The General Medical Council’s medical register is a full list of all the doctors qualified to work in the UK. Within this, there are different types of registration which doctors must hold to work in different posts in the UK.  All practicing physicians must hold one of these types of registration with a license to practice.  In this article we will discuss the following:   Provisional Registration Full Registration Specialist Registration GP Registration IMG Tips 1. Provisional Registration The purpose of provisional registration is to allow medical graduates to complete an approved internship (FY1). After this, trainees will receive a certificate of experience with which they can apply for full registration.  Provisional registration can be held for a maximum of three years and 30 days (1,125 days) only, which would be enough time within which to complete a 12-month internship. This registration will expire after the allotted time, and you will be removed from the register, however, more time can be provided, and you can find out whether you will be eligible here.  What roles can I take with provisional registration?  With provisional registration, the only service post you are able to take is an FY1 service post, other than an approved UK FY1 programme.  Who can apply for provisional registration?  If you are eligible for full registration, you cannot apply for provisional registration.  Applications for provisional registration will be considered from:   UK medical graduate who completed their medical degree at a UK university  Doctors who graduated from outside the UK with an acceptable primary medical qualification (PMQ) and have passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB), but have not completed an internship  Doctors who qualified within certain European countries but do not hold the accompanying certificate required to complete their relevant European qualification – you can see a full list of these countries here.  2. Full Registration Doctors require full registration to work in unsupervised medical practice in the NHS, UK private practice, or to move onto the second year of their internship (FY2) in an approved training programme require a full license to practice.  What roles can I take with full registration?  With full registration, doctors can take up any post aside from GP posts and substantive consultant posts.  Who can apply for full registration?  There are certain criteria you must meet before you are eligible for full registration:  1. Completed the first year (FY1) of the Foundation Programme in the UK  2. Be a Swiss or UK national (or benefit from enforceable community rights) and have either:  A formal qualification listed in The Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications; OR An acceptable primary medical qualification from outside the EEA (which has been recognised in Switzerland) with evidence of an acceptable pattern of experience  3. Be an international medical graduate (IMG) with an acceptable PMQ, and enough clinical experience to practice medicine in the UK – you can do this in one of 5 ways:  A pass in the PLAB test Sponsorship by a GMC approved sponsor An acceptable postgraduate qualification or overseas licensing exam Relevant European Qualification (REQ) Eligibility for entry onto the Specialist or GP register Full registration does not have a time limit, but doctors should note that they are required to go through a revalidation process every five years to avoid the license to practice being withdrawn.  You can read more about the routes to GMC Registration through our IMG Resources library.  3. Specialist Registration The specialist register is an online list of doctors who are eligible to work as fixed term, honorary or substantive consultants in the NHS, excluding foundation trusts.  If a doctor is on the Specialist Register, it will say so as part of their status on the register, and you will be able to see the specialties (and sub-specialties) they are qualified in, as well as the date they joined the specialist register in each specialty.  Types of Specialist Registration  There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC, and the type of certificate you will receive at the end of your training defines which training route you are on.  You can read more about Specialist Registration for IMGs here.  What roles can I take with Specialist registration?  Doctors who are on the Specialist Register can take up permanent or substantive consultant positions.   Who can apply for Specialist registration?  Eligibility for Specialist Registration depends on your nationality, qualifications and experience. To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply you must have either:   A specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in  OR   At least six months continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in   You’ll need to provide evidence of how you’re eligible as part of your application. This could be a copy of your qualification or evidence of your employment. In your application you must show that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.    4. GP Registration GP Registration is a requirement for any doctor who wishes to be eligible for appointment to a general practitioner (GP) position in the UK.  Please note that unlike in many countries, GPs in the UK are family and community medicine specialists and if you are an IMG general physician, you would need to apply for full registration, not GP registration.  What roles can I take with GP registration?  Doctors who are on the GP Register can take up posts as General Practitioners in the UK. As well as being on the GP Register, you’ll need to complete a number of other processes before you can start work as a GP in the UK. You'll need to join a Performers List and an Induction or Returner Scheme. You can read more about this here.  Who can apply for GP registration?  Doctors may be eligible for entry onto the GP Register if you have a relevant European GP qualification. You can check which GP qualifications are accepted on the GMC’s evidence of qualifications page. You must also check your qualification is on the list of relevant European qualifications, and that:  The title of it is exactly the same as the one in the list  AND  The qualification was issued on or after the reference date listed.  #IMG Tips Use the GMC website – there are many useful resources on the GMC website, including a very helpful registration route finder to help you determine which registration you should apply for.  Research/ think about the types of evidence you will need and make a plan for your application, particularly if you will have to sit any exams.  If you want to contact our specialists use our Candidate Portal today! So there it is, the different types of GMC registration in a nutshell. This is important to understand, particularly for IMGs looking to relocate to the UK and find work in the NHS. If you have any further questions about GMC registration or your route to the UK, please get in touch with us here.   Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:                   

The GMC is the public body that maintains the official register of medical professionals with the UK. Once a doctor has gained full GMC registration, there are a number of actions they may take to maintain their registration and keep their information up to date.   In this blog we will be looking at the how to manage your registration and the different options you have if you need to change your status on the register.  How do I maintain my registration? What is revalidation and who needs it? How do I give up my licence or registration? How do I restore my licence or registration? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Maintaining your Registration In order to manage and maintain your registration and licence to practise, you need to meet certain requirements and keep your information up to date.  The details you need to keep up to date include your address, email, designated body or suitable person (for revalidation purposes) and your direct debit details. This can all be managed through GMC Online.  To change your address, your name or your name and gender status, you will need to complete forms which can be found on the GMC website.   Please note that to change your name and gender status, there is an application process involved.  Revalidation All doctors on the GMC’s medical register with a licence to practise must go through a process called revalidation.   Revalidation allows you to demonstrate that you:  are keeping your knowledge up to date  provide a good level of care  are fit to practise and no concerns have been raised about you  The process of revalidation differs slightly, depending on your revalidation connection type, which you can check using the GMC’s connection tool.  Doctors with a connection – most doctors have a connection and will revalidate their registration and licence every five years, by having annual appraisals based on the GMC’s core guidance for doctors: Good medical practice. All doctors working in the UK must have a designated body and will be given a five yearly recommendation from their responsible officer or suitable person, based on which the GMC would make a decision.  Doctors without a connection – you may not have a connection for example because you are not practising in the UK. In this case, you would similarly revalidate through a process of annual appraisals based on Good medical practice, annual returns submitted to us as well as a five-yearly assessment. The GMC would make a revalidation decision based on the outcomes of these activities.  Doctors in training – these doctors would revalidate through meeting the requirements of their UK training programme and the GMC would make a decision based on a recommendation from the responsible officer of their training body.  Full details on revalidation can be found on the GMC website.  Please note, if you fail to comply with the requirements of registration, including appraisals, this puts your licence to practise at risk.   Changing your Status on the GMC Register If you're no longer practising medicine or enter into work that doesn’t require registration or a licence to practise, you can apply to give up your whole registration or just your licence.  You can choose to give up either your registration or just your licence. Which of the two options is best for you will depend on your circumstances and we will go into more details on this below.  Giving up your licence or registration is not final, and you can apply to restore it again when you're ready.  The table below will allow you to understand whether it would be better for you to relinquish your registration, your licence or both, based on some considerations you may have.  Relinquish your Registration If you give up your licence only, you will still be able to prove your good standing with the GMC to other organisations, but you will pay a reduced annual retention fee. You will not be able to practise medicine in the UK.  Relinquishing your registration (voluntary erasure) means that your name will remain on the GMC register but with the status ‘Not registered – Having relinquished registration’  You can request to give up your registration up to three months in advance, but if you hold full registration with a licence to practise, you will still need to take part in revalidation until your registration ends.   Providing Medical Services If you have provided medical services in the 5 years prior to giving up your registration, you will need to send the GMC a provision of medical services statement, from your employer to confirm you provided a medical service if you have used your medical knowledge and skills as part of your work.  The form can be downloaded from the GMC website and should be completed by the individual, body, or organisation where you most recently provided these services, anywhere in the world. This includes unpaid and voluntary work, or any other sort of arrangement, whether it be formal or informal.  Details of what should be accounted for in the form can be found here.  Fees There is a processing fee which applies when giving up your registration. If your application is received by the GMC:  before your annual retention fee (ARF) is due, you will be refunded any unused part of your ARF.  after your ARF is due, you will have to pay the outstanding balance before the GMC will end your registration.  The fee is £10, but effective 1st April 2023, this will be changed to £0.  Relinquish your Licence If you give up your registration, you will not have to pay an annual retention fee. You will not be able to practise medicine in the UK.  Giving up your licence but keeping your registration means you're able to prove your good standing with the GMC to other organisations. You will not however be able to practise medicine in the UK.  Some things to bear in mind if you give up your licence:  It’s your responsibility to establish that you do not need a licence for your work.  You’re still bound by the principles of Good medical practice if you keep your registration without a licence.  You must tell your employer and those who contract and use your services that you’ve given up your licence.  You can apply to give up your licence to practise through your GMC Online account, through the ‘My Registration’ section and you will not need to provide any evidence or documentation.  Full details of the documentation needed to reinstate your licence can be found here.    Fees There is a processing fee which applies when giving up your licence to practise. The fee is £10, but effective 1st April 2023, this will be changed to £0.  Restore your Licence to Practice If you were up-to-date with revalidation when you gave it up, it is relatively straightforward to have it restored.  From 2016 to 2017, it took on average 22 days for licence restoration, and you can apply for restoration up to three months in advance.  You'll need to send the GMC:  evidence to confirm your identity  statements from organisations you have most recently provided medical services to  certificates of good standing from any other regulators you’ve been registered with in the past five years  You might also be asked to attend an identity check, but the GMC will confirm this once your application has been granted and your licence restored.  Please note, if you were not up-to-date with revalidation when you relinquished your licence, you will be given a new revalidation submission date, and you will need to meet any requirements you failed to meet when you withdrew your licence.  You can apply to restore your licence to practise through your GMC Online account, through the ‘My Registration’ section, then ‘My Applications’.  Fees There is a processing fee which applies when restoring your licence to practise. The fee is £10, but effective 1st April 2023, this will be changed to £0.  Sources https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/information-for-doctors-on-the-register/maintain-your-registration  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/information-for-doctors-on-the-register/revalidation  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/changing-your-status-on-the-register/restoration-to-the-register  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/changing-your-status-on-the-register/giving-up-your-licence-to-practise  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/changing-your-status-on-the-register/giving-up-your-registration-and-licence-to-practise   Getting started We hope this article gives you a clearer picture of the different ways you can manage your GMC registration.   If you are looking to restore your registration or licence, get in touch with our team for support in finding your perfect role in the NHS and relocating to the UK – we’re always happy to help.  Read more useful articles on exams, NHS jobs and salaries in our IMG Resources library.  For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

Overseas doctors often have questions about the best ways to prepare for PLAB, particularly with so many online resources available with varying reviews and price points.   So, what study preparation, materials, courses and support are available for international doctors? We have compiled some of the best resources and courses to help you in your preparation for the PLAB 1 exam.   The topics we will cover are as follows:  What is the PLAB 1 exam? What do I need in preparation for the PLAB 1 exam? How do I get started with my revision? What other resources are available? #IMGTips Passed? What’s next? For an overview of the entire examination series, have a look at our article in the IMG Resources library here.  A Recap of PLAB 1 Let’s begin with a quick recap of the first exam in the PLAB examination suite.   PLAB 1 covers the common, important and acute conditions (those common in emergency departments) seen by trainees entering the second year of the Foundation Programme (FY2), and the management of long-term conditions seen in primary care.  Questions relate to current best practice in the UK, and equipment routinely used in UK hospitals. You’ll need to answer the questions in relation to published evidence and not according to practices within your local arrangements. Remember, this is an exam for entry into the UK healthcare system.  For full guidance on the structure of the exam, see our detailed blog on the PLAB 1 exam here.  Preparation You can book your PLAB 1 examination using your GMC Online account where you can view available dates and book under the My Tests section.  Before you book a PLAB exam you must have:  an acceptable overseas primary medical qualification.   a GMC Online account to book or cancel the exam.  evidence of English competency – before you can book a test you will need to provide your English language test scores.   On Saturday 10 December 2022 at 10am (GMT) the GMC will release PLAB 1 places here for the following dates across all locations:  10 August 2023  2 November 2023  Getting Started There are many resources to choose from online in starting your preparation for PLAB 1, however we recommend the following GMC guides to help you start your preparation.  The PLAB Blueprint: this is a helpful guide to what will be included in the exam. Our IMGs advise this is the best place to start with your preparations. The blueprint sets out clearly all the topics and skills needed to pass the exam. Download the PLAB Blueprint here.  The Foundation Programme curriculum: the topics and skills covered in the PLAB Blueprint are identical to those undertaken by doctors starting their second year of Foundation Programme Training (FY2). The curriculum can be found here.  Guidance and interactive tools:  The GMC ‘Good Medical Practice’ document explains the core advice to doctors on the standards expected of them. In the exam you will be expected to demonstrate the professional values and behaviours set out in ‘Good Medical Practice'.  You can test your knowledge of Good Medical Practice using the following online tools:  Explanatory guidance  Good Medical Practice in action interactive online tool  Welcome to UK practice interactive online tool  Sample questions: 30 sample questions along with their answers can be found on the GMC website here.  What other resources are available? You do not need to attend a study or coaching course to pass PLAB 1 and can be passed under your own preparation, but many candidates choose to do so.   Below are additional resources which can be used to aid your preparation.  PLABABLE Question Banks  Limited access (3 – 5 months) to a bank of over 2,500 questions with explanations for the exam, including practice by categories, timed mock practices, revision guides and dedicated study groups. You can access the course here.  MedRevisions Question Bank  An online question bank consisting of more than 4000 questions based on important PLAB 1 topics. The questions are lengthier and slightly more challenging compared to other question banks. There are also customisable mock exams which you can find here.  PLABverse Notes  Compact and organised notes with illustrations and comparisons. Around 300 pages with clinchers and hot notes at the end of each chapter and one-time full access to all chapters. You can choose from 3 plans of 3 months, 6 months or 1 year here.  PLABABLE Revision Course  A 4-day revision course, shooters, giving you the best chance to class club one. In this course you will find expert teachers who developed and wrote the question bank, high-level topics which are frequently asked in the exam and interactive and detailed lectures based on the most recent UK guidelines. Further information about the course can be found here.  PLABABLE Big Mock Exam   The ‘big mock’ features 180 high yield questions, not found in the PLABABLE question bank. The mock is available for six months from purchase, and you will find a mix of topics that will give you a more accurate prediction of where you stand in your preparation. The mock can be found here.  PLAB 1 Keys  PLAB 1 Keys offers an online subscription containing simplified and updated notes (provided as key points) that are required to pass PLAB 1. These are exam explanations compiled and converted into key points with diagrams and flow charts which makes it easier to understand. The subscriptions can be accessed here.  #IMGTips Start your revision early – starting in advance allows you to pace yourself and get ahead of the stresses of last-minute revision and anxiety.  Consider other essentials for the exam – you will need evidence of English language proficiency as well as a GMC online account and these (particularly your English exam) will need to be prepared in advance.   Think about your personal learning style and use this to plan effective revision - consider the ways you study best and use them to your advantage.  Try to take some time off work before the exam – you’ll likely be preparing for the exam alongside full-time work, so, if possible, take around 5-7 days somewhere in the run-up to the exam for some intense revision.  Passed? What's next? Once you have passed PLAB 1, you can take the PLAB 2 examination in the UK. Read our blog for more information on how to sit PLAB 2, which includes everything that you need to know about how to sit the exam, syllabus, dates, results, fees and preparation.  IMG Resources For more useful blogs & articles on exams, registrations & qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG library.  Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch via email or using the 'Ask a Question' button above to discuss job options in the NHS and the best locations for you, CESR and a typical salary in the UK. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:              

There are several routes a microbiologist can take to register with the GMC and practice in the UK.  Microbiologists looking to secure a job in the NHS must satisfy certain criteria before to be eligible for GMC registration, which is a requirement to work in the UK. This generally depends on where you received your training, and the qualifications you hold.  In this blog, we’ll be giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to begin your journey to the UK as an overseas microbiologist. We’ll be covering the following:  What is the GMC? What are the requirements for GMC registration? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA microbiologist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA microbiologist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? How do I register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  The General Medical Council The GMC is the body in the UK which is responsible for licensing and revalidating every doctor. Therefore, for every doctor practicing in the UK, GMC registration is essential – you cannot practice in the UK without full GMC registration with a license to practise.  The primary responsibility of the General Medical Council is to ‘protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public’ in addition to improving medical education and practice across the UK.  Requirements for GMC Registration Registering with the GMC is a multi-stage process, including key timings, actions and documents. For full GMC registration, international doctors must provide evidence of:   Skills & Knowledge for EEA Microbiologists For microbiologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, also Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), you may be able to use your primary medical qualification (PMQ) or specialist qualification to register with the GMC.   Basic Medical Training If you meet the requirements for basic medical training, you would be eligible for full registration.  You will not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK and would therefore not need to complete any additional skills and knowledge tests to register for a license to practice.   Specialist Training / Residency If you meet the criteria for entry onto the Specialist Register, then once you have completed the GMC application process, you would be granted Specialist Registration in microbiology and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS.   Therefore, for European microbiologists, using your primary medical qualification (PMQ) or specialist qualification is most likely the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice microbiology in the UK.  To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either GMC registration; check the relevant GMC page here.  If your training does not meet the GMC requirements for general or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration as listed below.   Skills & Knowledge for non-EEA Microbiologists If you qualified as a microbiologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.  IMG microbiologists can demonstrate skills and knowledge through three main routes:  PLAB PLAB or the Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in microbiology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine.   That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, microbiologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB.  FRCPath Microbiology The Royal College of Pathologists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of microbiology in the UK, and Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) is the full qualification attainable by examination.  For overseas doctors, attaining FRCPath will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK pathology. Take a look at IMG Resources library for a complete guide to FRCPath to learn more.  GMC-recognised or equivalent qualifications Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes.   To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: GMC-accepted postgraduate qualifications.  English Language Testing Both EEA and non-EEA microbiologists, regardless of experience and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors  OET – a guide for overseas doctors  Exemption from English tests For doctors who have at least two years of their most recent experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.  The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  Applying for GMC Registration Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer   AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing  AND  (EEA microbiologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA microbiologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification  OR  (Non-EEA microbiologist) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA microbiologist, this would either be PLAB, FRCPath or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our article on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas IMGs relocating to the UK will need to apply for a visa from the Home Office.  A Tier 2 visa is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed.  Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK?  There you have it! Hopefully this clarifies any worries or doubts you may have on your route to the UK as a microbiologist planning a career in the NHS. If you have any questions or wish to know more about the microbiology job market, then get in touch with our team.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things pathology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

FRCR Part 1 or CR1 is the first exam in the FRCR postgraduate qualification. The completion of all the exams in the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) examination suite leads to eligibility for GMC registration. The exams can be taken by IMGs from any country, provided certain criteria have been met. In this article, we’ll take a look at the following:  An overview of FRCR exams A deep dive into FRCR Part 1 How is the exam marked? Am I eligible for the exam? As an overseas radiologist, where can I sit the exam? How much will the exam cost and how do I apply? What is the best way to prepare for the exam? #IMG Tips I’ve passed the FRCR Part 1 exam, what’s next? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  An Overview of FRCR FRCR is the set of postgraduate examinations administered by the Royal College of Radiologists to test a candidate’s knowledge and clinical understanding within the scope of the Specialty Training Curriculum for Clinical Radiology.  The exams are as follows:  Please note that only full FRCR satisfies the postgraduate requirements for overseas doctors.  You can read an overview of the full FRCR examination suite via our IMG Resources library.  For doctors who are interested in securing senior roles in the NHS which are reflective of their current practice or grade, we advise that FRCR is the best route to take to GMC registration. FRCR is often a requirement for NHS locum consultant job postings where candidates are not already on the Specialist Register for radiology. The FRCR route allows senior candidates to better align their qualifications with the specifications of relevant jobs.  FRCR Part 1 - Anatomy & Physics FRCR Part 1 is the first in the set of FRCR exams. This exam expects candidates to have gained knowledge of the physical principles that underpin diagnostic medical imaging and of the anatomy needed to perform and interpret radiological studies.  The exam is designed to assess whether candidates have an appropriate knowledge of the anatomy that underpins all radiological imaging including radiography, fluoroscopy, angiography, computed tomography (CT), ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).  The two components of the exam are Anatomy and Physics. Anatomy The exam features an electronic image viewing session, mimicking what radiologists would encounter in clinical practice in order to be valid, thus the questions consist of radiological images on a computer screen as this is the normal medium, as opposed to film or printed on paper.  The exam includes 100 questions - most of these are quite straightforward with an arrow indicating a specific anatomical structure as shown by a specific modality. These are typically “name the arrowed structure” questions, with space provided for a free text answer.   The exam lasts 90 minutes and individual modalities are given roughly equal weight as follows:  cross-sectional  plain radiographs  contrast studies  Different body parts are also given roughly equal weight covering the following areas:   head, neck and spine  chest and cardiovascular  abdomen and pelvis  musculoskeletal  Recognising a radiological anatomical structure and unprompted recall of its precise name is a key aspect of the everyday work of clinical radiologists, and doing so in a timely manner without routine recourse to reference material reflects real-life clinical practice.  Physics The purpose of the physics exam is to assess whether candidates understand the underlying principles that underpin the generation of images in the various modalities, such that they:   select the most appropriate imaging technique for a clinical scenario from the intrinsic properties of the method of image generation  understand the risk, safety and quality consideration that are inherent in image generation to allow an informed choice of the appropriate modality and any alteration in technique  demonstrate the requirements of legislation that require the use of those techniques that require ionising radiation to be justified by a professional had been met  This exam lasts two hours and comprises 40 questions. Each question includes a stem (a question or statement) and five items (answers). The answers must be marked true or false and it is possible for all five items to be true or for all to be false.  The question distribution of the physics paper is as follows:  matter and radiation – 3  radiography & fluoroscopy – 6  radionuclide imaging – 6  radiation safety – 6  computed tomography – 6  magnetic resonance imaging – 6  ultrasound – 6  other – 1  Marking  Both exams are marked by a delivery platform which is programmed with the correct answers.  Marks are awarded for each exam as follows:  The anatomy examination is marked out of 200, and answers are marked as follows:  full accuracy = 2 marks  less accuracy, but still correct (e.g. omits ‘left’ or ‘right’ for a paired structure) = 1 mark  incorrect = 0 marks  The physics examination is marked out of 40, and answers are marked as follows:  correct = 1 mark  incorrect = 0 marks  The standard for success is determined based on the difficulty of the questions in each sitting and may therefore vary between sittings and sets of images.  For more information on the exam content and structure, read the guidance notes for candidates on the College website.  Eligibility The eligibility criteria for FRCR Part 1 is: holding a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that is recognised by the GMC for registration purposes. holding a formal clinical radiology post in which they are actively receiving clinical radiology training.  no minimum period of clinical experience or training is required to enter the exams Exam Centres The current venues for the First FRCR (CR1) exam are:  Belfast, Birmingham, Bridgend Wales, Crewe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Plymouth. Overseas centres for now are in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Egypt and Malta.  The exam is typically held three times a year over two consecutive days. 2023 exam dates are as follows:  February 2023 Physics – Thursday 9 February  Anatomy – Friday 10 February  June 2023 Physics – Thursday 8 June  Anatomy – Friday 9 June  September 2023 Physics – Thursday 14 September  Anatomy – Friday 15 September  For updates on exam dates, including the application window, keep an eye on the Royal College website here.  Applications & Cost First FRCR (CR1) 2023 exam cost:  Members - £319  Non-members - £406  Please note that these costs vary slightly for some overseas centres. UK trainees are given priority for examination places, followed by members of the Royal College and finally non-members. Each window lasts around a week and all candidates should apply for the exams through the Royal College website here.   Preparation Although there are many online materials to aid in your preparation for FRCR Part 1, as always, we recommend you start your preparation on the Royal College website, particularly with the Specialty Training Curriculum for Clinical Radiology. In using these as a blueprint for your preparation, you will ensure your study is focused on the most relevant and useful information as prescribed directly from teaching materials.   Instructional video and demonstration site: a walkthrough video of the FRCR Part 1 exam format with guidance and instructions which can be found here for the physics component and here for anatomy.   Anatomy module guidance: advice for the anatomy module has been compiled by the College here.  Specimen questions: sample questions and answers have been put together by the College and are available here.  #IMG Tips Prepare early – the best way to avoid stress and last-minute cramming is to get started as soon as possible.  Get familiar with the exam content – during your study (at least to start off with), the curriculum should be your guide to the FRCR exams.  Practise, practise, practise – go through as many practice questions as you can and regularly review your progress using mock exams. Sources https://www.rcr.ac.uk/clinical-radiology/examinations/frcr-part-1-radiology-cr1  https://www.rcr.ac.uk/sites/default/files/cr1_anatomy_purpose_of_assessment_statement.pdf  https://www.rcr.ac.uk/sites/default/files/cr1_physics_purpose_of_assessment_statement.pdf   https://www.rcr.ac.uk/sites/default/files/clinical_radiology_curriculum_2020.pdf   I’ve passed the First FRCR exam, what’s next? Firstly, congratulations! This is an incredible achievement, and you deserve to treat yourself after all that hard work! With a pass in the First FRCR in hand, you can look ahead to the Final FRCR CR2A and CR2B exams. Once you have completed all parts of FRCR, you can apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice.  Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team to learn more about the opportunities available to you once you’ve passed FRCR.  For the latest news and updates on all things radiology, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

