PLAB / UKMLA for India-Qualified Doctors
PLAB is the General Medical Councilβs main assessment for internationally-qualified doctors, and it is the route most India-qualified doctors use. Since 2024 it is delivered as the UK Medical Licensing Assessment. Here is exactly how the two parts work, where they are held, what they cost, and the deadline that follows.
Figures and rules on this page were last checked against their official sources in July 2026 and are reviewed by their issuers periodically β confirm the current position at the linked sources before you rely on any figure.
In short
PLAB has two parts. PLAB 1 is a three-hour, 180 single-best-answer written exam you can sit in India. PLAB 2 is a practical OSCE held only in Manchester. You must then be granted GMC registration with a licence to practise within two years of passing PLAB 2.
PLAB 1 β the written test
PLAB 1 assesses your ability to apply medical knowledge to the kind of situations a doctor in an NHS first-year post would face. It is a computer-based paper of 180 single-best-answer questions over three hours. Crucially for India-qualified doctors, PLAB 1 is offered at overseas test centres β including in India β so you do not need to travel to the UK to sit it. Some international centres add a hosting fee on top of the GMC exam fee.
Preparation typically focuses on the GMCβs content map and the way questions test decision-making rather than rote recall. Because it is the gateway to PLAB 2, most candidates give it several months of structured study.
PLAB 2 β the clinical OSCE
PLAB 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination: a circuit of short clinical stations in which you interact with simulated patients and examiners, demonstrating history-taking, examination, practical procedures, and β heavily weighted β communication in a UK clinical context. It is held only at the GMCβs clinical assessment centre in Manchester, so you will need to travel to the UK, which has visa and cost implications worth planning for in advance.
Many candidates spend a period in Manchester before the exam attending preparation courses and practising the OSCE format, since the communication and consultation style expected can differ from what doctors are used to in India.
Fees and the two-year window
As of the 2025β26 GMC fee schedule, PLAB 1 costs around Β£268 and PLAB 2 around Β£1,036; these GMC fees are revised periodically, and overseas PLAB 1 centres may charge extra. After you pass PLAB 2, the clock starts: your application for GMC registration with a licence to practise must be approved within two years. If it is not, you may have to sit the assessment again. That deadline is the single most important date to build your job search and visa timeline around.
Is PLAB the only route?
No. Doctors who already hold a UK postgraduate qualification that the GMC accepts β for example membership of a Royal College such as MRCP or MRCS β may be able to obtain registration without PLAB. There are also sponsorship routes. Which route fits you depends on your qualifications and career stage; the GMCβs registration pages set out the accepted evidence for each.
Frequently asked questions
What is PLAB, and do Indian doctors have to take it?
PLAB (the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test) is the General Medical Councilβs main assessment for international medical graduates. Most India-qualified doctors take it to obtain GMC registration. You do not have to take PLAB if you already hold an accepted UK postgraduate qualification (such as MRCP or MRCS) or qualify through another accepted route β but for the majority, PLAB is the path.
What is the difference between PLAB and the UKMLA?
From 2024 the GMC delivers PLAB as the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA). In practice this means PLAB 1 meets the requirements of the MLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and PLAB 2 meets the requirements of the MLA Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). For an India-qualified doctor the practical experience is very similar; the GMCβs pages are the definitive reference for the current arrangements.
Can I take PLAB 1 in India?
Yes. PLAB 1 is a computer-marked written exam held at test centres in several countries, including in India, so you do not need to travel to the UK for it. PLAB 2, which is a practical clinical exam, is held only in Manchester in the UK.
How is PLAB 1 structured?
PLAB 1 is a written exam of 180 single-best-answer (SBA) questions, with a duration of three hours. It tests the application of medical knowledge to clinical scenarios rather than pure recall.
How is PLAB 2 structured?
PLAB 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) β a circuit of clinical stations in which you demonstrate practical and communication skills with simulated patients. It is held in Manchester.
How much does PLAB cost?
As of the 2025β26 GMC fee schedule, the PLAB 1 fee is around Β£268 and the PLAB 2 fee is around Β£1,036. International test centres may add a hosting fee for PLAB 1. GMC fees are revised periodically, so check the GMC fee page for the current amount before you book.
How long after PLAB 2 do I have to register?
You must have your application for GMC registration with a licence to practise approved within two years of passing PLAB 2 (or the CPSA). If you let that window lapse you may have to sit the assessment again, so plan your job search and visa around it.
Practise remotely while you prepare
Preparing for UK registration takes time. GeraClinic is a separate remote telemedicine platform where doctors who hold valid NMC / State Medical Council registration in India can consult with patients online, set their own hours and fee, and keep clinical skills sharp β from home, around exam preparation. It is not connected to your GMC application or any UK role.
See remote telemedicine work for doctors in IndiaMore in the India β UK doctor pathway
- Pathway overviewA plain-English, independent guide for India-qualified doctors on how to register with the GMC and work in the UK β PLAB/UKMLA, English tests, the Health and Care Worker visa, specialty registration, and NHS pay. Information only, with links to official sources.
- GMC registrationThe routes an India-qualified doctor can use to obtain GMC registration with a licence to practise β PLAB/UKMLA, accepted postgraduate qualifications, and sponsorship β plus the primary-qualification and evidence requirements. Information only.
- English (IELTS / OET)The English-language evidence the GMC accepts from India-qualified doctors β IELTS Academic and OET β the scores required, validity window, and how it fits with PLAB and your visa. Independent, source-linked guidance.
- Specialty routesHow India-trained specialists progress in the UK: entering the specialist or GP register via CCT or the Portfolio Pathway, and the Royal College membership exams (MRCP, MRCS, MRCGP and others). Educational overview with official links.
- NHS salaryCurrent NHS England basic pay scales by grade β resident (junior) doctor nodal points, SAS grades and consultants β with London weighting and out-of-hours enhancements explained. Figures attributed to the BMA and NHS Employers.
- Health & Care Worker visaHow the UK Health and Care Worker visa works for India-qualified doctors β the job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship requirement, reduced fees, Immigration Health Surcharge exemption, and English evidence. Information only, linking to GOV.UK.
Official sources
This guide summarises publicly available information. For the current, authoritative position, go to the primary sources: