Eligibility to work as a doctor in NHSScotland

General Medical Council

The General Medical Council (GMC) is the public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the UK. Its chief responsibility is to “protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public” by controlling entry to the register and suspending or removing members when necessary. It also sets the standards for the UK’s medical schools. 

GMC registration

The main types of registration that allow doctors to work in different roles are as follows:

• provisional registration
• full registration
• specialist registration
• GP registration

Find out how to register with the GMC.

Full registration

To practise medicine in Scotland, you must have a valid GMC registration with a licence to practice. This is also known as full registration.  

There are many routes to gaining full registration with the GMC. It depends on many factors, including your:

• nationality
• qualifications
• experience

Use the GMC’s tool to discover the type of registration you’re eligible for. It will help you identify the correct route and guide you on the steps you’ll need to take. 

Find your route to GMC registration.

GMC registration fees

All doctors are required to pay a fee to register with the GMC. An annual fee to remain on the register is also payable. Other fees may apply. 

Find out more about GMC fees and funding.

Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB)

The PLAB test helps the GMC to make sure doctors who are qualified abroad have the knowledge and skills they need to practise medicine in the UK.  

Do I need to take the PLAB test?  

You will probably need to take the PLAB test if you graduated from a medical school outside of the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland.

Find out more about acceptable postgraduate qualifications.  

The PLAB test will check that you have the knowledge and can do the same as a doctor starting the second year of their Foundation Programme training in the UK (FY2).  

What does the PLAB test involve?  

PLAB test is split into 2 parts:  

• Part 1 - a written, multiple-choice exam with 180 single best answer questions.
• Part 2 - a practical objective structured clinical exam known as OSCE.

You will have to pass both parts before you can apply for GMC registration.  

What you’ll need before taking the PLAB  

Before you can book the PLAB test, you'll need to set up a GMC Online account and show that your medical qualifications and knowledge of English are acceptable. Once approved and your account is authorised, you can book a place on Part 1 of the PLAB test.

Find out how to set up a GMC online account.

PLAB Part 1  

This is a written multiple-choice exam with 180 questions you must answer within 3 hours. Each question starts with a short scenario and is followed by a question. You’ll need to choose the correct answer from the 5 possible answers. 

You can sit Part 1 in several countries, including the UK.

Discover where you can take the PLAB 1 test.

PLAB Part 2  

This is a practical, objective, structured clinical exam, which is made up of 18 scenarios. The scenarios each last 8 minutes and aim to reflect real-life settings, including a mock consultation or an acute ward. Part 2 tests are only held in the GMC Clinical Assessment Centres in Manchester.

Find out more about the GMC Clinical Assessment Centres.

Medical Licensing Assessment

The Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) will be introduced in 2024. It tests the core knowledge, skills and behaviours of doctors who want to practise in the UK. International medical graduates will continue to take the PLAB tests, which comply with the MLA requirements.

Find out more about the changes to PLAB with the introduction of the MLA in 2024.

Passed your PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 tests?  

You can now officially apply for registration with a licence to practise in the UK. Please note that your application must be approved within 2 years of passing Part 2 of the test.