All anaesthetics doctors looking to secure a job and work in the UK, 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. As an anaesthetist, 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 an anaesthetist 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: OET – Occupational English Test IELTS – International English Language Testing System 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 license 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 Library - GMC Registration for overseas doctors Job search We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for European anaesthetists 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 anaesthetics jobs than are readily available online.  Our network extends to anaesthetics 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 specialty knowledge of anaesthetics, 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 Library – Relocation & UK Life Outside the EEA If you qualified as an anaesthetist 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 anaesthetics doctors, looking at the following: English Language Testing Evidence of Knowledge & Skills - PLAB, FRCA 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: OET – Occupational English Test IELTS – International English Language Testing System 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 Anaesthetics Overseas doctors must prove to the GMC they have sufficient knowledge & skills to practice safely in the UK. For anaesthetists this can be done through three main routes: PLAB Royal College qualification of FRCA 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 anaesthetics 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, anaesthetists 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 Route 2 - Royal College Qualification: Attaining a Royal College qualification is a preferred path for doctors who have already chosen their field of specialism i.e. anaesthetics. For senior Anaesthetists taking this route, they will gain access to more senior, well-paid jobs in the specialism of their choice.  The Royal College of Anaesthetists is the Professional Body that regulates the specialism of Anaesthetics in the UK, and Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists is the full qualification attainable by examination. For overseas doctors, attaining Primary FRCA (one-part of the full qualification) will satisfy the knowledge & skill criteria for GMC registration and facilitate application for more senior roles in UK anaesthesia. Take a look at our complete guide on Membership of the Royal College of Anaesthetists to understand more: FRCA – 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 anaesthesiology qualifications from several countries around the world that are currently accepted by the GMC, EDAIC being one common example.  Find out if your qualification is accepted by the GMC below:  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: 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 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 license 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, FRCA Primary, EDAIC or equivalent) Understand the registration process in full & by reading our article below: GMC Registration for overseas doctors Job search We recommend starting the job search as early as possible. Demand for Non-EEA anaesthetists 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 anaesthetics 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 specialty knowledge of anaesthetics, 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. IMG Library – Relocation & UK Life IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS anaesthetics 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.             

In this article we look in more detail at an alternative route for overseas Anaesthetists looking to work in the UK – the European Diploma of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC). International Medical Graduates (IMGs) from any country in the world can sit the EDAIC examinations, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. These are summarised below along with a broad look at the following topics: What is EDAIC?  Content and structure Am I eligible?  Dates, Fees and Venues for the EDAIC examinations How should I prepare and what resources are available? Passed? What next? What is EDAIC? EDAIC is a multilingual, end-of-training, two-part examination covering the relevant basic sciences and clinical subjects appropriate for a specialist in anaesthesiology.  Doctors with full EDAIC will simply require a pass in IELTS or OET for full GMC registration with a license to practice in the UK. The questions are set against the Syllabus for Anaesthetic and Intensive Care training, set by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). The exams aim to assess your knowledge of the following: Basic sciences relevant to anaesthesiology & intensive care Clinical Anaesthesiology inc. obstetrics, anaesthesia & analgesia Resuscitation & emergency medicine  Intensive care  Management of chronic pain To find out what grade a successful completion of full EDAIC will allow you to work as in the UK contact your IMG consultant for more information.  Content and structure of EDAIC: EDAIC comprises two mandatory components:  Part 1 – two multiple choice question papers Part 2 – oral examination In addition, there are two optional components: On-line Assessment (OLA) – computer based online test In-training Assessment (ITA) – multiple choice question paper Part 1 Examination: Pat 1 of EDAIC consists of two multiple-choice papers, each with sixty questions. Each paper is two hours in duration. Paper A concentrates on the basic sciences of Anaesthesia. Paper B concentrates on internal and emergency medicine, general, regional & special anaesthesia including pain and intensive care medicine. Part 2 Examination: Part 2 is held over one day and consists of four 25-minute oral examinations that each embrace the same range of basic sciences and clinical subjects covered in Part 1. The oral examinations consist of ‘Guided Questions’ -where candidates are given a brief written presentation 10 minutes before meeting the examiners.  Two of the examinations will concentrate on basic sciences whilst the other two on clinical topics.  X-rays, CT Scans, MRI and Ultrasound images are also used during the oral examinations. Am I eligible? Eligibility for EDAIC Part 1 simply requires a medical degree.  