Medical specialties in Finland: 50 specialties and their specialists
Finland has 50 medical specialties. This page groups them and shows, for each, how many specialists have open appointments at private clinics over the next 7 days.
Gastrointestinal surgeryOccupational health careGeneral surgery
Specialist counts updated 18/10/2026.
What is a medical specialist?
A specialist is a licensed doctor who has completed at least five years of specialist training in their field. The training includes a 9-month period at a health centre, practical training in hospitals, theory and management studies.
A resident (erikoistuva lääkäri) is a licensed doctor whose specialist training is still in progress. Doctors' rights are granted by the Finnish Supervisory Authority (Lupa- ja valvontavirasto, formerly Valvira) and can be checked in the JulkiTerhikki register.
Specialist training is given by the universities of Helsinki, Eastern Finland, Oulu, Tampere and Turku. Not every field has specialists at private clinics: pathologists and clinical chemists, for example, work in laboratories and hospitals.
General practice, occupational health and rehabilitation
Internal medicine and dermatology
Surgery and anaesthesia
Senses and nervous system
Women, children and adolescents
Psychiatry
| Specialty | Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| Forensic psychiatry | 1 | Open appointments |
| Psychiatry | 145 | Guide and appointments |
Diagnostics and laboratory
| Specialty | Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics | 0 | – |
| Clinical physiology and nuclear medicine | 1 | Open appointments |
| Clinical chemistry | 0 | – |
| Clinical microbiology | 0 | – |
| Forensic medicine | 0 | – |
| Pathology | 1 | Open appointments |
| Clinical genetics | 0 | – |
| Radiology | 2 | Open appointments |
Frequently asked questions
How many medical specialties are there in Finland?
There are 50 medical specialties, from emergency medicine to general practice. Dentistry has its own specialties as well.
How long does specialist training take?
At least five years of full-time training after the medical degree. Only licensed doctors are admitted.
Do I need a referral to see a specialist?
As a self-paying patient you can see a private specialist without a referral, and Kela reimburses part of a doctor's appointment fee. Public specialist care requires a referral.
How do I find a doctor in a particular specialty?
Choose the specialty above or in the search filters. The search shows only doctors whose title names the specialty.