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Cert Guide

OGUK / OEUK Medical, explained

The offshore-worker fitness-to-work certificate for the UK Continental Shelf. Examined by OEUK-registered doctors against the OEUK medical guidelines. Renamed from OGUK to OEUK Medical in 2022 when Oil & Gas UK became Offshore Energies UK.

Issuer
OEUK-reg doctor
Validity
Up to 2 years
Duration
30–60 min
Typical cost
£120–250

The OEUK Medical certificate sits alongside BOSIET and MIST as the third leg of the UKCS offshore-worker compliance set. Where BOSIET tests survival skills and MIST tests safety-system knowledge, the OEUK Medical tests whether the worker is physically fit for the offshore environment. No medical, no helicopter, no rig.

Why the OEUK Medical exists

Offshore work places extraordinary physical demands on workers. The journey out begins with a helicopter flight; the return journey only happens at the end of a multi-week rotation. While on the installation, workers may need to evacuate at short notice — by survival craft, life raft, or in extremis by jumping. Routine medical care is limited to the rig medic; serious medical events require helicopter evacuation in flyable weather.

The OEUK Medical exists to confirm — before a worker mobilises — that their physical condition is compatible with these demands. The standard is not a normal occupational-health screen. It is calibrated specifically for the offshore environment: cardiovascular fitness, hearing and vision adequate for emergency response, no conditions that would deteriorate dangerously while away from medical care, and the ability to participate in survival drills.

The certificate is mandatory across the UK Continental Shelf. Operators do not waive it. A worker arriving for mobilisation without a current OEUK Medical will not be flown out, regardless of role or seniority.

What the examination involves

01

Medical history review

Past conditions, current medications, family history of relevant conditions, lifestyle factors.

02

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Height and weight check; significant outliers may require further assessment.

03

Blood pressure

Resting blood pressure measurement; elevated readings may require follow-up.

04

Vision

Distance and near acuity testing, colour-vision testing where relevant to the role.

05

Hearing (audiometry)

Tone-threshold audiogram to detect hearing loss; relevant for offshore noise exposure and communication.

06

Urine analysis

Glucose, protein, blood — flags potential conditions for further investigation.

07

Cardiovascular assessment

Heart rate, rhythm, sometimes ECG. Critical given the physical demands of offshore work and limited medical evacuation.

08

Lung function (where indicated)

Spirometry may be added for workers in dust-exposure roles or with respiratory history.

09

Drug and alcohol screening (optional)

Required by some operators as part of the pre-mobilisation medical, separate from the OEUK baseline.

The examination is structured to be efficient — most appointments are 30–60 minutes — but thorough. The OEUK guidelines are detailed and the registered doctor follows them precisely. Workers should arrive having fasted if asked (some clinics require it for urine analysis), and prepared to declare their full medical history honestly. Non-disclosure of relevant conditions can invalidate the certificate and create liability issues offshore.

Possible outcomes

Pass — full certificate

Worker is medically fit. Certificate issued, valid up to 2 years.

Pass — restricted certificate

Worker is fit with limitations (e.g. no diving, no specific role). Certificate notes the restriction.

Pass — shorter validity

Worker is fit but certificate runs for less than 2 years (e.g. 6 or 12 months) to support clinical follow-up.

Defer — referral required

Findings need further investigation by a specialist before a decision. No certificate issued until cleared.

Fail — not medically fit

Worker does not meet OEUK medical standards. No certificate issued. Appeal pathway available via OEUK.

OEUK vs other offshore medicals

NORSOK (Norwegian Continental Shelf)

Norwegian standard for offshore work on the NCS. Issued by Norwegian-approved physicians against Norwegian medical regulations. Not directly interchangeable with OEUK — workers moving from UKCS to NCS typically need to undergo a NORSOK examination.

ENG1 (UK seafarer)

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency seafarer medical, issued by MCA-approved doctors. ENG1 is the maritime equivalent — required for crew on vessels rather than fixed installations. Workers on offshore-support vessels typically need ENG1; workers on fixed platforms or FPSOs typically need OEUK. Some marine crew on offshore vessels need both.

National equivalents (Brazil ANP, Australia OPITO/MARCSTA, etc.)

Many offshore regions maintain their own national medical standards. International oil companies operating across multiple basins sometimes accept OEUK as a baseline plus local-medical top-up; pure national operators usually require their national standard exclusively. Confirm with the specific operator before booking.

Find an OEUK-registered examining doctor

OEUK Medicals can only be issued by doctors who are registered and approved by Offshore Energies UK. OEUK maintains the canonical list of currently-registered examining doctors on its website — verify the doctor's registration status before booking, as the list is updated when doctors join or leave the register.

Official directory
OEUK Medical — registered examining doctors directory →

Search by location or doctor name. Returns current OEUK-registered examining doctors permitted to issue OEUK Medical certificates.

Major providers

Major examining clinics — well-established names in the UKCS offshore-medical market:

  • Capital Medical (Aberdeen) — Long-established offshore-medical clinic.
  • Bridge Travel Health (Aberdeen) — OEUK-registered examining doctors.
  • Offshore Medicals UK — Multi-site OEUK-registered clinics.
  • GP Matters (Glasgow) — Glasgow-area OEUK medicals.
  • Connexus Occupational Health — Multiple UK locations.
  • International SOS — Offshore Medicals — Global occupational-health provider, OEUK-registered doctors at multiple locations.

