PLAB is a two part tests, divided into PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. The first test is an MCQ test whereas the second test is an OSCE test. These tests measures your ability as a doctor to diagnose and manage cases presenting to the emergency room or GP clinics. Also they will assess your ability to work in medical and surgical wards. Every doctor travelling to the UK must do these tests in order to get registered in the GMC. However, some doctors can be registered without doing these tests, and they are: 1- If you're joining the MTI scheme 2- If you got accepted to one of the GMS sponsorship programs 3- If you have got certain postgraduate qualifications. Joining an MTI scheme: This program is to allow a limited number of doctors to work in the UK for a duration of not more than 24 months. So if you are a doctor in a specialty and want to be trained for a year or two by British consultants. However, you must first pass an English test, either IELTS or OET. You can know more through there official link here. Applying for sponsorship programs: Some colleges and hospitals in the UK can sponsor you as a doctor and offer you a job. For this to happen, you have to fit the eligibility criteria for every program, have no clinical gaps in the past 12 months and passed an English test, either OET or IELTS. This is a list which includes all the accepted bodies by the GMC: Alder Hey International Fellowship Scheme (Anaesthetics) Belfast Health and Social Care Trust - Clinical Fellowship in Gynaecological Oncology Cambridge University Hospital - Senior Clinical Fellowship Scheme in Intensive Care Medicine/Anaesthesia Canterbury Christ Church University Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Edge Hill University and Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Trust – International Training Fellowships in MCh programmes ENT UK - Royal College of Surgeons Great Ormond Street Hospital International Fellowship Programme Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust - Anaesthetics Guy's & St Thomas' - Intensive Care Guy’s & St Thomas’ - Oncology Guy’s & St Thomas’ – Pain Management Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Harefield Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Trust – Anaesthesia and Critical Care Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – CPSP International Partnership Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - Haematology Imperial College, London Imperial College, London – Emergency Medicine Imperial College, London – Intensive Care Medicine Institute of Psychiatry, London King’s College Hospital (Critical Care) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Medical Training Initiative Programme Lysholm Dept of Neuroradiology - National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCL Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - International Fellowship Programme Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - Medical Training Initiative Programme Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Northumberland Tyne and Wear Psychiatry Fellowship Programme Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Emergency Medicine Oxford University Hospitals – Oxford Intensive Care Medicine (OxICM) Sponsorship Scheme Oxford University Hospitals – The Oxford International Neonatal and Paediatric Fellowship Programme Royal College of Anaesthetists Royal College of Emergency Medicine Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists Royal College of Ophthalmologists Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health Royal College of Pathologists Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons of England Royal College of Physicians of London Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Royal College of Psychiatrists Royal College of Radiologists - Clinical Radiology Royal College of Radiologists - Clinical Oncology Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Royal Wolverhampton Trust - Clinical Fellowship Programme South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust – International Fellowship in Psychiatry St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – International Emergency Medicine Trainees Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust – International Psychiatric CESR Fellowship University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust – Obstetrics and Gynaecology University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust – Paediatric Haematology, Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplantation Dept University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust To know more, you can visit this link. Accepted Post-graduate qualifications as a substitute for PLAB tests. There are some post-graduate qualifications that are accepted by the GMC for registration. Being a holder of one of these qualifications, proves that you've got the essential knowledge, skill and experience to work as a doctor in the UK. Howeverm you must apply to GMC registration within three years of getting the said qualification. To look at the list of accepted qualifications, visit this link.
