĐ dated November 20, 1996 of the Minister of Health.

Article 4. The Heads of the Office, the Inspectorate, the Department of Science and Training, the Department of Organization and Cadres, the Legal Department, and the Directors of relevant Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry of Health, the Rectors of Medical Universities, the Directors of Provincial Health Services under central cities, and the Heads of related units are responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

GRADUATION CERTIFICATES FOR SPECIALTY FIRST DEGREE, SPECIALTY SECOND DEGREE, AND HOSPITAL INTERN DOCTOR
IN THE FIELD OF HEALTHCARE

(Issued together with Decision No. 4306/2003/QĐ-BYT dated August 14, 2003)

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. The Specialty First Degree Graduation Certificate, the Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate, and the Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate are legal diplomas confirming postgraduate education levels in the field of healthcare for individuals trained according to the training regulations issued by Decision Nos. 1635/2001/QĐ-BYT, 1636/2001/QĐ-BYT, and 1637/2001/QĐ-BYT dated May 25, 2001 of the Minister of Health.

Article 2. Diplomas in the field of healthcare include:

The Specialty First Degree Graduation Certificate

The Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate

The Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate

In the diploma, the specialty trained, the training method, and the academic classification of the certificate holder are clearly stated.

Article 3. The Specialty First Degree Graduation Certificate, the Specialty Second Degree Graduation Certificate, and the Hospital Intern Doctor Graduation Certificate are uniformly managed and issued by the Ministry of Health based on decisions recognizing graduation of each course. Each certificate has its own number and is recorded in the issuing unit's certificate register.

PART II

GRADUATION TITLES AND RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE

Article 4. The titles of postgraduate specialization graduates in the field of healthcare are Specialist First Degree Doctor, Specialist First Degree Pharmacist, Specialist Second Degree Doctor, Specialist Second Degree Pharmacist, and Hospital Intern Doctor.

Article 5. The persons who have been granted a graduation certificate for a first-level specialty, a second-level specialty, or a hospital resident physician shall enjoy the following benefits:

They may use the certificate as a basis to take examinations for recruitment and promotion to civil service positions commensurate with their qualifications and be considered when recognizing other scientific and training positions according to current regulations.

They may use it to pursue further specialization studies, engage in scientific exchanges on medical and pharmaceutical matters both domestically and internationally: to change majors to obtain equivalent certificates according to current regulations.

CHAPTER III

GRANTING AND REVOKING CERTIFICATES

Article 6. Authority to grant certificates

A graduation certificate for a first-level specialty, a second-level specialty, or a hospital resident physician shall be granted by the Rector of universities authorized to train such specialties to individuals who have completed the specialized training program and met the requirements, and have received a Decision recognizing their graduation.

Article 7. Revoking certificates

1. The holders of a graduation certificate for a first-level specialty, a second-level specialty, or a hospital resident physician will have their certificates revoked if they were issued in violation of this regulation and relevant laws.

2. The authority to grant certificates also has the authority to decide on revoking certificates in cases of violations as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article.

PART IV

MANAGEMENT OF CERTIFICATES

Article 8. Each year, by January, universities authorized to train first-level specialties, second-level specialties, and hospital resident physicians must register with the Ministry of Health the number of certificates needed for graduates in that year and report to the Ministry of Health on the issuance status of certificates from the previous year, including the number issued, serial numbers of damaged certificates, and remaining certificates. Lists of graduates receiving certificates and their serial numbers are stored at the Ministry of Health (Department of Science and Training).

Article 9. A graduation certificate for a first-level specialty, a second-level specialty, or a hospital resident physician can only be issued after a Decision recognizing graduation has been made and the certificate is fully completed with the signature of the Rector and embossed seal.

Article 10. Certificates for a first-level specialty, a second-level specialty, or a hospital resident physician are issued only once, accompanied by a transcript of the recipient's academic results. If a certificate is lost or damaged beyond repair, upon valid justification, the Rector of the issuing university may issue a replacement certificate, which is also done only once.

Article 11. Universities authorized to issue graduation certificates for first-level specialties, second-level specialties, or hospital resident physicians must maintain records of certificate issuance and uniformly manage the issuance process. Postgraduate specialty certification files are permanently stored at the issuing university.

Article 12. In case of printing errors or incorrect writing on the certificate, a record must be established with a confirmation letter from the training institution and returned in full to the issuing authority.

Article 13. Strictly prohibited are acts of erasing, altering, forging, or buying and selling certificates.

CHAPTER V

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 14. This Regulation shall take effect from the date on which the Decision taking it into force comes into force. All previous provisions that are contrary to the provisions of this Regulation shall be abolished.

Article 15. Persons violating this Regulation shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative violation handling, or criminal responsibility pursued according to the provisions of the law, depending on the extent of the violation.