PLAB Examination Guide for Medical Professionals

If you're an international medical graduate (IMG) hoping to practise medicine in the UK, the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) exam is one of the most accessible and popular routes to GMC registration. It’s designed to assess whether you have the necessary knowledge and skills to practise safely as a junior doctor in the NHS.

In this blog, we'll walk you through the entire PLAB journey—from eligibility to registration—along with exam content, costs, revision materials, and how long the process typically takes.

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🌍 What Is the PLAB Exam?

The PLAB exam is administered by the General Medical Council (GMC) and is split into two parts:

• PLAB 1 – Written exam to assess medical knowledge and decision-making

• PLAB 2 – Practical OSCE exam to test communication and clinical skills

Passing both exams allows you to apply for full GMC registration with a licence to practise in the UK.

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✅ Who Needs to Take the PLAB Examination?

You need to take the PLAB exam if:

• You’re an international medical graduate with a non-UK medical degree

• You’re applying for GMC registration and your qualification is not recognised for direct registration

• You do not hold an approved postgraduate qualification (e.g. MRCP, USMLE, AMC)

You must also have passed an English language test:

• IELTS (minimum overall score 7.5, and at least 7.0 in each section)

• OET (Grade B in all four areas)

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🛤️ Step-by-Step Guide to the PLAB Journey

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

• Hold a primary medical qualification accepted by the GMC

• Pass IELTS or OET

• Create a GMC Online account and verify your documents

  
  

Step 2: Book and Sit PLAB 1

Format:

• Written exam with 180 single best answer (SBA) questions

• Duration: 3 hours

• Taken internationally at test centres

Topics Covered:

• Common and important conditions seen by junior doctors in the UK

• Management of emergencies, chronic illness, prescribing, ethics, communication

When to Sit It:

• Offered 4 times a year (usually March, June, September, and November)

Step 3: Book and Sit PLAB 2

Format:

• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

• 16 clinical scenarios covering:

  • History-taking

  • Physical examination

  • Communication with patients, families, and colleagues

  • Practical procedures

Location:

• Conducted only in Manchester, UK

When to Sit It:

• After passing PLAB 1

• Demand is high, so book early (usually a waiting period of 3–6 months)

Step 4: Apply for GMC Registration

Once you pass both exams:

• Submit your GMC application online

• Upload your primary medical qualification, English test result, and other documents

• Pay the registration fee

• Attend an ID check in the UK (if requested)

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📚 Recommended Revision Materials

For PLAB 1:

• Passmedicine PLAB 1 Qbank – Highly recommended

• PLABable – Interactive online question bank

• Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine

• NICE Guidelines – For UK-based clinical approaches

• UKMLA Prep Resources – Covers UK medical practice

  
  

For PLAB 2:

• PLABable for PLAB 2 – OSCE-style scenarios with video walkthroughs

• PLAB 2 Academies (in the UK):

  • Samson Plab Academy

  • Aspire Academy

  • Swamy Academy

• Practice with study partners or join mock OSCE groups

• Focus on UK communication style, patient safety, and ethics

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For the approximate cost of completing the examination, please click here.