Credentialling - Joint Efforts of the Academy and Colleges

The Academy supports the development of credentialling work, to recognise professional competence and to ensure patient safety. The Academy developed the credentialling system to enable only those medical and dental professionals who are properly trained and have the requisite knowledge and experience to perform high-risk procedures in appropriate settings, Academy Colleges were fully engaged in the process through extensive consultation. 

Since 2016, all Academy Colleges have set up own Credentialling Committee to identify and develop credentialled procedures for different specialties gradually. Credentialling is an on-going process that requires determination.

Credentialling for Endovascular Neurointerventional Procedures

Application for Initial Credentialling for Endovascular Neurointerventional Procedures 

  • Application is open and would be accepted throughout the year. Fellows who wish to apply for initial credentialling may complete and return an Application Form. Application(s) will be reviewed in batches, normally twice a year. The next review will commence in February 2024.
  • As stated in the Guidelines, Category I covers the scope of Acute Ischaemic Stroke and therefore applicants applying for Category I do not require to apply for Category II. On the other hand, Category II is designed for those who would perform neurointerventional procedures for Acute Ischaemic Stroke only.
  • Supporting documents (e.g., operation records / radiological procedural records) for the applicant’s submitted cases claiming his / her role as the primary operator in the neurointerventional procedures should clearly indicate the roles of all operators involved. Should such documentation not be available, a completed and signed Case Record Form along with the supporting documents should be submitted for vetting.

Enquiries: [email protected]

Professionalism and Ethics 

Professionalism and ethics have become key topics of modern medicine and dentistry. Medical professionalism is the belief system that formulates and upholds the values and standards of medical practice. Changing expectations from patients and doctors as well as the introduction of disruptive technologies such as genomics and genetics, robotic surgery and big data analytics prompt us to re-think how medical professionalism should be articulated and inculcated in the contemporary era. The establishment of the Professionalism and Ethics Committee by the Academy in March 2019 is a response to the challenges. 

The Committee is dedicated to:

  • promote medical professionalism and ethical practice among Academy Fellows through education, training and advocacy;
  • review and advise on the provision of specialty-specific training in medical ethics and professionalism by Academy Colleges;
  • respond to requests by the Academy Council, the Education Committee and others as appropriate, and collaborates with relevant external organisations when necessary, on ethical issues related to the practice of specialty medicine and dentistry, public policy and other Academy matters; and
  • identify, examine and bring forward issues of ethical importance deserving the attention of the Academy Council, its constituent Colleges or committees.

The Committee organises a series of seminars and workshops covering a wide range of topics to enhance professional standards with ethical values and practices. It is committed to formulating best practice guidelines. To facilitate this, 6 Task Forces have been formed under the Committee to specialise in the areas of:

  • Advance Directives;
  • Artificial Intelligence;
  • Disclosure, Apology and Alternative Dispute Resolutions;
  • Genetics and Genomics;
  • Laws for Healthcare Practitioners; and
  • Social Media.

Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) developed 

Click here for the set of BPG developed by the Task Force on Laws for Healthcare Practitioners to provide relevant guidance and practical advice for medical doctors and dentists who are serving as expert witnesses, or are considering to become an expert witness.






Click here for the set of BPG developed by the Task Force on Disclosure, Apology and Alternative Dispute Resolution to provide relevant guidance and advice in this area to medical and dental practitioners.







Click here for the set of BPG developed by the Task Force on Genetics and Genomics with a view to providing a clear ethical framework for the sound adoption and application of genetic technology and the many benefits it brings.







Click here for the set of BPG developed by the Task Force on Social Media to provide useful information and suggestions on the use of social media by doctors and dentists.


Note: The above BPGs are for guidance only and not intended to be prescriptive. They are developed from the perspectives of professionalism and ethics, on the basis of which medical and dental practitioners should exercise their clinical judgement, with regard to all clinical and other circumstances.


Expert Witness

  • Best Practice Guidelines for Expert Witnesses (link)
  • HKAM Online Training Course for Expert Witnesses
    The training course aims to provide Academy Fellows who wish to join the league of competent expert witnesses with the necessary knowledge through the use of illustrative cases. It also serves as a refresher course for those who have already acted as expert witnesses. Click here for more details and to register for the course.
  • Call for Registration as Expert Witnesses
    The Academy has been approached from time to time by the Hong Kong Police Force and the government departments, The Medical Council of Hong Kong, The Dental Council of Hong Kong, as well as legal firms, for assistance in identifying Fellows who could be expert witness. Since 2010, the Academy has invited Fellows who are interested in being expert witnesses to submit information to the Secretariat to compile a List and make it available to enquirers upon formal request. You are encouraged to include your name in the List by completing the reply form and return it to the Academy by fax (2505 5577) or by mail (10/F, HKA M Jockey Club Building, 99 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong).

Other Guidelines and Resources

Guidelines on Procedural Sedation 

The set of Guidelines aims to promote safe and evidence-based practices in procedural sedation. View and download Guidelines on Procedural Sedation and Supplementary Note for the Guidelines on Procedural Sedation.