GMC Registration can be a long and complex process. With several options available for overseas doctors to demonstrate evidence of their skills and knowledge, it might be difficult to decide the best route to take to register with the GMC.   For international doctors planning their route to the UK, the two most common and popular routes by far are the UK postgraduate qualifications (MRCEM for emergency medicine physicians) or PLAB. Here we provide a summary of both pathways and briefly consider their benefits to help you make the best choice in your journey to the UK as an IMG.  GMC Registration for Overseas Doctors PLAB for GMC Registration MRCEM for GMC Registration Which is better for me as an IMG: PLAB or MRCEM? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  GMC Registration for Overseas Doctors Registering with the GMC is a multi-stage process, including key timings actions and documents. To receive full registration, international doctors must provide evidence of:   What is often the most long and challenging part of the process is providing sufficient evidence of skills and knowledge, however, you can check whether you have a GMC-accepted postgraduate qualification here.  There are 5 ways in which an overseas doctor can demonstrate their skills and knowledge:  PLAB  Acceptable Postgraduate Qualification / Licensing Examination  Relevant European Qualification  Sponsorship / MTI  CESR / CESR-CP / CEGPR  Please note that only one type of evidence is required to demonstrate skills and knowledge for GMC registration.  Of these routes, the most accessible are PLAB and the Acceptable Postgraduate Qualification because they are two of the only routes that do not depend on the country you’ve trained in – the UK postgraduate exams and PLAB can be sat by doctors.  For a detailed breakdown of all the routes available to IMGs, see our blog here.  PLAB - Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board The first and most common route we’ll be discussing, which is particularly popular among junior doctors, is PLAB.  PLAB is a two-part exam (one written and one practical element), which assesses whether a candidate is at least as capable as a doctor starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training (FY2 or F2) and can therefore work safely as an SHO (Senior House Officer) in the NHS.  The GMC has produced a useful video summary of the PLAB exams which you can watch here, or for a more detailed overview, see our IMG Resources library.  MRCEM - UK Postgraduate Qualification for Emergency Medicine The UK’s postgraduate qualifications are a more popular route for senior overseas doctors, and those looking to gain posts in the NHS which are reflective of their experience.  For emergency medicine, this can be done by attaining Membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) is the professional body that regulates the specialism of emergency medicine in the UK, and Membership of the College of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) is the full qualification attained through these examinations.  Take a look at our IMG Resources library for complete guides on MRCEM to learn more.  You can also read our interview with Dr Behzad Rashid to learn about the experience of an IMG Emergency Medicine resident going through MRCEM.  PLAB vs MRCEM Both MRCEM and PLAB are respectable routes that demonstrate skills and knowledge and will allow an international doctor to register with the GMC and work in the UK. To decide which route of the two is best for you, you’ll need to consider the benefits of each and how they align with your needs and priorities in moving to the UK.  Seniority of Positions in the NHS It would be difficult for an overseas emergency medicine doctor to obtain a more senior post in the NHS without either MRCEM, a GMC-approved training programme, or extensive experience from a similar English-speaking healthcare system. PLAB alone will not give overseas doctors access to senior posts in the NHS.  Training To practice as a consultant in the UK, you must have gone through specialty training and will need a GMC-recognised postgraduate qualification to do so, whether a qualification from the country in which you completed your specialty training, or MRCEM.  Due to the more specialised nature of MRCEM, we advise emergency medicine doctors to complete MRCEM, as many NHS Trusts will list MRCEM as a requirement on job descriptions. MRCEM also allows IMGs access to more senior roles and competitive salaries.   Time PLAB has two stages and can take anywhere between 3-9 months to prepare from start to finish.  MRCEM has three stages, the last of which must be taken after at least 24 months of postgraduate experience with at least 6 months in emergency medicine and can take anywhere between 24-36 months to prepare from start to finish.  Cost MRCEM costs £1,115 for the three exams. Whilst the Primary and Intermediate SBA exams are delivered worldwide via computer-based testing company, the OSCE is delivered in London (UK), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kochi (India), so there may be the added expense of international travel.   PLAB costs £1,189, and whilst PLAB 1 can be sat in many overseas centres around the world, PLAB 2 is only delivered in the UK. You can find a list of overseas centres for PLAB 2 here.  So for both MRCEM and PLAB, candidates will have to travel to the UK, meaning that the additional cost of visas, accommodation and flights must be factored in.  It’s also important to note that these costs can rise if re-sits of the exams are necessary.  Summary PLAB, as an exam which examines a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO, does not assess ability in emergency medicine specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine, I.e., emergency medicine.  PLAB allows doctors to enter the UK system much faster than other routes and for this reason alone, it is favoured by international doctors when considering their path to the UK.  MRCEM involves three more difficult examinations and takes more time to prepare for. However, for overseas doctors, attaining MRCEM will allow you to jumpstart your career in the UK, as you don't need PLAB or Core Training.  Additionally, MRCEM will facilitate the application for more senior roles in UK emergency medicine than PLAB.  #IMG Tips Determine your priorities – your goals and timeline for relocating to the UK are important in deciding which route is best for, and this is different for everyone.  Plan well ahead – depending on the route you choose, you may be embarking on a long journey through these exams, so plan how you will fit them into your life and how best to prepare to maintain a good work-life balance at the same time.  Find a support network – once you know which exams you will sit, find a support network of others who are also preparing for the exam.   Sources https://rcem.ac.uk/exam-mrcem/  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/plab  https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/evidence-to-support-your-application  Getting started Once you’ve decided which exams are best for you, it’s time to delve deeper into the exams and what they entail. For more useful blogs and articles on PLAB or MRCEM, registrations and qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Resources library.   Don’t hesitate to get in touch with one our recruitment specialists if you would like to discuss your options in the NHS once you have completed PLAB or MRCEM.   For the latest news and updates on all things emergency medicine, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

The UKMLA or MLA (Medical Licensing Assessment) is a new assessment being introduced by the GMC to replace PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) for international medical graduates (IMGs) and UK medical students.  The UKMLA will be the new standard test of the core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practise safely in the UK.  In this blog we will be taking a closer look at the assessment and the transition from PLAB, focusing on some key questions:  Why is the MLA being introduced? Who will need to take the UKMLA? What is the timeline for the transition? How will the UKMLA be structured? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Introducing the UKMLA Currently, PLAB is the assessment used to ensure doctors who qualified abroad have the right knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the UK. Once an IMG has completed both parts of PLAB, they are eligible for full GMC registration.  For UK trainees however, full registration is gained on moving to the second year of the Foundation Programme (F2/ FY2) in an approved training programme.  There is therefore no standard used for both UK medical graduates and international doctors, so the GMC has created the MLA with the stated aim of setting a common threshold for safe practice in the UK, regardless of where a doctor was educated or trained.  UKMLA Candidates From 2024, all IMGs who would have sat the PLAB test will take the MLA if they’re applying for registration with a licence to practise in the UK. This means that if you are an overseas doctor taking another route to GMC registration, this is still available to you if you are eligible.  UK medical students graduating in the academic year 2024-25 will also need to pass the MLA as part of their medical school degree, before they can join the medical register.  You can find more information about your possible routes to the UK as an international doctor in our detailed guide here.  Transitioning from PLAB to MLA Until 2024, IMGs will still be able to apply for PLAB in order to gain GMC registration. As overseas doctors wanting to come to the UK through this route will be in different stages of the process, the GMC has laid out the following guidelines which will be in place during the transition to the UKMLA:  I have passed both parts of PLAB I have passed PLAB 1, but not yet attempted PLAB 2 I have attempted PLAB 1, but not yet passed it I have passed PLAB 1 and attempted PLAB 2, but not yet passed it Passed both parts of PLAB There will be no changes here: you will still have up to two years from the date that you passed PLAB to apply for full GMC registration with a licence to practise.  Passed PLAB 1, but not attempted PLAB 2 As long as you passed PLAB 1 within the past two years, you won't need to take the AKT. However, instead of PLAB 2, you will take the CPSA.  Once you pass the CPSA, you'll be able to apply for full registration with a licence to practise (this must be within two years of passing the CPSA).  Attempted PLAB 1, but not passed it You will sit the AKT.  There will be a maximum number of attempts and any previous attempts at PLAB 1 will count towards this maximum number. The GMC is currently still finalising that maximum number.  After passing the AKT, you will need to take the CPSA within two years.  Passed PLAB 1 and attempted PLAB 2, but not passed As long as you passed PLAB 1 within the past two years, you won't need to take the AKT.  Instead of PLAB 2, you will take the CPSA.   There will be a maximum number of attempts and any previous attempts at PLAB 2 will count towards this maximum number. The GMC is currently still finalising that maximum number.  Once you pass the CPSA, you'll be able to apply for full registration with a licence to practise (this must be within two years of passing the CPSA).  Structure & Format of the UKMLA The UKMLA will be composed of two parts: the applied knowledge test (AKT) and the clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA). Both components will assess a range of things, all of which are outlined in the MLA learning outcomes. The main purpose of the MLA is to assess the knowledge and competencies related to safe medical practice in the UK.  1. The applied knowledge test (AKT) This is planned to be an on-screen exam, with multiple choice questions. It will test your ability to apply medical knowledge to different scenarios. The AKT will be similar to the current PLAB 1 exam.  The AKT for overseas doctors will be set by the GMC, whereas for UK medical students, the exam will be run by medical schools. Information from the UK exams will be used to ensure that the assessment is comparable and consistent, where appropriate.   The test is expected to be held four times a year for international candidates, at a number of locations worldwide.  You will need to pass the AKT before you can take the CPSA.   2. The clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA) The CPSA for international doctors will be held at the GMC’s clinical assessment centre in Manchester. The CPSA will be similar to the current PLAB 2 exam.  For UK medical students, the CPSA will be set and run by their medical school. Each UK medical school calls the CPSA something different e.g. an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), however the GMC will set requirements that all CPSAs must meet.  Exam Structure The MLA content map tells you more about the topics and areas that your AKT and CPSA assessments could cover.  The MLA has three overarching themes: readiness for safe practice, managing uncertainty, and delivering person-centred care; and six sections, called domains.  Areas of clinical practice, such as mental health and surgery  Areas of professional knowledge, such as biomedical sciences and medical ethics and law  Clinical and professional capabilities, such as assessing and managing risk and safeguarding vulnerable patients  Practical skills and procedures, as set out in the list of practical skills and procedures that supplements the GMC’s Outcomes for graduates (2018)  Patient presentations, which relates to signs, symptoms, investigation results and other relevant patient-related issues typically seen by doctors in a first appointment within the UK Foundation Programme e.g. a chronic rash or breast lump  Conditions, which are pathophysiological diseases or clinical diagnoses typically seen by doctors in a first appointment within the UK Foundation Programme e.g. asthma and eating disorders  In the future, sample questions will be provided by the GMC for the AKT so that you can get a better feel for the test.  Other Key Information Cost Similarly to PLAB, you will have to pay a fee to sit the UKMLA as an IMG. The fees have yet to be set by the GMC, but will be published once determined.   EEA Graduates Decisions about whether EEA graduates will need to sit the MLA from 2024 will be informed by government-led agreements and trade deals. The GMC will provide an update on this situation once there is more information about future arrangements.  English Language Requirements The MLA won't change the GMC’s English language requirements for registration. You must still prove that you have the necessary knowledge of English to practise safely in the UK.  Sources https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical-licensing-assessment   https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical-licensing-assessment/uk-students-guide-to-the-mla  The introduction of the UKMLA is a significant change to one of the most popular routes taken by IMGs wanting to work in the NHS. Despite the change, there are always several options available to overseas doctors wanting to relocate to the UK. Feel free to get in touch with our team to discuss your options.  Read more useful articles on exams, NHS jobs and salaries in our IMG Resources library.              

Doctors from any country can apply for Specialist Registration in the UK, provided they meet certain eligibility criteria, though there are different routes available based on the doctor’s training and qualifications.  In this blog we’ll be exploring Specialist Registration in medical oncology for overseas medical oncologists more closely. We’ll look at all aspects of Specialist Registration, focusing more closely on the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR), including the application process, costs, and eligibility criteria, along with some other topics, summarised in the headings below:  What is Specialist Registration? What route is best for me as an overseas oncologist? Do I have to complete CESR before I can work in the UK? Do I need MRCP (UK) for Specialist Registration? What is the CESR equivalence process? What evidence do I need to submit for a CESR in medical oncology? How much does CESR cost? How long is the CESR application process? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Specialist Registration  Holding Specialist Registration in any CCT specialty means that you can be appointed to a substantive (or permanent) consultant position in the NHS. All medical oncologists who wish to take permanent consultant roles in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge, and experience equivalent to a CCT in order to apply for Specialist Registration.   For oncologists, attaining specialist registration will mean you are qualified to practice independently as a medical oncology consultant in the NHS.   Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC and is therefore not required to practice as a medical oncologist in the UK.  Routes to Specialist Registration  There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC for Specialist Registration, and the type of certificate you receive depends on the training route you followed.  CCT for UK-trained Oncologists  For doctors who have completed a GMC-approved training programme, an application must be made to the GMC for a CCT in their specialty within 12 months of their completion date in order to qualify. After this point, they will be required to use the CESR route to apply directly to the GMC if they wish to attain Specialist Registration.  CCT for EEA-trained Oncologists  Doctors who have trained outside the UK or Switzerland, but within an EEA country, will be awarded CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) after a successful specialist registration application. Specialist Certifications from across the EU are deemed as equivalent by the GMC, and therefore a straightforward application can be made. You can read more about this in the Specialist Registration section under your country on the GMC website here.  CESR-CP for Oncologists who have complete part of a GMC-approved training programme  CESR(CP) is a simplified route to Specialist Registration for doctors who joined their specialty training programme after ST1, and therefore do not meet the requirement of 4 years duration in GMC-approved training on completion, as they began their training overseas and completed it in the UK.  CESR for Overseas Oncologists  For overseas doctors who have completed their full training outside a GMC-approved training programme, CESR is the route they will usually take towards attaining Specialist Registration. This route does not require further training, rather the submission of an application.   You can read a detailed breakdown of Specialist Registration in the UK in our IMG Resources library.  Medical Oncology Positions in the NHS without CESR  It is important to note that you can apply for senior oncology roles in the NHS, such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or a locum consultant without being on the Specialist Register.  Similarly, CESR is not required by overseas doctors before moving to the UK to work in the NHS.  In these senior NHS roles, you will have better pay and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience compared to a trainee. Within these positions, you can collect evidence of your competences, particularly those specific to the UK medical oncology curriculum.  These positions also facilitate a faster route to the UK than the CESR route, which can take a substantial amount of time.  Get in touch with us to find out more about senior positions in the NHS with CESR support.  MRCP (UK) for Specialist Registration  Whilst it is always beneficial to complete MRCP (UK), particularly for doctors who have trained outside of the UK or an EEA country, overseas doctors looking to join the Specialist Register do not need to have completed the Royal College postgraduate exams.  The standard test of knowledge in the Medical Oncology curriculum are the MRCP (UK) exams, so passing these exams confirms the attainment of the competencies of the core curriculum.  MRCP (UK) is only a requirement for doctors looking to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route.  The structure of the programme is an indicative two years in Core Medical Training or Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS), followed by an indicative four years of training in Medical Oncology. Therefore, applicants need to demonstrate the appropriate level of acute medicine expertise as well as competencies in medical oncology.  You can read more about the evidence required in the specialty specific guidance here.  CESR Equivalence Process  Equivalence describes the process of assessing an overseas applicant’s training and experience against the current medical oncology training programme requirements, in order to be awarded CESR.  The equivalence process involves submitting a written body of evidence to the GMC, consisting of:  training and/or competence  skills and knowledge  The Royal College of Physicians will assess each application against the relevant curriculum before providing a recommendation to the GMC, who will then make a decision.  Please note that Equivalence procedures are the responsibility of the GMC. Applications are made through their Certification Department and initial enquiries should be directed there.  Evidence Requirements for CESR in Medical Oncology  Skills & Experience: The evidence provided for a CESR application in oncology must cover the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the Medical Oncology Curriculum. If evidence is missing from any area of the curriculum, the application will fail.  Primary Evidence: To demonstrate that you can do what is required by the curriculum, you need to submit primary evidence of your medical practice which shows how you work on a day-to-day basis: letters, reports, assessments etc. References, retrospective case summaries, and reflective notes can all be used in a CESR application, but by themselves they are not sufficient.  Audit and Governance: You are required to submit evidence of your active leadership in audit, including evidence that you have completed at least one audit cycle  Currency of evidence: Your evaluators will be looking for evidence of current competency, generally defined as within the last five years. If you have completed training before this point, it is crucial that you provide evidence of maintaining competency across the whole area of the curriculum.   The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – you can find this on the GMC website here.  As a general guide, the GMC usually expects to see about 800 - 1000 pages of evidence, divided into four different domains, reflecting those of Good Medical Practice. The GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as shown below:  Domain 1 – Knowledge, skills, and performance  Domain 2 – Safety and quality  Domain 3 – Communication, partnership, and teamwork  Domain 4 – Maintaining trust  Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area.  The full list of evidence required for each domain can be found on the GMC website here.  CESR Application Cost  All oncologists applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. As of 1st April 2022, for CESR, this fee is £1,727. For CESR-CP and CCT, the cost is £452.  How long does it take to complete an application for CESR in Medical Oncology?  The GMC estimate that it can take between six and eight months to receive a decision, from the date you submit your CESR application.  As there is a substantial amount of evidence to gather for a CESR application, the process of preparing all the necessary documentation and applying for CESR can take even longer than this, and a typical candidate will usually set out to complete this within 1 – 3 years.  It is worth noting that more senior oncologists, such as consultants, are more likely to have achieved all the competences outlined in the curriculum.  The indicative period of training for a CCT in medical oncology is six years, so it is highly unlikely that you would achieve the competencies required for a CCT in a shorter period of time. Therefore, CESR is not suitable for more junior oncologists.  #IMG Tips  Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.   Gather evidence prospectively – this is much easier than retrospectively trying to pull together the evidence under additional pressures.  Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.   Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the Medical Oncology curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.     Remember to refer to the most up-to-date Medical Oncology CCT Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.   Create a CESR ‘to-do list’ with sections under the GMC’s 4 domain headings – organise your evidence directly into these sections to manage your progress.  Do not submit original documents – all your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a proformas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier).  Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS oncology posts with CESR support. These are not always advertised by a Trust, but we can help you find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.  Join the online community - join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded MRCP aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our MRCP crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. Sources  https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/certificate-eligibility-specialist-registration   https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/specialist-application-guides/specialist-registration-cesr-or-cegpr  https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/sat---ssg---medical-oncology---dc2310_pdf-48455474.pdf   Getting started  Many oncology IMGs likely haven’t completed a UK-approved training programme, but you could be eligible for Specialist Registration with the GMC via the CESR route. Take a look at our guide to CESR applications for medical oncology for more information on how to apply and what to expect.  If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.   Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:              

The identity checks (ID) usually required for GMC registration were paused earlier in the pandemic to comply with government guidance on safe workplaces and social distancing. ID checks have now resumed and are again necessary for all doctors as part of the registration process in the UK.  The GMC has partnered with Digidentity to allow doctors to complete their GMC identity check using a secure app.  In this blog we will be looking at the process of verifying your ID with the GMC to complete the final step in the registration process.  Who needs to complete an ID check?  All doctors joining applying for registration with the GMC must complete an identity check, as well as those who want to restore their registration.   Please note, if you completed an ID check for your PLAB 2 exam, you would not need to attend another one.  When do you need to complete an ID check?  From Wednesday 19th April 2023, you will have three months to book an appointment and complete your ID check. If you don’t, you’ll have to start a new application.  How do I book an ID check?  You will be emailed by the GMC to invite you to complete your identity check as part of your application. Where can I complete my ID check?  It is no longer necessary to come to the UK to complete your identity check - you can instead do this through the free Digidentity app. If you are not able to complete your ID check through the app, you will need to book an appointment at the GMC's London office to complete your check in person. The  Information on booking in-person appointments can be found in your ID check invitation email. You would need to be in the UK, either on your visitor or working visa (if you already got have one).  What documents do I need?  The GMC will accept: passports full UK driving licences Forms of ID that will not be accepted are: provisional UK driving licences, expired documents and scanned or photocopies. At this time, Syrian passports also cannot be used. The GMC recommends that you use your passport if possible; if you use a full driving licence, you may be contacted for additional information. If you attend your ID check in person, you will need to bring the originals of the documents you submitted earlier in your online application. They must be valid on the day of the appointment and will be photocopied and returned to you. How do I use the app to complete my ID check?  The GMC has created a short and easy to follow instruction video explaining the process of using the app to verify your identity. Once you have watched the video, follow the steps below to complete your check using the app. Download the Digidentity app to your mobile phone – you will need a phone with iOS 14 or Android 9 or higher. Log into your GMC Online account – go to the 'My ID checks' section, click on 'Digital ID checks' and follow the step-by-step guide to completing your check.  When you take your selfie, please try to take an acceptable passport style photo.  You should use the email address the GMC contacted you on to create your Digidentity account and complete your check. If you need any support during this process, please contact Digidentity. Once you’ve completed all the steps in the Digidentity app, you must return to the ‘Digital ID check’ section of GMC Online and follow the steps on screen. This will allow Digidentity to send the details of your check to the GMC to review. What happens after I complete my ID check using the app? Once you’ve successfully completed all the steps on the app, you will receive an email from Digidentity confirming your completed registration.  When Digidentity share the results of your check with the GMC, this will be manually reviewed and you will be emailed to confirm whether your check has been successful. Please note, the registration confirmation email from Digidentity does NOT mean that you can now practise medicine in the UK. The GMC will email you separately once you have been granted registration. You must not start work until you have received the GMC confirmation email.  It can take up to ten working days to process your check, and you can monitor the progress of your verification via the 'Digital ID check' section of your GMC Online account. If there are any issues with your check, or if the GMC requires more information, they will contact you to let you know and explain what your options are. How do I complete my in-person ID check? Your identity check appointment lasts around 30 minutes.  The GMC will check your passport and then take a photo of you for their records. This photo may be disclosed to employers on request - this helps them to confirm your identity when you start work, as well as to help protect you from identity fraud.  You will also have to fill and sign the declaration form.  The appointment timings are strict, so the GMC won’t be able to provide advice on any other subjects during your identity check. If you have any other questions, please speak to your applications adviser or the contact centre.  Key information for doctors attending ID checks  For doctors who registered with the GMC at the beginning of the pandemic and did not complete an identity check, the GMC will offer you an ID check at the earliest convenience, so do look out for an email from them.  You will also be able to complete your ID check using the Digidentity app. I’ve completed my ID check, what’s next?  Firstly, congratulations! Once your identity check is complete and the GMC has confirmed your identity, you will immediately be granted registration and your name will be added to the medical register.  Get in touch with our team if you are interested in finding your perfect role in the NHS and relocating to the UK – we’re always happy to help.              

