What postgraduate routes are available for overseas doctors?
- April 10, 2020
Recognised postgraduate qualifications are essential to work in the NHS with full GMC registration.
The GMC must be satisfied you have sufficient knowledge and skills before it grants you a license to practice, and for international doctors there are various routes to be considered. Your experience and desired role in the NHS should help shape the route you take option for you. The following postgraduate routes are available to you:
- PLAB
- UK Postgraduate Qualification (Royal College Qualification)
- Recognised or Equivalent Postgraduate Qualification
PLAB:
The first and most popular route for more junior doctors is the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board or PLAB as its commonly known. It is a two-part exam, with Part 1 taken all over the world and the second part taken in the UK only. It is a quick and relatively simple set of examinations for overseas doctors to work in the NHS.
Have a read through our detailed and helpful blog series on the PLAB tests for more information.
UK Postgraduate Qualifications / Royal College qualifications:
One of the most popular routes for overseas doctors is to attain a UK Postgraduate Qualification through one of the UK's Royal Colleges.
There are twenty-four Royal Colleges in existence in the UK, and they are the professional bodies responsible for the individual medical specialties they cover. Amonst their many duties, their role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter their respecitive professions.
UK trainees will sit a series of examinations set by their Royal College depending on what medical speciality they have chosen and these generally are set to a higher level of specialism and training when compared to the PLAB examinations.
Attaining a Royal College Qualification will of course satisfy GMC postgraduate criteria for full registration and are often the route for more senior international candidates looking to work in the UK. Certainly, if you want to
Have a read through our Postgraduate Qualifcation section to find the qualification set against your specialty. The entire list of Royal College examinations can be found below.
Alternatively, have a look through our blog on PLAB v Royal College to help you decide.
CLICK ON THE QUALIFICATION BELOW TO READ A USEFUL GUIDE FOR IMGs.
|
Awarding Body |
Qualification |
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Membership of the College of Emergency Medicine |
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Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
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Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health |
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Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists |
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Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow |
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Royal College of Physicians London |
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Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
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Royal College of Surgeons of England |
Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons - MRCS Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons - (MRCS (ENT)) Collegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons - (MRCS) Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons - (following examination) (FRCS) |
Recognised or Equivalent Postgraduate Qualifications
Another option is to attain a GMC recognised overseas qualification. These overseas qualifications are recognised by the GMC as equivalent and will be accepted as evidence that you have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to apply for full registration with a licence to practise.
Have a read through our blog on GMC Recognised Postgraduate Qualifications to find out if your qualification is on the list and recognised by the GMC.
Please note, you must be granted full registration with a license to practice within three years of passing your postgraduate qualification.
Recognised Equivalent Qualifications:
|
Country |
Awarding Body |
Qualification |
|
America |
American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) |
Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics - General Pediatrics |
|
America |
American Board of Anaesthesiology |
Certificate of the American Board of Anaesthesiology |
|
America |
The American Board of Radiology |
The American Board of Radiology diagnostic radiology examination |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists |
Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
Royal Australasian College of Physicians |
FRACP Adult medicine or evidence of three years of basic training (PREP) + achievement of RACP written and clinical examinations OR FRACP Paediatrics or evidence of three years basic training (PREP) + achievement of RACP written and clinical examinations |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists |
Fellowship of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (FRANZCP) awarded since January 2012 |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists |
Fellowship of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (FRANZCR) (Clinical Radiology) Fellowship of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (FRANZCR) (Radiation Oncology) |
|
Bangladesh |
Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons |
Fellowship in Anaesthesia or Anaesthesiology awarded since July 1999 |
|
Canada |
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada |
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - diagnostic radiology examination |
|
Europe |
European Academy of Anaesthesiology or European Society of Anaesthesiology |
European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care |
|
Hong Kong |
Hong Kong College of Physicians |
Membership of the Hong Kong College of Physicians |
|
Ireland |
College of Anaesthetists of Ireland |
Fellowship of the Faculty or the College of Anaesthetists |
|
Ireland |
Royal College of Physicians in Ireland |
MRCP Medicine (Medicine of Childhood) |
|
Ireland |
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
MRCS (collegiate examination) MRSCI (intercollegiate examination) Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland Fellowship of the Faculty or the College of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland |
|
Malaysia |
Ministry of Health |
Master of Medicine (MMED) Malaysia with MRCP (UK) awarded since 1 July 2010 This must include four years of clinical experience (required to complete MMED) plus two years of training |
|
Pakistan |
College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan |
FCPS Paediatrics Pakistan Fellowship in Anaesthesiology awarded since1998 |
|
Singapore |
National University of Singapore |
Master of Medicine (Paediatrics) Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) including MRCP (UK) |
|
Singapore |
Joint Committee on Specialist Training Singapore |
Master of Medicine (MMED) Singapore, plus MRCP (UK) awarded since 1 July 2010 |
|
South Africa |
College of Anaesthetists of South Africa |
Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of South Africa FCA (SA) |
|
South Africa |
Colleges of Medicine of South Africa |
Fellowship of the College of Radiologists of SA FC Rad Diag (SA) - Diag Rad awarded after 1 October 2013 |
|
Sri Lanka |
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Doctor of Medicine or MD (Anaesthesiology) Doctor of Medicine or MD, (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) Doctor of Medicine or MD, (Paediatrics) Doctor of Medicine or MD (medicine) awarded after January 2017 Doctor of Medicine or MD (surgery) awarded after July 2017 |
|
West Africa |
West African College of Physicians |
Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (Paediatrics) |
|
West Indies |
University of the West Indies |
Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia) awarded since September 2003 (Course title has since changed to Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia and Intensive care) |
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