Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery
The Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery is Kenya's flagship clinical officer training programme, offered primarily at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and regulated by the Clinical Officers Council of Kenya.
Students study human anatomy and physiology, clinical diagnosis, minor surgery, pharmacology, community health, and specialty rotations, building the broad clinical competence needed to diagnose and treat patients independently at frontline health facilities. Skills RequiredClinical DiagnosisMinor SurgeryPharmacology BasicsPatient ManagementCommunity Health PracticeKey SubjectsHuman Anatomy and PhysiologyClinical MedicineMinor SurgeryPharmacologyCommunity HealthMedical EthicsCertificationsClinical Officers Council of Kenya RegistrationSpecializationsGeneral Clinical PracticeBroad frontline diagnosis and treatment across common conditions. Surgical AssistanceFocus on minor surgical procedures and theatre support.
Clinical officers form a backbone of Kenya's healthcare workforce, particularly in rural and primary healthcare settings where they often provide the first and sometimes only point of medical contact.
Training combines classroom and laboratory instruction with extensive clinical rotations in hospital wards, outpatient departments, and community health settings, followed by a mandatory one-year internship before licensing.
Graduates work as clinical officers in public and private hospitals, health centres, and NGOs, with strong further progression into Higher Diploma specialisations (e.g., ENT, ophthalmology, anaesthesia) or a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
The programme suits students with strong biology and chemistry grades who want a hands-on, patient-facing medical career with a shorter and more accessible pathway than becoming a full medical doctor.
- Duration
- 3 years
- Public, up to
- Ksh 122,200
- Private, up to
- Ksh 116,800
- Job market
- Very high
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Attachment
- 12 months
- Average class
- 40 students
- Award
- Diploma
What you study
6 subjects- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Clinical Medicine
- Minor Surgery
- Pharmacology
- Community Health
- Medical Ethics
Modules
10 in the programmeHuman Anatomy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human body structure and organs covering body systems, organs, and tissues relevant to clinical and health science practice.
Medical Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Body function and physiological systems covering body systems, organs, and tissues relevant to clinical and health science practice.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Written and oral communication skills for professional workplace communication and effective correspondence.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Structure and function of the human body systems, including organs and tissues for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Pharmacology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of drug action, dosing, and prescribing for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Clinical Medicine I
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Diagnosis and management of common medical conditions for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Minor Surgery
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Basic surgical procedures, theatre practice, and post-operative care techniques.
Community Health
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Public health principles and community-based clinical practice for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Clinical Rotations and Internship
Year 3Semester 212 creditsCore
Supervised clinical placements across hospital departments, followed by for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
General Clinical Practice
Broad frontline diagnosis and treatment across common conditions, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Surgical Assistance
Focus on minor surgical procedures and theatre support, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Community Health
Focus on primary healthcare, disease prevention, health promotion, and community-based healthcare delivery within Kenya's primary healthcare system.
Emergency Care
Focus on emergency medical care, trauma management, acute illness treatment, and emergency department operations within Kenyan healthcare facilities.
A day as a student
Early years combine classroom and lab study of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology; later years shift to supervised clinical rotations in hospital wards and outpatient departments, culminating in the mandatory internship year.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Very high, stable demand as a backbone role in Kenya's healthcare system, especially outside major cities.
- Shorter, more accessible pathway to independent clinical practice than becoming a medical doctor.
Against it
- Demanding clinical rotation schedule and a mandatory unpaid or low-paid internship year before full registration.
- High-pressure, emotionally demanding frontline patient care work.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 349 health sciences coursesAnnual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.
The fine print
KMTC self-spon 118K-122K/yr (tvet.co.ke). Outspan 70K, NCMTC 117K/yr (victormatara.com).
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some county governments sponsor students in exchange for a post-qualification service bond.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- C
- Alternative entry
- Equivalent qualifications recognised by the Clinical Officers Council of Kenya.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Tests across pre-clinical and clinical theory units.
Clinical Rotation Assessments
Coursework35% of the mark
Supervised clinical performance assessments during hospital rotations.
Final Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester and final qualifying examinations.
Accreditation
Regulated by the Clinical Officers Council of Kenya; primarily offered at KMTC campuses nationwide, KUCCPS-listed (Health Sciences & Related cluster).
Accredited by
Clinical Officers Council of Kenya
Professional licensing bodyRequired
Registration with the Council, following graduation and a one-year internship, is required for independent practice.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesClinical Officer (Public Health Facility)
Very high demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Diagnoses and treats patients at a public hospital or health centre.
Clinical Officer (Private Hospital/Clinic)
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides clinical care at a private hospital or clinic, often with higher pay than public roles.
Clinical Officer Intern
Very high demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 35,000
Completes the mandatory one-year internship under supervision before full registration.
Clinical Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 90,000
Provides clinical care including diagnosis, treatment, and patient management in hospitals, health centres, and clinics across Kenya.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as clinical officers in public and private hospitals, health centres, and NGOs, following mandatory internship and Council registration.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (Junior)Health Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Documentation, reports, and patient record management.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis for health research and data interpretation.
Laboratory Information Management System
Lab software
Sample tracking and laboratory data management.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Clinical officers are the same as doctors.
Clinical officers provide broad frontline diagnosis and treatment under the medical system, but work within a defined scope distinct from fully qualified medical doctors.
Graduates can start practising immediately after the diploma.
A mandatory one-year internship and registration with the Clinical Officers Council are required before independent practice.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.