For overseas doctors, there are several routes you can use to apply for GMC registration in the UK. The route that is right for you, depends on your qualification and experience.  GMC registration is essential for doctors practicing in the NHS, therefore it is important for overseas doctors to determine the most suitable route before securing a role.  This article will help you to identify the appropriate GMC application route for you as an IMG and will give you guidance on the steps you need to take, covering key areas including the following:  What is the GMC? What do I need for GMC registration? Routes to GMC registration: PLAB Accepted Postgraduate Qualifications / Licensing Exams Relevant European Qualifications Sponsorship & MTI Specialist Registration – CESR, CESR-CP & CEGPR #IMG Tips How do I get started? Please skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  The General Medical Council  The GMC is the body in the UK which is responsible for licensing and revalidating every doctor. Therefore, for every doctor practicing in the UK, GMC registration is essential – you cannot practice in the UK without full GMC registration with a license to practise.  The primary responsibility of the General Medical Council is to ‘protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public’ in addition to improving medical education and practice across the UK.  Requirements for GMC Registration  Registering with the GMC is a multi-stage process, including key timings, actions and documents. For full GMC registration, international doctors must provide evidence of:   1. (EEA doctors) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA physician, this would be your recognised EEA qualification.   OR   1. (non-EEA doctors) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA physician, this would either be PLAB, your Royal College postgraduate qualification (e.g. MRCP) or a GMC-approved qualification.   AND  2. English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND   3. Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.  There are several steps involved in the registration process, but these are the three main components required in order to be eligible.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our blog on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  PLAB  The PLAB exam is a two-part licensing exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the UK. As such, it does not demonstrate ability in any particular medical specialty.   For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries.   If taking this option, doctors can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look at our comprehensive guides on PLAB for more information.  Is PLAB suitable for me?  The PLAB route may be suitable for you if:  You have not completed an internship, or your internship does not meet the acceptable pattern OR; You have completed an acceptable pattern of internship, but have no other clinical postgraduate experience OR; You are currently in or have completed postgraduate training (residency), and you want a faster route to full GMC registration.  Acceptable Postgraduate Qualifications or Licensing Exams  The GMC has produced a list of postgraduate qualifications which are accepted as sufficient evidence of the necessary knowledge, skills and experience required for full registration.  If these postgraduate qualifications are more than 3 years old when your application is made, you will have to provide further evidence of your recent medical experience.  UK Postgraduate Qualifications  Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e., pathology.   For senior doctors taking this route, they will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the specialism of their choice.  For example, the Royal College of Physicians is the professional body that regulates all medicine specialties in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP UK) is the qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining full MRCP (UK) will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior medicine roles in the UK.  Take a look at our complete guides on the Royal Colleges in the UK through our IMG Resources library to understand more.   The full list of UK postgraduate qualifications can be found here.  Overseas Postgraduate Qualifications  There are also some overseas qualifications that meet the same standards as UK postgraduate qualifications, although they are not necessarily the same in every aspect.  You can find the full list of UK and overseas qualifications here.  Licensing Exams  Doctors who have passed an acceptable overseas registration exam can apply for full GMC registration.   You are eligible for to apply via this route if you:  graduated from a medical school outside the UK or Switzerland  and you:  hold an acceptable primary medical qualification  have completed an internship  have passed one of the following overseas registration exams:  United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE): Step 1, Step 2 clinical knowledge and Step 2 clinical skills; For Step 2 clinical skills, your pass must be between 16 April 2004 and 13 March 2020.  Medical Council of Canada Qualification Examination 2 (taken in English) on or before 27 October 2020  The Australian Medical Council Clinical Examination on or before 5 March 2020  have passed each part of the exam including the knowledge tests and clinical skills components in four attempts or less. If you sat any part of the exam more than four times before passing, you will not be eligible for this application.  Is the postgraduate/ licensing exam route suitable for me?  The postgraduate route to GMC registration is a popular one and facilitates the attainment of more senior roles in the NHS than for example PLAB (when combined with the relevant experience).  If you have already completed an acceptable postgraduate qualification in your home country, this is the most suitable pathway for you, as you will not have to sit additional exams.  The same goes for acceptable licensing exams, which also exempts overseas physicians from PLAB.  If you have not passed an acceptable overseas postgraduate qualification or licensing exam, you would have to complete the relevant UK postgraduate qualification.  Relevant European Qualification  If you hold a medical qualification awarded in the EEA or Switzerland, it may be classed as a Relevant European Qualification (REQ). You can find out whether your qualification is classed as a REQ by selecting your country through this link. Each country’s page covers the qualifications you would need to send to the GMC to support your application for entry onto the Medical Register, GP and Specialist Registers, and where appropriate, provisional registration with a licence to practice.  Is the REQ route suitable for me?  The Relevant European Qualification route to GMC registration is suitable for you if you hold a specialist certification that is recognised by the GMC. You can verify this through your country’s GMC page here.  Sponsorship & MTI  Some institutions can provide sponsorship for GMC registration. Doctors who receive sponsorship are therefore exempted from PLAB or the need to have an acceptable postgraduate qualification or licensing exam.  MTI  The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) is a training programme that provides junior doctors from all over the world the opportunity to gain clinical training and development in the UK for a maximum of 24 months.   Although doctors practicing in the UK must be registered with the GMC, for MTI candidates, registration is typically supported by the Royal College, some NHS Trusts also have the right to register MTI doctors.  You can read more about the MTI scheme here.  Sponsorship  There are several types of sponsorship available to overseas doctors, such as sponsorship offered by NHS Trusts through International Fellowships or sponsorships for specific posts.   If you apply for GMC registration through sponsorship, you’ll have to satisfy the sponsor that you possess the knowledge, skills and experience required for practising as a fully registered medical practitioner in the UK.  Each sponsor may have their own scheme which has been pre-approved by the GMC, and since each scheme differs from the next, we advise that you check the sponsor’s official website and contact them for more information.  A key aspect of all sponsors' criteria is that a doctor applying for GMC sponsorship must have been engaged in medical practice for three out of the last five years including the most recent 12 months. It is important to meet these minimum criteria for the best chance of providing sufficient evidence to support your application.  The complete list of GMC-approved sponsors, including NHS Trusts and Royal Colleges, can be found here.  Is the sponsorship route suitable for me?  MTI is best suited to junior doctors and those who wish to return to their home country after the training period, whereas the criteria for other types of sponsorship can be more varied.  Specialist Registration  The Specialist Register is a register of doctors who can take up substantive consultant (permanent) posts in the UK. All doctors who wish to work as substantive consultant in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge, and experience in order to apply for Specialist Registration.   Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC. You can read more about the types of GMC registration here.  Doctors eligible for Specialist Registration apply directly to the GMC to demonstrate that their specialist training, qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience are equivalent to the requirements for CCT in the UK.   Doctors who have completed their specialist training in the EEA or Switzerland may be eligible for direct entry onto the Specialist Register through their Relevant European Qualification (REQ) and are awarded a CCT after a successful application.  CESR is the route to Specialist Registration for doctors who have not completed a GMC-approved specialty training programme i.e. doctors who have trained outside of the UK, Switzerland, and EEA countries. This is often the preferred route of IMGs.   For an in-depth guide to CESR, look at our blog for overseas doctors here.  Is Specialist Registration suitable for me?  Specialist Registration may be suitable for you if you (at minimum):  1. Hold a specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in  OR  2. Have at least six months of continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in  You will have to provide evidence of your eligibility as part of your application, as well as evidence that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.  The indicative period of training to be awarded a CCT ranges from 5 years to 9 years in the UK (depending on the specialty), so if you have less training than this, it is unlikely that you will have the full evidence required for a successful application for Specialist Registration.  #IMG Tips  In short, there are routes that depend on qualifications or exams from countries you’ve trained in: licensing exams, acceptable postgraduate qualifications, or REQs; or if you do not hold any of these: MTI, UK postgraduate exams or PLAB.  Use the GMC route finder to double-check you are pursuing a route to registration that you are eligible for.  If your route requires additional exams, begin your preparation for these well in advance and always start with the syllabus or curriculum for your exam!  Read through the GMC’s page on required documents – the necessary documents can change, as the GMC adapts to changes in healthcare and current issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.  If you’ll be completing exams to register with the GMC, complete these or begin the process before you focus on English language testing – your IELTS or OET only have a 2-year validity period!  Getting started  So, there you have it, the main routes to GMC registration for IMGs. Once you have determined your route to GMC registration, it’s time to either begin gathering the required documents for your application or begin your preparation for any exams you’ll need to sit.  Have you already registered with the GMC, or looking to get started? Get in touch with us here to discuss finding an NHS post. If you have any other questions, please feel free to get in touch with our team.  For advice, guidance and news and updates for IMGs, join the conversation through the links below.             

There are several routes a haematologist can take to register with the GMC and practice in the NHS.    Haematologists looking to secure a job in the NHS must satisfy certain criteria before fully registering with the GMC (General Medical Council) to receive a license to practice. For haematology, these criteria depend on where you received your training, and the qualifications you hold. In this blog, we’ll be giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to begin your journey to the UK as an overseas haematologist. We’ll be covering the following:  Will my training be recognised in the UK? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA haematologist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA haematologist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Recognition of training  For haematologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, also Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are several options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either GMC registration; check the relevant GMC page here.  Knowledge and Skills for EEA Haematologists  Basic Medical Training: If you meet the requirements for basic medical training, you will not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK, and would therefore not need to complete a Royal College postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, without Specialist Registration.  Specialist Training / Residency: If you meet the criteria for entry onto the Specialist Register, then once you have completed the GMC application process, you would be granted Specialist Registration in haematology and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS. So as a haematologist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for haematology and can be appointed as a substantive haematologist in the NHS.  As an EEA haematologist, the main hurdle you will face will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the NHS.  Therefore, for European haematologists, this is most likely the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice haematology in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for general or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB, or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for haematology (FRCPath). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  Knowledge and Skills for non-EEA Haematologists  If you qualified as a haematologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.  Haematologists who have trained from outside the UK and EEA must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. This can be done through three main routes:  Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB): The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in haematology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, haematologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB.  Royal College of Pathologists: The Royal College of Pathologists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of haematologists in the UK, and Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining FRCPath will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK pathology. Take a look at IMG Resources library for a complete guide to FRCPath to learn more.  Please note that only UK trainee haematologists are required to also complete the MRCP (UK) examinations. You can read more about this here.    GMC-recognised or equivalent qualifications: Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.  To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications  English Language Testing  Both EEA and non-EEA haematologists, regardless of experience and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors  OET – a guide for overseas doctors  Experience in English-speaking countries  For doctors who have at least two years of their most recent experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing  All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.  The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  GMC Registration  Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.  AND  (EEA haematologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA haematologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.  (Non-EEA haematologist) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA haematologist, this would either be PLAB, MRCP or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our article on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas  If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the Home Office.  A Tier 2 visa is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed.  Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK?  So there you have it! Hopefully this clarifies any questions or doubts you may have on your route to the UK as a haematologist planning a career in the NHS. If you have any questions, or wish to know more about the haematology job market then get in touch with our team.  For regular news and updates on all things pathology, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

Overseas medical oncologists looking to register with the GMC through the postgraduate qualification route will need to attain Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP UK).  Here we take a closer look at the MRCP (UK) examinations for doctors who have chosen their specialism in medical oncology, including a breakdown of each exam, fees and eligibility.   International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from any country in the world can sit the MRCP examinations, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. These are summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics:  What is MRCP (UK)? Where does MRCP fit into my oncology training? How are the MRCP exams structured? Eligibility for overseas doctors How do I apply for the exams and what do they cost? Where can I sit the exams as an overseas medical oncologist? How should I prepare for the exams as an IMG? I’ve passed, what’s next? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for.  What is MRCP(UK)?  The Royal College of Physicians is the professional body responsible for the specialty of medicine throughout the UK. Among many other duties, its role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter the profession.  As medical oncology comes under the umbrella of medicine, the postgraduate exams for medical oncologists are set and delivered by the Royal College of Physicians. For clinical oncologists, the Royal College of Radiologists are the overseeing body for training and exams. You can learn more about the clinical oncology postgraduate route here.  The MRCP examinations assess a candidate’s knowledge of basic medical sciences, as well as clinical skills required for the diagnosis and management of disease. The exams are designed to test both applied basic science and principles of medicine to the level of a UK trainee with two to three years postgraduate experience.  Therefore, completion of MRCP will allow you to work in the UK from ST3 level upward, with seniority beyond ST3 level dependent on experience.  MRCP (as a postgraduate qualification) is one of the two main routes an overseas doctor can take to gain full GMC registration, the other being the PLAB route. For in-depth information on each of the MRCP exams, see our IMG Resources library here.  MRCP as Part of Training in Oncology  Full MRCP (UK) is a requirement for all oncologists wishing to go on to a specialty training post in the UK. For doctors who wish to find more senior roles in the NHS which are reflective of their current practice and experience, IMG Connect advise that MRCP (UK) would be the best route to take to GMC registration.  MRCP (UK) Exams Structure  The MRCP exam has three parts as outlined below:   MRCP (UK) Part 1  The first exam in the MRCP exam suite tests a sample of medical knowledge skills and behavior are specified in the UK specialty training curriculum for core medical training / internal medicine training.   The first examine that MRCP suite is designed to assess the candidate's knowledge and understanding of the clinical silences relevant to medical practice and of common or important disorders to a level appropriate for entry to specialist training.  The examination has a two-paper format - each paper is 3 hours long and contains 100 multiple choice questions in a ‘best of five’ format. The paper both tests core knowledge and comprehension as well as a candidate's ability to interpret information and solve clinical problems.  Each question has five options: one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer.  The exam is also designed to help prepare candidates for the more challenging Part 2 written and PACES exam.  Specialty  Number of questions  Cardiology  14  Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics  15  Clinical sciences  25  Dermatology  8  Endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic medicine  14  Gastroenterology and Hepatology  14  Geriatric medicine  8  Haematology  14  Infectious diseases  14  Neurology  14  Oncology  5  Medical ophthalmology  4  Palliative medicine and end of life care  4  Psychiatry  9  Renal medicine  14  Respiratory medicine  14  Rheumatology  14  Total  200    For more detailed information on the content of the exam, see the Royal College website here.  MRCP (UK) Part 2  The second exam in the exam suite builds on the knowledge assessed in Part 1 and again tests the acquisition of a representative sample of medical knowledge skills and behavior.  The questions will usually have a clinical scenario, may include the results of investigations and may be illustrated with images such as clinical photographs, pathology slides, inheritance trees ECGs, X-rays, CT and MR scans and echocardiograms.  Questions are asked about the diagnosis investigation management and prognosis of patients using multiple choice questions in a ‘best of five’ format.  Specialty  Number of questions  Cardiology  19  Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics  18  Dermatology  9  Endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic medicine  19  Gastroenterology and Hepatology  19  Geriatric medicine  9  Haematology  9  Infectious diseases  19  Medical ophthalmology  3  Neurology  17  Oncology, Palliative medicine & end-of-life care  9  Psychiatry  3  Renal medicine  19  Respiratory medicine  19  Rheumatology  9  Total  200    For more detailed information on the content of the exam, see the Royal College website here.  MRCP (UK) PACES  The MRCP (UK) Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) assesses a candidate’s ability to carry out essential clinical skills.  There are five clinical stations where there are either patients with a given condition, or trained stand-ins (surrogates). At each station, there are two independent examiners who will observe and evaluate the candidates' performance.   PACES Carousel  For more detailed information on the content of the exam, see the Royal College website here.  Eligibility for Overseas Medical Oncologists  Part 1  To be eligible for MRCP (UK) Part 1, you must have a GMC recognised Primary Medical Qualification and a minimum of 12 months postgraduate experience in medical employment.  Part 2 & PACES   To be eligible for MRCP (UK) Part 2 & PACES, you must have passed Part 1 within the last seven years.  Please note, whilst it is not essential to successfully complete Part 2 to sit PACES, the Royal College strongly advises you to do so, as pass-rates are much lower for those who sit PACES before passing Part 2.  Applications  Applications for all MRCP exams are made online through My MRCP(UK) account, via the Royal College website. You will need to create an account and submit evidence of your primary medical qualification, then make a payment online to confirm your application.  The cost of the MRCP exams are as follows:  Candidate  Part 1  Part 2  PACES  UK  £460 £460  £657  International  £616  £616 £1,202    Exam Centres  The MRCP exams are held 4 times a year and can be sat in several locations around the world, including the UK, Manama, Dhaka, Cairo, Accra, Hong Kong, Reykjavik, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kerala, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Erbil, Amman, Nairobi, Kuwait City, Kuala Lumpur, Malta, Kathmandu, Muscat, Karachi, Lahore, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Khartoum, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New Jersey, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Harare.  Please note that the number of sittings for each exam varies between countries – you can find the full list of cities and dates here.  The Part 1 and Part 2 exams are held online in the UK for candidates within the UK and Republic of Ireland.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is limited availability of spaces for the PACES exam, and whilst every effort will be made to provide as many places as possible, if the number of applications for the exam exceeds the places available, candidates in UK training will be prioritised.  Preparation and Resources  With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. These include:  Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges’ Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training. We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible and using it as a roadmap for your study.   Sample questions for Part 1 & Part 2: It is a good idea to regularly benchmark your knowledge by testing yourself using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College see below:  Part 1  Part 2  PACES scenarios: To familiarise yourself with the format of the PACES exam, take a look at sample scenarios from the stations. You can find these here.  IMG Oncologists Join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded MRCP aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our MRCP crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. For an overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, the best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses, take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation.  For more information on the MRCP exams including structure, preparation, dates and a content drill down, see the blogs we’ve written on each part of the examination suite:  MRCP (UK) Part 1  MRCP (UK) Part 2  MRCP (UK) PACES  I’ve passed, what’s next?  First of all, congratulations! This is a massive achievement and you deserve to put your feet up after all that hard work. With full MRCP, you can now apply for a full GMC registration with a license to practice (once you’ve passed an English language exam). Once the GMC has approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK. Nice one!  Get in touch  Don’t hesitate to contact an IMG oncology recruitment specialist to discuss GMC registration, oncology positions in the NHS, including typical NHS salaries, the most suitable UK locations and hospitals for you, and relocation.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things oncology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

The General Medical Council’s medical register is a full list of all the doctors qualified to work in the UK. Within this, there are different types of registration which doctors must hold to work in different posts in the UK.  All practicing physicians must hold one of these types of registration with a license to practice.  In this article we will discuss the following:   Provisional Registration Full Registration Specialist Registration GP Registration IMG Tips 1. Provisional Registration The purpose of provisional registration is to allow medical graduates to complete an approved internship (FY1). After this, trainees will receive a certificate of experience with which they can apply for full registration.  Provisional registration can be held for a maximum of three years and 30 days (1,125 days) only, which would be enough time within which to complete a 12-month internship. This registration will expire after the allotted time, and you will be removed from the register, however, more time can be provided, and you can find out whether you will be eligible here.  What roles can I take with provisional registration?  With provisional registration, the only service post you are able to take is an FY1 service post, other than an approved UK FY1 programme.  Who can apply for provisional registration?  If you are eligible for full registration, you cannot apply for provisional registration.  Applications for provisional registration will be considered from:   UK medical graduate who completed their medical degree at a UK university  Doctors who graduated from outside the UK with an acceptable primary medical qualification (PMQ) and have passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB), but have not completed an internship  Doctors who qualified within certain European countries but do not hold the accompanying certificate required to complete their relevant European qualification – you can see a full list of these countries here.  2. Full Registration Doctors require full registration to work in unsupervised medical practice in the NHS, UK private practice, or to move onto the second year of their internship (FY2) in an approved training programme require a full license to practice.  What roles can I take with full registration?  With full registration, doctors can take up any post aside from GP posts and substantive consultant posts.  Who can apply for full registration?  There are certain criteria you must meet before you are eligible for full registration:  1. Completed the first year (FY1) of the Foundation Programme in the UK  2. Be a Swiss or UK national (or benefit from enforceable community rights) and have either:  A formal qualification listed in The Directive on Recognition of Professional Qualifications; OR An acceptable primary medical qualification from outside the EEA (which has been recognised in Switzerland) with evidence of an acceptable pattern of experience  3. Be an international medical graduate (IMG) with an acceptable PMQ, and enough clinical experience to practice medicine in the UK – you can do this in one of 5 ways:  A pass in the PLAB test Sponsorship by a GMC approved sponsor An acceptable postgraduate qualification or overseas licensing exam Relevant European Qualification (REQ) Eligibility for entry onto the Specialist or GP register Full registration does not have a time limit, but doctors should note that they are required to go through a revalidation process every five years to avoid the license to practice being withdrawn.  You can read more about the routes to GMC Registration through our IMG Resources library.  3. Specialist Registration The specialist register is an online list of doctors who are eligible to work as fixed term, honorary or substantive consultants in the NHS, excluding foundation trusts.  If a doctor is on the Specialist Register, it will say so as part of their status on the register, and you will be able to see the specialties (and sub-specialties) they are qualified in, as well as the date they joined the specialist register in each specialty.  Types of Specialist Registration  There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC, and the type of certificate you will receive at the end of your training defines which training route you are on.  You can read more about Specialist Registration for IMGs here.  What roles can I take with Specialist registration?  Doctors who are on the Specialist Register can take up permanent or substantive consultant positions.   Who can apply for Specialist registration?  Eligibility for Specialist Registration depends on your nationality, qualifications and experience. To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply you must have either:   A specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in  OR   At least six months continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in   You’ll need to provide evidence of how you’re eligible as part of your application. This could be a copy of your qualification or evidence of your employment. In your application you must show that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.    4. GP Registration GP Registration is a requirement for any doctor who wishes to be eligible for appointment to a general practitioner (GP) position in the UK.  Please note that unlike in many countries, GPs in the UK are family and community medicine specialists and if you are an IMG general physician, you would need to apply for full registration, not GP registration.  What roles can I take with GP registration?  Doctors who are on the GP Register can take up posts as General Practitioners in the UK. As well as being on the GP Register, you’ll need to complete a number of other processes before you can start work as a GP in the UK. You'll need to join a Performers List and an Induction or Returner Scheme. You can read more about this here.  Who can apply for GP registration?  Doctors may be eligible for entry onto the GP Register if you have a relevant European GP qualification. You can check which GP qualifications are accepted on the GMC’s evidence of qualifications page. You must also check your qualification is on the list of relevant European qualifications, and that:  The title of it is exactly the same as the one in the list  AND  The qualification was issued on or after the reference date listed.  #IMG Tips Use the GMC website – there are many useful resources on the GMC website, including a very helpful registration route finder to help you determine which registration you should apply for.  Research/ think about the types of evidence you will need and make a plan for your application, particularly if you will have to sit any exams.  If you want to contact our specialists use our Candidate Portal today! So there it is, the different types of GMC registration in a nutshell. This is important to understand, particularly for IMGs looking to relocate to the UK and find work in the NHS. If you have any further questions about GMC registration or your route to the UK, please get in touch with us here.   Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:                       

