PLAB 2: the OSCE, the Manchester venue, cost and booking
PLAB 2 is the practical second part of the GMC’s PLAB test — a 16-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) taken in person at the GMC’s clinical assessment centre in Manchester, testing the clinical and communication skills expected of a UK second-year Foundation doctor.
Last updated 2026-07-11 · figures are indicative snapshots — confirm current values with the source
What is PLAB 2 and where is it held?
PLAB 2 is a 16-station OSCE held only at the GMC’s clinical assessment centre in Manchester, UK — every candidate travels to the UK to sit it. As of 2026 the GMC fee is around £1,036, paid when you book through GMC Online. There is no fixed annual timetable; the GMC releases slots through the year and they go quickly.
This is free information only, for internationally-qualified doctors who, of their own accord, want to understand the UK registration route. GeraClinic (Gera Services Ltd) is a telemedicine platform, not a recruitment agency: we do not place doctors into UK jobs, we do not actively recruit from countries on the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List (which includes Pakistan and Bangladesh), and we never charge you a fee for finding work. You always apply to UK employers yourself, on your own account.
Format and venue
PLAB 2 is a practical OSCE of 16 stations that simulate real clinical scenarios — history-taking, examination, practical procedures and communication with patients and colleagues. It is offered at only one venue worldwide: the GMC clinical assessment centre in Manchester. Because you must attend in person, you plan the timing alongside any visa you need to travel to the UK.
Cost and cancellation
The GMC fee for PLAB 2 is around £1,036 for exams from 2026, paid at the time of booking. Cancellation penalties increase as the exam approaches — losing roughly 10% if you cancel well in advance, rising to the full fee close to the date — so only book once you are confident of the timing.
- GMC PLAB 2 fee: approximately £1,036 as of 2026 (confirm the current figure before booking).
Source: GMC — Fees for doctors
Booking and typical wait
There is no fixed PLAB 2 calendar. The GMC releases booking slots on an unpredictable schedule through GMC Online, and they are taken quickly. Candidates commonly plan several months ahead — often three to six months, sometimes longer — to secure a convenient slot, but this is a directional planning range rather than a GMC-published waiting time.
Source: GMC — booking a PLAB 2 place
Global Doctor Career Map — a personalised roadmap across all three routes
A personalised written roadmap for your specialty and country: remote/telemedicine income now, the UK route (PLAB/GMC timeline and costs) and the GCC route (Prometric/DataFlow timeline and costs) — with a stage-by-stage plan you can work through. Delivered in 48 hours, money-back guarantee. It is an education and career-document service only: we never charge a fee for finding you work.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I sit PLAB 2?+
PLAB 2 is held only at the GMC’s clinical assessment centre in Manchester, UK. There are no overseas PLAB 2 centres, so every candidate travels to the UK to take it — plan any visa you need around your exam date.
How much does PLAB 2 cost in 2026?+
The GMC fee is approximately £1,036 for exams from 2026, paid when you book. Fees are revised periodically, so confirm the current amount on the GMC fees page before you book.
How long is the wait for a PLAB 2 slot?+
The GMC does not publish a fixed waiting time. Slots are released through the year and fill quickly, so many candidates plan three to six months ahead. Treat this as a planning estimate and book as soon as a suitable slot appears.
Earn as a telemedicine doctor while you plan your move
GeraClinic is a telemedicine platform where licensed doctors consult patients online. It is free to apply, with no signup or monthly fees — you set your own hours and fee and keep 85% of every consultation while you work through the pathway above.