UK PLAB and GMC registration for Pakistani doctors

The realistic path from Pakistan

Most Pakistani doctors reach the UK through the PLAB route. The sequence is straightforward on paper but the timing and document quality decide how long it actually takes.

Core requirements:

• Acceptable primary medical qualification (PMDC-recognised and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools)
• IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in every band, or OET Medicine grade B in all four sub-tests (single sitting)
• Pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2
• Evidence of an acceptable internship (usually the one-year Pakistani house job with at least three months medicine and three months surgery)
• Certificate of Good Standing from PMDC

English language — the first gate

IELTS Academic (not General) is the usual choice. The “taught in English” exemption almost never works for Pakistani graduates. Book the test early and aim for scores that leave margin — many people need two attempts.

Results are valid for two years at the point of GMC registration. Keep the Test Report Form number safe.

PLAB 1 and PLAB 2

PLAB 1 is a written exam that can be taken at British Council centres in Pakistan. PLAB 2 is a clinical exam held only in Manchester. Both are now aligned with the UK Medical Licensing Assessment content map.

You can sit PLAB 1 before finishing house job. Full GMC registration with a licence to practise, however, normally requires the completed acceptable internship.

Book PLAB 2 only when you have a realistic plan for the UK visit (visa, accommodation, practice time).

House job evidence the GMC actually accepts

The GMC looks for twelve months of continuous supervised clinical practice that includes at least three months in medicine and three months in surgery. A detailed hospital letter listing exact rotations and dates is essential. Rotations that are only paediatrics, gynaecology or pure emergency can create problems if the medicine and surgery components are missing or unclear.

Check your rotation list against the GMC internship guidance before you invest heavily in exams.

From PLAB pass to GMC licence

After passing both parts you apply for registration through GMC Online. Primary source verification of the degree is done via EPIC. Good Standing certificates are valid for only three months, so order them late in the process. Once the licence is granted you can apply for Health and Care Worker visa jobs with a licensed sponsor.

A GMC licence is not a job. Many IMGs spend additional months securing the first post.

Read next: Career options after MBBS · FCPS vs MRCP vs USMLE · UK PLAB and GMC · Canada PR via Express Entry.

Frequently asked questions