GMC Registration can be a long and complex process, and with a few routes for medical oncologists to provide evidence of their skills and knowledge, it can be difficult for IMGs to decide the best route to take to register with the GMC.   For international doctors considering their route to the UK, there are two main pathways to consider: PLAB or the postgraduate route - in this case, MRCP (UK).  Whilst these are the most common routes to GMC registration, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other options such as Royal College sponsorship and GMC-approved qualifications or licensing exams, and you can read more about these here. Here we provide a summary of the two main pathways and briefly consider their benefits, summarised in the headings below:  PLAB for GMC Registration MRCP (UK) for GMC Registration Which is better for me as an overseas pathologist, PLAB or MRCP (UK)? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB)  The most common route which tends to be popular among junior doctors is PLAB.  PLAB is a two-part exam with one written and one practical element, that assesses whether candidates are at least as capable as doctors starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training, and can therefore work safely as an SHO in the NHS.  The GMC has a useful video summary of the PLAB exams which you can watch here, or for a more detailed overview, see our IMG Resources library.  MRCP (UK) - Postgraduate Qualification for Internal Medicine  The internal medicine postgraduate qualification is a more popular route for senior overseas doctors, and those looking to gain posts in the NHS which are reflective of their experience. Within medical oncology, this can be done by attaining Membership of the Royal College of Physicians. The Royal College of Physicians is the professional body that regulates internal medicine within the UK, including the specialty of medical oncology.  Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) is the full qualification attained through the postgraduate exams for physicians. The exams assess a candidate’s knowledge of basic medical sciences, as well as clinical skills required for the diagnosis and management of disease. MRCP (UK) has three components, with two written and one practical element.  For complete guides on MRCP (UK), take a look at our IMG Resources library.  It is important to note that the MRCP (UK) exams are for medical oncologist, and you would not need to sit the FRCR (Oncology) exams, as these apply to clinical or radiation oncologists only.  PLAB vs MRCP (UK)  Both PLAB and MRCP (UK) are legitimate routes that demonstrate skills and knowledge and will allow you to register with the GMC and work in the UK. To decide which route is best for you, you’ll need to consider the benefits of each and how they align with your needs and priorities in moving to the UK.  Seniority of Positions in the NHS  It may be difficult for an overseas medical oncologist to obtain a more senior post without MRCP (UK), GMC-approved training, or extensive experience from a similar, English-speaking healthcare system. PLAB alone will not give overseas doctors access to senior posts in the NHS.  Time   PLAB has two stages and can take anywhere between 3-9 months to prepare from start to finish.  MRCP has three stages, and the Royal College strongly advises that candidates only sit the final exam after 24 months of practical experience.   These exams can take anywhere from 24-36 months to prepare from start to finish.  Cost   MRCP costs just under £2,500 for the three exams. The final exam, PACES, is an in-person exam, so travel to the UK must be factored into the overall cost.   PLAB costs £1,189, and PLAB 1 can be taken in the UK or several overseas centres, which you can find here. PLAB 2 must be taken in the UK.  For both MRCP (UK) PACES and PLAB 2, candidates will have to travel to the UK, meaning that the additional cost of visas, accommodation and flights must be factored in.     It’s important to note that the total cost of each exam can rise if re-sits are necessary.  Summary  PLAB, as an exam which examines a doctor’s ability to work safely as a Senior House Officer (SHO), does not assess ability in oncology or internal medicine specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine, I.e., medical oncology.  PLAB allows doctors to enter the UK system much faster than other routes and for this reason alone, it is favoured by international doctors when considering their path to the UK.  MRCP (UK) involves three more difficult examinations and takes more time to prepare for. However, for overseas doctors, attaining MRCP (UK) will allow you to jumpstart your career in the UK, as you don't need PLAB or Core Training.  The Royal College of Physicians’ exams will facilitate the application for more senior roles in medical oncology in the UK than PLAB.  #IMG Tips  Determine your priorities – your goals and timeline for relocating to the UK are important in deciding which route is best for, and this is different for everyone.  Plan well ahead – depending on the route you choose, you may be embarking on a long journey through these exams, so plan how you will fit them into your life and how best to prepare to maintain a good work-life balance at the same time.  Find a support network – once you know which exams you will sit, find a support network of others who are also preparing for the exam.   Join the online community - join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded MRCP aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our MRCP crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. Getting started  Once you’ve decided which exams are best for you, it’s time to delve deeper into the exams and what they entail. For more useful blogs and articles on PLAB, MRCP (UK), GMC registration and finding your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Resources library.   If you have any further questions on PLAB, MRCP (UK) or your route to the UK as an overseas oncologist, don't hesitate to get in touch with our oncology specialists here. We’d be more than happy to help you.  Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:              

Here we take a closer look at the routes available to overseas consultants & experienced doctors who wish to join the GMC’s Specialist Register.   IMGs from any country in the world can apply for Specialist Registration, provided certain eligibility criteria are met, though there are different routes available based on a doctor’s qualifications and training.  To shed some light on the routes to Specialist Registration, we've put together a short article to explain further, including the following topics:  What is Specialist Registration? What are the different types of Specialist Registration? Am I eligible? How do I apply for Specialist Registration and what evidence will I need? What are the benefits of Specialist Registration? Are other senior NHS posts available without Specialist Registration? How much does Specialist Registration cost? #IMG Tips Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Specialist Registration All doctors who wish to work as permanent consultants in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge and experience in order to apply for Specialist Registration. This registration in any specialty means you can be appointed to a substantive consultant post within the NHS.  Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC.  The 3 Types of Specialist Registration There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC, and the type of certificate you will receive at the end of your training defines which training route you are on.  The Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)  The CCT is the route to specialist registration for doctors who have completed a GMC-approved, specialty training programme through the relevant Royal College.  To be eligible for CCT, an applicant’s entire training (including any core years) must have taken place within UK-approved training posts. Please see our blog on career pathways for a UK doctor in training.  The Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration - Combined Programme (CESR (CP))   CESR(CP) is a simplified route for doctors who joined their specialty training programme after ST1, and therefore do not meet the requirement of 4 years duration in GMC-approved training on completion, as they began their training overseas and completed it in the UK.  Doctors on the CESR(CP) route count a combination of approved training and previous experience in non-approved posts (overseas) towards their training time.  The Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR)  CESR is the route to specialist registration for doctors who have not completed a GMC-approved specialty training programme – doctors who have trained outside of the UK, Switzerland, and the EEA.  These doctors apply directly to the GMC to demonstrate that their specialist training, qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience are equivalent to the requirements for CCT in the UK.  Doctors who have completed their specialist training in the EEA or Switzerland are eligible for direct entry onto the Specialist Register through their Relevant European Qualification (REQ).  For an in-depth guide to CESR, take a look at our blog for overseas doctors here.  Eligibility Eligibility for Specialist Registration depends on your nationality, qualification and experience.   To meet the minimum eligibility requirements to apply you must have either:  A specialist qualification in the specialty you’re applying in OR  At least six months continuous specialist training in the specialty you’re applying in  You’ll need to provide evidence of how you’re eligible as part of your application. This could be a copy of your qualification or evidence of your employment.   In your application you must show that you meet the requirements of the CCT curriculum in your specialty.   The CESR certificate is awarded only on the written evidence provided by the applicant. It is not granted on the basis of references or experience.  Applications and Evidence for Specialist Registration CCT and CESR-CP  Once you have been issued with your Outcome 6 has been issued, you must complete and return the relevant CCT/ CESR(CP) notification to your Royal College along with the following documents:  Copies of any ARCPs that are not on your ePortfolio  ARCPS/evidence of successful progression for any LAT/FTTA/SHO posts counting towards your training (this applies to doctors who were appointed above ST1 only)  You will also need to complete an online GMC form. The link to this form will be emailed to you by the GMC and you should contact your Royal College if you do not receive it.   The GMC has created a guide for each CCT specialty with the relevant royal college or faculty. You can see this here.  CESR  You will need to apply to the GMC, who will then send your application to the Royal College for evaluation. The application process for CESR can be lengthy and potentially stressful, so it is important that you read the GMC’s general guidance and specialty-specific guidance before starting to put together an application.   You will need to provide a portfolio of evidence demonstrating that your specialist training or qualifications are equivalent to the award of a CCT in your specialism in the UK. This information is available for each specialty and Royal College on the GMC website here.  If you apply for an NHS post which provides CESR support, your hospital should assist you in this process.  Once the GMC has sent you a letter informing you that your application is complete and has been sent to your Royal College for assessment, the College is not permitted to discuss your case with you until the GMC has sent you a letter informing you of the decision.  Benefits of Specialist Registration Specialist registration allows doctors to take up permanent or substantive consultant positions. Without CCT, CESR or CESR-CP, a doctor may only take a Trust locum or fixed-term consultant posts.  Fixed-term and locum posts offer of course offer less stability than permanent consultant posts and require extension.  It is a legal requirement before taking a substantive, honorary or permanent NHS consultant post in the UK that doctors have their names entered on the GMC's Specialist Register.  Senior Positions in the NHS It is important to note that you can apply for more senior roles such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or a locum consultant (locum consultants are not required to be on the Specialist Register).   This way, you will have better pay and roles and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience compared to a trainee. While working in these jobs you can collect evidence of your competences.   These positions also facilitate a faster route to the UK than the CESR route, which can take a substantial amount of time.  Cost All doctors applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. The fees for 2021 are as follows:  CCT - £439  CESR-CP - £439  CESR - £1,676  #IMG Tips Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.  Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.  Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.    Remember to refer to the relevant CCT Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.   Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS posts with CESR support, these are not always advertised by a Trust, but we can help you to find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.  Most IMGs likely haven’t completed a UK-approved training programme, but you could be eligible for Specialist Registration with the GMC via the CESR or CESR-CP route. Take a look at our in-depth CESR overview for more information on how to apply and what to expect. If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.  Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:              

In response to the high number of inquiries we've had from overseas pathologists about the arrangements for the Autumn sitting of the FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam, we've been in contact with the Royal College of Pathologists and have summarised these updates under the headings below. When will the FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam be held? The publicised dates for the exam are Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 October 2022, although these are subject to change due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The withdrawal deadline for the exams is Friday 15 July 2022. Can I sit the FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam in Autumn 2022? The RCPath guidance which asks candidates to wait to sit the Part 2 exam the year after passing the Part 1 exam was in place to avoid overwhelming the limited capacity of the exam centres. Those who were successful in the Spring 2021 Part 1 exam are able to sit the Part 2 exam in Spring 2022. If the College needs to prioritise bookings, it will be done in the same way as previously. Therefore, if there is a requirement for candidates who have passed in Spring 2022 to wait until Spring 2023 to apply, a notice will be put on the News section of the examinations page around the end of May/ beginning of June. It is therefore important to check regularly for updates to the examinations page, which you can do here. Where can I sit the FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam in Autumn 2022? Details on the Autumn 2022 sitting of FRCPath Part 2 have yet to be finalised, however, unlike Spring 2022, it may be possible to arrange to sit the exam in Irbid (Jordan), Dubai (UAE) or Cairo (Egypt) if there are sufficient applicants. The availability of FRCPath Part 2 examination centres outside the UK will be indicated on the Royal College website (when the application window opens for Autumn 2022 at the end of May) and candidates should contact the Examinations Department to express their interest in taking the exam in the available centre when they make their application. We therefore advise that you keep an eye on the RCPath application page here. Will the College have any microscopes available for me to use for the exam? The College's overall policy is that the College and centres have no obligation to provide microscopes. Candidates can bring their own as this is equipment they are familiar with, or can hire a microscope. Some overseas centres may be more able to provide microscopes and if that is the case it would be stated on the letter sent to candidates with their centre confirmation.  If you would like to borrow a microscope for your FRCPath Histopathology Part 2 exam, we advise that you check well in advance what the options are for your chosen centre, or are available to you online.  If you have any further questions about the FRCPath exams, your route to the UK as an overseas histopathologist, or any other aspect of GMC Registration, the NHS or relocating to the UK, please get in touch with us here.   We'd also like to invite you to join the IMG Histopathologists online community - as well as support on Royal College exams, our Facebook group of international pathologists and dedicated pathology recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.  Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:             

There are several routes a European oncologist can take to GMC registration and medical or clinical (radiation) oncology in the NHS.  All European oncologists looking to secure a job in the NHS will need to satisfy certain criteria before they can register for full GMC (General Medical Council) registration to practice in the NHS. As an oncologist, these criteria depend on where in the world you trained, and the qualifications you hold. In this blog, we’re giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, as a European-qualified oncologist. We will be covering the following:  Is my training recognised as an EEA doctor? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? EEA Doctors  Firstly, it is important to note that where we refer to EEA in this article, this refers specifically to all countries inside the EU, including Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway. If you trained & qualified as an oncologist inside the EEA or Switzerland, then you will have a few different options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either general or specialist registration, check the relevant GMC page here.  Knowledge and Skills Basic Medical Training: If you have met the basic medical training requirements, this would mean that you would not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK and would not need to complete a UK- recognised postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, but not Specialist Registration.   Specialist Training / Residency: If you have met the criteria listed for your country, then once you have completed the GMC application process, you would be granted Specialist Registration in oncology and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS. So as an oncologist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for medical or clinical oncology and can be appointed as a substantive oncologist in the NHS.  Therefore, the main hurdle that you will face as an EEA doctor will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely and proficiently as a doctor in the NHS.  As a European oncologist, this is in most cases the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice oncology in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for full or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for either clinical oncology (FRCR) or medical oncology (MRCP). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  English Language Testing All EEA oncologists, regardless of experience, and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Certificate of Good Standing All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they have been registered or licensed with in the last five years.   The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you are not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact vis the GMC website here.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it is signed and must be valid when the GMC approve your application.  If there is no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  GMC Registration Once you have completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years) AND  Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA oncologist, this would either be your recognised primary medical degree, or your recognised specialist European qualification (REQ)  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing To understand the registration process more fully, read our on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  So, there you have it! Hopefully any medical or radiation oncologist planning a career in the NHS should have their route to the UK clarified. If you ever have some questions or wish to know more about the oncology job market, then get in touch with our team.  Join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded oncologists and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. For regular news and updates on all things oncology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:             

GMC Registration can be a long and complex process. With a few options available for demonstration evidence of skills and knowledge, it can be difficult for IMGs to decide the best route to take to register with the GMC.   For international doctors planning their route to the UK, there are essentially two main pathways to consider – postgraduate qualifications (for psychiatrists, this is MRCPsych) or PLAB. Whilst these are the most common routes to GMC registration, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other options such as Royal College sponsorship and GMC-approved qualifications or licensing exams, and you can read more about these here. Here we provide a summary of both of the main pathways and briefly consider their benefits.  PLAB for GMC Registration MRCPsych for GMC Registration Which is better for me as an overseas psychiatrist, PLAB or MRCPsych? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB)  The first and most common route we’ll be discussing, which tends to be popular among junior doctors, is PLAB.  PLAB is a two-part exam (one written and one practical element), which assesses whether a candidate is at least as capable as a doctor starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training and can therefore work safely as an SHO in the NHS.  The GMC has a useful video summary of the PLAB exams which you can watch here, or for a more detailed overview, see our IMG Resources library.  MRCPsych - UK Postgraduate Qualification for Psychiatrists  The UK’s postgraduate qualifications are a more popular route for senior overseas doctors, and those looking to gain posts in the NHS which are reflective of their experience.  Within psychiatry, this can be done by attaining Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of psychiatry in the UK, and Membership of the College of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) is the full qualification attained through these examinations. Take a look at our IMG Resources library for complete guides on MRCPsych to learn more.  PLAB vs MRCPsych  Both MRCPsych and PLAB are legitimate routes that demonstrate skills and knowledge and will allow you to register with the GMC and work in the UK. To decide which route is best for you, you’ll need to consider the benefits of each and how they align with your needs and priorities in moving to the UK.  Seniority of Positions in the NHS  It would be difficult for an overseas psychiatrist to obtain a more senior post in the NHS without either MRCPsych, a GMC-approved training programme, or extensive experience from a similar, English speaking healthcare system. PLAB alone will not give overseas doctors access to senior posts in the NHS.  Specialty Training   To practice as a consultant in the UK, you must have gone through specialty training and will need a GMC-recognised postgraduate qualification to do so, whether a qualification from the country in which you completed your specialty training, or MRCPsych.  Only one type of evidence is required to demonstrate skills and knowledge, so once you pass MRCPsych, you would not need to additionally sit the PLAB exams. However, due to the more specialised nature of MRCPsych, psychiatrists may want to sit the MRCPsych exams at a later date, to allow them access to more senior roles and competitive salaries.   Time   PLAB has two stages and can take anywhere between 3-9 months to prepare from start to finish.  MRCPsych has three stages, the last of which must be taken after at least 36 months of postgraduate experience in psychiatry and can take anywhere between 24-36 months to prepare from start to finish.  Cost   MRCPsych costs just under £2,000 for the three exams. All MRCPsych exams can now be sat online, so there is no longer the added expense of international travel. You can read about the changes to the exam format here.  PLAB costs £1,189, and both exams are sat in person. PLAB 1 can be taken in the UK or several overseas centres, which you can find here. PLAB 2 must be taken in the UK.  So, for PLAB 2, candidates will have to travel to the UK, meaning that the additional cost of visas, accommodation and flights must be factored in.  It’s important to note that these costs can rise if re-sits of the exams are necessary.    Summary  PLAB, as an exam which examines a doctor’s ability to work safely as a Senior House Officer (SHO), does not assess ability in psychiatry specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine, I.e., psychiatry.  PLAB allows doctors to enter the UK system much faster than other routes and for this reason alone, it is favoured by international doctors when considering their path to the UK.  MRCPsych involves three more difficult examinations and takes more time to prepare for. However, for overseas doctors, attaining MRCPsych will allow you to jumpstart your career in the UK, as you don't need PLAB or Core Training.  Additionally, MRCPsych will facilitate the application for more senior roles in UK psychiatry than PLAB.  #IMG Tips  Determine your priorities – your goals and timeline for relocating to the UK are important in deciding which route is best for, and this is different for everyone.  Plan well ahead – depending on the route you choose, you may be embarking on a long journey through these exams, so plan how you will fit them into your life and how best to prepare to maintain a good work-life balance at the same time.  Find a support network – once you know which exams you will sit, find a support network of others who are also preparing for the exam. A great way to do this is to join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group, an online psychiatry community of UK and NHS psychiatry aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters. You’ll find advice, guidance and news and updates about all things psychiatry for IMGs. Join the conversation here.  Getting started  Once you’ve decided which exams are best for you, it’s time to delve deeper into the exams and what they entail. For more useful blogs and articles on PLAB or MRCPsych exams, registrations and qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Resources library.   Or if you have any questions on PLAB or postgraduate qualifications, please get in touch with our psychiatry recruiters here. They will be more than happy to help you.  To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

IMGs from any country in the world can apply for Specialist Registration, provided certain eligibility criteria are met, though there are different routes available based on a doctor’s qualifications and training.  Here we explore specialist registration in histopathology for overseas consultant pathologists and specialists more closely. We’ll cover the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) specifically, including the application, costs, and eligibility criteria, along with some other topics, summarised in the headings below:  What is Specialist Registration? What route to Specialist Registration is best for me as an overseas pathologist? Do I have to complete CESR before I can work in the UK? Do I need FRCPath for Specialist Registration? What is the CESR equivalence process? What evidence do I need to submit for a CESR in histopathology? How much does CESR cost? How long is the CESR application process? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Specialist Registration  Specialist registration in any specialty means that you can be appointed to a substantive (permanent) consultant position in the NHS. All physicians who wish to take permanent consultant roles in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge, and experience in order to gain Specialist Registration.   Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC and is therefore not required to practice as a histopathologist in the UK.  Routes to Specialist Registration  There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC for specialist registration across all specialties, and the type of certificate you receive depends on which training route you followed.  For pathologists who have completed their full training outside a GMC-approved training programme, CESR is the route they will usually take towards attaining specialist registration. This route does not require further training, but rather the submission of an application.   Doctors who have trained outside the UK or Switzerland, but within an EEA country, will be awarded CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) after a successful specialist registration application. Specialist Certifications from across the EU are deemed as equivalent by the GMC, and therefore a straightforward application can be made.   Pathology Positions in the NHS without CESR  It is important to note that you attain more senior histopathology roles in the NHS, such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or a locum consultant without being on the Specialist Register.  Similarly, overseas doctors do not require CESR before moving to the UK to work in the NHS.  In these NHS roles, you will have better pay and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience compared to a trainee. While working in these positions, you can collect evidence of your competences, particularly those specific to the UK histopathology curriculum.  These positions also facilitate a faster route to the UK than the CESR route, which can take a substantial amount of time.  FRCPath for Specialist Registration  Whilst it is always beneficial pathologists to complete FRCPath, overseas doctors looking to join the Specialist Register do not necessarily need to have completed the Royal College postgraduate exams.  The standard test of knowledge in the CCT curriculum are the FRCPath exams, so passing these exams confirms the attainment of the competencies of the Histopathology Curriculum.  FRCPath is only a requirement for doctors looking to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route.  However, if CESR applicants have not successfully completed these exams, they must provide alternative evidence that demonstrates equivalent knowledge to histopathologists who have passed the FRCPath exams.  Even if the competencies covered by the exams require something that someone in your position would not routinely undertake (in your sub-specialty for example), you must still provide evidence of it – as the evaluators will not make assumptions outside the evidence presented.  CESR Equivalence Process  Equivalence describes the process of assessing an overseas applicant’s training and experience against the current histopathology training programme requirements, in order to be awarded CESR.  The equivalence process involves submitting a written body of evidence to the GMC, consisting of:  training and/or competence  skills and knowledge  The Royal College of Pathologists will assess each application against the relevant Curriculum before providing a recommendation to the GMC, who will then make a decision.  Please note that Equivalence procedures are the responsibility of the GMC. Applications are made through their Certification Department and initial enquiries should be directed there.  Evidence Requirements for CESR in Histopathology  Skills & Experience: The evidence provided for a CESR application in histopathology must cover the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the Curriculum for Specialty Training in Histopathology. If evidence is missing from any area of the curriculum, the application may be unsuccessful.  Capabilities in Practice: The Royal College of Pathologists has divided the Training Curriculum into 11 different Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) – each comes along with its own descriptor and guidance on where such CiPs would be evidenced.  Applicants are required to gather evidence by area of competence and attach this under the relevant section of the online application.  Generic CiPs  Able to function effectively within healthcare and other organisational and management systems to deliver consistent high-quality patient care.  Able to work within ethical and legal frameworks across all aspects of clinical practice.  Communicates effectively and is able to share decisionmaking, while maintaining appropriate situational awareness, professional behaviour and professional judgement.  Maintains patient safety at the forefront of clinical working. Can utilise quality improvement activity realistically within the constraints of the role.  Able to contribute to and support research.  Behaves as an educator in the context of the role and promotes educational culture.  Able to self-appraise, learn and adapt.  Histopathology-specific CiPs  Able to demonstrate leadership and management within the laboratory setting for the benefit of patient care.  Able to use laboratory and other services effectively in the investigation, diagnosis, and management of patients, relatives, and the deceased.  Able to manage and contribute to a multidisciplinary team effectively.  Able to take, manage and interpret pathological specimens accurately and safely, mindful of risks to self and others.  Audit and Governance: You are required to submit evidence of your active leadership in audit, including evidence that you have completed at least one audit cycle. Currency of evidence: Your evaluators will be looking for evidence of current competency, generally defined as within the last five years. If you have completed training before this point, it is crucial that you provide evidence of maintaining competency across the whole area of the curriculum.   The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – you can find this on the GMC website here.  As a general guide, the GMC usually expects to see about 800-1000 pages of evidence, divided into four different domains, reflecting those of Good Medical Practice. The GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as shown below:  Domain 1 - Knowledge, skills, and performance  Domain 2 – Safety and quality  Domain 3 – Communication, partnership, and teamwork  Domain 4 – Maintaining trust  Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area.  The full list of evidence required for each domain can be found on the GMC website here.  The Cost of CESR Applications  All histopathology applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. For CESR, this fee is £1,676. For CESR-CP and CCT, the cost is £439.  How long does it take to complete a CESR in Histopathology application?  The GMC estimate that it can take between six and eight months to receive a decision, from the date you submit your CESR application.  As there is a substantial amount of evidence to gather for a CESR application, the process of preparing all the necessary documentation and applying for CESR can take even longer than this, and a typical candidate will usually set out to complete this within 1 – 3 years.  It is worth noting that more senior histopathologists, such as consultants, are more likely to have achieved all the competences outlined in the curriculum.  The indicative period of training for a CCT in histopathology is five years, so it is highly unlikely that you would achieve the competencies required for a CCT in a shorter period of time. Therefore, CESR is not suitable for more junior pathologists.  #IMG Tips  Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.   Gather evidence prospectively – this is much easier than retrospectively trying to pull together the evidence under additional pressures.  Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.   Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the histopathology curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.     Remember to refer to the most up-to-date Histopathology Specialty Training Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.   Create a CESR ‘to-do list’ with sections under the 11 CiPs headings – organise your evidence directly into these sections to manage your progress.  Do not submit original documents – all your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a proformas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier).  Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS histopathology posts with CESR support. These are not always advertised by the Trusts, but we can help you find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.  Join the IMG Histopathologists community – as well as support on Royal College exams, our online community of international pathologists and dedicated pathology recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.  Getting started  Many pathology IMGs likely haven’t completed a UK-approved training programme, but you could be eligible for Specialist Registration with the GMC via the CESR route. Take a look at our guide to CESR Applications for Histopathology for more information on how to apply and what to expect.  If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS histopathology posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.   Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:              

