Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB test)

The Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board, known as the PLAB test is used to check that overseas doctors have the basic medical competence and communication skills to work at Senior House Officer (SHO) level. It is administered by the General Medical Council and is divided into two sections:

Part 1 of the PLAB test consists of a three hour extended matching question examination. The emphasis of the examination is on clinical management and includes science as applied to clinical problems.

Part 2 is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which tests communication skills in a number of controlled situations.

Part 1 can be taken in the UK or at selected centres in Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Egypt, India, NIgeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but Part 2 can only be taken in the UK. Details of PLAB test dates, locations, fees and example questions can be found on the GMC's website.

The BMA is not involved in the administration of the PLAB test. All enquiries and applications should be directed to the General Medical Council PLAB test section.

Exemption from the PLAB test
If you fall into one of the following categories, you may not need to take the PLAB test, although you will still need to show your competence in English. You should contact the GMC for further details if you think you might be exempt from the PLAB test.

Categories of PLAB test exemption
Selection for training under quality assured arrangements previously agreed by the GMC - applies to doctors who have been selected for postgraduate training through a sponsorship programme approved by the GMC (e.g. an Overseas Doctors Training Scheme (ODTS) run by one of the Medical Royal Colleges, an approved British Council or University Department sponsorship scheme).

Completion of basic specialist training - applies to doctors who have completed basic training to the satisfaction of the UK specialist training body. This usually means that the doctor must have passed the membership examinations of the appropriate Medical Royal College. The doctor will only be able to practice in that particular specialty.

Appointment to a Type 1 Specialist Registrar post - Type 1 Specialist Registrar posts are educationally approved posts which lead to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). A doctor will need to show proof of appointment in order to be given PLAB exemption in this category.

Doctors eligible for specialist registration - applies to doctors who have been recommended for inclusion in the specialist register by the Specialist Training Authority on the basis of overseas training. Registration will be limited to practice in the particular specialty.

The BMA cannot give individual advice on whether a doctor is exempt from the PLAB test. Please contact the General Medical Council PLAB test section.

United Examining Board - Alternative primary medical qualification
The Society of Apothecaries administers an alternative route to registration in the UK, the United Examining Board primary medical qualification. This is an alternative qualification to the PLAB test, and can also be used in exceptional circumstances by those who have been unable to complete their medical studies as a result of "local disruption". The doctor would need to pass this examination and complete a period of assessment in a UK medical school before the GMC will accept this qualification for registration purposes. Further details can be obtained from the National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Medical Education (NACPME) or the United Examining Board.