Career FAQs

Wondering what the difference is between Certified and Chartered? Like to know more about some of the different companies?  The following links should help. 

Chartered: Professional body: Chartered Accountants Ireland
Exemptions for professional exams available on website (see menu on left) - persons who graduate with a degree of 2.ii honours or better, must meet the criteria, pass all without compensation. .

Management: Professional body: Chartered Institute of Management Accountants [CIMA]
Exemptions for professional exams link from homepage above.

Certified: Professional body: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants [ACCA]
Read their overview of the professional qualification here and search exemptions.

Public: Professional body: Certified Public Accountants [CPA]
Exemptions for professional exams from homepage above.

How to I find out who is recruiting?

• Careers Connect advertises current vacancies and will also list upcoming company presentations.
• Come to our Jobs Fair in October and January to ask questions of the companies attending. A list of exhibitors will be shown on Careers Connect.
• Pick up a copy of gradireland or gradireland Finance from mid October.
• The CAI has Training Vacancies.

Other useful links: Options with your degree... Accountancy 

For Counselling Psychology - do psychology first and then an MA/PhD in Counselling Psychology 

To get on to a postgraduate programme, it is likely that you will need relevant experience (e.g. volunteering with Samaritans or ISPCC who both give basic training, or a youth or other organisation particularly if they give training). It would also be very useful to have an introductory/basic counselling course e.g., http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/adult-and-continuing-education-courses/psychology-of-counselling.html. 

The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy  (a national association allied with the European Association of Counselling www.eac.eu.com) accredit certain Counselling courses which are listed on their website (under Education).

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) accredit courses in the UK http://www.bacp.co.uk/accreditation/ 

To work as a Dentist, you must first register with or be licensed by the regulatory authority in the country in which you wish to practise. National dental associations will be able to provide information on dentistry in their countries. 

For Ireland, this is the Dental Council of Ireland and you apply for courses through the CAO 

For Northern Ireland or the UK, apply through UCAS. The deadline for applications is 15th October. Some UK institutions use  pre-entrance tests which you must take before applying to UCAS: e.g., UKCAT   On qualifying in the UK and before being able to practice, dentists must register with the General Dental Council, the profession's governing body.

There is now a Reciprocity Agreement between the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) and the Dental Council of Ireland. See http://www.dentalcouncil.ie/mutual_recognition.php for details and contacts.

American Dental Association There are over 50 dental schools in the United States accredited by the ADA's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

To become a Dietitian you first need a qualification in Dietetics/Nutrition recognised by Coru.
This will entitle you become a member of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Institute www.indi.ie. 

It may be possible to do a course outside Ireland, however before you can practice in Ireland your qualification must be approved by www.coru.ie 

There are some postgraduate conversion courses in the UK if you have a relevant degree already. The Health and Care Professionals Council have a database of accredited health programmes at http://www.hpc-uk.org/education/approved-programmes/ or see the British Dietetic Association (BDA) at https://www.bda.uk.com/about-dietetics/how-become-a-dietitian.html  
You can also qualify for registration in the UK by doing an accredited undergraduate degree (see www.ucas.com and BDA for a list of courses – application deadline is 15th January). 

It's possible to apply for Medicine after doing a degree in another subject.

Graduate-entry courses can be searched and applied for through the CAO by February 1st. Requirements:

• a minimum 2:1 result in their first honours bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) or equivalent.
• For candidates that meet this requirement, the GAMSAT test will be the sole instrument to select students for the programme. Registrations for the GAMSAT sitting to be held in March usually open in November.
• The CAO also have helpsheets for those interested in Graduate Medicine or undergraduate medicine.

Some UK universities have accelerated programmes, 4 years long, available to graduates. Apply for full or accelerated courses through UCAS before 15th October. Applications tend to consist of UCAS application, pre-entrance test and interview. 

• GAMSAT: Usually held September. Registration typically opens early June. See the list of universities that use GAMSAT at https://gamsat.acer.org/university-admission/universities        
• BMAT: Test usually takes place in November and site lists universities that use it. You cannot register yourself for BMAT you must be registered by a BMAT centre. Sample tests online.
• UKCAT: Test takes place on various dates with centres in Ireland, registration usually opens May. Practice questions and list of universities are on the site. 

