This post is to give a summary of what to do to work in UK.
1- IELTS of overall score of 7.5 and each module to be at least 7. THERE IS NO EXEMPTION WHATSOEVER. For any further details please Please note there is no standard but yourself, what applies for Tom, Dick and Harry doesn’t necessarily apply for you. I know one who prepared for 7 hours and ones for 7 months.
2- For fresh graduates: PLAB is the easiest and shortest way. It’s 10 times at least easier than USMLE and is just two parts. Part 1 which is held twice a year in Egypt and part 2 which is allover the year (except June, July and August) in Manchester only and a course is a must (Swamy in London for example).
Plab 1 is 200 mcq and emq (extended matching questions) and usually the exams are repeated (check rxpgonline forums for the previous exams). The cost is almost £150.
Plab 2 is OSCE and costs almost £450 and you need a course for 10 days that costs almost £450 plus accomodation. You can apply for PLAB visa (usually 6 months) and I guess the total cost of this step including visa and flight may cost around £2000.
Once you pass plab, you apply for full GMC registration (if you did internship already) and you get licence to practice.
Then you can apply for jobs (service jobs) unless you plan to be a trained GP (3 or 4 years training then your a qualified GP with a salary as a consultant) or psychiatry or pathology. Other specialties are almost impossible to get training job in.
The most difficult part is finding the first job, that’s why you need to get ALS course and do a clinical attachment (observership) for 6 weeks average (you still may get jobs without these two). Some people get a job in a month, some in a year. Most people find a job at the end. I don’t know anyone who didn’t get a job eventually. Once you get a job, you’ll always get one, unless you do something graving.
After 5 years of continuous work, you get indefinite leave to remain and you now can apply for training jobs (please check the job requirement in the royal college and plan your 5 years accordingly, some royal colleges won’t accept you if you have experience more than 18 months in the specialty, in such case, if you want medicine, don’t work more than 18 months in medicine during your 5 years of service jobs)
Some of you might find this is a waste of 5 years of your life. Some might find it rewarding as you’ll get permanent residency and at the end you’ll join training and be a consultant (late better than never). It’s up to you. There is no wrong and right here.
3- For those who have training already and experience. If you didn’t pass the royal membership exams, I’d always recommend doing the plab, it’s easier and less time consuming. If you already have a membership or almost there, then you can get license to practice by getting IELTS.
Again, you can’t get training jobs, and you may have passed the required time needed to join the training scheme from the start (18 months experience). So you can apply for service job of higher grade (specialty doctor) and after 5 years there is a slim chance to get a CCT by equivalence application (article 14). Please note that article 14 is difficult and needs loads of paperwork and you may not get it at the end. However, this isn’t the end, as even if you can’t be a consultant, after 6 years you’re a British citizen and with 6 years of paid work in UK and a membership of a royal college. This is so rewarding in Gulf countries. Better than MD.
* Further routes to get GMC registration:
1- sponsorship of royal college; so difficult and needs a member of royal college to sponsor you.
2- international training program. As a charity, some hospitals train few international doctors for two years. You need just IELTS without plab or membership. However, you’re obliged to go back to your country for a year or two. I’m not sure if your registration will be still valid when you’re allowed to be back to UK or not. I wouldn’t recommend this route if you want to live in UK and get citizenship.
PLAB OR ROYAL COLLEGE MEMBERSHIP IS YOUR TICKET TO UK
* UK visa: a pain in the bum. The most difficult visa to get. They need bank statement (not balance) and it doesn’t matter how much is in the account as long as it covers the cost of the trip. It’s important that money gets in and out your account in a regular pattern. A nice trick is to put LE 1000 or 2000 every week in your account and take them out and put them in again then out then in and so on. This will give you a good active account with few amount of money.
They also need a stamped paper proving you’re working in a hospital or private clinic with salary matching what you mention in your visa application just to prove you’ll be back after doing your exam.
Please, again, please, don’t try to outsmart people in your visa application. BE AS HONEST AS POSSIBLE. they’re not amateurs and if they notice you’re lying, it’ll be difficult to get a visa again.
Sorry for the long post and best of luck.
