PLAB & GMC Registration Guide — Practice Medicine in the UK

✅ All 28 of our EU partner universities are GMC-recognised. This means you can sit the PLAB examinations, obtain GMC registration, and work in the NHS after graduating from any of them. The licensing pathway is identical regardless of which EU country you studied in.

The Complete Pathway

Graduate from your EU Medical SchoolComplete 6-year MD programme. Ensure your university is on the GMC's list of recognised primary medical qualifications (PMQ) — all 28 of our partner universities are.

PLAB Eligibility — Verify your PMQSubmit your Primary Medical Qualification to the GMC for verification. Apply via GMC Online. Costs £155. Takes 6–10 weeks. Requires official transcript with university stamp and signature.

PLAB 1 — Knowledge Test180-question MCQ exam. Tests clinical knowledge and judgement. Format: Extended Matching Questions (EMQs) and Single Best Answer (SBA) questions. Available in 12 countries worldwide (UK, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, Jordan). Pass mark: ~68%. Booking: via GMC Online. Cost: £239. Preparation: 3–4 months of targeted study. Oxford Handbook and Passmedicine recommended.

PLAB 2 — Clinical Skills (OSCE)Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). 18 stations. Held only in Manchester, UK. Tests clinical skills, communication and professionalism. Actors play patients. Cost: £767. Preparation: OSCE courses recommended (£400–£800). Pass rate: ~71% for first-time candidates. 4 attempts permitted.

Apply for GMC Provisional RegistrationAfter passing PLAB 1+2 and having your PMQ verified, apply for GMC provisional registration. Cost: £371. Issued within 2–3 weeks. Required before starting work in the NHS.

Secure a Foundation/Trust Grade PostApply for Foundation Year 1 (FY1) posts (requires separate application), or Trust Grade/Clinical Fellow posts via NHS Jobs. Trust grade posts (formerly 'SHO' or 'locum') can often be secured faster.

Full GMC RegistrationAfter 12 months of supervised practice in a Foundation Programme post (or equivalent), apply for full GMC registration. Cost: £292. Allows unsupervised independent practice.

PLAB 1 — In Detail

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Format

180 questions in 3 hours. Single Best Answer (SBA) and Extended Matching Questions (EMQ). No negative marking. Questions written by UK-based clinicians and closely aligned to UK clinical practice guidelines.

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Preparation Resources

Passmedicine.com — the most popular PLAB 1 question bank. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine — essential reference. PassPLAB and Medicle — additional question banks. Allow 3–4 months minimum.

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Test Centres

UK (multiple centres), Egypt, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, UAE, Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sudan, Jordan. Sat up to 4 times/year depending on location. Book via GMC Online as soon as eligible.

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Pass Rate

First-time pass rate: approximately 71–76% (varies by sitting). You can sit up to 4 times. Most candidates pass within 2 attempts with adequate preparation.

PLAB 2 — In Detail

PLAB 2 is the most challenging part of the pathway — but also the most interesting. It tests whether you can actually communicate with and assess patients in a UK clinical environment.

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Format

18 OSCE stations, each 8 minutes. Actor-patients. Assessors observe. Stations cover: taking a history, physical examination, communication skills (breaking bad news, gaining consent), emergency scenarios, prescribing.

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Location

Only held in Manchester, UK (GMC assessment centre). Waiting list can be 6–18 months. Book immediately after passing PLAB 1. You will need to travel to Manchester for the examination.

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OSCE Preparation

OSCE courses are strongly recommended: PLAB2PASS, PLAB House, Swamy's OSCE. Cost: £400–£800. Practise with partners in role-play scenarios. Read UK clinical guidelines. Learn ICE (Ideas, Concerns, Expectations) model.

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Pass Rate & Attempts

First-time pass rate: ~71%. Up to 4 attempts permitted. Most candidates pass within 2 attempts. Focus on communication quality and patient-centred approach — not just clinical knowledge.

Strategic Planning — When to Start

💡 Start PLAB preparation during your final year of medical school. You can sit PLAB 1 while you are still a student (before graduation). This is perfectly legal and many students pass PLAB 1 before they even graduate, dramatically shortening the time to GMC registration.

Ideal PLAB Timeline

Year 5

Start PLAB 1 preparationBegin revising clinical medicine with Passmedicine. 1–2 hours/day alongside studies.

Year 6

Sit PLAB 1Book for May or September sitting in your final year. Pass before graduation.

Graduation

Submit PMQ to GMCImmediately submit your degree for GMC verification. Takes 6–10 weeks.

Month 6

Book PLAB 2Booking lists are long — book immediately on PMQ verification.

Month 9

PLAB 2 Course2-week intensive OSCE course in Manchester. 2 weeks of practise with study partners.

Month 10–12