Can I Practice in the UK After MBBS in Georgia? PLAB & UKMLA Pathways

Have you planned to have a career in the medical field in the UK with an MBBS degree from Georgia? For practicing in the UK, the graduates need to register with the General Medical Council (GMC) that needs clearing the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) exam and also providing proficiency in English language through IELTS exam or OET exam. It is also significant to ensure that the Georgian Medical University of the candidates is listed within the World Directory of Medical Schools. 

This article offers an in-depth step-by-step guide to assist graduates in knowing the processes to practice in the UK after completion of MBBS in Georgia, involving PLAB exam or the new UKMLA exam, GMC registration for foreign graduates, procedures of visa, along with job opportunities in the NHS.

Can I practice in UK after MBBS in Georgia?

A direct validity for practicing in the UK after completing an MBBS degree from Georgia is not present; however, it might result in medical practice in the UK if the students clear the PLAB exam and get the registration of the GMC. The procedures to practice in UK holding MBBS in Georgia will include: 

• Step 1: MBBS completion in Georgia- To practice in the UK students should choose a Georgian university which also contains the world accreditation, as the worldwide recognized accreditors are the WHO and the National Medical Commission. 
• Step 2: The PLAB Exam- Students must complete graduation from MBBS in Georgia before taking the PLAB exam (2 parts) which in turn enables them to evaluate their clinical level in addition to their proficiency in the English language.
• Step 3: Registration with GMC- After passing the PLAB exams, students can apply to the GMC for registration so as to practice medicine within the UK.
• Step 4: Application for foundation training- Once registered with the GMC, students may apply to programmes in the UK of foundation training.

Step-by-Step Guide for the PLAB exam

PLAB exam provides an opportunity to the students to get a chance to practise medicine in the UK, and this exam includes Part 1 and Part 2. PLAB 1 is a written test that has a total of 180 multiple-choice questions, and a single best answer is required for each set of questions. On the other hand, PLAB 2 is a structured clinical examination or practical objective examination, also called the Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). Now, look below to know the steps that will give you a guide for taking the PLAB exam.

• The PLAB exam is conducted by the GMC UK to determine whether, for the exam, the applicants have the correct understanding and skill set for practising medicine in the UK. 
• At first, applicants have to set up their “Online GMC Account”, then insert details of their medical qualifications as well as their English language.
• The verification of the details will then be done by the authorities, and they will check if the Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) of students meets the needs of the exam.
• The PMQ of candidates should be within allopathic medicine and is awarded by an institution that is in the list of World Directory of Medical Schools and that is accepted by the GMC presently.
• The IELTS Academic examination is the only one that can be used to register to undergo the PLAB 1 examination and the rest do not qualify as they are IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online examinations. The final average adding up to 7.5 should be reflected in the IELTS with minimum 7.0 in each section. 
• For the OET exams in terms of PLAB 1 exam, the accepted ones are OET On Paper, OET at Home and OET on Computer. 
• Once the above needs are satisfied, a candidate can complete the establishment of a GMC account, and continue by booking a slot to the PLAB exam.
• Candidates can book Part 1, and after clearing Part 1, they can book Part 2 through logging into their online GMC account.
• On having 4 unsuccessful attempts, in case they feel they want to retake the exam they can request an extra attempt (attempt 5). 
• The fifth attempt is the last attempt and it is the last amount of an attempt. Once again, when an applicant fails in the fifth attempt, the applicant will be unable to take the exam in the future. 
• To register for part 2 of the PLAB, the applicants must have successfully passed part 1 of the PLAB. 
• Upon successfully completing both sections of the PLAB exam, a candidate may seek registration with the GMC upon being licensed to practise, and once the registration is correctly granted they are free to practice in the UK.

Step by Step Guide for the new UKMLA exam

The United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) exam or MLA engages in testing the main knowledge, behaviours and skills of doctors who are wanting to practise in the UK. The step-by-step guide for the new UKMLA exam is.

