The PLAB test is your gateway to practice medicine in the UK. Applicants who have completed their medical qualifications outside the UK can start their medical practices in the UK only after qualifying for the PLAB exam.
As a rule by law, all practising doctors in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), UK. Foreign nationals who wish to work as a doctor in the UK but did not pursue their medical degree in the UK, EEA or Switzerland are required to prove their ability to do so by qualifying for the PLAB exam.
The General Medical Council (GMC) UK conducts the PLAB exam to determine whether the applicants for the exam have the right knowledge and skill set to practice medicine in the UK. There are two parts of the PLAB exam namely PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. You need to clear both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams to be able to register and get a license to practise medicine in the UK. Successful test takers can register themselves with GMC UK and work in the NHS.
PLAB Exam 2026 Highlights
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Country Accepting the PLAB Exam |
UK |
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PLAB Exam Types |
2 parts, PLAB 1and PLAB 2 |
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PLAB Exam Conducting Body |
General Medical Council (GMC), UK |
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PLAB Exam Dates Availability |
· PLAB 1 dates are available only 4 times a year. · PLAB 2 dates are available throughout the year, but candidates need to qualify for PLAB 1 before taking PLAB 2. |
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PLAB Exam Official Website |
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PLAB 1 is a multiple choice questions-based applied knowledge test (AKT) that consists of 180 unique questions. PLAB 1 aims to assess your ability to use your knowledge for the care of patients and not your ability to remember facts and book lessons.
The PLAB 1 test must be attempted and completed by the candidates within a span of 3 hours. Every question in PLAB 1 starts with a scenario followed by a MCQ based on that scenario.
Questions Asked in PLAB 1 Exam: The questions in PLAB 1 are related to the current best medical practices in the UK and the equipment used routinely in the UK. Candidates will be required to answer these questions based on the established facts and not on the basis of their local arrangements.
PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) and involves simulated or real clinical conditions aimed at assessing the clinical skills of the candidates such as history taking, physical examination, diagnosis and counselling.
The PLAB 2 exam consists of 16 scenarios, each of which lasts for 8 minutes and reflects real-life settings, mock consultations or acute wards. Unlike the PLAB 1 exam, dates for the PLAB 2 exam remain available throughout the year.
PLAB 2 can be taken at two of the GMC Assessment Centres in Manchester, UK.
PLAB exam dates differ for both PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. PLAB 1 exam dates are available 4 times a year; in the months of February, May, August and November.
The upcoming PLAB 1 dates are 12 Feb 2026 and 21 May 2026.
Note:- The PLAB 1 exam dates are closed 6 weeks before the actual exam date for international test takers.
Candidates must meet the following requirements to be able to sit in the PLAB exam:
· A confirmation of the completion of a previous graduation degree and that the student has passed his/her final exams.
· Your Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) must be in allopathic medicine awarded by an institution listed in the “World Directory of Medical Schools” and is currently accepted by GMC. Degrees taken entirely virtually (or via online mode) are not acceptable.
· Fluency in English language must be proven by inserting your tests and results details in the “My Tests” section of the online GMC portal. These details will then be verified with the respective exam conducting bodies within 2 days. You can take either of the following English exams:
· IELTS: Only IELTS Academics is accepted to register for the PLAB 1 exam and not IELTS Indicator or IELTS Online tests. You must score an overall IELTS score of 7.5 with no less than 7.0 in each section. Note - it is advisable that students achieve the desired marks within the same test as the marks obtained after one-skill retake are not acceptable for PLAB exam.
· OET: OET on Paper, OET on Computer and OET at Home are the accepted forms of OET Exams for the PLAB 1 exam. Although, one must take the medicine version of the test. Candidates must aim to receive at least grade B in each section of the exam within one sitting.
After fulfilling the above requirements, one can finish setting up their GMC account and book a place/slot for the PLAB exam.