There are several routes a medical oncologist can take to register with the GMC and practice oncology in the NHS.  Medical oncologists looking to secure a job in the NHS must satisfy certain criteria before they can be fully registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) and receive a license to practice in the NHS. For oncology, these criteria depend on where you received your training, and the qualifications you hold.   In this blog, we’re giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, as an overseas oncologist. We’ll be covering the following:  How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA oncologist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA oncologist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Evidence of knowledge and skills for EEA medical oncologists  For oncologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, also Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are several options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either GMC registration, check the relevant GMC page here.  Basic Medical Training If you have met the requirements for basic medical training, you would not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK, and would therefore not need to complete a Royal College postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, but not Specialist Registration.  Specialist Training / Residency Not all European Specialist qualifications are accepted by the GMC. If you have met the GMC’s criteria pertaining to your county, then you should be eligible for Specialist Registration in oncology. So as a medical oncologist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for medical oncology and can be appointed as a substantive oncologist in the NHS.  Please note, the criteria that is outlined on your country’s GMC registration page must be met. If your training was undertaken prior to the dates mentioned by the GMC – your qualifications will not be accepted.   For EEA oncologists, the main hurdle that you will face will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the NHS.  As a European oncologist, this is most likely the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice oncology in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for general or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB, or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for medical oncology (MRCP). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  Evidence of knowledge and skills for non-EEA oncologists If you qualified as a medical oncologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.  Oncologists who've trained from outside the UK and EEA and must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For medical oncologists this can be done through one of three main routes:  Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in oncology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, medical oncologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB.  Royal College of Physicians Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. medical oncology. Oncologists taking this route will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the NHS. The Royal College of Physicians is the professional body that regulates the specialism of medical oncology in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining MRCP will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK oncology. Take a look at IMG Resources library for complete guides on MRCP to learn more.  GMC-recognised or equivalent qualifications Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.  To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications  English Language Testing Both EEA and non-EEA oncologists, regardless of experience, and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Experience in English-speaking countries  For doctors who have at least two years of their most recent experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.  The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  GMC Registration Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.  AND  (EEA oncologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA oncologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.  (Non-EEA oncologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA oncologist, this would either be PLAB, MRCP or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our article on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas  If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the Home Office.  A Health & Care visa (Tier 2 visa) is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed.  Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK?  IMG Oncologists Join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded FRCR (Oncology) aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our FRCR (Oncology) crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. So, there you have it! Hopefully this helps to clarify any worries or doubts you may have on your route to the UK as a medical oncologist planning a career in the NHS. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the medical oncology job market, then get in touch with our team.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things oncology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

There are several routes an overseas histopathologist can take to GMC registration & practicing anatomic pathology in the NHS. All pathologists looking to secure a job in the NHS, whether you are from inside or outside of Europe, will need to satisfy certain criteria to fully register with the General Medical Council before they can practice in the NHS. As a histopathologist, the criteria you need to meet depends on where you trained, and what qualifications you hold. This article is designed to give you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, no matter where in the world you live. We’ll be covering the following:  How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA histopathologist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA histopathologist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Evidence of knowledge and skills for EEA histopathologists For histopathologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, including Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are a number of different options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either general or specialist registration, check the relevant GMC page here.  Basic Medical Training: If you have met the basic medical training requirements, this would mean that you would not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK and would not need to complete a UK- recognised postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, but not Specialist Registration.   Specialist Training / Residency: If you have met the criteria listed for your country then you once you completed your GMC application process you would be granted Specialist Registration in your Specialty and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS. So as a pathologist, if you hold a Relevent European Specialist qualification then you would be on the specialist register for histopathology, and can be appointed as a substantive histopathologist in the NHS. So, the main hurdle that you will face is demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the UK & NHS.  As a European histopathologist, this is in most cases the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for full or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for Histopathology (FRCPath). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  Evidence of knowledge and skills for non-EEA histopathologists  If you qualified as a histopathologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.   Histopathologists who've trained from outside the UK and EEA must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For histopathologists this can be done through one of three main routes:  Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in pathology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, pathologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB. Fellowship of Royal College of Pathologists Royal College Qualification of FRCPath: Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. pathology. For senior pathologists taking this route, they will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the specialism of their choice. The Royal College of Pathologists is the Professional Body that regulates the specialism of Pathology in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining FRCPath will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK Pathology. Take a look at our complete guides on Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists as per your sub-specialty to understand more. GMC recognised or equivalent qualifications Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.   To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications. English Language Testing  Both EEA and non-EEA histopathologists, regardless of experience, and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Experience in English-speaking countries  For doctors who have at least two years of their most current experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing  All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.   The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  GMC Registration  Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.   AND  (EEA pathologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA pathologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.  OR  (Non-EEA pathologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA pathologist, this would either be PLAB, FRCPath or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our blog on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas  If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.  A Tier 2 visa is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa - how do I apply and what's the process? Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK? For pathologists looking to come to the UK to work in the NHS, GMC registration and specialist registration is a crucial part of the process. Therefore, it’s important to put together a good application to present to the GMC, and IMG Connect are here to help with this. Whether it’s deciding the best options for demonstrating your skills and knowledge in histopathology, or sourcing the best English Language courses and resources, take advantage of the benefits of having a pathology recruitment specialist working with you and proving you with the best guidance and support to fit your career needs.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things pathology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

GMC Registration can be a long and complex process. With a few options available for clinical oncologists to provide evidence of their skills and knowledge, it can be difficult for IMGs to decide the best route to take to register with the GMC.   For international doctors considering their route to the UK, there are essentially two main pathways to consider: PLAB and the postgraduate route - FRCR (Oncology). Whilst these are the most common routes to GMC registration, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other options such as Royal College sponsorship and GMC-approved qualifications or licensing exams, and you can read more about these here. Here we provide a summary of both pathways and briefly consider their benefits.  PLAB for GMC Registration FRCR (Oncology) for GMC Registration Which is better for me as an overseas pathologist, PLAB or FRCR (Oncology)? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB)  The first and most common route which is often a popular choice among junior doctors is PLAB.  PLAB is a two-part exam with one written and one practical element, that assesses whether candidates are at least as capable as doctors starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training, and can therefore work safely as an SHO in the NHS.  The GMC has a useful video summary of the PLAB exams which you can watch here or for a more detailed overview, see our IMG Resources library.  FRCR (Oncology) - UK Postgraduate Qualification for Clinical or Radiation Oncologists  The UK’s postgraduate qualifications are a more popular route for senior overseas doctors, and those looking to gain posts in the NHS which are reflective of their experience. Within clinical or radiation oncology, this can be done by attaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists. The Royal College of Radiologists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of clinical oncology in the UK.  Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR Oncology) is the full qualification attained through these postgraduate exams for clinical or radiation oncology. The exams assess a candidate’s knowledge and clinical understanding against the Specialty Training Curriculum for Clinical Oncology. FRCR (Oncology) has three components, with two written and one clinical and oral element.  For complete guides on FRCR (Oncology), take a look at our IMG Resources library.  It is important to note that the FRCR (Oncology) exams are for clinical or radiation oncologists only. Overseas clinical oncologists are not required to also sit the MRCP (UK) exams.  PLAB vs FRCR (Oncology)  FRCR (Oncology) is a legitimate route that demonstrates skills and knowledge and will allow oncologists to register with the GMC and work in the UK. To decide which route is best for you, you’ll need to consider the benefits of each exam, as well as how they align with your needs and priorities in moving to the UK.  Seniority of Positions in the NHS  It may be difficult for an overseas clinical oncologist to obtain a more senior post within the NHS without FRCR (Oncology), GMC-approved training, or extensive experience from a similar, English-speaking healthcare system. PLAB alone will not give overseas doctors access to senior posts in the NHS.  Time   PLAB has two stages and can take anywhere between 3-9 months to prepare from start to finish.  FRCR (Oncology) has three stages, the last of which must be taken after at least 36 months of postgraduate experience in clinical or radiation oncology.  These exams can take anywhere from between 24-36 months to prepare from start to finish.  Cost   The FRCR (Oncology) exams cost just over £1,600, but all the exams are sat in person and there are only a few overseas exam centres.  PLAB costs £1,189, and both exams are sat in person. PLAB 1 can be taken in the UK or several overseas centres, which you can find here. PLAB 2 must be taken within the UK.  SO, for PLAB 2, candidates will have to travel to the UK, meaning that the additional cost of visas, accommodation and flights must be factored in.     It’s important to note that the total cost of each exam can rise if re-sits are necessary.  Summary  PLAB, as an exam which examines a doctor’s ability to work safely as a Senior House Officer (SHO), does not assess ability in oncology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine, I.e., oncology. PLAB allows doctors to enter the UK system much faster than other routes and for this reason alone, it is favoured by international doctors when considering their path to the UK.  FRCR (Oncology) involves three more difficult examinations and takes more time to prepare for. However, for overseas oncologists, attaining FRCR (Oncology) will allow you to jumpstart your career in the UK, as you will not need PLAB or Core Training.  The Royal College of Radiologists’ exams will facilitate the application for more senior roles in UK oncology than PLAB.  #IMG Tips  Determine your priorities – your goals and timeline for relocating to the UK are important in deciding which route is best for, and this is different for everyone.  Plan well ahead – depending on the route you choose, you may be embarking on a long journey through these exams, so plan how you will fit them into your life and how best to prepare to maintain a good work-life balance at the same time.  Find a support network – once you know which exams you will sit, find a support network of others who are also preparing for the exam.   Join the community - join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded FRCR (Oncology) aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our FRCR (Oncology) crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. Getting started  Once you’ve decided which exams are best for you, it’s time for a deep dive into the exams and what they entail. For more useful blogs and articles on PLAB, FRCR (Oncology), GMC registration and finding your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Resources library.   If you have any further questions on PLAB or postgraduate qualifications, please get in touch with our oncology specialists here. We’d be more than happy to help you.  For advice, guidance and news and updates about all things oncology for IMGs, join the conversation through the links below             

IMGs from any country in the world can apply for Specialist Registration, provided certain eligibility criteria are met, though there are different routes available based on a doctor’s qualifications and training.  Here we explore specialist registration in psychiatry for overseas consultant psychiatrists and specialists more closely. We’ll cover the Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) in more detail, including the application process, costs, and eligibility criteria, along with some other topics, summarised in the headings below:  What is Specialist Registration? What route to Specialist Registration is best for me as an overseas psychiatrist? Do I have to complete CESR before I can work in the UK? Do I need MRCPsych for Specialist Registration? What is the CESR equivalence process? What evidence do I need to submit for a CESR in psychiatry? How much does CESR cost? How long is the CESR application process? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.  Specialist Registration  Specialist registration in any specialty means that you can be appointed to a substantive (permanent) consultant position in the NHS. All psychiatrists who wish to take permanent consultant roles in the UK must show evidence of skills, knowledge, and experience in order to apply for Specialist Registration.   For psychiatrists, attaining specialist registration will mean you are qualified to practice independently as a consultant in the NHS.   Specialist Registration is additional to full registration with the GMC and is therefore not required to practice as a psychiatrist in the UK.  Routes to Specialist Registration  There are three types of certificates issued by the GMC for specialist registration, and the type of certificate you receive depends on which training route you followed.  For overseas doctors who have completed their full training outside a GMC-approved training programme, CESR is the route they will usually take towards attaining specialist registration. This route does not require further training, rather the submission of an application.   Doctors who have trained outside the UK or Switzerland, but within an EEA country, will be awarded CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) after a successful specialist registration application. Specialist Certifications from across the EU are deemed as equivalent by the GMC, and therefore a straightforward application can be made. You can read more about this in the Specialist Registration section under your country on the GMC website here.  Psychiatry Positions in the NHS without CESR  It is important to note that you can apply for more senior psychiatry roles such as a specialty doctor (SAS), specialist grade or a locum consultant without being on the Specialist Register.  Similarly, overseas doctors do not require CESR before moving to the UK to work in the NHS.  In these NHS roles, you will have better pay and responsibilities that are more appropriate to your level of experience compared to a trainee. While working in these positions, you can collect evidence of your competences, particularly those specific to the UK psychiatry curriculum.  These positions also facilitate a faster route to the UK than the CESR route, which can take a substantial amount of time.  MRCPsych for Specialist Registration  Whilst it is always beneficial to complete MRCPsych, overseas doctors looking to join the Specialist Register do not necessarily need to have completed the Royal College postgraduate exams.  The standard test of knowledge in the CCT curriculum is the MRCPsych exam, so passing these exams confirms the attainment of the competencies of the Core Curriculum.  MRCPsych is only a requirement for doctors looking to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route.  However, if CESR applicants have not successfully completed these exams, they must provide alternative evidence that demonstrates equivalent knowledge to psychiatrists who have passed the MRCPsych exams.  Even if the competencies covered by the exam require something that someone in your position would not routinely undertake (in your sub-specialty for example), you must still provide evidence of it – as the evaluators will not make assumptions outside the evidence presented.  CESR Equivalence Process  Equivalence describes the process of assessing an overseas applicant’s training and experience against the current psychiatry training programme requirements, in order to be awarded CESR.  The equivalence process involves submitting a written body of evidence to the GMC, consisting of:  training and/or competence  skills and knowledge  The Royal College of Psychiatrists will assess each application against the relevant Curriculum before providing a recommendation to the GMC, who will then make a decision.  Please note that Equivalence procedures are the responsibility of the GMC. Applications are made through their Certification Department and initial enquiries should be directed there.  Evidence Requirements for CESR in Psychiatry  Skills & Experience: The evidence provided for a CESR application in psychiatry must cover the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the General Psychiatry Curriculum, and the Advanced Module in the sub-specialty you are applying in. If evidence is missing from any area of the curriculum, the application will fail.  Primary Evidence: To demonstrate that you can do what is required by the curriculum, you need to submit primary evidence of your clinical practice which shows how you work on a day-to-day basis: letters, reports, assessments etc. References, retrospective case summaries, and reflective notes can all be used in a CESR application, but by themselves they are not sufficient.  Audit and Governance: You are required to submit evidence of your active leadership in audit, including evidence that you have completed at least one audit cycle  Currency of evidence: Your evaluators will be looking for evidence of current competency, generally defined as within the last five years. If you have completed training before this point, it is crucial that you provide evidence of maintaining competency across the whole area of the curriculum.   The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – you can find this on the GMC website here.  As a general guide, the GMC usually expects to see about 800-1200 pages of evidence, divided into four different domains, reflecting those of Good Medical Practice. The GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as shown below:  Domain 1 - Knowledge, skills, and performance  Domain 2 – Safety and quality  Domain 3 – Communication, partnership, and teamwork  Domain 4 – Maintaining trust  Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area.  The full list of evidence required for each domain can be found on the GMC website here.  The Cost of CESR Applications  All psychiatrists applying for Specialist Registration must pay a fee. For CESR, this fee is £1,676. For CESR-CP and CCT, the cost is £439.  How long does is the application process for CESR in Psychiatry?  The GMC estimate that it can take between six and eight months to receive a decision, from the date you submit your CESR application.  As there is a substantial amount of evidence to gather for a CESR application, the process of preparing all the necessary documentation and applying for CESR can take even longer than this, and a typical candidate will usually set out to complete this within 1 – 3 years.  It is worth noting that more senior psychiatrists, such as consultants, are more likely to have achieved all the competences outlined in the curriculum.  The indicative period of training for a CCT in psychiatry is six years, so it is highly unlikely that you would achieve the competencies required for a CCT in a shorter period of time. Therefore, CESR is not suitable for more junior psychiatrists.  #IMG Tips  Research/think about the types of evidence you will need and begin to gather your evidence well in advance of making your application.   Gather evidence prospectively – this is much easier than retrospectively trying to pull together the evidence under additional pressures.  Make sure that your evidence is of the highest possible quality and is current – you will be assessed against the most recent curriculum.   Ensure that the evidence you collect demonstrates your competence across the whole of the psychiatry curriculum, not just your sub-specialty.     Remember to refer to the most up-to-date Psychiatry CCT Curriculum and Specialty Specific Guidance for the evidence requirements in your specialty.   Create a CESR ‘to-do list’ with sections under the GMC’s 4 domain headings – organise your evidence directly into these sections to manage your progress.  Do not submit original documents – all your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a proformas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier).  Ask an IMG Connect recruitment specialist about NHS psychiatry posts with CESR support. These are not always advertised by a Trust, but we can help you to find a role which aligns well with your career goals in the NHS.  Join the IMG Psychiatrists community – as well as support on Royal College exams, our online community of international psychiatrists and dedicated psychiatry recruiters offers guidance on other aspects of working in the UK, including finding NHS posts and CESR.  Getting started  Many psychiatry IMGs likely haven’t completed a UK-approved training programme, but you could be eligible for Specialist Registration with the GMC via the CESR route. Take a look at our guide to CESR applications for psychiatry for more information on how to apply and what to expect.  If you have any further questions about Specialist Registration, your route to the UK, or would like guidance in finding NHS posts which offer CESR support, please get in touch with us here.   To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

There are several routes a radiation oncologist can take to GMC registration and clinical (radiation) oncology in the NHS.  Clinical (or radiation) oncologists looking to secure a job in the NHS will need to satisfy certain criteria before they can apply for full GMC (General Medical Council) registration with license to practice in the NHS. As an oncologist, these criteria depend on where in the world you trained, and the qualifications you hold. In this blog, we’re giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, as an overseas oncologist. We’ll be covering the following:  Will my training be recognised in the UK? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA oncologist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA oncologist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Recognition of knowledge and skills  For clinical oncologists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, including Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are a number of different options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either general or specialist registration, check the relevant GMC page here.  Knowledge and skills for EEA radiation oncologists  Basic Medical Training: If you have met the basic medical training requirements, this would mean that you would not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK and would not need to complete a UK- recognised postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, but not Specialist Registration.   Specialist Training / Residency: If you have met the criteria listed for your country, then once you have completed the GMC application process, you would be granted Specialist Registration in oncology and can be appointed as a substantive or permanent consultant in the NHS. So as an oncologist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for medical or clinical oncology and can be appointed as a substantive oncologist in the NHS.  Therefore, the main hurdle that you will face as an EEA doctor will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely and proficiently as a doctor in the NHS.  As a European oncologist, this is in most cases the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice oncology in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for full or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for either clinical oncology (FRCR) or medical oncology (MRCP). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  Knowledge and skills for non-EEA radiation oncologists  If you qualified as an oncologist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.   Oncologists who've trained from outside the UK and EEA and must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For oncologists this can be done through one of three main routes:  Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in oncology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, clinical oncologists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB. Fellowship of Royal College of Radiologists The Royal College of Radiologists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of clinical oncologists in the UK, and Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining FRCR (Oncology) will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK clinical oncology. Take a look at our IMG Resources library for complete guides on Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists for clinical oncology to learn more.  GMC recognised or equivalent qualifications  Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.   To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications. English Language Testing  Both EEA and non-EEA oncologists, regardless of experience, and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Experience in English-speaking countries  For doctors who have at least two years of their most current experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing  All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.   The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  GMC Registration  Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.   AND  (EEA oncologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as an EEA oncologist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.  OR  (Non-EEA oncologists) Sufficient skill and knowledge – as a non-EEA oncologist, this would either be PLAB, FRCR or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our blog on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas  If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.  A Tier 2 visa is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa - how do I apply and what's the process? Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK? IMG Oncologists Join the IMG Oncologists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded FRCR (Oncology) aspirants and dedicated oncology recruiters. In this group you will find tailored resources for oncology IMGs, including access to our FRCR (Oncology) crash courses, completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Oncologists community here. For clinical or radiation oncologists looking to come to the UK to work in the NHS, GMC registration and specialist registration is a crucial part of the process. Therefore, it’s important to put together a good application to present to the GMC, and IMG Connect are here to help with this.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things oncology, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

CESR acts as a route to applying for substantive (permanent) consultant jobs for doctors who have not followed a specialty training programme in the United Kingdom. In a nutshell it is the option available to doctors practicing as consultants from overseas who wish to gain specialist registration in the UK. Some doctors choose to apply from overseas, others work with IMG Connect to secure a job in the NHS geared at helping them gain entry to the specialist register once in the UK.  If you are working as a consultant in your home country and are eligible for specialist registration in the UK, then as an overseas doctor (IMG) you have a couple of options. Here we focus on applying for CESR from abroad as well as the alternative route, applying for a Specialty Doctor or Fixed Term Consultant job in the UK before applying for CESR with support of your NHS employer.  Both routes lead to gaining CESR and entry to the Specialist Registration, meaning that you can work as a substantive consultant in the NHS. Both take hard work, preparation, evidence gathering, time and dedication. Both options have the same end goal, specialist registration.  It is important to say that no matter how you choose to apply, the CESR process involves submitting a large volume of evidence to demonstrate that you have the equivalent experience, skills and competencies as a doctor who has taken the specialty training route in the UK. Whether applying from overseas or not, some doctors are asked to complete additional experiences to meet this strict standard. Because of this, the process can be lengthy.  Applying for CESR from overseas  This is a great option for Consultants who are not constrained by time and have an understanding department that will support the additional gathering of evidence. The GMC reckons that it takes between 6 – 9 months between submitting your application and receiving a decision. At IMG Connect our experience tells us that is takes a similar amount of time to gather the evidence prior to submitting. In addition, you must have completed the evidence in the first place in real workplace and clinical scenarios. This can take twice as much time as preparing and submitting. Put simply, the process can be time-consuming and laborious.  Add to this the issue of completing and gathering evidence against the CESR application from overseas. It can prove challenging to ensure that you have completed the full complement of competencies for CESR applications. This can result in the GMC asking for further evidence, adding more time to the process. You may have to identify gaps in your learning and then resolve them. It is not all bad though, this is good practice and will benefit you in the long run.  Applying for a specialty doctor job and/or fixed term consultant post before applying for CESR For doctors who are keen to secure entry to the Specialist register quickly, and work in the UK as soon as possible, then taking up a Specialty Doctor role with CESR programme, or a Fixed Term Consultant post with CESR programme/support is a good option. Many NHS hospitals or trusts in the UK will offer access to support, clinical experience and study or preparation time for CESR. This is often built into the weekly job plan, but in some circumstances, this may be arranged informally. Either way, this is a good way for overseas consultants to quickly gather the right evidence for their application with the support of their peers, senior colleagues and NHS employer. This can shorten the time spent on the application overall. If this sounds like the best option for you, it is wise to start gathering and signing off evidence in your current consultant post. That way you will already have some or most of the required evidence for CESR in place, allowing you to quickly focus on any elements that are missing once in the UK and working in the NHS Secure a job in the NHS with CESR  Securing a job as a Specialty Doctor with CESR programme, or a job as a Fixed Term Consultant with CESR programme/ support, gives you instant exposure to the UK system, NHS experience and a great start to your career in the NHS.  To discuss whether applying for CESR from overseas or securing a job as a Specialty Doctor or Fixed term consultant with CESR programme is the right route for you towards specialist registration, speak with an IMG Connect consultant, register or send your CV.   IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

