What is housemanship
Housemanship (house job) is a mandatory one-year supervised clinical training for newly qualified MBBS and BDS doctors in Nigeria. It consolidates your undergraduate learning with hands-on patient care across core specialties and is required for full registration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
You’ll typically rotate 4 major departments — Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Paediatrics — spending roughly 3 months in each.
Quick historical context
Housemanship in Nigeria follows the UK model introduced mid-20th century and became a statutory requirement as medical training standards were formalized in the 1960s–1970s.
The MDCN housemanship portal — how it works
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The MDCN portal centralizes posting of newly inducted doctors to accredited hospitals for their one-year housemanship.
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You must be inducted and have your provisional license approved on the portal to apply. Without induction and an approved provisional license, you cannot register for postings.
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New centers are typically uploaded periodically (the slide notes about every 2 months). On upload days the site can be slow — be ready, act fast, and use a reliable internet connection.
Portal URLs you’ll need:
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Registration:
housemanship.mdcn.gov.ng/auth/register -
MDCN news:
mdcn.gov.ng/recent-news
(Bookmark both and check regularly.)
Creating a portal account — checklist
Before registering, prepare:
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MDCN induction completed & provisional license approved (note issue date)
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Portal email (use Gmail), password (keep it secure but memorable)
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Folio number, Bank account details and BVN
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Passport photo resized to portal specs (e.g., height ~499px × width ~476px)
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Then register on the portal and sign in on announcement days.
Tip: Watch a step-by-step portal video and practice a dry run before upload day so you’re fast when it counts.
Wards — what to expect
Typical ward exposure includes:
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Internal Medicine: male/female wards, ICU, dialysis, stroke unit, isolation, VIP ward
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Surgery: male/female surgical wards, orthopaedics, burns & plastics, pediatric surgery
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Obstetrics & Gynae: labour room, antenatal & postnatal wards, gynae emergencies
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Paediatrics: paediatric medical, surgical, neonatal/SCBU, paediatric emergency
If you’re BDS holder, your rotations include Child Dental Health (orthodontics/pedo), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Diagnosis, Restorative Dentistry, etc. (timings differ).
Sought-after & higher-paying centers
Popular portal centres (high demand): National Hospital Abuja (NHA), FMC Jabi, FMC Ebute-Metta, UATH, FMC Asaba, FUTH Owerri, FMC Umuahia, UPTH, FMC Keffi.
Notable non-portal centres (often higher pay or alternative routes): HSC Lagos, LASUTH, RSUTH, St. Nicholas Hospital Lagos, UNIMEDTH, Lagoon Hospital Ikeja, and others
Salary note (from portal data): Portal centers pay a standard amount (slide: ₦267,000) while a few non-portal centers may pay more (slide examples: Asokoro/Maitama ≈ ₦274k; HSC Lagos noted as higher in some lists). Always confirm current figures with the hospital and MDCN before accepting.
Essential documents (bring copies + originals)
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CV
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Degree/statement of result
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MDCN Provisional License & annual registration
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Birth certificate & LGA certificate
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WASSCE/SSCE & school testimonials
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Passport photographs
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Recommendation letters
Some centers ask for extra paperwork — check the hospital’s checklist in advance.
FAQ
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Can I be posted without induction? No.
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Can I start at one centre and later transfer? Not directly — resigning and reapplying is usually required, and MDCN may require refund of salary if you resign (check current MDCN policy).
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How soon will I get paid? Typically around 2 months for portal centers (confirm with hospital payroll).
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How long is the fastest completion? Around 11 months in some cases (depends on rotations and leave).
How to choose the right centre — practical criteria
Decide with this checklist:
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Proximity to family & support system
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Cost of living vs. salary (Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt are expensive)
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Workload and learning opportunities (teaching hospitals are busier but richer in exposure)
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Security, commute, and on-site facilities (ICU, labs, supervision quality)
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Networking & mentoring opportunities (consultants, academics, exam prep support)
Be flexible: if you don’t have the network for a top centre, cast a wider net.
By Admin @Doclumina