Faculty of Pain Medicine, College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland · Specialist Training in Pain Medicine
Pain Medicine Training in Ireland: Entry & FFPMCAI
Two-year specialist training after anaesthesiology, combining assessment and treatment of persistent, cancer and acute pain with rehabilitation and psychological care.
How the length works
Two pain-medicine years are additional to completed anaesthesiology training.
Duration: 2 years after completion of anaesthesiology specialist training.
Applications: The July 2027 advertisement gives 10 October 2026 at 16:00; this date has passed. It labels that date Friday, although 10 October 2026 was Saturday. Confirm any subsequent round with the Faculty. Interview dates were not confirmed in the advertisement.
Entry: Completed anaesthesiology specialist training: CSCST in Anaesthesiology or entry on the Irish Medical Council Specialist Register in Anaesthesiology. HSE English-language and training-registration requirements also apply.
Exams: FFPMCAI is a required exit examination. Clinical Case Series assessment, workplace competencies and the other programme requirements must also be completed.
Required pass. FFPMCAI must be passed before pain-medicine CSCST. The case series and other programme assessments are additional requirements.
What the specialty involves
Pain medicine brings together medical treatment, procedures and rehabilitation. Specialists assess how pain affects movement, sleep, work and mental health, and agree a plan with the patient and a multidisciplinary team. The specialty includes persistent non-cancer pain, neuropathic pain, cancer pain and acute pain services.
Entry and training
This is a post-CSCST route, not an alternative to completing anaesthesiology training. The Faculty's programme guidance requires an anaesthesiology CSCST or specialist registration. The two-year programme normally comprises four six-month rotations; training may include centres outside Dublin. Trainees complete workplace assessments, a case series, relevant procedural training and the FFPMCAI examination before CSCST can be awarded.
Applying and selection
The July 2027 advertisement asks for a CV and cover letter, evidence of anaesthesiology specialist qualification/registration, identity documents, two references and applicable English-language evidence. Its stated closing date, 10 October 2026 at 16:00, has passed. The weekday printed beside it is inconsistent with the calendar; confirm any revised dates directly with the Faculty.
The recruitment page links a marking scheme labelled July 2026 for guidance. It allocates 25 marks to the pre-interview CV and 50 to interview. A separate 2027-labelled marking scheme was not available in the reviewed links; do not treat the older document as a confirmed new-cycle rule.
How selection is scored
The current recruitment page links a July 2026 marking scheme for guidance: pre-interview CV 25 (educational background 10, academic achievement 10, clinical experience 5); interview 50 (programme/pain knowledge 10, preparation 10, leadership/communication/professionalism/decision-making 20, engagement/career plans 10). Confirm applicability to the July 2027 intake with the Faculty.
Where you train
Four six-month rotations in Faculty-accredited hospitals; this is a national programme and may involve sites outside the Eastern Region.
Where this leads
Completion of the full programme and assessments leads to CSCST in Pain Medicine. Specialist registration and consultant appointment remain separate processes.
Entry and selection guidance checked 26 October 2026.
Facts last verified 2026-10-26.
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