- Graduates of medical schools outside the UK, the EEA and Switzerland will probably need to pass PLAB.
- PLAB 1 has 180 questions in three hours; PLAB 2 has 16 stations of eight minutes each.
- After passing PLAB 2 you have two years for the GMC to approve your registration application.
- Practising medicine without registration and a licence to practise is illegal.
The route in order
- Use the GMC's application finder. It takes you step by step to the medical, GP or Specialist register route that fits where you qualified and your experience.
- Set up a GMC Online account and show that your medical qualification and your English are acceptable. The GMC verifies this before you can book.
- Book and pass PLAB 1, then PLAB 2. See PLAB explained for fees and attempts.
- Apply for registration with a licence to practise within two years of passing Part 2.
- Once approved, you can work as a doctor in the UK.
What PLAB tests
| Part | Format (GMC) |
|---|---|
| PLAB 1 | Written exam, 180 single best answer questions in three hours. Each starts with a short scenario, then asks you to choose from five answers. Sat in a number of countries and in the UK. |
| PLAB 2 | An OSCE with 16 scenarios, each lasting eight minutes, such as a mock consultation or an acute ward. Held through the year at the GMC's clinical assessment centre. |
The GMC says PLAB checks that you know and can do what a doctor starting the second year of Foundation training in the UK can. English evidence comes first, and the scores and fallbacks are covered in GMC English language requirements.
The registration types you may meet
| Type | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Provisional, with a licence | An approved Foundation Year 1 post only |
| Full, with a licence | Unsupervised practice or an approved Foundation Year 2 programme |
| Full in an approved practice setting | Practice only with a connection to a designated body; the restriction is lifted on revalidation or joining the GP or Specialist Register |
| Specialist or GP | Separate applications for consultant posts or NHS general practice |
Every doctor practising medicine in the UK needs one of these types plus a licence to practise. You can check anyone's entry yourself: how to check the GMC register.
If you disagree with a decision
The GMC says its independent appeals team will talk to you about the outcome of an application. Use that route; do not pay a third party to “reopen” a decision.
Beware of agents who promise a shortcut
The GMC assesses overseas doctors itself, through its own tests and its own checks. Any recruiter or agent who promises registration without the tests, or asks for money to “arrange” a licence or a PLAB pass, is not describing a real route. Four points help:
- You book PLAB yourself through GMC Online; nobody else holds your place.
- The GMC cannot assess evidence before you apply, so no one can pre-approve your documents.
- Unregistered practice is something the GMC can refer to the police; it says this may lead to prosecution, a criminal record and a substantial fine.
- A forged degree or IELTS result will not survive verification: fake IELTS certificates.
The recruitment pattern is the same for nurses and doctors; see overseas recruitment scams for how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Do doctors trained abroad have to take PLAB?
If you graduated outside the UK, the EEA or Switzerland you will probably need to, according to the GMC, though the route depends on where you qualified and your experience.
Where do I apply to the GMC?
Through GMC Online, after reading the guides and using the application finder to choose the right register and route.
How long do I have after passing PLAB 2?
The GMC says your registration application must be approved within two years of passing part 2.
What does provisional registration allow?
Provisional registration with a licence to practise lets a graduate work in an approved UK Foundation Year 1 post, and cannot be used for anything else.
Can an agent get me a licence faster?
No. The GMC runs the tests and decides registration. Anyone asking for money to arrange a licence or a PLAB pass is not offering a real route.
Can I appeal if my application is refused?
The GMC has an independent appeals team that you can speak to about the outcome of an application.