Extension of approval
The Norwegian Directorate of Health has temporarily transferred authority to the County Governor of Rogaland to process and make decisions in cases concerning the extension of approval as a petroleum doctor. This authority applies to applications received during 2021 and 2022.
The County Governor of Rogaland has informed Helse Bergen that about 400 petroleum doctors need to have their approval renewed during the autumn of 2021 and until January 2023.
Petroleum doctors who have not completed an update course and passed an examination before the expiry of the approval period, can apply to the County Governor for dispensation from recertification rules according to Health Requirements Regulations § 8.
The County Governor prepares the dispensation cases and pass them on the Norwegian Directorate of Health for assessment and decision.
According to section 22 of the regulations on health requirements for persons working on facilities in the offshore petroleum activities, the Norwegian Directorate of Health may in special cases make an exception from these regulations.
In order to simplify the processing in this period where a large increase in the number of dispensation applications is expected, the Norwegian Directorate of Health finds it appropriate to transfer the decision-making authority for dispensations the County Governor of Rogaland. The transfer of authority will apply for a limited period.
A petroleum doctor who applies to the County Governor for an extension must, in addition to the application, attach a receipt from the course organizer for registration for one of the update courses, which can be found at the link below:
https://helse-bergen.no/arrangementer/resertifisering-av-petroleumsleger
The Norwegian Directorate of Health will continue to process applications for extension of approval as diving doctors in 2021 and 2022.