ACSS opens application process for Medical Physics training 2027

The Central Administration of the Health System, I. P. (ACSS) has made public, through Notice No. 21878-A/2026/2, the opening of the competitive procedure for entry into specialized training in Medical Physics for the year 2027. The opening was authorized by a decree dated September 2, 2026, and the notice was published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 171, of September 3, 2026, in a supplement.

The competition is intended for graduates and masters in Physics who wish to enter the hospital career of medical physicist, a regulated specialty within the National Health Service. The entrance exam is scheduled for October 15, taking place simultaneously in Coimbra, Lisbon, and Porto.

Legal Framework

The procedure is based on paragraph 4 of article 161 of Decree-Law No. 108/2018, of December 3, in its current wording, in conjunction with article 4 of the Regulation approved in the annex to Ordinance No. 96/2024/1, of March 11, and with Decree No. 10856/2026, of the Minister of State and Finance and the Minister of Health, published in the Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 170, of September 2.

The number of vacancies is limited by the total national training capacities identified. The vacancy map will be published in the Diário da República and disclosed on the ACSS website by the end of October 2026.

Admission Requirements

Those who cumulatively hold a bachelor’s degree in Physics (level 6 of the NQF/EQF, minimum 180 ECTS) and a master’s or doctorate in Medical Physics (level 7 or higher) may apply by the application deadline. Accepted bachelor’s degrees include:

• Physics — University of Lisbon (Faculty of Sciences), University of Porto (Faculty of Sciences), University of Coimbra (Faculty of Sciences and Technology), University of Aveiro, and University of Minho;
• Physics and Applications — University of Beira Interior;
• Physical Engineering — University of Lisbon, University of Porto, University of Coimbra, University of Aveiro, University of Minho, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, and Nova University of Lisbon (Faculty of Sciences and Technology);
• Technological Physical Engineering — University of Lisbon (Instituto Superior Técnico).

Exceptionally, candidates with other master’s or doctoral degrees in the field of Physics may be considered, subject to individual evaluation by the Jury and an opinion from the Medical Physics Council.

Application and Exam

Applications are submitted via the IT platform on the ACSS page, within a period of 10 working days starting from the first working day following the publication of the notice. The entrance exam is graded on a scale of 0 to 100, with the minimum admission requirement being a grade of 50. The distribution lists of candidates by location and room will be released by October 8, 2026.

The Jury of the competitive procedure is chaired by Dr. João Santos, with Dr. Idília Catarina Barros, Dr. Carla Alves, Dr. Ana Filipa Luz, and Dr. Teresa Reis as members. The notice is signed by the Member of the Board of Directors, Paula Oliveira.

Relevance

The competition opens a path of access to the career of medical physicist in the NHS, an essential specialty for ensuring quality and safety in radiotherapy, imaging, and nuclear medicine. For those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics, it represents the gateway to specialized training with hospital placement, in a process that takes place entirely electronically on the ACSS platform.

Source: Diário da República, 2nd series, no. 171, September 3, 2026, supplement, Part C (official reference: Notice no. 21878-A/2026/2).