PLAB
The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board test, or the PLAB test, helps us to make sure doctors who qualified abroad have the right knowledge and skills to practise medicine in the UK. There are two parts to the PLAB test. There are two parts to the test. Part 1 is a written multiple choice exam, with 180 single best answer questions. Part 2 is a practical objective structured clinical exam, known as an OSCE. You’ll need to pass both parts before you can apply for registration with a licence to practise medicine in the UK. Before you can take the PLAB test, you’ll need to set up a GMC Online account.
PLAB 1 is a written exam made up of 180 multiple choice questions which you must answer within three hours. Each starts with a short scenario followed by a question. You need to choose the right answer out of the five possible answers given. You can sit part 1 in a number of countries, as well as in the UK.
PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical exam. It’s made up of 18 scenarios, each lasting eight minutes and aims to reflect real life settings including a mock consultation or an acute ward. Part 2 tests run throughout the year at our clinical assessment centre.
Once you’ve passed both parts, you can apply for registration with a licence to practise. Your application must be approved within two years of passing part 2 of the test. Once we approve your application and you gain registration you can work as a doctor in the UK.
PLAB Blueprint is used for the syllabus of PLAB. In the blueprint, the knowledge section lists the range of presentations and conditions that we test. These match those typically faced by doctors starting the second year of the Foundation Programme training.
Before you read the blueprint, you’ll find it helpful to familiarise yourself with the four domains in our core guidance, Good medical practice. You’ll find all four domains are covered by the blueprint because we expect PLAB candidates to know and be able to apply all the principles in Good medical practice.
The blueprint will tell you what you can expect to be covered by the questions in part 1, or the scenarios or stations in part 2. But it won’t tell you what questions or scenarios you will face on the day you take the tests. PLAB blue print User Guide.
For more information
https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/plab