There are some Medical and Health Science courses in English within the EU. Most are 6 year programmes and they will require you to learn the local language as you will need it for clinical placements. NUIG students can read more on on the careers sharepoint (you will need to log into your Office365 account to access). 

All doctors who wish to practice in the Republic of Ireland should be registered with the Medical Council. To become a Medical Doctor you first need a recognised degree.  On completion of the degree, register with the Medical Council and complete an Intern year with one of the hospitals recognised for this purpose.

The Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine is the professional body representing Medical Scientists in Ireland and they have information on becoming a member on their site.

However, new entrants to the medical science profession will need to apply for registration with CORU in order to practise as a medical scientist in Ireland. 

The UK's regulatory body is the Health & Care Professions Council (look for Biomedical Scientists).  This list of courses includes those by Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and there is more information on their site careers.ibms.org.  The NHS may also have Traineeships in a hospital environment. 

What's the difference between Optometrist, Optician and Ophthalmologist?

Optometrists (Ophthalmic Opticians): Optometrists examine the eye for optical defects and correct these using prescription glasses and contact lenses. Also assess disorders of the eye.

Ophthalmologists: Fully qualified medical doctors who have specialised in the correction of vision and the treatment of all conditions and diseases of the eye.

Dispensing opticians: Advise on, fit and supply prescription glasses, they may also fit contact lenses.  

Orthoptists: Allied health professionals who work mainly in hospitals alongside ophthalmologists in the assessment and treatment of squints, double vision etc.

There are no Irish conversion courses in Optometry to date, however students may apply to take a second degree through CAO. Accredited course list on CORU. 

CORU is also the Competent Authority in Ireland for the recognition of qualifications for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians which were awarded in another EU Member State. 

UK courses are generally 3 years long followed by a clinical training year after which (and on successful completion of clinical exams) they can register with the General Optical Council (GOC).  See courses that are accredited by the GOC.

Useful links

CORU -  the Optical Registration Board of CORU. Details of accredited courses and recognition of qualifications.

College of Optometrists - Information on careers in Optometry in the UK including links to university courses.

Irish Association of Dispensing Opticians  - How to become a dispensing optician.  

General Optical Council  - Information on approved courses in the UK for Optometry and Dispensing Optician.

Health & Care Professionals Council - UK. Search for accredited courses including Orthoptists.   

An accredited programme is essential in order to practice as an OT in Ireland.
CORU are the health professions regulator and list the accredited programmes at www.coru.ie  (e.g., BSc at NUI, Galway). If you are applying for a second degree, apply through the CAO before February 1st.

The Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) is the professional association in Ireland.

There are accelerated / short postgraduate courses in the UK – apply directly to the appropriate university. It is also possible to do a BSc in the UK or Northern Ireland after completing your Science degree through the UCAS application system.

Information on courses and the profession can be found on the College of Occupational Therapists website .

To work in Ireland, you must then apply for validation of your qualification through CORU www.coru.ie

According to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to become a pharmacist you take a 'five-year integrated education and training programme with a range of practical placements dispersed over the course of the programme.'

Pharmacists are entitled under European Union (EU) free movement directives to register in Ireland if: they hold a qualification from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) member state, and they are nationals of a member state of the EU or EEA.  

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society gives an overview of qualifications needed for the UK and gives an overview of what it's like to work in community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, industry and academia after qualification. 

Applications are made online through UCAS. Apply between 1st September and 15th January but late applications are accepted up until 30th June.  However, it is advisable to apply well before 15th January. Note: many courses mention the requirement of Chemistry at Leaving Certificate honours level.

PSNI (Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland) regulates Northern Ireland entry.

What is a Physiotherapist?

The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) website answers many questions about working as a Physiotherapist.

The The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (UK) has a large career section online also.

How do I become a Physiotherapist in Ireland?

To practice Physiotherapy in Ireland, you must have a qualification recognised by CORU (click to see list of approved qualifications).
If you study physiotherapy outside Ireland, you must validate your qualifications with CORU before you can practice in Ireland.  

Studying Physiotherapy in the UK

To practice physiotherapy in the UK, you must register with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) and Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). There are some conversion pre-registration programmes available in the UK. Typically 2 years long and open to students with relevant first degrees. The list of accredited programmes are included in the CSP accredited courses list.
UK undergraduate degree courses are also open to graduates and application is through UCAS.