Eligibility for Part 2 requires:  a pass in EDAIC Part 1 AND certification in anaesthesia in any country  OR Applicants to be in the final year of training in anaesthesiology, in one of the European member states of the World Health Organisation Please note the following exceptions: If you graduated as a specialist in Pakistan, you must have the FCPS or equivalent to be eligible for EDAIC Part 2.   Diplomas in anaesthesiology issued in Pakistan and with a curriculum of a shorter duration than FCPS (such as MCPS) can be accepted for EDAIC Part 1, not Part 2. Holders of FCPS (or equivalent) are not exempt from EDAIC Part 1. Holders of the FRCA or FCAI / FCARCSI are exempt from Part 1 examination.  Dates, Fees and Venues for the EDAIC examinations: Examination Fees Exam Dates & Venues EDAIC Part 1 €340 (inc. 1-year ESA membership) *Part 1 reduced fee €150 (inc. 1-year ESA membership) EDAIC Part 1 – full list of dates, venues can be found here EDAIC Part 2 €550 first attempt €340 following attempts (€650 for Part 2 Brazil – Sao Paulo) EDAIC Part 1 – full list of dates, venues can be found here On-line Assessment €50 EDAIC OLA – full list of dates, venues can be found here In-training Assessment €100 EDAIC ITA – full list of dates, venues can be found here Authentication of EDAIC by external institution €50 n/a Total (at first attempt) €1090 €900 reduced fee*   Part 1 registration fee will include a free 1-year ESA membership which starts on 1st January of the year following registration for Part 1 Exam.  Please note, those applying for Part 1 examination in a country where the exam is mandatory or has official recognition (Argentina, Austria, Egypt, Finland, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Netherlands and Turkey) AND who are registered on the national medical register of said country, are entitled to a reduced Part 1 fee.  This also includes 1-year free ESA membership. How should I prepare for the examinations and what resources are available? We have discussed this at length with IMGs who have recently passed the exam. With so much material available for free on the European Society of Anaesthesiology website we suggest the following as a great foundation for your preparations.  ESA offers several supporting tools to help candidates prepare for the European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (EDAIC) Part I and Part II Examinations, including: Syllabus  EDAIC aims at covering the Syllabus to Postgraduate Training Programme of the European Board of Anaesthesiology.  We recommend getting to know the curriculum as early as possible and using it as a road map for your study plan.  Diploma Guide The EDAIC diploma guide includes information on regulations, structure and various sample examination papers and example report forms.  The Basic Sciences Anaesthetic Course (BSAC):  This is a 3-day course, aimed at improving your understanding of different areas of basic science. Register here.  ESA E-Learning Platform:  This includes helpful E-Learning modules to help you prepare for examinations, go to the ESA Academy to start your learning.  EDAIC Webinars:  The ESA have created a series of webinars to support your learning, these can be accessed on the eLearning platform.  On-line Assessment (OLA) and In-training Assessment (ITA):  You can use these helpful tools (On-Line Assessment (OLA) and In-Training Assessment (ITA)) to test your knowledge and identify which subjects require further study.  Sample questions:  The ESA have created sample questions in different languages to help you prepare for all sections of the EDAIC exams:  Part 1 Part 2 Please note, the links above provide these sample questions in English. All other languages can be found here. Part 2 explainer video:  This is a useful sample exam video, helping you understand what to expect on the day so you can focus on the task at hand.  The ESA have also produced a guide to preparing for your exam and a recommended reading list to support the curriculum.  Passed? What next? First of all, congratulations! Once you have passed both parts of your EDAIC examination you can apply for a full registration with a license to practice. Once the GMC have approved your application, you can work as a doctor in the UK.  IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS anaesthetics 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.             

One of the routes to GMC registration for an overseas anaesthetist is FRCA Primary. IMGs from any country in the world can sit some, not all, of the FRCA examinations. Certain eligibility criteria must be met to sit primary whilst overseas doctors can only take the final part of the exams once they have started working in the NHS (UK). This is explained in further details below where we look at the following topics: What is FRCA?  What is the structure and content of FRCA examinations? As an overseas doctor am I eligible?  What is Temporary Exam Eligibility (TEE)? What is the UK IAC?   As an overseas candidate where can I take the exam and how much will it cost me? How to prepare and what resources are available? Summary  The Royal College of Anaesthetists is the professional body responsible for the specialty of Anaesthetics throughout the UK. Among many other duties, its role is to set and monitor the educational curriculum for those training to enter the profession. What is FRCA?  Anaesthetists become full members of the Royal College of Anaesthetists and attain Fellowship of the Royal College, and the designation of FRCA, once they have passed the two separate exams: the Primary and Final Examinations. Each exam consists of two parts taken separately. FRCA is one of the many routes an anaesthetist can take when looking to satisfy the GMC postgraduate criteria for full registration with a licence to practice. It is important to note that Primary FRCA will suffice for the purposes of full registration with a license to practice, and full FRCA is not essential though of course desirable. What is the structure and content of FRCA examinations?  Primary FRCA examinations:  Multiple Choice Question Examination (MCQ) The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Structured Oral Examination (SOE) Final FRCA examinations:  Final Written exam consisting of; Multiple Choice Question exam (MCQ) and a Short Answer Question (SAQ) exam The Structured Oral Examination (SOE) The FRCA examinations form an essential component of training for anaesthetists in the UK and doctors who wish to complete the FRCA route, will be required to complete the final exam after substantial experience working in the UK.  As an overseas doctor am I eligible?  It is important to note that each of the FRCA exams have different eligibility criteria.  