Training hubs by region

Aberdeen, UK

Highest concentration of OEUK-registered examining doctors globally.

London, UK

Central-London occupational-health clinics with OEUK doctors.

Glasgow, UK

Scottish offshore-supporting clinics.

Newcastle, UK

Southern-North-Sea-supporting clinics.

Houston, USA

Some US clinics maintain OEUK doctor registration to serve cross-Atlantic offshore workers.

Manila / Singapore

Limited OEUK-registered doctors serving Asia-Pacific offshore market.

Provider list reflects established long-standing centres as of May 2026 and is not exhaustive. Many other accredited providers exist worldwide. Always verify current accreditation status via the official directory above before booking. CertVault is not affiliated with any listed provider.

Frequently asked questions

What is the OGUK Medical?↓
The OGUK Medical — now formally called the OEUK Medical following the industry body’s rebrand from Oil & Gas UK to Offshore Energies UK — is the standard medical fitness-to-work assessment for offshore workers on the UK Continental Shelf. It is a structured physical examination conducted by an OEUK-registered doctor against the published OEUK medical guidelines. The certificate confirms the worker is physically fit for the demands of offshore work — helicopter travel, working in rotational shifts, evacuation scenarios, exposure to motion and isolation.
How long is an OGUK Medical valid?↓
An OEUK Medical certificate is valid for up to two years from the date of examination. In some cases the doctor may issue a certificate with a shorter validity period — for example, if the worker has a medical condition requiring follow-up, or in line with the doctor's clinical judgement. Some operators or roles require annual medicals for workers over a certain age or in specific high-demand positions, even though OEUK's baseline is two years.
How much does an OGUK Medical cost?↓
An OEUK Medical typically costs between £120 and £250 in the UK, depending on the clinic, location, and whether any additional tests are required. The base fee usually covers full medical history review, physical examination, vision and hearing tests, urine analysis, and the certificate issuance. Costs increase if the doctor requires extra tests like spirometry (lung function), drug and alcohol screening, or detailed cardiovascular assessment. Some employers cover the cost as part of mobilisation; others require workers to pay upfront and reimburse on signing on.
Who can issue an OGUK Medical?↓
Only doctors who are registered and approved by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) can issue OEUK Medical certificates. These doctors complete a specific OEUK training workshop, hold ongoing registration with OEUK, and apply the published OEUK medical guidelines consistently. The list of OEUK-registered doctors is published on the OEUK website. Workers cannot use a generic GP for an OEUK Medical — the doctor must be on the OEUK register at the time of examination.
What does the OGUK Medical exam involve?↓
The examination is comprehensive and typically takes 30–60 minutes. It includes: medical history review, body mass index (BMI) measurement, blood pressure check, vision test (including colour vision where relevant), audiometry (hearing), urine analysis (typically for glucose, protein, blood), cardiovascular assessment, lung function checks. Additional tests like ECG, spirometry, or drug/alcohol screening may be added based on age, medical history, or specific role requirements. The doctor then issues the certificate, refers for further assessment, or restricts the certificate based on findings.
OGUK Medical vs NORSOK vs ENG1 — what is the difference?↓
OEUK Medical is the UK Continental Shelf standard. NORSOK is the Norwegian Continental Shelf standard — a similar offshore medical examined against Norwegian regulations and issued by Norwegian-approved physicians. ENG1 is the UK seafarer medical (Maritime and Coastguard Agency standard) for crew on commercial vessels — broader maritime applicability, not specific to offshore platforms. Workers operating across both UK offshore and maritime contexts sometimes need both an OEUK and an ENG1, since neither replaces the other for its specific regulatory context.
Why was OGUK renamed to OEUK?↓
In February 2022, the UK industry body Oil & Gas UK (OGUK) rebranded to Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), reflecting the broader scope of offshore activity now covered — including offshore wind and other renewable energies alongside traditional oil and gas. The medical certification system was renamed correspondingly: OGUK Medical became OEUK Medical. Older certificates issued under the OGUK name remain valid until their expiry date. New certificates are issued under the OEUK brand.
Can the OGUK Medical be done remotely?↓
No. The OEUK Medical requires in-person examination — the physical assessment, audiometry, vision tests, and other measurements cannot be conducted remotely. Some preliminary information (medical history, declarations) may be collected in advance via online forms, and some clinics offer remote certification for workers in specific situations, but the core medical examination is always in-person at an OEUK-registered doctor's clinic.

Related certifications

BOSIET

Practical emergency-response qualification — the other half of UKCS mobilisation compliance.

MIST

UK offshore safety-system awareness — the third leg of the UKCS triple.

Offshore Oil & Gas industry guide

Full reference for offshore certifications across all major regions.

OEUK official site →

Offshore Energies UK — medical guidelines, registered-doctor list, industry resources.

Track every offshore medical and cert

CertVault stores your OEUK Medical alongside BOSIET, MIST, IWCF and every other offshore credential — and alerts you 60 days before any expire.

Create free worker profile →Hire OEUK-medical-current workers →

Based on publicly available OEUK guidelines and clinic documentation as of May 2026. Verify current requirements with OEUK directly.