Here is a comprehensive overview of Singapore’s regulated professions and their required qualifications, organised by sector. Singapore distinguishes between licensed/regulated professions (where you legally cannot practise without registration) and general occupations.
Healthcare Professions
(Regulated by the Ministry of Health and respective Professional Boards)
| Medical Doctor | Singapore Medical Council (SMC) | MBBS/MD (5-year degree); full registration with SMC; 1-year housemanship |
| Dentist | Singapore Dental Council | BDS (4-year degree); registration with SDC; supervised clinical practice |
| Oral Health Therapist | Singapore Dental Council | Diploma in Oral Health Therapy; SDC registration |
| Pharmacist | Singapore Pharmacy Council | BPharm (4-year degree); SPC registration; 1-year pre-registration training |
| Registered Nurse | Singapore Nursing Board | Bachelor of Nursing or Diploma in Nursing; SNB registration |
| Midwife | Singapore Nursing Board | Midwifery qualification; SNB registration |
| Physiotherapist | Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) | Degree in Physiotherapy; AHPC registration |
| Occupational Therapist | AHPC | Degree in Occupational Therapy; AHPC registration |
| Diagnostic Radiographer | AHPC | Degree in Diagnostic Radiography; AHPC registration |
| Radiation Therapist | AHPC | Degree in Radiation Therapy; AHPC registration |
| Speech-Language Therapist | AHPC | Degree in Speech-Language Pathology/Therapy; AHPC registration |
| Optometrist | Optometrists & Opticians Board | Degree in Optometry; OOB registration |
| Optician | Optometrists & Opticians Board | Diploma or relevant qualification; OOB registration |
| TCM Physician / Acupuncturist | Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board | Degree in TCM; TCMPB registration |
These healthcare professional groups are overseen by dedicated boards: the Allied Health Professions Council, the Optometrists & Opticians Board, the Singapore Dental Council, the Singapore Medical Council, the Singapore Nursing Board, the Singapore Pharmacy Council, and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board.
Legal Profession
(Regulated by the Ministry of Law & Singapore Institute of Legal Education)
| Profession | Requirements |
| Advocate & Solicitor (Lawyer) | LLB from a recognised university; completion of Part A & Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations; pupillage/practice training period; admission to the Singapore Bar |
Individuals who wish to be admitted to the Singapore Bar must meet all the requirements of being a “qualified person” as defined in the Legal Profession Act, and fulfil the other admission requirements set out in the Legal Profession Act.
Built Environment Professions
(Regulated by the Board of Architects, Professional Engineers Board, Singapore Land Authority)
| Profession | Governing Body | Key Requirements |
| Architect | Board of Architects (BOA) | Bachelor/Master of Architecture (5+ years); practical experience; Part 1 & Part 2 examinations; BOA registration |
| Professional Engineer (PE) | Professional Engineers Board (PEB) | Accredited engineering degree (4 years); at least 4 years of relevant experience; PE examinations; PEB registration |
| Land Surveyor | Singapore Land Authority | Degree in surveying; qualifying exam; registration with SLA |
| Quantity Surveyor | Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers | Degree in quantity surveying; professional membership |
Bachelor degrees in Dentistry, Law, Engineering, Building, Real Estate, Architecture and Music require four years of study, while Medicine requires five years.
Financial & Accounting Professions
(Regulated by MAS and ACRA)
| Profession | Governing Body | Key Requirements |
| Chartered Accountant (CA) | Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) | Accountancy degree; Singapore CA Qualification programme; 3 years of practical experience |
| Public Accountant | Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) | CA qualification; ACRA registration to sign off on audits |
| Financial Adviser | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | MAS licensing; CMFAS (Capital Markets & Financial Advisory Services) examinations |
| Insurance Agent/Broker | MAS | M5, M9, M9A, or HI examinations under CMFAS; MAS registration |
| Fund Manager / CMS Holder | MAS | Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence; relevant qualifications and track record |
Education
(Regulated by the Ministry of Education)
| Profession | Requirements |
| School Teacher (Government/Government-Aided) | Degree or diploma; Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from NIE; appointment by MOE |
| Private School Educator | Relevant degree/diploma; registration of institution under Committee for Private Education (CPE) |
Aviation
(Regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore)
| Profession | Requirements |
| Commercial Pilot | CAAS Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL); minimum flight hours; medical certificate |
| Air Traffic Controller | CAAS Air Traffic Controller licence; CAAS-approved training |
| Aircraft Maintenance Engineer | CAAS Aircraft Maintenance Engineer licence; approved training and experience |
Other Licensed Professions
| Profession | Governing Body | Key Requirements |
| Real Estate Agent/Salesperson | Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) | Real Estate Salesperson (RES) course; CEA examination; registration with a licensed estate agency |
| Security Officer | Security Industry Regulatory Department (SIRD) | Security Officer licence; Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) certification |
| Employment Agency Personnel | Ministry of Manpower (MOM) | Employment Agency Personnel (EAP) key appointment holder licence; MOM examination |
| Financial Planner (CFP) | Financial Planning Association of Singapore | CFP certification examinations; relevant experience |
| Social Worker | Singapore Association of Social Workers | Bachelor of Social Work (BSW); registration with SASW |
Notes
- Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, dentists, financial planners, pilots, commodity futures traders, and accountants need to obtain an occupational licence to practise in Singapore.
- For overseas-trained allied health professionals, without passing the Qualifying Examination and completing registration with the AHPC, applicants are not allowed to start work or practise their profession in Singapore.
- Medical practitioners in Singapore must be registered under the Medical Registration Act 1997.
This list covers the regulated professions where a licence or registration is legally required. Singapore has hundreds of other occupations (IT, marketing, logistics, etc.) that don’t require formal licensing, though professional certifications are often industry-standard for career advancement.