GMC Registration is a complex process. For histopathologists who’ve qualified outside the EEA region there are two main pathways to consider – FRCPath and PLAB. Whilst these are the most common routes to GMC registration, this is not an exahaustive list. There are other options such as Royal College sponsorship and GMC-approved qualifications or licensing exams, and you can read more about these here. Here we will give a summary of both of the main routes and briefly consider their benefits.  PLAB for GMC Registration FRCPath for GMC Registration Which is better for me as an overseas pathologist, PLAB or FRCPath? #IMG Tips How do I get started? Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB)  The first and most popular route with most junior doctors is PLAB.  PLAB is a two-part exam (one written one practical), and which assesses whether you are at least as capable as a doctor starting the second year of their Foundation Programme Training and can therefore work safely as an SHO in the NHS.  The GMC have created a video summary of the PLAB exams which you can watch here, or for a more detailed overview, see our IMG Resources library.  FRCPath - UK Postgraduate Qualification  The UK postgraduate qualification for histopathology – FRCPath Histopathology - is the most popular and recommended route for overseas doctors who have completed a training or residency programme, and will be looking for senior pathology positions in the NHS.   By completing both parts of the FRCPath you are awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists. The Royal College of Pathologists is the professional body that regulates the pathology specialties in the UK. Take a look at our IMG Resources library for complete guides on FRCPath for histopathology to learn more.  PLAB vs FRCPath  Both are legitimate routes and will allow you to register with the GMC and work in the UK. To decide which route is best for you, you’ll need to consider the benefits of each and how they align with your priorities and needs in moving to the UK.    Seniority of Positions in the NHS  Histopathology is a consultant led specialty in the UK, and it would be difficult for an overseas pathologist to obtain a more senior post without FRCPath, or extensive experience from a similar, English speaking healthcare system. PLAB alone will not give overseas doctors access to senior posts in the NHS.   Time   PLAB has two stages and can take anywhere between 3-9 months to prepare from start to finish.  FRCPath has two stages and can take anywhere between 18-30 months to prepare from start to finish.   Cost   FRCPath costs just under £1,930 and whilst the Part 2 exam is an in-person exam, the Part 1 exam can be taken online. You can read about the changes to the FRCPath 1 delivery here.  PLAB costs £1,189, and both exams are sat in person. PLAB 1 can be taken in the UK or several overseas centres, which you can find here. PLAB 2 must be taken in the UK.   For both FRCPath Part 2 and PLAB 2, candidates will have to travel to the UK, meaning that the additional cost of visas, accommodation and flights must be factored in.   It’s important to note that these costs can rise if re-sits of the exams are necessary.  Summary  PLAB, as an exam which assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely in the UK, does not demonstrate ability in histopathology specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine.  Additionally, PLAB can facilitate GMC registration much faster than other routes – so if you feel you can attain an offer of employment in the UK with your overseas experience only – but GMC registration is the one thing standing in your way – PLAB may be a good option for you.   FRCPath involves two more difficult examinations and takes more time to prepare for. Attaining FRCPath in Histopathology will allow you to jumpstart your career in the UK, you’ll most likely be able to take a consultant role. You would not need PLAB or Core Training in addition to FRCPath.   Additionally, histopathology in the UK is also a consultant-led specialism, and FRCPath demonstrates competency to practice unsupervised as a consultant.   #IMG Tips  Determine your priorities – your goals and timeline for relocating to the UK are important in deciding which route is best for, and this is different for everyone.  Plan well ahead – depending on the route you choose, you may be embarking on a long journey through these exams, so plan how you will fit them into your life and how best to prepare to maintain a good work-life balance at the same time.  Find a support network – once you know which exams you will sit, find a support network of others who are also preparing for the exam. A great way to do this is to join IMG Histopathologists, an online pathology community of UK and NHS histopathology aspirants and dedicated histopathology recruiters. You’ll find advice, guidance and news and updates about all things histopathology for IMGs. Join the conversation here.  Getting started  Once you’ve decided which exams are best for you, it’s time to delve deeper into the exams and what they entail. For more useful blogs and articles on PLAB or FRCPath exams, registrations and qualifications to help you find your dream job in the NHS - take a look at our IMG Resources library.   Or if you have any questions on PLAB or Postgraduate qualifications, feel free to get in touch with our histopathology consultants here. For regular news and updates, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below.             

OET is fast becoming the most popular English Language test that overseas doctors will use for GMC registration. It is an English language test that tests medical language specifically and for that reason is very popular with IMGs. However, as with many things the exam has been heavily disrupted by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic OET have created two new versions of their popular English language test to help doctors when their local test centre is closed: Computer-based OET test OET@Home OET@Home - what is it? OET has partnered with Prometric TM, a private company, to deliver a home version of the OET test. While computer-based testing and remote proctoring (invigilation on behalf of OET) will bring changes to the delivery mode - the test format, tasks presented and level of English assessed will all be the same. OET@Home - how does it work? The reading, listening and writing sub-tests of OET will be available via computer-based delivery and the Speaking sub-test will be carried out with a human interlocutor via video calling software. This human involvement and role-play nature of the OET Speaking sub-test which is so important to the test - will not be compromised. The test will be managed remotely and under strict condition by invigilators who know the importance of this test for patient safety and fair GMC registration process for any doctor taking OET - whether it’s OET@Home of OET sat in person at a test centre. Below we have summarised a number of FAQs to help address any question you have. We have taken the information directly from the OET Website here https://www.occupationalenglishtest.org/at-home-remote-proctored-testing/. Do I have to take the test on a computer? Or are paper-based tests still available? You do not have to take the test on a computer. OET will be running both paper-based and computer-based testing, so you can still take the test on paper if that is what you prefer. They will be continuing to run paper based tests at all the current values as long as local lockdown restrictions allow. So now you can sit one of three OET formats: paper-based tests at OET test centers (the old method) a computer based test that you can sit at selected test venues OET@Home , a remote-invigilated test that you can sit at home using a Windows PC Is there a difference between computer-based OET and OET@Home? Not really. They are exactly the same test with the main difference being where you actually take the test. The key difference is this: With computer based tests you will attend a test venue to take the test.  With OET@Home you will be able to take the test remotely (e.g. at home or work) on your Windows PC. How does the remote invigilation or proctoring work? ‘Remote proctoring’ essentially means ‘remote invigilation’. This means that you can sit the test outside a test centre under the same strict exam conditions that an OET test centre would provide. Human proctors or human invigilators check the following: you are who you say by checking ID room searches prior to the start of the test monitor your behaviour during the test, ensuring you do not breach any OET rules and regulations Remote proctoring systems also help maintain test security with the following: security features such as limiting functionality of your computer (e.g. so you cannot access the internet or take screenshots) How often will the computer-based test and OET@Home run? Initially once a month on either the same day, or alternate Saturdays as the paper-based OET test.  However, this is still to be confirmed and OET will release more details in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for their updates found on their website here. Can I actually sit the test at home? Yes. Once the OET@Home is live you will be able to sit the test at home, using a Windows PC. How will the speaking test work? The Speaking sub-test will still be two role plays with a live interlocutor or test official. The only difference is with OET@Home, where the live interlocutor will role-play with you via video conference. How much will this cost me? At this point it does not look like there will be any change to the cost of OET, no matter which test you take. A reminder - those cost of the OET is currently AUD 587 (A$587) which is currently equivalent to £327. Please note, the price and conversion rate is representative of the time of writing this article (July 2020) When can I book a test? OET@Home will be open for bookings at the end of August, with the tests available from September onwards. Computer-based OET will be available at the end of September in a few locations. More locations will be made available after the first  Will the OET test format change? No - all tasks, format and timings will remain the same across all types of OET. If I have already booked to take the OET paper-based test - will I be able to change my booking to either computer based test or OET@Home? Are the computer-based OET and OET@Home accepted by regulators? Both the computer-based OET and OET@Home are accepted by the GMC and will be valid for Tier 2 visa applications also. How do I book my place with either OET@Home or computer-based OET? You will be able to book your test online and OET will let you know as soon as both new types of test are available for booking. Can I take the OET@Home on a mobile phone? No, the OET@Home can only be taken on Windows PC. You can find the technical specifications here. So, I can only use a Windows laptop? What if I have a Mac? Unfortunately, if you have a Mac you will not be able to sit the OET@Home with it. You will need a dedicated computer running Windows 10, either a desktop computer or laptop. Refer to the technical specifications to check you Windows PC can run the software. How long will the results take to be released? OET will stick with the same results timeframe in place for paper-based OET tests - however there may be the opportunity to significantly shorten the time needed for results to be released. However, do not expect to see this benefit immediately. How can I prepare for all versions of the OET?  As with all tests, we recommend preparing as much in advance as you can. Learning a new language is challenging and takes time. You cannot just turn up on exam day and hope to pass, no matter how good your English is already. Take a read through this article below to help your preparations for OET: IMG Resources: Preparing for your English Language Test What courses or tutors can I use for OET preparations? We discuss this in more depth in the article below: IMG Resources: Preparing for your English Language Test As an International Brand dedicated to helping international doctors to register with the GMC and find work in the NHS - we have lots of partnerships in place with trusted companies in many areas. One of these key areas is English Language Testing and IMG Connect works closely with a company called Specialist Language Courses. You can take a look at their website here. Specialist Language courses are incredibly professional and are the UK's leading provider of online courses and tutoring. They are also one of the few accredited providers of OET and have provided consultation and guidance to the GMC on English language testing.  Success rates are 70% + for those who sign for their tutoring and you can receive a discount if introduced by IMG Connect. Register with IMG Connect to request your discount on English Language Courses or get in touch with one of our IMG Consultants to discuss Follow us on social media for news and updates on GMC registration, the Royal College and NHS through the links below:             

Here we take a closer look at the Medical Training Initiative (MTI), a placement scheme for more junior overseas doctors to come to the UK to receive training and development within the NHS.   To be eligible for an MTI post, certain criteria must be met. These are summarised below along with a broad look the following:  What is the Medical Training Initiative? What training will I receive through the MTI? Am I eligible for an MTI post? What does the application process for the MTI involve? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the MTI? Do I need a visa for the MTI? How can I use the MTI for GMC registration? How much will I be paid throughout the MTI? What is the full process for MTI? I’ve completed the MTI, what’s next? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you’re looking for.   The Medical Training Initiative  The Medical Training Initiative, or MTI, is a training programme that provides junior doctors from all over the world the opportunity to gain clinical training and development in the UK for a maximum of 24 months.  The MTI as a training scheme is mutually beneficial for both junior doctors and the NHS, in that doctors from several countries and specialisms around the world can work and train in the UK, gaining knowledge and experience which they can take back to their home country, while giving NHS Trusts a high-quality, longer-term alternative for unfilled training vacancies and rota gaps.  Training  The training provided through the MTI scheme will vary between programmes; however, it will typically follow the CCT curriculum (Certificate of Completion of Training). The level of training will be highly dependent on the doctor’s interests, competence and the training available within the placement hospital.  At the beginning of each placement, doctors are allocated an Educational Supervisor who will help to set the doctor’s specific training objectives to meet over the 24 months of the placement.  Eligibility The MTI has been designed specifically with junior doctors in mind, therefore sponsorship will not be offered to consultants, specialty doctors or for locum-appointed service posts (LAS).   The criteria also differ among MTI programmes, so eligibility criteria should be checked directly with the Royal College before applying. However, the general elements of eligibility include the following:  Country requirements - priority is given to doctors from countries classified as low income or lower middle income by the World Bank. Doctors from outside of these countries may also apply, but there may be a long wait time and no guarantee of acceptance.  Evidence of skills and knowledge – the requirements for evidence of skills and knowledge vary based on the MTI programme, but the potential requirements for evidence of skills and knowledge include:  PLAB exams  Part 1 of relevant Royal College exam e.g. MRCP  Specialist qualifications from your home country  Evidence of English language skills - almost all MTI programs accept what test is approved by the GMC, meaning either of the IELTS or OET can be used for MTI.  Sufficient clinical experience - most MTI programmes will require a minimum of three years' experience, including one year of internship and one year in the relevant specialty.  Active medical practice - candidates must have been actively practicing clinically for at least three out of the last five years including the past 12 months before the application as well as throughout the application process.  The Application Process There are two ways to join the MTI programme:  Apply for an MTI-match programme – certain specialisms have programmes which match doctors to a job. For these, you apply for the relevant programme, providing the necessary documentation. If your application is successful, you will be allocated a suitable job, which can take up to 12 months.  Find an NHS job before applying for the MTI – in cases where specialties do not have an established match programme, candidates are required to apply directly for an NHS post. Once the candidate has been accepted for the role, they can then apply for the MTI scheme through the relevant Royal College. If you would like to know more about finding NHS posts for the MTI scheme, you can get in touch with us here.  Specialties may use either, or a combination of these two methods, so we suggest visiting the Royal College and searching for their information on the MTI scheme.  The availability of MTI posts will vary between each Royal College, as certain specialties are more consultant-led, meaning there are fewer training posts for junior doctors. Once again, we suggest finding out more from the relevant Royal College. Advantages and Disadvantages of the MTI Scheme  Advantages  Training – MTI doctors will receive training and development support in their clinical, communication and leadership skills, as well as supervision by a consultant. You will also have the opportunity to create a training plan with the support of an Educational Supervisor.  Reduced cost – for posts that accept specialist qualifications from the applicant’s home country, the associated costs are lower as you will not have to pay for the PLAB or Royal College exams which can be costly, especially where retakes are needed  Alternative to PLAB and the Royal College – As some posts accept a candidate’s specialist qualifications from overseas, this allows you to bypass the Royal College and PLAB exams (N.B. if you have passed both parts of PLAB or ever failed either of the exams, you are not eligible for MTI)  Diploma of UK Medical Practice - If you complete an MTI post that is at least 12 months long, with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) or the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), you can apply for the DipUKMP, a professional diploma which can be used as part of the portfolio of evidence required for specialist registration (CESR or CESR-CP). Disadvantages  Not all posts are paid - Some MTI posts require you to secure funding for your training, for example through scholarships or funding from an organisation in your home country, such as a government agency or university (N.B. personal funds cannot be used).  Junior posts – More senior doctors wanting to take this route to the UK will receive a lower salary and more junior role than if taking the postgraduate route.  British citizenship or ILR - For doctors who wish to make a permanent move to the UK, the 12-24 months spent in the UK on the MTI scheme will not count towards the 5-year requirement for British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain (ILR).  Return to home country – at the end of the 24-month period, MTI doctors are legally required to leave the UK and return to their home country.  MTI Posts Offer Tier 5 Visas  MTI candidates require a Tier 5 visa to travel to the UK. Applications for the visa can only be made after receiving the Certificate of Sponsorship.   Applications for Tier 5 visas must be made from your home country (or the country you work in), but never from the UK.   The visa must only be used for travel to the UK at the beginning of the placement and will activate after your arrival, lasting for exactly two years from your arrival date.   Please note that Tier 5 visas cannot be extended.  GMC Registration  All doctors practicing in the UK MUST be registered with the GMC. For MTI candidates, registration is typically supported by the Royal College, but some NHS Trusts also have the right to register MTI doctors.  English Language Testing  As always with GMC registration, candidates will also need to provide evidence of English language skills. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Pay Received for MTI Posts  MTI posts are either paid, or candidates are required to secure funding for their placement as detailed above.  Where the placements are paid, the salary received by the MTI doctor corresponds to trainees at a similar level in the UK. All trainees can expect to commence their MTI training at an equivalent salary to ST3 level.  Some hospitals may take prior international experience into account while others do not. This is at the discretion of the hospital and not the Royal College. Hospitals can also decide whether to employ MTI doctors under the 2002 or 2016 junior doctor contract, which have slightly different pay scales.  Therefore, it's best to verify as early as possible where your placement will be paid, whether your prior experience will be taken into account, and under what pay scale you will be paid.  Steps through MTI   We’ve detailed the general processes involved in MTI below, from a candidate’s initial application for a post, to their final interview with the Royal College after gaining GMC registration:     I’ve completed the MTI, what’s next?  Ordinarily, on completion of the MTI scheme, doctors return to their home country with the training and experience they gained from working in the NHS.  Some doctors may want to remain in the UK after completing the MTI for a number of reasons. This can be done if the doctor finds another NHS post, in which case, they may be able to switch from the Tier 5 visa to the Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa. For more information on the Health and Care Worker Visa, please see here.  If you want to find another NHS post after completing the MTI, applying for your first NHS job follows the same process as any other doctor. You will need to consider what job it is you would like to obtain and what location in the UK you would prefer to relocate to. For guidance on jobs in your specialty in the UK, please see our IMG Resources library.  Once you are ready to start the application process you can get in touch with us – IMG Connect can offer you expert advice and representation throughout the recruitment and relocation process.  For regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, GMC registration and working in the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation below:              

Many physicians trained in the USA can now register to work in the UK using their USMLE licensure. Whilst it is not a qualification, the GMC now accepts the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) as evidence of the appropriate skills and knowledge required to be granted registration with a license to practice.  In this blog we will outline some key points in this process, and briefly explain how to apply for full registration, including the following: Are you eligible for GMC registration? What are the requirements for GMC registration using the USMLE? How to provide evidence of your Primary Medical Qualification How to provide evidence of your internship How to request evidence from the USMLE for the GMC How to provide evidence of English language proficiency How to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing What other information will you need to provide? Getting started Please note, the full process is a lengthy one, so for detailed guidance on registering with the GMC using your USMLE, we suggest you get in touch with us to learn more. Eligibility for GMC Registration You are eligible for this application if you:  graduated from a medical school outside the UK or Switzerland  and you:  hold an acceptable primary medical qualification  have completed an internship  have passed the United States Medical Licensing Exam:  Step 1  Step 2 Clinical Knowledge AND  Step 2 Clinical Skills  Some important things to note:  Your pass for Step 2 Clinical Skills must be on or before 13 March 2020. This is because the in-person aspect of Step 2 Clinical Skills allows the USMLE to be comparable to the PLAB exam. Without this, the USMLE does not meet the GMC requirements for demonstration of skills and knowledge. If you attained the USMLE before 16 April 2004, you may have passed the former ECFMG Clinical Skill Assessment (CSA). This will not be accepted by the GMC for registration. Whilst we understand there are a lot of similarities between the two assessments (CSA and Step 2 CS) - only the Step 2 CS will be accepted.  You must have passed each part of the exam including the knowledge tests and clinical skills components in four attempts or less. If you have taken and failed PLAB Part 1 or 2 after you passed any component of an overseas registration exam, either a knowledge or clinical skills test, you will not be eligible for this application.  If your pass in the clinical skills component is more than two years old, you will need to have carried out medical practice for three of the last five years, including at least six out of the most recent 12 months before you submit your application. If your pass is over two years old and you haven’t completed this pattern of medical practice you will not be eligible to use the USMLE for GMC registration. If you do not meet these criteria, your application may be rejected and you may need to find an alternative route to GMC registration. Depending on your specialty, you may have an overseas accepted qualification, or PLAB may be another alternative for you.  GMC Registration Requirements To gain full GMC registration with a license to practice in the UK, you must provide evidence of:  Evidence of skills and knowledge - this would be your full USMLE (Step 1, Step 2 - CK & CS) AND English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing - the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.   Evidence of Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) As part of your application with the GMC, you’ll need to send a copy of your Primary Medical Qualification. Some overseas medical degrees are not accepted by the GMC – if you are not sure – take a read of our blog on accepted primary medical qualifications here.  Once you have checked your primary medical qualification meets the acceptability criteria, you’ll need to have it independently verified before you can be granted your registration with a licence to practise. You will need to do this if you qualified from a medical school outside the UK and are not already provisionally registered with the GMC.  Read our article on verifying your medical degree here – or for a full and detailed guide on the steps required, contact the team via email at info@imgconnect.co.uk   Evidence of an Acceptable Internship An internship is formal training and experience after you've completed your primary medical qualification. An acceptable internship must include at least 12 months' continuous medical practice in an approved training post in a public hospital. You must have done this either immediately before or after you graduated. Your internship must have been at least 12 months in duration. If your internship was completed over a 12 - 18-month period, it must have included at least three months in medicine and three months in surgery. If your internship was completed in over 18 months, it must have included at least six months in medicine and six months in surgery. You'll need to send the GMC a certificate or letter of completion from your institution, which gives details of the dates and specialties of your rotations. If you completed an internship in the UK, you’ll need to read the online guidance for moving from provisional registration to full registration.  I haven't competed an internship If you didn't complete an internship, the GMC will accept evidence that you practised for two years continuously after you graduated. The GMC will check that your experience: was undertaken in a public hospital that meets the standards for regulation within its jurisdiction and has established supervision, safety and governance systems in place includes at least three months of practising medicine, continuously and without interruption includes at least least three months practising surgery, continuously and without interruption was completed under supervision.  You'll need to provide a letter from the hospital on letter headed paper, which gives details of the dates and specialties of your practice. Evidence of your pass in the USMLE  As part of your application, you'll need to:  Email the GMC to express your interest in applying for registration through this route at img@gmc-uk.org. Complete the application form the GMC send you and return it by email. Send them evidence which demonstrates you’ve passed an acceptable overseas registration exam. You can request this from the USMLE as per the instructions below.  Requesting evidence from USMLE for the GMC  First you should check that your college is listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) - this is likely if you've completed the USMLE You can request and download a transcript from the Federation of State Medical Boards You need to select General Medical Council (UK) from the drop-down list  If you are unable to access your account, call (817) 868-4041 or email transcripts@fsmb.org   Evidence of English Language Proficiency All physicians, regardless of experience and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have sufficient grasp of the English language. This can be done by passing either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Occupational English Test (OET). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below: IELTS - a guide for overseas doctors OET - a guide for overseas doctors Experience in English-speaking countries For doctors who have spent the last two years of their clinical experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer(s) over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam. Certificate of Good Standing All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.   The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when the GMC approves your application.  Other information you may need to provide There are various other bits of information you will need to provide which includes your activities for the last five years, translations of any documents not in English, and any additional evidence the GMC may request when reviewing your application.   Often this is different, dependent on each case, so our advice is to start the application and respond to the GMC’s queries as and when they come.  Getting started You will need to create a GMC Online account for the GMC to be able to send you an application form. Once you've read and understood the evidence needed to support your application, you’re ready to apply. To start, contact the GMC where they will be able to check your eligibility and send you an application form to complete as mentioned above.  Once you've gathered all the required evidence and started the process to have your PMQ verified by the ECFMG, send your completed application form by email to img@gmc-uk.org. Once received, the GMC will ask you to call their contact centre to make payment. If you are still unsure about the application process and wish to discuss your application with IMG Connect, feel free to get in touch. We understand the GMC registration process can be complicated, and IMG Connect are experts on the matter. Rest assured, we are always delighted to help overseas physicians through the GMC registration process and to find jobs in the NHS!  For regular news and updates on the UK, including GMC registration, the royal colleges and the NHS, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below.             

