The PLAB exam is a common topic of discussion among all those medical students who wish to practice medicine in the UK. This is especially true for those who have received their medical education from countries other than the UK, EEA, or Switzerland.
Every year, thousands of Indian doctors look forward to practising medicine in the UK while being clueless about the defined process. With no adequate knowledge, students might even have to jump through additional hoops to be able to become a doctor in the UK.
So, to give a clear idea, here is everything you need to know about the PLAB exam.
What is PLAB Exam?
Put simply, the PLAB exam is a two-level medical entrance aptitude exam in the UK.
Like every other country, the UK also has its own system for overseas doctors willing to practice medicine in UK. GMC or General Medical Council, the UK agency which oversees the maintenance of the system and also making of rules, standards, recruitment, and other authorised functions, conducts a test for all those medical graduates who have completed their education from anywhere except the UK, EEA (European Economic Area), and Switzerland.
The exam is used to ensure that the medical aptitude of the graduate is in accordance with the UK’s Health and Medical system requirements. This test is called PLAB or The Professionalism and Linguistic Assessments Board test.
The test is used to ensure that no medical practitioner in the UK serves substandard or ignorant medical assistance to the general public.
Purpose of PLAB Exam
The purpose of the UK’s PLAB exam can be outlined as follows:
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Maintenance of Health and Medical System: GMC is responsible to keep the Health and Medical System of the UK as per the rules and standards that have been devised for the system. In ensuring that all the medical practitioners, who are allowed to be a part of the system, have a basic aptitude in regard to their role, the body ensures that the standards and system are maintained as intended.
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Recruitment of Excellent Talent: It is not possible that all medical students could only be honed in UK, EEA, or Switzerland. However, the system does have a good reputation and remuneration available for the medical practitioners working in the system. The test can be used to recruit excellent and talented medical graduates from around the world into the system.
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Tracking Medical Practitioners: The absence of a tracking system can only lead to chaos. No organisation will be able to properly track the practitioners working for the system without a proper system in place. The test acts as the entry point where medical graduates provide their information and on their successful selection GMC knows who all are now part of their system.
The Base for Licensing: If a medical graduate successfully clears the PLAB exam, GMC can use the performance of the graduate as proof of their medical competency. On the basis of this proof, a practising license can be issued directly to the candidate.
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Overview of PLAB Exam
Overview of PLAB exam presented here summarises all the important and relevant information about the exam:
Parameters |
Description |
Official Name of PLAB |
The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Test |
Stream |
Medical |
Testing Authority |
General Medical Council, UK |
Parent Country |
UK |
Type of Exam |
Aptitude Test |
Exam Duration |
3 hours |
Number of Questions |
180 |
Question Type |
Multiple-Choice |
Total Fees (April 2022 onwards) |
GBP 1153 |
Passing Rate 2021 (PLAB 1) |
74.1% |
Passing Rate 2021 (PLAB 2) |
69.6% |
Other Countries Conducting PLAB |
Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan UAE |
PLAB Exam Dates and Deadlines
PLAB exam dates and deadlines are announced in advance by GMC. This practice allows the agency to have absolute control over the process as well as allow the interested candidates time to prepare and apply for the exam.
PLAB exam dates and deadlines for the year 2022 have been summarised in the table below:
Exam Dates 2022 |
Registration Deadline |
|
UK |
Overseas |
|
February 17, 2022 |
February 3, 2022 |
February 3, 2022 |
May 26, 2022 |
May 12, 2022 |
May 12, 2022 |
August 11, 2022 |
July 28, 2022 |
June 30, 2022 |
November 3, 2022 |
October 20, 2022 |
September 22, 2022 |
PLAB Exam Centres in India
PLAB exam centres in India are among the highest number of overseas locations for the exam. No other country has been allowed this many test centres for conducting the exam.
PLAB 1 Exam Centres in India
PLAB Part 1 exam centres in India include the following cities:
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Bangalore
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Chennai
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Hyderabad
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Kolkata
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Mumbai
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New Delhi
PLAB 2 Exam Centres in India
PLAB Part 2 exam centres in India are not available. The reason is that GMC conducts Part 2 of the exam only in the UK. There are two GMC operated assessment centres set aside in Manchester, UK, for conducting PLAB Part 2 exam.
Eligibility Criteria for PLAB Exam
Eligibility Criteria for the PLAB exam lists all the minimum requirements, or conditions, that an applying medical graduate needs to satisfy to get their application accepted for the test. The eligibility criteria for the PLAB exam require that the applying medical graduate:
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has a primary medical qualification in allopathy.
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the primary medical qualification must have been earned in a duration of three years, with at least 5,500 hours of study involved.