To sit the FRCA Primary Exams, you must be a member of the College or apply for Temporary Exam Eligibility (TEE) – see below. TEE will apply to most overseas doctors.  Primary FRCA MCQ: You are eligible to enter the Primary FRCA MCQ paper if you: hold national registration with an overseas Medical Council; AND have successfully applied for Temporary Examination Eligibility (TEE) with the College 3 months prior to the date of the examination  Primary FRCA OSCE and SOE: You are eligible to enter the Primary FRCA OSCE and SOE if you: meet the above criteria for the Primary FRCA MCQ paper have passed the Primary FRCA MCQ paper have been awarded an overseas competency in anaesthetics which is comparable to the UK IAC (see below) Final FRCA: You are eligible to enter the Final FRCA paper if you have: completed 30 months of training in anaesthesia at least 18 months must be spent in approved posts in the UK or Republic of Ireland – for international doctors a maximum of 12 months of overseas training in anaesthesia combined with 6 months working in an approved UK post will be accepted; Evidence of having completed the required training will be needed, Core Level Training Certificate What is Temporary Exam Eligibility (TEE)? Non-UK Trainee applicants do not qualify for any membership category of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. As such the Royal College has introduced the TEE to allow overseas anaesthetist doctors who do not work in the UK to apply for the FRCA Primary Examinations.  Applicants must submit a Temporary Examinations Eligibility form three months before any examinations are applied for. How do I apply for TEE?  You can apply for TEE using this application form. Documents required on your first application are: Proof of registration with an overseas Medical Council Proof of attendance at or completion of anaesthetic training, including foundation training (internship)  If you intend to take the OSCE/SOE exams, you will be asked to provide further documentation to prove you have an equivalent of the UK Initial Assessment of Competency Certificate in Anaesthesia. The TEE application costs £90, paid by bank transfer. Once payment is confirmed you will receive a TEE number, which you will use to support your application to sit the FRCA examinations.  What is the UK IAC? And how do I demonstrate equivalence?  The initial assessment of competence (IAC) is the first anaesthesia training milestone for trainees in the Anaesthesia training programme (ACCS training for anaesthesia, acute medicine, emergency medicine and intensive care).  The purpose of the IAC is to signify that the trainee has achieved a basic understanding of anaesthesia and is able to give anaesthetics at a level of supervision matching with the individual trainee’s skills and clinical cases. The IAC is not a licence for independent anaesthetic practice. The key point is that trainees are still under the supervision of a named consultant anaesthetist.  To support an application to sit the FRCA exams you must demonstrate that you have been awarded an overseas anaesthetic competency in anaesthetics which is comparable to the UK IAC. Overseas anaesthetic competency certificates must be provided on application and prove clinical competency comparable to the UK Initial Assessment of Competency in Anaesthetics. Certificates must be accompanied by a letter of authentication in English from a senior anaesthetic consultant or notary.  The final decision on comparability of overseas IAC certificates lies with the Chair of the Primary Examination. How do I apply for the Primary FRCA examinations?  Applications are complete online, simply click here, register, and follow the instructions for submitting documents and completing your application.  Where can I sit the FRCA exams?  Unfortunately, IMGs cannot sit the FRCA exams overseas.  Exams are held in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Sheffield and Edinburgh. You can find up-to-date exam dates here. How much do the exams cost?  Primary MCQ £370 Primary OSCE & SOE £685 Primary OSCE £370 Primary SOE £340 Final Written Exam £545 Final SOE £645 What is the syllabus?  The syllabus for both the primary and final exams are linked to the Training Curriculum.  The Primary FRCA Examinations are blue printed to the Core Level Training Curriculum.  The Final FRCA examinations are blue printed to both the Core Level Training Curriculum and the Intermediate Level Training Curriculum.  *both include Intensive Care Medicine How do I prepare?  With lots of materials online we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for resources and materials relating to the exams. Most successful IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams.  At IMG Connect we advise overseas candidates to be fully aware that questions used in the exam are drawn from the UK Anaesthetic Basic Level Training Curriculum. We suggest that you can use the curriculum as a road map to support your study plan.  Video series:  The exam run through video series is a useful tool to help familiarise yourself with what to expect on the exam day.  The Primary SOE support videos are designed to help trainees in preparation for exams.   The Primary FRCA examination videos also support with study for the MCQ.  More videos can be found at the College's YouTube Channel eLearning Anaesthesia (e-LA):  The e-LA supports specialty training in anaesthesia. It provided materials for professional development of specialists seeking to refresh their knowledge. Doctors working overseas can gain access to this resource via eIntegrity which provides a portal to all specialty e-Learning platforms. If you are working outside the NHS, then modules are available for purchase via the eIntegrity website. There are a number of modules available, of particular note for IMGs is Module 6: Exams Preparation. e-LA also provides MCQ questions which are an accurate reflection of the questions included in the FRCA examinations. Virtual Exam tours:  3D virtual exam tours have been created by the Royal College to provide a virtual experience to ensure that candidates are familiar with the process on the day.  OSCE exam floor 3D Tour Successful IMGs have found practice questions are a valuable part of exam preparation. Remember these should be used in conjunction with other forms of research and studies. I attained Primary FRCA, what next?  You will simply need to prove your English Language capabilities to satisfy GMC criteria for full registration. IMG Jobs  Search and find live NHS anaesthetics 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 anaesthetics 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.