Psychiatry in the UK for Internationally-Qualified Doctors
A plain-English guide to becoming a psychiatrist in the UK as an internationally-qualified doctor — why demand is high, the GMC specialist-registration route, and how NHS pay works.
As of July 2026, a doctor who wants to work as a psychiatrist in the UK must hold registration with a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC), and — for a substantive consultant post — be on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry. Psychiatry is one of the specialties most reliant on internationally-qualified doctors, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists has repeatedly reported that around one in five (roughly 20%) consultant psychiatrist posts in England were vacant.
Why UK psychiatry relies on international doctors
Psychiatry has one of the highest consultant vacancy rates of any medical specialty in the UK. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has reported, across successive census exercises, that around a fifth of consultant psychiatrist posts in England were unfilled — a shortfall it links to rising mental-health demand and the number of psychiatrists reaching retirement.
Because of that gap, psychiatry is one of the specialties in which internationally-qualified doctors make up a large share of the workforce, and it has featured on UK immigration shortage lists for medical practitioners. Doctors who trained in psychiatry overseas frequently register with the GMC and build UK careers, whether through a specialty-doctor (SAS) post or by joining the Specialist Register.
This page is information for doctors who are independently considering that move. It is not a job advert and Gera is not a recruitment agency — confirm current vacancy and workforce data with the Royal College of Psychiatrists (rcpsych.ac.uk).
How NHS pay works for this specialty
NHS basic pay is set by grade, not by specialty. The figures below are for England, 2024/25 — indicative, and different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
| Grade | Typical role | Basic pay (England) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Year 1 (FY1) | Newly-qualified resident (formerly "junior") doctor, first year | £36,616 | The starting basic salary for a first-year foundation doctor in England. Additional pay applies for out-of-hours and on-call work. |
| Specialty registrar (StR) | Doctor in higher specialty training | £55,329 – £70,425 | Basic pay across the specialty-training nodal points (2016 contract, England). On-call and out-of-hours supplements are added on top. |
| Specialty doctor (SAS) | Non-training career-grade doctor | £59,175 – £95,400 | The 2021 specialty-doctor contract range. A common substantive route for internationally-qualified doctors before or instead of the specialist register. |
| Consultant | Senior doctor on the GMC Specialist Register | £105,504 – £139,882 | The England consultant pay scale — the same range for every hospital specialty, because basic pay is grade-based, not specialty-based. Requires specialist registration. |
A consultant psychiatrist is paid on the same England consultant pay scale as any other consultant. Additional earnings can come from on-call commitments, Clinical Excellence Awards, and — for some — private or medico-legal work. Basic pay does not differ because the specialty is psychiatry.
Source: NHS Employers / BMA medical pay scales (England). Indicative snapshot for the 2024/25 pay year — confirm current figures with NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org) and the BMA (bma.org.uk).
As of 2024/25, the NHS consultant pay scale in England ran from £105,504 to £139,882 — the same for a consultant psychiatry as for any other specialty, because basic pay is set by grade, not by specialty.
- Foundation Year 1 (FY1)
- £36,616
- Specialty registrar (StR)
- £55,329 – £70,425
- Specialty doctor (SAS)
- £59,175 – £95,400
- Consultant
- £105,504 – £139,882
+ 4 more not shown here. As of 2024/25 pay year (England). Source: NHS Employers / BMA medical pay scales (England).
Get the Psychiatry specialist-registration checklist
Enter your email and we send a step-by-step checklist for joining the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry — GMC registration, the Portfolio Pathway evidence mapped to the the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) curriculum, English evidence, and visa pointers. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
The GMC specialist-registration route in Psychiatry
- 1
Hold GMC registration with a licence to practise
Before anything specialty-specific, an internationally-qualified doctor must first be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) with a licence to practise — usually via the PLAB examination or a GMC-recognised postgraduate qualification. The source-country routes are set out on our UK doctor pathway pages.
- 2
Choose your specialist-registration route
To take a substantive NHS consultant post you must join the GMC Specialist Register. There are two main routes: the CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) for doctors who complete a UK training programme, and the Portfolio Pathway — the route the GMC introduced in late 2023 to replace CESR — for doctors whose training and experience were gained outside a UK programme.