Psychiatrists are medically qualified doctors who look after patients with mental health problems such as depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxieties, phobias & drug & alcohol abuse.

For more information on Psychiatry in Ireland visit www.irishpsychiatry.ie and their careers booklet

In order to apply for accredited postgraduate programmes you must first become a Graduate Member with the Psychological Society of Ireland (or British Psychological Society) which is based on gaining an accredited undergraduate degree or conversion course. There are a number of conversion courses available including

• National University of Ireland, Galway:
  • Higher Diploma in Psychology for BA Psychological Studies graduates only (1 year)
  • 2-year HDip for graduates with other degrees.

Once you have completed the accredited conversion course, you can then become a graduate member of the PSI.

If you wish to take a conversion course in the UK, ensure that it is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). You will have to get your qualification validated by PSI if applying for Graduate Membership afterwards. Entry requirements vary with many courses expecting a certain level of psychology study prior to entry to the course.   

According to the PSI, graduate members can become registered psychologists ’if they are judged to have completed four years of study / training / experience or any combination thereof such that they can practise as a psychologist without supervision’.

Application for courses is directly to the university in question.

SPECIALISMS - see BPS for details:

• Clinical Psychology 
• Counselling Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Organisational / Occupational Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Sport Psychology
• Research Psychology / Lecturer

Radiography and Radiology may sound similar but are very distinct professions. 

Radiography is a clinical science, while Radiology is a specialism in medicine.

Radiography

A Radiographer is a clinical scientist and the field has 2 distinct areas:

• Diagnostic - working in imaging / radiology departments using a range of techniques to take images requested by doctors or other healthcare staff.
• Therapeutic - also called Radiotherapy or Radiation Therapy. Deliver radiotherapy while working with clinical oncologists, medical physicists and engineers.

Recognised courses in Ireland are listed at https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/ 

Within the UK, the Health & Care Professions Council or Society of Radiographers websites will have the most up to date list of ALL accredited courses in the UK.

Radiographers who have gained their radiography qualification outside the Republic of Ireland must individually apply to CORU  to have their qualifications validated before taking up employment in Ireland.

Radiology / Radiologist

Radiologists are registered medical practitioners (ie qualified doctor) with at least two years’ clinical experience, who have completed Specialist Registrar training in Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology.

If you are studying Medicine and are interested in this path, please see relevant programmes at NUI Galway, and http://www.radiology.ie/ .  This career path is not available to someone who is not already a qualified medical doctor.

To become an SLT you first need a recognised qualification: CORU list of approved qualifications in Ireland.

It may be possible to apply to the above universities to do a second BSc. If you are applying for a second degree, you must apply through the CAO before February 1st, e.g.,  NUI Galway . 

There are accelerated / short postgraduate courses in the UK – apply directly to the appropriate university. Search all accredited programmes here (HCPC). It is also possible to do a BSc in the UK or Northern Ireland after completing your Science degree. The RCSLT have a Careers Guide available on their website. 

To work in Ireland after completing your training abroad, you must apply for validation of your qualification through CORU http://www.coru.ie 

To become a Guidance Counsellor generally requires undertaking a post-graduate programme in guidance and counselling.

The National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) lists courses available in Ireland

The Institute of Guidance Counsellors list 'professional training programmes constituted to prepare individuals to work as Guidance Counsellors in second level and further and higher education and in other sectors' as well as with adults.

However, in addition to a postgraduate course, those wishing to practice in second level schools must meet the requirements of the Department of Education, i.e. normally a primary degree and a teaching qualification.

For higher/further education, check out gradireland's profile on Careers Adviser   

All teachers are required by law to register with the Teaching Council in order to be employed in a recognised school.

SECONDARY

Subject criteria for Secondary teaching are set by the Teaching Council. Your application will include a self-declaration form for each proposed teaching subject - you will need to have a breakdown of subjects/modules studied throughout your degee. 

Postgraduate programmes in Ireland are 2 years full-time and include

• Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (MGO) in NUI Galway and Professional Master of Education (PME) in NUI Galway. Application and information online from September at www.pac.ie/pme
• A full list of accredited programmes in Ireland is available at http://www.teachingcouncil.ie/en/Teacher-Education/Initial-Teacher-Education/Providers-of-Initial-Teacher-Education/

FURTHER EDUCATION

According to the Teaching Council, applicants must "meet the qualification requirements outlined in Regulation Five of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations, 2009."

