Medical Registration – United Kingdom
The General Medical Council UK is the public body who maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the United Kingdom. It is essential for all doctors to hold medical registration (General or Specialist) and a license to practise in order to work in the UK.
EEA trained applicants:
The process for doctors trained within Europe is straightforward as your training/qualifications are automatically recognised as equivalent to UK training. There is likely to be a requirement for you to pass an English language exam (IELTS or OET) unless you have completed your training in English.
You will need to create an online account with the GMC and make your application. Once this application has been submitted you will be asked to send notarised copies of your identification and qualifications (usually your primary medical degree certificate and specialist training certificate (if applicable). The GMC will require Certificates of Good Standing from all other medical councils that you have been registered with also.
Once your application has been assessed and approved, you will be invited to a face to face ‘identity check’ appointment in London or Manchester. After this successful appointment you will be registered and hold a license to practise so you can take up employment as a doctor in the UK. This process will typically take 3 months.
Non EEA trained applicants:
For doctors who have trained outside Europe the process can often involve additional examinations called PLAB exams. These are taken in two parts, the first in your home country and the second in the UK. These are designed to assess your knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the UK. If you have not completed your training in English, then you will be required to pass an English language test (IELTS or OET) also. Please click here for detailed information on the PLAB route.
Once you have passed the PLAB examinations you will need to have your qualifications independently verified by an online organisation called ECFMG and submit your GMC application online. Click here for more information. The application process via the PLAB route can take around 18 months to complete.
Specialists who have completed additional training may be eligible for general registration with the GMC if they hold ‘acceptable postgraduate qualifications. The current list can be found here. This means you would not need to complete PLAB examinations and can apply in a similar way to European trained applicants.
Please note this is an overview of the application process and we are happy to review training and qualifications with individuals to give specific advice on your application route.