Dr Chris Paton

The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test is the route through which most international medical graduates (IMGs) demonstrate to the General Medical Council that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. It is the standard pathway for doctors trained outside the UK and the European Economic Area who do not hold an approved postgraduate qualification.

The PLAB has two parts. Part 1 is a written, multiple-choice examination of around 180 single-best-answer questions covering common UK clinical scenarios, taken at international test centres. Part 2 is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) sat at the GMC's centre in Manchester. Candidates must also meet English language requirements (typically via IELTS or OET).

Passing PLAB is necessary but not in itself sufficient: IMGs must then secure a clinical post in the UK to enter full GMC registration. The pathway is competitive and routinely changes — always rely on the GMC's own published guidance rather than third-party summaries.