PLAB Courses

The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test – known as the PLAB test – helps us to make sure doctors who qualified abroad have the right knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the UK.

There are two parts to the test. Part 1 is a written multiple choice exam, with 180 single best answer questions. Part 2 is a practical objective structured clinical exam, known as an OSCE. You’ll need to pass both parts before you can apply for registration with a licence to practise medicine in the UK.

• Get a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ)
• Complete an acceptable pattern of internship
• Obtain good score in English language proficiency
• Take PLAB 1
• Complete EPIC Verification of the credentials
• Take PLAB 2 and apply for UK Visitor Visa
• Visit UK for taking PLAB 2
• Apply for GMC registration
• Look out for jobs in the NHS
• Apply for Tier 2 (work) Visa

You can’t sit for the PLAB exams without your PMQ (primary medical qualification, e.g. MBBS). That means you can’t sit for PLAB being a medical student. You don’t necessarily need to have the main diploma/certificate in order to appear for PLAB, but you will need them before you apply for GMC registration.

If you have already had more than four failed attempts at either part of PLAB 1 or 2, you are no longer eligible to take the test or apply for an additional attempt. If you are granted an additional attempt at PLAB 1, you may need to submit valid English language evidence for verification before you are able to book.

The pass score for PLAB-1 is not constant. It keeps varying depending on the average pass score but it is always around 120 to 126 which is almost 60 to 62%. The most important part of this exam is Time Management.