In this article we look at the specialty specific guidance on documents to be supplied in evidence for an application for entry onto the Specialist Register for Respiratory Medicine with a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration or CESR. What is CESR in Respiratory Medicine in the NHS? As a respiratory medicine or pulmonary specialist, attaining CESR will mean you are qualified to practice at consultant level in the NHS in Respiratory Medicine. Have a read through our CESR articles found in the IMG Library to understand a little more. Do I need MRCP to attain CESR in Respiratory Medicine? No, whilst it is always a benefit to attain MRCP and you may have already attained MRCP as by ways of registering with the GMC, you do not require MRCP to attain CESR in Respiratory Medicine. Any doctor wishing to attain Specialist Registration via the CCT route must attain MRCP (UK).  What is the indicative period of training for a CCT in Respiratory Medicine? The indicative period of training for CCT in Respiratory Medicine is six years full-time training and it is highly unlikely that a CESR applicant could achieve these competencies required in less time. The structure of the CCT training programme is: 2 years in Core Medical Training or Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) How does IMT fit into this? CMT no longer exists as of Aug 2019. 4 years training in Respiratory Medicine Applicants need to demonstrate that they have achieved the competencies in both of these areas. For complete details have a read through the Respiratory Medicine Curriculum documentation. Submitting Evidence Do not submit original documents – this is very important. All your copies, other than qualifications you’re getting authenticated must be accompanied by a proformas signed by the person who is attesting to the validity and accuracy of your evidence (your verifier). It is very important that you read an explanation of how to do this in the GMC’s important notice about evidence. How much evidence should you submit? The GMC recognises that doctors will often not have all the evidence required for a complete CESR application, often many doctors will start their application and delay starting their application until they are able to gather all the evidence. The evidence must cover the knowledge, skills and qualifications to demonstrate the required competencies in all areas of the Respiratory Medicine Curriculum documentation. If evidence is missing from any one area of the curriculum, then the application will fail. If you have a piece of evidence that is relevant to more than one domain, do not include multiple copies in your bundle. Instead include one copy and list it in your evidence list under each relevant area, stating that the document is located elsewhere.  The GMC asks that only evidence that is strictly relevant is sent as it will help them to process the application quicker. The guidance on compiling your evidence will help you to decide what is relevant and what is not – make sure you are reading the latest version on the GMC website – here. It is important to note that evidence that is more than five years old will be given less weight than more recent evidence, so you may not need to include it. As a general guide, an application for CESR could expect to see around 800-1000 pages of evidence.  The types of evidence are divided into four different domains, the GMC recommends that you apportion the evidence provided as per the pie chart below: Please note, you cannot compensate for evidence lacking in one area by providing more evidence in another area. Make sure to anonymise your evidence: It is very important to anonymise your evidence before submitting it to the GMC. You must remove the following: All patient identifying details Details of patients’ relatives Details of colleagues that you have assessed, written a reference for, or who have been involved in a complaint you have submitted. This includes: names (first and last) addresses  contact details such as phone numbers or email addresses NHS numbers & other individual patient numbers GMC numbers Summary If you have any questions or uncertainties, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the IMG Connect team. However, your official point of reference for any queries should the GMC – they can answer and provide the most updated information on CESR applications for senior Respiratory doctors looking to work as NHS Consultants in Respiratory Medicine. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS jobs & hospital locations for you.

There are several routes overseas paediatricians can take to GMC registration and securing an NHS paediatrics job.  Whether you are from inside or outside of Europe, will need to satisfy certain criteria to fully register with the General Medical Council (GMC) before beginning their journey in the NHS. The criteria you need to meet depends on where you currently live and practice, either inside the EEA (& associated countries) or outside the EEA. This article is designed to give you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, no matter where in the world you live.  Inside the EEA – click here Outside the EEA – click here “Doctors from countries around the world play a vital and significant role in our NHS and in the delivery of safe patient care. This is not only welcome but is part of the continuous exchange of knowledge in healthcare and should be strongly encouraged. They make an invaluable contribution to the NHS.”  Joint statement from the Royal College of Physicians Inside the EEA Firstly, it is important to note that where we refer to EEA in this article this refers to all countries inside the EU, including Lichtenstein, Iceland & Norway.  If you qualified as a paediatrician inside the EEA or Switzerland, then the good news is that you don’t need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK – you have already done this, and thanks to the EU your qualification is deemed equivalent. In addition, you will not need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.  So, the main hurdle that you will face is demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the UK & NHS.  English Language Testing Any international doctor, regardless of specialty, experience or country of origin, must demonstrate they have sufficient competence of the English language. You can do this by passing either of the following: IELTS – International English Language Testing System OET – Occupational English Test Take a look at our helpful articles below for detailed information on both tests:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors GMC Registration Having passed your English Language Test, you can now apply for full registration with a licence to practice with the GMC. For full GMC registration you must provide evidence of: Evidence of English language capabilities (IELTS or OET) AND Evidence of sufficient skill and knowledge (your equivalent qualifications) Understand the registration process in full & by reading our article below: IMG resources - GMC Registration for overseas doctors Job search We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for European paediatricians in the NHS is ever-increasing - the NHS welcomes you with open arms!  At IMG Connect we specialise in securing jobs for European doctors in the UK and can offer you a wider range of paediatrics jobs than are readily available online.  Our network extends to Paediatrics services and HR departments across the UK, so no matter what your grade or specialty we can ensure you will be interviewing for roles well in advance of any relocation plans.  In addition, your dedicated consultant, with a speciality knowledge of paediatrics, will negotiate on your behalf ensuring you get the most competitive salary.  Our aim is to have a job offer on the table before your GMC registration is complete, giving you the peace of mind of having an agreed contract in place - leaving you to carefully plan your relocation to the UK. Take a look at our most recent jobs: Job Search Relocation Obviously, any doctor’s journey isn’t all exams, registrations and language tests… there’s also the small matter of relocation and settling into life in the UK. Once you have secured your role in the UK, we focus on supporting you and your family with all your relocation plans. This can include, but is not exclusive to, securing accommodation, travel planning, setting up bank accounts & national insurance numbers – every step of the way we are here to help. Have a read through our IMG Library and take in all the beautifully organised information on relocation and UK life to immeasurably help your first days, weeks and months in the UK. IMG Resources – Relocation & UK Life Outside of the EEA If you qualified as a paediatrician outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge & skills and English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK. In addition, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office.  Here we summarise the requirements for paediatrics doctors, looking at the following: English Language Testing Evidence of Knowledge & Skills - PLAB, MRCPCH or equivalents Tier 2 Visas  Full GMC Registration English Language Testing Any international doctor, regardless of specialty, experience or country of origin, must demonstrate they have sufficient competence of the English language. You can do this by passing either of the following: IELTS – International English Language Testing System OET – Occupational English Test Take a look at our helpful articles below for detailed information on both tests:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Evidence of Knowledge & Skills in Paediatrics Overseas paediatricians must prove to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For paediatricians this can be done through three main routes: PLAB Royal College qualification of MRCPCH GMC - recognised or equivalent qualifications Route 1 - PLAB: The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in Paediatrics specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine.  That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, paediatricians can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS.  Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB: PLAB – a guide for overseas doctors PLAB 1 – a closer look PLAB 2 – a closer look Route 2 - Royal College Qualification of MRCPCH: Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. Paediatrics. For senior paediatricians taking this route, they will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the specialism of their choice.  The Royal College of Paediatricians is the Professional Body that regulates the specialism of Paediatrics in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining MRCPCH will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK Paediatrics. Take a look at our complete guide on Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to understand more: MRCPCH – a guide for overseas doctors Route 3 - GMC Recognised or Equivalent Qualifications: Some overseas qualifications are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This means to say these qualifications are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications. There are Paediatrics qualifications from several countries around the world that are currently accepted by the GMC.  Find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC below: IMG Resources - Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications Tier 2 Visa If you are a doctor applying from outside the EEA region you will almost certainly need to apply for a visa to work in the UK.  Applying as a doctor or nurse has never been easier and there is currently no-restriction on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) applications that a hospital can make. Furthermore, the list of specialties on the shortage occupation list is due for imminent review and expansion beyond its current list of specialties, potentially widening the scope for easier immigration processes across all specialties in healthcare. Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: IMG Resources - Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependant visa below: IMG Resources - Tier 2 Dependant visa - can i bring my family with me to the UK? GMC Registration With everything in place, you can apply for full registration with a licence to practice with the GMC. Remember, for full GMC registration you must provide evidence of: Evidence of English language capabilities AND Evidence of sufficient skill and knowledge (PLAB, MRCPCH or equivalent) Understand the registration process in full & by reading our article below: IMG Resources - GMC Registration for overseas doctors Job search We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for Non-EEA paediatricians in the NHS is increasing - the NHS welcomes you with open arms!  At IMG Connect we specialise in securing jobs for overseas doctors in the UK and can offer you a wider range of jobs than is readily available online. Our network extends to paediatrics services and HR departments across the UK, so no matter what your grade or specialty we can ensure you will be interviewing for roles well in advance of any relocation plans.  In addition, your 1-1 consultant, with a speciality knowledge of paediatrics, will negotiate on your behalf, ensuring you get the most competitive salary. Giving you the peace of mind of agreeing your new contract, perhaps even before your GMC registration is complete.  Take a look at our most recent jobs: Job Search Relocation Obviously, any doctor’s journey isn’t all exams, registrations and language tests… there’s also the small matter of relocation and settling into life in the UK. Once you have secured your role in the UK, we will focus on supporting you and your family with all of your relocation plans. This can include, but is not exclusive to, securing accommodation, travel planning, setting up bank accounts & national insurance numbers – every step of the way we are here to help.  Have a read through our IMG Library and take in all the beautifully organised information on relocation and UK life to immeasurably help your first days, weeks and months in the UK. Take a look here: IMG Resources – Relocation & UK Life IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS paediatrician jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding CESR, a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable NHS jobs & hospital locations for you.             

For IMGs passing an English Language test is an essential part of the GMC Registration process. As an overseas doctor looking to work in the UK, there are different scenarios in which you’ll need to provide a pass in an English Language Test. This article should hopefully help you decide which one would suit you best and includes the following topics:  Who needs an English Language Test? What are your options? What are IELTS & OET?  Which should you choose?  Which test is accepted by who?  Which is easier?  Where and when can I sit the English Language Tests? How can I prepare for the English Language Tests?  What resources are available?  How else can I study at home? Summary Who needs an English Language Test? If you are an overseas doctor wanting to work in the UK, you must prove your English Language capabilities to enable you to register with the GMC (General Medical Council). To prove your capabilities you must successfully pass an English Language test. We advise all overseas doctors intending to relocate to the UK, whether via PLAB or postgraduate routes, to start their English Language Test preparations as early as possibl, you may not be able to pass at first attempt. What are your options?  In short, you have two options:  IELTS (International English Language Testing System) OET (Occupational English Test) Both are used to test the English language levels of healthcare professionals in different parts of the world.  Importantly, both are used to demonstrate the correct levels of English have been attained for registration to work in the UK healthcare system.  What are IELTS & OET?  These English Language Tests are chosen by different regulatory bodies to ensure that doctors and other healthcare professionals have the correct level of English to communicate at a high level with patients and colleagues, so as to provide safe and effective care.  For IMGs relocating to the UK, it is important to start by saying that both the IELTS and OET are accepted by the General Medical Council (GMC).  However, it is also important to note that OET is not accepted for Tier 2 Visa applications, which we will explore later.  IELTS:  IELTS is designed for people wanting to work or study in the UK. IELTS has a non-academic version, but be careful, for overseas doctors it is the Academic IELTS UKVI version that you want.   IELTS consists of 4 sections, Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening.  To pass an average score of 7.5 or above is required, with all areas scoring above 7.0.  OET:  OET is language assessment designed for healthcare professionals. It has many versions, so be careful to select the relevant course for an IMG, the medical version.  OET is fast becoming a popular choice and is equally recognised by the GMC as an accurate test of English for doctors.  OET consists of 4 sections, Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. To pass a grade of B (or above) is required in all areas.  Which should you choose?  IELTS gives a broader test of the English language, not just workplace specific. IMGs who took this option have told us that their preparation has had a positive impact on their life in the UK, outside of the workplace.  However, it is also true that OET focuses more on the language that is relevant to healthcare professionals. Many overseas doctors tell us that they like this option as it tested their ability within the context of the medical profession.  Both are accepted by the GMC, so for the purposes of GMC registration only, one is not better than the other.  Both are now accepted for your Tier 2 Visa sponsorship with the Home Office.  For EEA doctors, you do not require a visa and only need to satisfy the GMC’s English language criteria.  If you have qualified outside of the EEA, your English Language Tests will need to satisfy both the GMC and the UK Home Office.  We have created the table below to help you check if you are taking the right test: YES (7.5 overall, no less than 7.0 in all sections)   GMC registration Tier 2 Visa (CoS) Academic IELTS YES (7.5 overall, no less than 7.0 in all sections) NO Academic IELTS UKVI YES (7.5 overall, no less than 7.0 in all sections) YES (4.0 in all sections)  OET YES (Score of B+ in all areas)  YES Which is easier?  This really falls down to a matter of preference.  Both are difficult and require hard work and exam study. Why not take a look at our tips for preparing for English Language Exams at home.  Some will find the OET works well for them as it covers healthcare specific language, meaning that you can make good use of your existing healthcare knowledge and vocabulary.  IELTS is not specific to the healthcare profession, it is taken by professionals from all industries. So, the topics covered are more general.  If your English level is good enough, neither OET or IELTS will hold you back.  There is no evidence to suggest that one test is easier than the other.  Here is a comparison chart to help:    IELTS Academic UKVI OET Test time 2 hrs 45 mins Approx. 3 hrs Listening 30 mins You will be asked to listen to 4 recordings and answer questions based on what you’ve heard. The recordings will be two lectures or monologues and have two spoken conversations. The questions will ask you to ‘fill in the blanks’ or ‘match the following’, as well as ask you to label, complete sentences and more.  50 mins This section is broken into two, part A and B.  Part A will ask you to take notes on a consultation, and part B will ask you to fill in the blanks and answer multiple choice questions after listening to a healthcare lecture. Reading  1 hr You will be given three passages of text taken from journals and newspapers etc. You will then be asked to answer questions and complete tasks based on the reading material provided. Some of the questions may be multiple choice, true or false, note completion, identification etc.  1 hr This is split into two parts, part A and B. Part A is made up of 4 short texts – you fill in the blanks and complete a summary of the topic being discussed. Part B requires you to read two longer texts and answer multiple choice questions about each.  Writing 1 hr This includes two tasks. The first is 20 minutes, you will need to study and write about some data or graphs provided.  The second task will ask you to write an essay based on a broad subject.  45 mins This test will require you to read some case notes and write a discharge, follow up or referral letter based on the notes. Speaking 15 mins This is split into three parts. Each part is a general discussion. Firstly, this will be a discussion on topics such as family, hobbies and interests. This is followed by task card topics, which you will be given with a topic to speak about.  20 mins This task starts with a short warm up discussion with the examiner. The main test then comprises of two role plays, in which you will play a doctor, and the examiner will play a patient. The interaction will be based on a selected topic card.  Accepted for GMC registration YES if you take the Academic IELTS UKVI option (7.5 overall, no less than 7.0 in all sections) YES if you take the medicine version (Score of B+ in all areas) Accepted for Tier 2 Visa YES if you take the Academic IELTS UKVI option (4.0 in all sections) YES Cost (£) £200 £349 Where and when can I sit the English Language Tests?  IELTS is available in over 140 countries, with tests held up to 4 times per month. Check if there is a venue near where you live. OET is available 14 times per year in 40 countries, with the number of cities and venues increasing each year. Check if is there is a venue near where you live. How can I prepare for the English Language Tests?  IELTS and OET can be challenging, so make sure you are as prepared as possible before sitting the exam.  Preparing for any English Language Test, whether you have chosen IELTS or OET, requires learning a huge amount of vocabulary, learning how to write specific reports or essays, using a high level of grammar and structure and learning how to engage with a range of scenarios and acquire a set of key exam techniques.  You should take time to research each area of the test in detail, but don’t worry, help is at hand, and we will explore some of the best resources online.  Your preparation for each test will need to be different. This doesn’t mean that one will require more or less preparation, just that you will need to study varied pathways and prepare different topics and vocabulary. IELTS involves learning a much wider amount of vocabulary on a range of academic subjects so that you will be prepared to read academic texts quickly and effectively, understand lectures, talks and questions, giving opinion in detail.  You will have to prepare how to write reports on a variety of data and essay types.  Written texts are to be of a high standard, including complex structures and grammar.  OET involves learning a wide range of healthcare related and profession specific language. The test will require you to follow clinical scenarios, understand medical texts and talks. You will need to write a healthcare letter, such as a referral. To get the right score, this must be at an advanced level.  Successful IMGs who have passed, told us that learning key exam techniques helps you to work quickly and effectively during the test day.  What resources are available?  For IELTS, the British Council provide free online preparation on their website. The British Council also offer the IELTS word power app. It's a great way to prepare for your test no matter where you are. Download the app here.  The IELTS publication Information for Candidates has valuable information about the way the test is run and what to expect on the day. For OET practice, you can buy helpful OET guidance packs online. The OET also offer a preparation portal full of material to help you study for the test, including free practice materials. How else can I study at home?  Successful IMGs have told us that one of the most effective ways to improve their general level of English and help them on their journey to improving their English Language scores in both IELTS and OET, is to study at home.  Whilst exam papers are an essential weekly part of your overall study plan, too many exam papers can lead to boredom or frustration.  Most find the following helpful (and enjoyable):  Listen to podcasts Speak to native English speakers (you can always give us a call!) Watch relevant YouTube videos for your chosen exam Watch movies Listen to radio Read articles relevant to your exam In summary: Neither exam is easier than the other. Both Academic IELTS UKVI and OET Medicine show you have an advanced level in English. It really is up to you!  You may find OET simpler to understand as it is healthcare related and tests the language you use in daily practice.  The same can be said about IELTS, you may find the general nature of the topics more suited to you.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

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 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. Among their many duties, their role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter their respective professions. UK trainees will sit a series of examinations set by their Royal College depending on what medical specialty 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 Qualification 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 Royal College of Anaesthetists Primary FRCA examination Royal College of Emergency Medicine Membership of the College of Emergency Medicine (MCEM/MRCEM) Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Royal College of Pathologists Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) by examination only Haematology, Histopathology, Medical Microbiology Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (FRCS Glasg Ophthalmology) Royal College of Physicians London  Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Membership of the Royal College of Physicians MRCP (UK) Royal College of Psychiatrists Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) Royal College of Radiologists  Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh  Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS Ed Opthalmology) Royal College of Surgeons of England Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Any of the following: 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 American Board of Anaesthesiology Certificate of the American Board of Anaesthesiology 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 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 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 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 Royal College of Physicians in Ireland  MRCP Medicine (Medicine of Childhood) 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)  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) 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) IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

The GMC is the public body that maintains the register of Medical Practitioners in the UK. The chief responsibility of the General Medical Council is to ‘protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public’  in addition to improving medical education and practice across the UK. They define their role with the four main duties below: Decide which doctors are qualified to work in the UK Oversee UK Medical education and training Set the standards doctors need to follow throughout their career When necessary, take action to prevent unsafe practice or patient safety being jeopardised How does the GMC support itself? Through people like you! The GMC is supported by fees paid by the doctors that make up its membership, and it became a registered charity in 2001. Where is the GMC based? The GMC has offices in Central London and Manchester and you will need to personally attend an ID check at one of these offices in order to complete your registration. This can also be a great opportunity to meet your IMG Consultant and get to know the UK a little before relocating! Licensing and revalidating doctors in the UK The GMC is also responsible for licensing and revalidating every doctor practising in the UK. This is essential to continued practice and needs completing every 5 years. This will be very important for you in years to come. You can find out more about revalidation here. How do I register with the GMC? Registering with the GMC is a multi-staged process and requires deeper explanation! Find out how to become a fully registered member of the GMC by having a look at our blog on GMC Registration.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.         

An application for GMC registration is completed online. In this article we take an in depth look at putting together your online application for the GMC and cover the following topics:  Preparing and understanding what documents you need  Applying for Online Registration Paying your registration fee Providing the required evidence GMC ID Checks I've had my ID checked, what next? Preparing and understanding what documents you need to apply for GMC online All applicants must have prepared: Evidence of English Language Test  Evidence to support your fitness to practise Explanations for breaks in medical practice Preparation specific to EEA Doctors: Acceptable Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ). Preparation specific to non-EEA Doctors: Acceptable overseas PMQ (different from GMC recognised PMQ) Verification of primary medical qualification Knowledge and skills fit for UK practice (PLAB or Postgraduate Qualification or Accepted Licensing Exam) Read our blog on accepted PMQs here. Or read up on verifying your PMQ with the GMC here. At IMG Connect we always recommend that you prepare all of your documentation and get organised before starting any application. If you do, completing the online application will prove to be much quicker. Applying for GMC Online Registration Applications are completed online here.  Paying your GMC registration fee online For full information on fees and discounts available visit the GMC website. Standard fees are £420. Discounted fees of up to 50% are available depending on your gross annual worldwide income. If you are unsure if you qualify for a discount speak to your IMG Consultant at any time. Providing the required evidence Once you have made your online application the GMC will email you telling you what evidence you will need to provide copies of (which you will already have prepared). Gather your documents and scan them as one PDF file. Email these documents within 28 days of receiving this email to keep your application live. Once the GMC have received your documents they will assess them and respond to you within five working days. At this point they will either ask for further evidence or consider your application complete.  If further evidence is required you will have 14 days to responds to keep your application live. GMC ID Check Congratulations! You are nearly there… Now your online application is complete, the GMC will invite you to attend an identity check at one of the GMC offices in either London or Manchester. You must bring your original documents to this meeting. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the GMC temporarily suspended in-person ID checks, however from Tuesday 19th April 2022, doctors applying for, or restoring their registration, will once again need to complete a GMC ID at the London office before they will be granted registration. You will have six months to book an appointment and complete your check. If you don’t complete it within this time, you will have to start a new application. If you were granted registration without an identity check earlier in the pandemic, the GMC will offer you an ID check at the earliest convenience, so do look out for an email from them. When you attend the GMC ID check, it provides us with a great opportunity to meet our doctors face to face and introduce ourselves over a coffee or lunch. Your IMG Consultant would love to arrange this with you, should this fit in with your busy schedule of course! I've had my ID checked by the GMC, what next? Congratulations are in order! Once you have attended your ID Check and presented your original documentation you are granted registration and can now work as a doctor in the NHS and Private UK Healthcare!         