• The MLA includes two components that are Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) as well as Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA).
• The medical students of UK who have graduated in the academic year of 2024-25 need to pass the MLA for their degree, whereas students who complete MBBS in Georgia cannot register for UKMLA directly; instead, they are required to take PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 exams, which are currently aligned with the UKMLA content map.

GMC (General Medical Council) registration process for foreign graduates

It is a rule by law that all practising doctors within the UK should be registered with the GMC, UK. The foreign nationals who want to work as a doctor in the UK but have not pursued their medical degree in the UK have to prove their capability by qualifying for the PLAB exam. The registration process for the foreign graduates in GMC is.

• An online application must be done by candidates for registration through the GMC Online.
• An email will be sent to the candidates for providing evidence.
• Candidates must collect all their documents and scan them into a single PDF file.
• Candidates should email the scanned documents within 28 days after receiving the above email.
• The documents will be assessed by the GMC within 5 days.
• The application will be marked as complete if all the evidence provided is sufficient, or else another email will be received for providing further evidence within 14 days.
• Candidates must attend an ID check if they have not already completed it during their visit to the UK for the PLAB 2 exam.
• Candidates will be granted registration after all the requested evidence has been presented at the ID check.
• Overall, PMQ, Proof of Clinical knowledge and skills, evidence of internship or equivalent experience, English proficiency, certificate of good standing, activities for the past 5 years, and identity check in the UK are the steps for GMC registration for foreign graduates.

Visa requirements for Practice in the UK

If you want to work as a doctor in the UK, you will generally require a Tier 2 (General) visa that is presently called the Health and Care Worker Visa. The requirements for visa in the UK are detailed in the steps below.

• GMC registration after passing the PLAB exam and completion of ID check.
• Employment offer from an NHS trust or another approved UK employer and also the employers must give the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
• Scores of English language proficiency in terms of IELTS/OET during GMC registration (If already cleared for GMC, then no need for repeating it for visa)
• Other documents required: Job offer letter, Passport submission, Academic transcripts, CoS reference number, GMC registration proof, funds proof (if applicable), and test results of Tuberculosis (TB) (if needed for Indian or Georgian students).
• The initial period that is granted for the Health and Care Worker Visa is till 5 years.

Job prospects in the NHS

Are you thinking about the job prospects in the NHS? To work in the UK, individuals can create a stable career in the NHS. The initial job roles are junior doctors with a salary of £32,000–£37,000 (₹38,31,597-₹44,30,284) yearly; however, with experience and specialty training, the salary can increase to £50,000–£70,000+ (₹59,86,871-₹83,81,619). The salary range can vary based on skills and experience, and the salary range for job roles in the NHS is  provided below.

Conclusion

From the overall evaluation, candidates can get a detailed understanding and information related to the steps to practice in the UK after completion of MBBS in Georgia, in terms of GMC registration, PLAB exam, and demonstrating English proficiency through IELTS or OET.

FAQs

Ques: How can individuals become a doctor in the UK after completing MBBS in Georgia?

Ans: Individuals need to pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, complete GMC registration, complete an ID check, get a Health and Care Worker (Skilled Worker) visa and then secure employment in the NHS.

Ques: What are the exam requirements in PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 for Georgian medical graduates?

Ans: PLAB 1 engages in testing the clinical knowledge of applicants with 180 MCQs, however, PLAB 2 is an OSCE exam that assesses the clinical skills, practical application of medical understanding and patient communication.

Ques: What is the GMC registration process for international medical graduates from Georgia?

Ans: Graduates need to verify qualifications, pass the PLAB exam, provide the English proficiency, proof of internship, have a good standing certificate, complete the online application in GMC and attend an ID check for the registration approval.

Ques: What are the Visa requirements for doctors from Georgia to work in the NHS?

Ans: Doctors need a Skilled Worker visa that is sponsored by a licensed UK employer, and have a GMC registration proof, English proficiency, financial maintenance as well as a valid NHS offer.

Ques: What are the opportunities for jobs for Georgian doctors in NHS hospitals?

Ans: After completing PLAB and registration in GMC, Georgian doctors can get jobs related to junior doctors, GP trainees, or specialty trainees with opportunities for career growth in different hospital specialties of the NHS.