I am an overseas Doctor wanting to work in the United Kingdom what should I do?

I am an overseas Doctor wanting to work in the United Kingdom what should I do?

To work in the United Kingdom you must hold a valid license to practice Medecine. And you must hold a valid up to date GMC Registration (General Medical Council).

What does an overseas Doctors mean:

- You are a national who has graduated outside of the United Kingdom , Europe or Switzerland

- You could also be a UK National who has qualified outside of one of the above countries

In the UK there are different types of registration for Doctors:

Provisional Registration – Provisional registration (alongside a license to practice) allows newly qualified doctors to undertake general clinical training required for full registration. This allows doctors to work only in Foundation Year 1 posts.

Full Registration – Full registration enables doctors to work in any form of professional medical practice in the UK, provided they hold a license to practice. Doctors must, however, also hold specialist registration to take up a consultant post (other than a locum consultant post) in the NHS.

Specialist registration – All consultants (other than a locum consultant appointment) must be on the specialist register of the GMC and all consultants (including locums) must hold a license to practice before they can take up a post. It is not possible to hold specialist registration without also holding full registration. You may be required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) if you did not complete a PMETB approved training programme )

GP Registration – Since 1 April 2006, all doctors working in general practice in the NHS in the UK, other than doctors in training such as GP Registrars, are required to be on the GP Register. This requirement extends to locums. If you have not completed the UK GP Certificate of Completion of Training programme you will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR), which will then enable you to be entered on the GP Register. You may be required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) if you did not complete a PMETB approved training programme )

Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB)

The GMC uses the PLAB test to ensure that international doctors have the basic medical competence and communication skills to practice in the UK. Doctors wishing to take the PLAB test must have already successfully completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

The first part of the PLAB test can be taken at a number of test centers overseas, but the second part must be taken in the UK.

Further details about the PLAB test, including dates, test centers and costs, can be obtained from the General Medical Council.

Information on PLAB can be found on: www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/plab/index.asp

Things you need to know:

- Only original paperwork will be accepted

- To complete your registration with the GMC you need to visit the GMC office in the UK

- A photograph will be taken by the GMC which will be available to any employers on request

- Non-EEA applicants applying for registration must satisfy the GMC that they have the necessary knowledge of English. The academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an overall score of 7.0 will need to be completed. Please visit http://www.ielts.org/default.aspx

- Please visit the GMC website for further information: http://www.gmc-uk.org/

Advertisement