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must have done clinical rotations of acceptable duration as part of the primary qualification.
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clinical rotation must have included exposure to medicine and surgery.
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clinical rotations were overseen or approved by the institution attended.
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clinical rotation formed a part of the overall programme of study.
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evidence of English language knowledge.
GMC accepts the qualification which has been awarded by more than one institution, provided:
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other institution(s) is a part of a recognised twinning programme, OR
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other institution(s) is a recognised campus of other institution(s), OR
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was not possible to complete the qualification at one institution for justifiable reasons.
GMC maintains a World Directory of Medical Schools which include all the institutions whose medical graduates shall be considered for the test. The graduates of unlisted institutions may be accepted if the reason behind exclusion is:
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Country is not recognised by the UN, OR,
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Institution does not exist anymore but the qualification is valid, OR
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Institution does not provide medical education anymore but the qualification is valid.
GMC has a list of institutions whose qualifications are not accepted by the agency due to conflicts in past assessments. No Indian institute has been included in this list.
Note: GMC may time and again issue notifications regarding the change in PLAB eligibility criteria.
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How to Apply for PLAB Exam
Given below are the steps in detail for Indian students to apply for PLAB exam:
Step 1: Open GMC Online Account
PLAB exam application requires candidates to go to the official site of GMC and create an online account on this site. The registration shall generate login credentials that can be used to revisit the site.
Step 2: Provide the Required Details
On the online GMC account, candidates have to provide all the information including personal details, academic background, academic qualifications, medical qualifications, practical training details, etc. The candidates have to ensure that they provide all the required information on the account itself.
Step 3: Get Verified
GMC shall go through the information provided and if the eligibility criteria and other requirements are satisfied they will mark the details and account as verified.
Step 4: Book a Place for PLAB Part 1
Once verification is received, the candidate will book a place for PLAB Part 1 exam. They can choose the countries and the test locations available in those countries at their convenience.
Step 5: Attempt PLAB Exam
Once the application is finalised, the candidate has to prepare for the exam and attempt it on the directed or booked date.
PLAB Exam Fees
PLAB exam fees are announced in advance by GMC just like dates and deadlines. Here is a list of PLAB exam fees announced by GMC for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years:
PLAB Exam Registration Fee |
Fees Amount (GBP) |
|
April 1, 2022 onwards |
April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022 |
|
PLAB Exam Part 1 |
247 |
240 |
PLAB Exam Part 2 |
906 |
879 |
PLAB Exam Cancellation Fee |
Fees Amount (GBP) |
|
April 1, 2022, Onwards |
April 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022 |
|
Part 1: over 42 days before exam |
24.70 |
24 |
Part 1: less than 42 days before exam |
247 |
240 |
Part 2: over 42 days before exam |
90.60 |
87.90 |
Part 2: between 42 and 28 days before exam |
453 |
439.50 |
Part 2: less than 28 days before exam |
906 |
879 |
PLAB Exam Pattern
PLAB conducts the exam in two parts. The applicants have to clear PLAB Part 1 exam to be able to appear for PLAB Part 2 exam.
PLAB Part 1
PLAB Part 1 exam pattern is summarised as:
PLAB Part 1 Exam Pattern Highlights |
Description |
Type of Exam |
Objective |
Type of Questions |
Multiple-choice |
Number of questions |
180 |
Test Duration |
3 hours |
PLAB Part 2
PLAB Part 2 exam pattern can be highlighted as:
PLAB Part 2 Exam Pattern Highlights |
Description |
Type of Exam |
Skill Application; Clinical |
Type of Questions |
Practical Application and Verbal |
Number of questions |
16 scenarios |
Test Duration |
8 minutes per scenario |
PLAB Exam Syllabus
PLAB exam syllabus has not been declared. GMC, however, has clarified the skills tested by the test:
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Topics and skills matching situations faced by doctors starting the second year of UK Foundation Programme Training.
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Data gathering, technical, and assessment skills.
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Clinical management skills, include formulating a diagnosis, explaining something to a patient, and formulating a management plan.
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Interpersonal skills, like how to approach a station, establishing rapport with the patient, use of open and closed questioning, demonstration of professionalism, and understanding of ethical principles.
The exam is no manner an easy feat, however, it gives successful candidates an opportunity to be a part of one of the most reputed and highly qualified health and medical systems. The UK also has amazing remunerations for health professionals However, even in face of these benefits, we urge medical graduates to ensure that they take the decision of finalising their country of medical practice with utmost thought and sincerity. It will determine their whole life and service.
If you find yourselves in need of guidance about the PLAB exam, or about medical practice or education, our study abroad experts can help you. You can connect with them by writing at abroad@collegedekho.com.
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