The Complete Guide to PLAB Exam for Overseas Doctors

What is PLAB?

PLAB is a qualifying test to determine if you meet the criteria to receive GMC registration. A GMC registration enables you to practise in the UK as a doctor.

The intention is to verify that you have the right knowledge and skills to provide medical services in the UK as an overseas qualified doctor. Although PLAB doesn't prove expertise in any specialty, it confirms that you hold competency at least equal to F2 or SHO in the UK.

When Do I Take It?

It's recommended to take it after completing an internship or house job. It makes you eligible for full GMC registration.
However, the timing of sitting your PLAB exam is flexible; it can be done at any point in your career as long as you possess a recognised Primary Medical Qualification. 

Many doctors advocate "the sooner, the better".

Remember that there are prerequisites before sitting these exams including a GMC online account and acceptable levels of both English language competency and relevant medical qualifications. Once you complete these prerequisites, you can sit for Part 1.

Refer the General Medical Council Website for more info.

Exam Details:

PLAB 1 

PLAB 1 tests your readiness to handle patient care at the UK house level, which equates to the Foundation Year 2 -- a period of one year's medical practice. 

It tests current best practices in use within the UK healthcare system as well as familiarisation with equipment commonly used in its hospitals. So, answers should be drawn from published research rather than personal experience or locale-specific norms because this test gauges aptitude for integration into the UK healthcare system.

The exam covers common, emergency and acute conditions (those common in emergency departments) seen by trainees entering the second year of the Foundation Programme (FY2), and the management of long- term conditions seen in primary care.

It’s a 3 hour written format test with 180 multiple choice questions. Each question has a scenario followed by a question and 5 answer options. You’ll need to identify the correct answer.

PLAB 2

PLAB 2 Immerses you into a real-life healthcare practice via an Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). This is likely something familiar from your medical studies. Within this assessment, 18 8-minute scenarios emulate daily clinical situations ranging from consultations to acute ward management.

You’ll be scored for a match with current best practices in the UK. So refer published data rather than what you know locally. Even drug names are from the British National Formulary (BNF).

Allow about 3 hours and 10 mins for the assessment to complete. Between scenarios, you’ll get 1 and a half minutes to familiarise yourself with each patient’s dossier as well as necessary guidelines.

Evaluation parameters for every scenario covers a) Data collection, assessment, technical skills b) Clinical management  d) Communication  

Preparation

You can prep for PLAB 1 by yourself, but many overseas doctors find it helpful to join courses for PLAB 2. It's also a good idea to plan ahead for PLAB 2 so you can finish everything within your 6-month tourist visa to the UK

 Here are some recommended resources: The PLAB Blueprint, The Foundation Programme Syllabus, "Good Medical Practice" by GMC, Sample questions on GMC website.

Am I Eligible?

To take the PLAB exam, you need a medical degree accepted by the UK's GMC and proof that you're good at English, usually by passing a test like IELTS or OET. 

You’ll also need at least a year of clinical experience after graduation in a teaching or approved hospital. You can take the test before your experience, but you'll only get a limited registration and a grade which new UK medical graduates get.

Is UKMLA Replacing PLAB?

There have been talks about UKMLA replacing PLAB in 2024, but for now, PLAB is still needed. However, PLAB will match UKMLA’s content map. If you’re taking PLAB in 2024, you'll be notified about the content map 3 months before your exam.

Benefits of PLAB:

- PLAB is open to all international medical graduates.
- You can choose when to take the exam, so you can study at your own pace.
- It checks your English skills, which are really important for working as a doctor in the UK.

Understanding PLAB is essential if you want to work as a doctor in the UK. Make sure to keep up with any changes to the rules and requirements for a smooth journey toward your goal.

If you've made it this far, you might want to check out Medlogbook to keep track of your medical experiences.I’ve created this to organise your competencies which could help with moving abroad. It can help you gather the necessary evidence for practising in different countries, as many of them require proof of your work.