PRIMARY

All postgraduate teacher training programmes in Ireland are 2 years long.

Full college details with admission criteria and application deadlines can be read online on the Department of Education & Skills website

NORTHERN IRELAND

Application forms and details of the entry requirements may be obtained from the Registrar/Admissions Office of each institution. Details of all courses and course links, tuition fees and funding available from Department of Education Northern Ireland

SPECIAL NEEDS

Generally speaking, to get work as a special needs teacher, you need: A qualified teacher with experience; a recognised course after doing the first two steps. There are CPD programmes available to teachers listed at http://www.sess.ie/professional-development/

For SNAs, see the Department of Education & Skills at https://www.education.ie/en/Education-Staff/   

FINDING A JOB

We advertise vacancies on Careers Connect, our jobs database - graduates need to register, students can log in using their usual NUI Galway login.

Come to our annual Teaching Fair (January/February) - see Careers Connect for details.

Some links for recruitment of teachers are at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0595a4-e/#recruitment-and-employment-of-teachers  

Applying:

A CV for Teaching jobs can look a little different than other graduate CV’s - one page if possible, clearly list teaching subjects and experience, fancy cover not required. 

TARGETjobs - Teaching and education advice on all aspects of applying for a teaching job.

Prospects - also has sample CV for teaching.

Looking for ideas to stand out with your application to a course or job? Volunteer e.g., homework clubs etc. ALIVE have some useful brochures and opportunities. Work with young people with learning disabilities. Work in a school as a classroom assistant. Work with an organisation such as NALA (adult literacy). Do a short course: for example, the Education Centre, Galway run courses for teachers

According to the Teaching Council, in order to get recognition to teach Physical Education in Ireland you must have both of the following:

• a level 8 degree (extending over at least 3 years) where Physical Education is a major part of your studies (at least 90ects) up to and including 3rd year. See Teaching Council criteria for full details.
• studied the methodology and practice of the teaching of PE in a post-primary school as part of the teacher-training course. 

What if I don't have a degree related to PE?

It is possible to reapply to the CAO to do a second degree - to search for courses use Qualifax and CAO

To look at courses available in the UK, start with UCAS, the applications system for all undergraduate courses in the UK.

PE Central: Becoming a PE teacher in the USA.

ENGLAND & WALES:

Apply for PGCE programmes (and School Direct) through UCAS Teacher Training. 
Details on the application system are available at: http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training

Alternative routes are available to graduates: see www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options.aspx 

TARGETJobs - Teaching: updated by the AGCAS Teaching and Related Professions Task Group, this content covers Routes into Teaching, Getting a Teaching Job, Teaching in Scotland, Teaching in Wales, Teaching in Northern Ireland and Education Alternatives

SCOTLAND

Application is through UCAS Undergraduate for the PGDE (as well as B.Ed programmes).
Apply at www.ucas.com/apply  

Regulations and entry criteria are online at teachinscotland.scot 

If you are a teacher who qualified outside of Ireland and wish to teach in a recognised school in Ireland, you must apply for recognition of your qualifications prior to registration with the Teaching Council. 

Making the application

There is a lot of help online for writing teaching personal statements and attending interviews for the PGCE. For example there are tips on TARGETJobs - Teaching, as well as personal statement tips at UCAS

The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) controls standards in EFL schools and organisations. 

To work in a primary or secondary school: you must be a qualified teacher with either:one of the approved ELT qualifications or ACELS Preparatory Certificate for the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (awarded to state-qualified teachers).  

https://www.acels.ie/teachertraining have a list of accepted qualifications and links to private training providers in Ireland.

There is also a list of recognised schools for learning English on https://www.acels.ie/schools

The Veterinary Council of Ireland have many links to help those interested in becoming a Vet and list recognised courses.

In Ireland, all courses (undergraduate or graduate entry) are through CAO  

Study Abroad - It is possible to train abroad and then work in Ireland. However, according to the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI): It is a legal requirement and, therefore, essential that you register with the Veterinary Council prior to engaging in any type of Veterinary work in Ireland. Please check with the VCI website to ensure the degree you are studying is accepted.

GAMSAT is required (tests normally held in March) for many programmes in Ireland and the UK.

UK: For a full list of accredited courses see the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons website (end of page).