- 3
Map your evidence to the specialty curriculum
The Portfolio Pathway is assessed against the UK curriculum for your specialty, which is set by the relevant Royal College or Faculty. You gather structured evidence — qualifications, logbooks, appraisals, assessments, reflective practice and testimonials — that demonstrates equivalence to a UK-trained specialist.
- 4
Apply, be assessed, and join the Specialist (or GP) Register
You submit your application to the GMC, which takes advice from the relevant Royal College or Faculty. If your evidence demonstrates the required standard, you are entered on the Specialist Register (or, for general practice, the GP Register) and become eligible for a substantive consultant or GP post. Confirm the current requirements and fees on gmc-uk.org.
Specialty-specific notes
Overseas psychiatry experience is evidenced against the RCPsych curriculum through the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR). A recognised postgraduate psychiatry qualification — for example MRCPsych — can also support GMC registration and specialist-register applications.
Many internationally-qualified psychiatrists begin in a specialty-doctor (SAS) or trust-grade role, gather structured evidence of their practice, and then apply for the Specialist Register via the Portfolio Pathway rather than re-entering a UK training programme.
What you need, in summary
- Hold GMC registration with a licence to practise (PLAB or a recognised postgraduate route)
- For a consultant post, be on the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry (CCT or Portfolio Pathway)
- Evidence English-language proficiency by a route the GMC accepts
- Hold the right to work in the UK (usually the Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker visa, unless exempt)
- Maintain appropriate professional indemnity and an up-to-date appraisal record
For your country-of-training route (PLAB, English evidence, visa), see the UK Doctor Pathway guide, which covers permitted source corridors only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need MRCPsych to work as a psychiatrist in the UK?+
Not necessarily to be registered, but a recognised postgraduate psychiatry qualification such as MRCPsych can support GMC registration and a specialist-register application, and many roles expect it. The GMC confirms which qualifications support which route — check gmc-uk.org.
Can an internationally-qualified psychiatrist go straight to a consultant post?+
Only after joining the GMC Specialist Register in psychiatry, via a UK CCT or the Portfolio Pathway. Many doctors first work in a specialty-doctor (SAS) role and build the evidence for a Portfolio Pathway application. Substantive consultant posts require specialist registration.
Is psychiatry on the UK shortage list for doctors?+
Medical practitioners, including psychiatrists, have featured on UK immigration shortage/salary lists, reflecting the specialty’s persistent vacancy rate. Immigration lists change — confirm the current position on gov.uk before relying on it.
Does GeraClinic place psychiatrists into NHS jobs?+
No. GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency. This page is free educational information for doctors exploring the pathway independently; you apply directly, of your own accord, to the GMC and to any employer.
Explore other high-demand UK specialties
Related guides
UK Doctor Pathway — by where you qualified
Choose your GMC registration route by the country where you trained — PLAB, English evidence, and the visa overview, corridor by corridor.
NHS Pay Scales
See the full NHS medical and Agenda for Change pay scales, with sources, across grades and nations.
GeraClinic — For Doctors
Keep practising while you plan your move: see verified remote telemedicine work for licensed doctors.
Important — please read
This is general information to help internationally-qualified doctors understand how UK specialist registration works for this specialty. It is not recruitment, immigration or legal advice. Gera is not a recruitment agency: we do not place doctors into NHS jobs, do not match candidates to specific vacancies, and do not actively recruit from countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List (2023). You apply on your own account, directly to the GMC and to any employer. Registration routes, workforce figures, fees and pay scales change — always confirm the current position with the General Medical Council (gmc-uk.org), the relevant Royal College or Faculty, UK Visas and Immigration (gov.uk) and NHS Employers (nhsemployers.org).
Keep practising while you plan your move
GeraClinic is a remote telemedicine platform for licensed doctors. Wherever you are registered today, you can see patients online, set your own hours and fees, and keep earning while you work through your UK specialist registration. It is free to apply.