Overseas doctors must verify their medical qualifications before making a GMC application. In order to work in the NHS you need full registration with the GMC. This process requires independent verification of your primary medical degrees and any other qualifications or licensures you are using to join the register. Often this will be a Royal College Qualifcation, or another recognised postgraduate qualification, but can also include an accepted licensing exam such as USMLE, MCCQE or AMCCE. The process of verification is is done by the Educational Commission For Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and applies if you: Qualified at a medical school outside of the UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland; OR are an international medical graduate with a European medical qualification (not including UK qualifications) AND do not already hold provisional registration. Please note, only those with primary medical qualifications awarded outside of the UK and EU, and those who are not EU nationals but hold a primary medical qualification from the EU (but not the UK), need to use an Electric Portfolio of International Credentials (EPIC). Which qualifications will I need to verify? When registering with the GMC there will likely be two certificates you will need to verify for your GMC registration. Depending on what route you take to registration, you will need to verify both of the following: Postgraduate route: Medical Degree (PMQ) and Accepted Postgraduate Qualification Relevant European Qualification (REQ) route: Medical Degree (PMQ) Specialist European Qualification route: Medical Degree (PMQ) and Specialist European Qualification MTI or Royal College Sponsorship route: Medical Degree (PMQ) PLAB route: Medical Degree (PMQ) Is my Medical Degree (PMQ) accepted by the GMC? You must have completed an acceptable medical degree to register with the GMC. Check if you’re qualification is accepted via the GMC website here. Your medical degree is commonly known as your primary medical qualification (PMQ) and it will need to be independently verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) via their online portal, EPIC. Please note, if you hold refugee status in the UK and are applying to the GMC for registration with a license to practice medicine in the UK, you may be able to get help with your EPIC fees. Contact the GMC before using EPIC. Setting up an on-line account: Once you have established the correct documents to be verified, set up an on-line account (EPIC Account) via ECFMG EPIC The first step to start using EPIC is to complete a request to establish an account. The request requires you to submit some basic personal information, details about your medical education, and, if applicable, details about your postgraduate medical education. EPIC will then send you an e-mail to confirm receipt of your request to establish an EPIC Account. Once your account request has been processed, they will send you an e-mail containing your EPIC ID and instructions on how to complete the final step in the account establishment process, completion of the EPIC Identification Form (EIF) to confirm your identity.  The GMC's instructions for EPIC verification are here however this we have outlined the steps above, so things shoud be fairly clear already. Before you start: Before your start the verification process, there are a couple of important steps to consider:  Create a GMC online account if you haven't already and check whether the GMC accepts your primary medical qualification and/or postgraduate qualification.  If your medical school is included on the list below then you should contact the GMC before starting the verification process. on the GMC’s list of qualifications that are not acceptable  on the GMC’s list of qualifications that may be acceptable not in the list of medical schools on GMC Online General advice from IMG Connect Start early: At IMG Connect we strongly advise that you complete this part of the process as soon as possible. There are several factors that contribute to the length of the verification process, ncluding the time it takes for the medical school to verify your qualification(s). It does not expire, so there is no reason to delay! Also consider the GMC will close your application after 90 days if you cannot submit it, so by starting EPIC too late you may cause your GMC application to be closed.  Prepare and save yourself some time: As always, at IMG Connect we advise it is best to gather your documents prior to starting any application. If you do, it should only take about 15 minutes to complete.  Before you begin, make sure you have the following available: a full-colour photograph (passport style) a scanned, full-colour copy of the photograph page of your current, unexpired passport information about your medical education, including your medical school identification number (if applicable) and attendance and degree issue dates your medical licensure information (if applicable), including any identification numbers your ECFMG/USMLE Identification Number (if you have one) your ECFMG International Credentials Services (EICS) Identification Number (if you have one) Make sure you select the General Medical Council as you upload each qualification. By doing so, the GMC will automatically receive an update when your qualification has been verified. If you don’t do this, it could cause a delay. How much does EPIC verification cost?  The fees are charged in USD and you’ll need to pay ECFMG directly. Full payment is due at the time you submit your request to establish an EPIC Account. Setting up an account currently costs $125 and as of recently, the fee to verify a credential through EPIC increased to US$90 per credential. For more information on fees and payment, see the fees section of the EPIC website. I've got my PMQ verified, what next? Submit your application for registration to the GMC and provide your EPIC ID to the GMC.  You won’t be able to submit your application to the GMC until you have confirmation that your PMQ has been sent for verification. ECFMG will send you confirmation via e-mail. You can also check the status by logging in to your EPIC Account. If you prefer, you can wait until after the qualification has been verified to submit your application, as it can take some time for the verification to be completed. Once verification of a qualification has been received from the issuing institution and ECFMG has confirmed that the qualification is authentic, ECFMG will confirm this with the GMC. ECFMG will also notify you by e-mail that your qualification has been verified.

The GMC recognise some overseas qualifications as equivalent to Royal College qualifications. Listed below are the overseas postgraduate qualifications currently accepted by the GMC. This means to say these qualifications meet the same standards as UK postgraduate qualifications, though please note, this does not mean they are the same in every way and they do not guarantee entry to the UK Specialty training. If your qualification is not listed as equivalent, then you will be required to complete a Royal College Postgraduate Qualification or PLAB. You can use the GMC application finder to find the application that’s right for you. Country Awarding Body Qualification  America  American Board of Anaesthesiology Certificate of the American Board of Anaesthesiology   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   The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) awarded since January 2010    The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM) awarded since 2001   The Royal Australasian College of Physicians  FRACP Adult medicine or evidence of three years of basic training (PREP) + achievement of RACP written and clinical examinations    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   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)   The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine  Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) awarded since 1 January 2013   The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) awarded since 1 January 2007   The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners  Fellowship of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine (FDRHMNNZ) awarded since 1 January 2012   The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners  Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) awarded since 1 January 2012 Bangladesh  Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons Fellowship in Anaesthesia or Anaesthesiology awarded between July 1999 and October 2019 Canada  The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Accreditation in Psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - Diagnostic Radiology examination   The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)  Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) awarded since 1 January 2009 Europe European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (previously the European Academy of Anaesthesiology or European Society of Anaesthesiology) Diplomate of European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (DESAIC) (previously the Diplomate of European Academy of Anaesthesiology DEAA) or Diplomate of European Society of Anaesthesiology (DESA)) European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) European Diploma of Intensive Care (EDIC) awarded since January 2015 Hong Kong Hong Kong College of Physicians Membership of the Hong Kong College of Physicians Ireland College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland  Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (previously Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland)   Royal College of Physicians in Ireland Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in General Medicine, awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in Paediatrics  (Medicine of Childhood), awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM), awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Faculty of Public Medicine (MFPHMI), awarded after 1 January 2007   Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland MRCS (collegiate examination) MRSCI (intercollegiate examination) MRSCI (ENT) (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 Fellowship of the Faculty of Radiologists in Clinical Radiology of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FFR RCSI) 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 Fellowship in Anaesthesiology awarded since 1998 Singapore  National University of Singapore  Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) including MRCP (UK)    Joint Committee on Specialist Training Singapore  Master of Medicine (MMED) Singapore, plus MRCP (UK) awarded since 1 July 2010   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   College of Family Physicians of South Africa  Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa (FCFP(SA)) awarded since 1 January 2007 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 (medicine) awarded after January 2017 Doctor of Medicine or MD (surgery) awarded after July 2017 West Indies  University of the West Indies Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia) awarded between September 2003 and May 2014 (Course title has since changed to Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia and Intensive care))         

A fitness to practice is required for overseas doctors who want to register with the GMC. This blog will break down what the rules are, and what evidence you will need to prepare and provide by looking at the following: What is evidence of your fitness to practice? Declaration of your fitness to practice Supporting evidence Certificate of good standing How do I request a certificate of good standing? Remember, at IMG Connect we always advise IMGs to prepare all documents before starting applications, it will save you time, and stress!  What is evidence of your fitness to practice?  As part of your GMC application, the GMC require you to provide evidence of your fitness to practice. This is broken down into two areas from your online application:  A declaration of your fitness to practice Your supporting evidence Declaration of fitness to practice:  As part of your online GMC application to join the register you must complete a declaration of fitness to practice. This declaration is only valid for 3 months, so ensure you get the timing right with your application, otherwise the GMC will ask you to complete a new one.  When completing your application online, you will be asked 12 questions in the fitness to practice character declaration section. You should complete the declaration by choosing YES or NO for each question.  These cover a range of fitness to practice topics, including previous convictions, disciplinary actions, conduct and so on.  It is important to say that you should always be honest in your answers.   Supporting evidence:  The GMC will ask you to provide supporting evidence of your fitness to practice, these are broken down into the following:  details of all postgraduate medical experience for the last five years or since you graduated details of all postgraduate non-medical experience for the last five years or since you graduated* details of all certain other activities for the last five years or since you graduated  a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority you've been registered or licensed with *If you have worked in a non-medical capacity it is also likely that you will be asked for employer references to cover this non-medical work. Certificate of good standing  As above, you will require a certificate from your regulatory body to be sent to the GMC to confirm your good standing with them. The GMC will need a certificate of good standing from all of the countries you've been registered with in that time, even if you haven't been practising there.  You can register for a certificate of good standing from your regulatory body in your home country, which they will send directly to the GMC.  Certificates of good standing and employer references are only valid for three months from the date that they are issued and must be valid on the date your application to the GMC is approved. What is a certificate of good standing?  A certificate of good standing will show any restrictions on your practice, your registration history, including current license status, identity information and any current proceedings. It should be issued in English. In the European Union these documents are known as certificates of current professional status. How do I request a certificate?  You will need to contact your regulatory body and request this from them directly. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact using the Certificate of good standing database. References: When writing this article we have taken our information from the following sources: https://www.gmc-uk.org IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources In our IMG Resources library you can read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job opportunities in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.         

There are several routes a psychiatrist can take to register with the GMC and practice psychiatry in the NHS.  Psychiatrists looking to secure a job in the NHS must satisfy certain criteria before they can be fully registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) and receive a license to practice in the NHS. For psychiatry, these criteria depend on where you received your training, and the qualifications you hold.   In this blog, we’re giving you a snapshot of the steps you need to take to start your journey to the UK, as an overseas psychiatrist. We’ll be covering the following:  How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as an EEA Psychiatrist? How do I demonstrate my knowledge and skills as a non-EEA Psychiatrist? How can I demonstrate my English language skills? What is a certificate of good standing and how do I get one? What do I need to register with the GMC? Will I need a visa to work in the UK? Skip ahead to the relevant section if you know what you're looking for. Evidence of knowledge and skills for EEA Psychiatrists For psychiatrists who trained in an EEA country (all countries inside the EU, also Lichtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland & Norway), there are several options potentially available to you.  Depending on the country and year you completed your residency or basic medical training, the GMC may automatically recognise your qualifications and grant you either General Registration, or Specialist Registration in the UK. To find out if your country’s qualifications will allow you to register for either GMC registration, check the relevant GMC page here.  Basic Medical Training: If you have met the requirements for basic medical training, you would not need to demonstrate your medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in the UK, and would therefore not need to complete a Royal College postgraduate qualification or PLAB to register with a license to practice. You would be granted full registration in this case, but not Specialist Registration.  Specialist Training / Residency: Not all European Specialist qualifications are accepted by the GMC. If you have met the GMC’s criteria pertaining to your county, then you should be eligible for Specialist Registration in oncology.  So as a psychiatrist, if you hold a Relevant European Specialist qualification, you would be put on the specialist register for psychiatry and can be appointed as a substantive psychiatrist in the NHS.  Please note, the criteria that is outlined on your country’s GMC registration page must be met. If your training was undertaken prior to the dates mentioned by the GMC – your qualifications will not be accepted.   For EEA psychiatrists, the main hurdle that you will face will be demonstrating that your English skills are of a high enough standard to practice safely as a doctor in the NHS.  As a European psychiatrist, this is most likely the easiest route to becoming GMC-registered and being able to practice psychiatry in the UK.  If you do not meet the GMC requirements for your training to be approved for general or specialist registration, other routes you may consider to GMC registration include PLAB, or (via the postgraduate route) the Royal College exams for psychiatry (MRCPsych). You can find out more about these alternative routes here.  Evidence of knowledge and skills for non-EEA Psychiatrists  If you qualified as a psychiatrist outside the EEA, then you will have to demonstrate that both your medical knowledge and skills AND English Language capabilities meet the level required to practice safely in the UK.  Psychiatrists who've trained from outside the UK and EEA and must demonstrate to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For psychiatrists this can be done through three main routes:  Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB) The PLAB exam is a two-part exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to work safely as an SHO in the NHS, as such it does not demonstrate ability in psychiatry specifically. For this reason, PLAB tends to be a route for junior doctors who have not already chosen their field of specialisation in medicine. That said, for some senior doctors PLAB can be an attractive option, offering a quicker route to the UK, whilst still securing competitive salaries. If taking this option, psychiatrists can then take up training or a more senior post once they have established themselves in the NHS. Take a look through our comprehensive guides on PLAB.  Royal College of Psychiatrists Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. psychiatry.  Psychiatrists taking this route will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the NHS. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional body that regulates the specialism of psychiatry in the UK, and Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych) is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining MRCPsych will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK psychiatry. Take a look at IMG Resources library for complete guides on MRCPsych to learn more.  GMC-recognised or Equivalent Qualifications  Some overseas qualifications and licensing exams are recognised by the GMC and accepted for registration purposes. This is to say these qualifications or licensing exams are considered as meeting the same standards as the Royal College qualifications.  To find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC, take a look at our blog: Overseas accepted postgraduate qualifications  English Language Testing  Both EEA and non-EEA oncologists, regardless of experience, and country of origin, must demonstrate that they have a sufficient grasp and competence of the English language. This can be done by passing either the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or the OET (OET – Occupational English Test). Detailed guides to these tests can be found below:  IELTS – a guide for overseas doctors OET – a guide for overseas doctors Experience in English-speaking countries  For doctors who have at least two years of their most recent experience in an English-speaking country, you can use a reference from your current employer or employers over these two or more years to demonstrate competence of the English language. This would exempt you from sitting an English language exam.  Certificate of Good Standing  All doctors registering with the GMC must provide a certificate of good standing from each medical regulatory authority they’ve been registered or licensed with in the last five years.  The medical regulatory authority may send you a certificate of past good standing if you're not currently registered or licensed with them. You can find out which medical regulatory authority to contact via the GMC website here.  If there's no medical regulatory authority in the country to issue a certificate, the GMC will give you further advice once your application has been assessed.  Please note that each certificate is only valid for three months from the date it's signed and must be valid when we approve your application.  GMC Registration  Once you’ve completed your English language exam, you can now apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice. For registration, you must provide evidence of:  English language capabilities - either your IELTS, OET or an approved reference from your current employer (if you have been working in an English-speaking country for the last two years).  AND  Certificate of good standing – the certificate from your medical regulatory authority which demonstrates good standing.  AND  (EEA psychiatrists) Skills and knowledge – as an EEA psychiatrist, this would either be your recognised EEA qualification.  (Non-EEA psychiatrist) Skills and knowledge – as a non-EEA psychiatrist, this would either be PLAB, MRCPsych or a GMC-approved qualification.  To understand the registration process more fully, read our article on GMC registration for overseas doctors here.  Visas  If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and started living in the UK by 31 December 2020, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a visa from the Home Office.  A Health & Care visa (Tier 2 visa) is the document given to a skilled worker by the UK Home Office following a job offer from a UK employer with a valid Tier 2 Sponsorship License. The list of valid Tier 2 Sponsors can be found here.  Understand Tier 2 visas and Certificates of Sponsorship in depth by taking a look at our article: Tier 2 Visa application process & documents needed.  Wondering whether you can relocate with your family? Take a look at our blog on the Tier 2 dependent visa below: Tier 2 Dependent visa - Can I bring my family with me to the UK?  So, there you have it! Hopefully this helps to clarify any worries or doubts you may have on your route to the UK as a psychiatrist planning a career in the NHS. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the psychiatry job market, then get in touch with our team.  For regular news and updates on the Royal College and all things psychiatry, follow IMG Connect on social media using the links below:              

To work as a doctor in the NHS (UK) you will need to register with the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC is the public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom and attaining full registration is a multistep process involving a number of different documents. The purpose of this article is to help guide overseas doctors through the various stages of GMC Registration by considering the following topics:  Why do I need GMC Registration? How much will it cost me? What are the requirements for GMC Registration? What is the process? Recognised GMC qualifications English language capabilities Registration and licensing history Certificates of good standing Knowledge and skill tests ID Check TOP TIP: Before you start the process, we always recommend that It is worth having a read of the GMC website page on required documents. These can change, as the GMC adapts to changes in healthcare, and current issues like the coronavirus. Of course, if you have any questions have a chat with your IMG Consultant and we can help you to clear up any uncertainties.  Why do I need GMC Registration? The GMC's main responsibility is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public and one way in which it does this is by carefully controlling entry to the register. Any doctor that wants to work in the UK must be fully registered with a license to practice with the GMC, whether working as a locum or permanent member of staff. How much will it cost me? Generally, GMC Registration will cost £420 but this may change depending on your circumstance. Once you are registered, you must pay an annual retention fee of £390 (which can be paid quarterly, monthly or in one lump sum). A full list of GMC Fees can be found here. What are the requirements for GMC Registration? These will depend on a number of factors which can be broken down into the following: Your nationality  Where you gained your primary medical qualification Whether or not you have completed a postgraduate training or internship What is the process? The registration process can be broken down into these six steps: Check your primary medical qualification is GMC recognised Evidence of English language capabilities Registration and licensing history Certificates of good standing Knowledge and skills tests ID checks Recognised GMC qualifications: If your primary medical qualification (PMQ) is from outside the UK or EEA, you need to make sure it is eligible for GMC registration. Check here to see if your PMQ is recognised or have a read through our blog on accetable overseas qualifications. You will be required to have your PMQ independently verified before your license to practice is granted.  This is carried out by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) through their online EPIC system. For more information on verifying your PMQ and the EPIC system take a look at our blog here. English language capabilities: If English is not your native language, then you will need to pass an English Language Test (ELT), you can take either one of the following:  International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Occupational English Test (OET) Registration and licensing history: You must provide all details for any registrations or medical licenses held in the last five years. Certificates of good standing: From each of your listed medical establishments, you’ll need to provide a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS). It is worth applying for these early on as they can take some time! Knowledge and skill tests: If you attained your Primary Medical Degree from a country outside the EEA region you'll need to demonstrate you have the necessary knowledge and skills to practice in the UK. This can be through a number of routes: Passing the PLAB test Providing evidence of an acceptable postgraduate qualification Being eligible for entry onto the Specialist Register or GP Register Gaining sponsorship by an approved sponsor Take a look at our IMG Library, in particular our sections on Postgraduate Qualifications, PLAB and CESR for further reading. Of course, we'd be delighted to talk you through your options so either give us a call or request a call back and we'll get in touch very shortly. To reaffirm, if you have attained your medical degree from a recognised institution from a country inside the EEA region you will not need to demonstrate evidence of appropriate knowledge or skills. ID Check: Once all requested information is submitted, you will need to book an ID check with the GMC. This will require you to attend in person, at the London office. At this point your IMG Consultant will always make an effort to meet you in person & buy you a coffee. We always believe it is better to put a face to a name! However, please note at this time of uncertainty and disruption caused by the coronavirus ID checks are not necessary. You can currently be granted a full license to practice without having shown your ID to the GMC first, however this is only a temporary measure.  Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.

As most overseas doctors may know, there are some non-UK Postgraduate Qualifications that are recognised by the GMC as equivalent. An equivalent qualification will be accepted by the GMC as evidence of the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to apply for full registration with a license to practice. The qualifications listed below are currently accepted by the GMC and are recognised as meeting the same standards as UK postgraduate qualifications. However, this does not mean they are the same in every way, and they do not guarantee entry to the UK Specialty training. What if my qualification is listed below? If your postgraduate qualification is listed below then you will simply need to provide evidence of English Language capabilities by passing an English Language Test (typically IELTS or OET) in order to satisfy the criteria for full registration with the GMC. Read through our blogs on English Language Testing to help answer any questions you may have on the matter. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our IMG Connect consultants (using the details at the bottom of this page) or send us an email with your details and we'll get back to you immediately to talk through any questions or next steps. What if my qualification is not listed below? If your qualification is not listed as equivalent, then you will be required to complete a Royal College Postgraduate Qualification or PLAB. You can use the GMC application finder to find the application that’s right for you. It is important to note, you must be granted full GMC registration within three years of passing your postgraduate qualification. Country Awarding Body Qualification Australia/New Zealand  Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Fellowship of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Australia/New Zealand The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) awarded since January 2010   The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM) awarded since 2001 Australia/New Zealand   The Royal Australasian College of Physicians  FRACP Adult medicine or evidence of three years of 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) Australia/New Zealand  The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM) awarded since 1 January 2013 Australia/New Zealand The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) awarded since 1 January 2007 Australia/New Zealand The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Fellowship of the Division of Rural Hospital Medicine (FDRHMNNZ) awarded since 1 January 2012 Australia/New Zealand The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Fellowship of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (FRNZCGP) awarded since 1 January 2012 Bangladesh  Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons Fellowship in Anaesthesia or Anaesthesiology awarded between July 1999 and October 2019 Canada  The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - diagnostic radiology examination Canada The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP) awarded since 1 January 2009 Europe European Academy of Anaesthesiology or European Society of Anaesthesiology (previously the European Academy of Anaesthesiology or European Society of Anaesthesiology) Diplomate of European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (DESAIC) (previously the Diplomate of European Academy of Anaesthesiology DEAA) or Diplomate of European Society of Anaesthesiology (DESA)) Europe European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) European Diploma of Intensive Care (EDIC) awarded since January 2015 Hong Kong Hong Kong College of Physicians Membership of the Hong Kong College of Physicians Ireland College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland  Fellowship of the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland (previously Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland) Ireland Royal College of Physicians in Ireland Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in General Medicine, awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in Paediatrics (Medicine of Childhood), awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (MFOM), awarded after 1 January 2007 Membership of the Faculty of Public Medicine (MFPHMI), awarded after 1 January 2007 Ireland Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland MRCS (collegiate examination) MRSC (intercollegiate examination) MRSC (ENT) (intercollegiate examination) Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (FRCSI) Fellowship of the Faculty or the College of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Fellowship of the Faculty of Radiologists in Clinical Radiology of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (FFR RCSI) 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 Singapore  National University of Singapore 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 South Africa  College of Family Physicians of South Africa Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa (FCFP(SA)) awarded since 1 January 2007 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 (medicine) awarded after January 2017 Doctor of Medicine or MD (surgery) awarded after July 2017 United States American Board of Anaesthesiology Certificate of the American Board of Anaesthesiology   The American Board of Radiology  The American Board of Radiology diagnostic radiology examination West Indies  University of the West Indies Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia) awarded between September 2003 and May 2014 (Course title has since changed to Doctor of Medicine (Anaesthesia and Intensive care)) IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and more!   Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you. Follow us on social media through the links below for regular news and updates on the Royal Colleges, relocating to the UK and working in the NHS:               

In order to apply for GMC Registration and/or take the PLAB tests, IMGs must hold a primary medical qualification acceptable to the GMC for the purpose of registration with a licence to practise. If your primary medical qualification is from outside of the UK or EEA, the GMC will need to check that it is acceptable.  How can I check my overseas qualification is recognised by the GMC?  Your Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) must be awarded by an institution listed in the World Directory of Medical School.  There are some qualifications that the GMC already do not accept. These are listed on their website. You should check whether your qualification meets the relevant criteria before you start an application.  As part of the GMC application, overseas doctors from outside of the EEA will need to send a copy of their primary medical qualification to the GMC.  If your primary medical qualification meets the GMC criteria, you will need to have it independently verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) before registration with a license to practice can be complete. How do I verify my Primary Medical Qualification?  Verification is completed online and is a simple process. You will set up an online EPIC account (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials), confirm your identity and upload your qualification for verification. This is then assessed by ECFMG who will communicate directly with your awarding body to confirm authenticity.  What next? Once assessed the ECFMG will confirm the outcome with the GMC. You will receive and EPIC ID, which will be required when completing the GMC application.  At IMG we recommend that you check your primary medical qualification and start the verification process as early as possible, so that you will have your verified qualification before applying.  Once you have checked that you have a suitable overseas qualification, and your overseas primary medical qualification has been independently verified, you can complete the GMC registration online.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS doctor jobs in the UK IMG Resources Read more useful articles on finding an NHS trust doctor job, pay scales & doctor’s salary in the UK, relocation and much more!   Get in Touch Don’t hesitate to get in touch using the buttons above (and below) to discuss doctor job options in the NHS, including discussions regarding a typical doctor salary in the UK and the most suitable hospital locations for you.