- Ensure your qualifications are recognised and verified.
- Meet the GMC's English language requirements.
- Prepare for the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA), if applicable.
- Have adequate insurance or indemnity to practise in the UK, particularly for non-NHS work.
To practise medicine in the UK, you must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and hold a valid licence to practise. It is against the law for a doctor to suggest they hold GMC registration or a licence if they don't.
Applications for registration are made online via the GMC. Find out more on the GMC's page about working as a doctor in the UK.
What you need to know
Is your qualification recognised in the UK?
Before you apply for GMC registration, it's important to check if your qualifications are accepted in the UK. You can only proceed with your application if your qualifications meet GMC criteria.
Your primary medical qualification must also be independently verified. This is done by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), which charges a fee.
Before you start the verification process, check that the GMC will accept your qualification. Even if your qualification is verified, you cannot register if it is not accepted by the GMC.
Proving your English language skills
You will need to prove that your knowledge of English meets GMC requirements, unless you're from - and you've qualified in - a country where English is the first and native language.
The GMC provides information on the different ways you can demonstrate your knowledge of English.
If you're not applying with a relevant European Economic Area (EEA) qualification, you will also need to pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test. Check if you're exempt here.
Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA)
This is a new requirement. From 2024/25 academic year, all UK graduates will need to pass this test. International medical graduates will take the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as part of the PLAB.
The MLA consists of two parts:
- applied knowledge test (AKT)
- clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA).
The PLAB test now covers these components, so no additional assessment is required. Find out more.
What to provide
As well as your qualifications and English skills, you will need to provide:
- a declaration of fitness to practise
- proof of identity
- evidence of good standing from your regulator
- details of your experience over the last five years.
Which type of registration do you need?
Before applying, review the different types of registration to work out which one you need to apply for.
What else to consider
- Adequate indemnity or insurance. It's essential for every doctor to have adequate indemnity or insurance to practise in the UK, which is a requirement of your GMC registration. NHS employers generally provide indemnity for NHS work, but if you plan to work outside the NHS, you will need to make separate arrangements.
- Medical defence organisations, such as the MDU, offer membership that can provide indemnity for non-NHS medical work. The MDU also offers support for doctors facing investigations by the GMC and many other medico-legal challenges.
Find more support and resources in our hub for international medical graduates.
Get MDU support
As an MDU member, you can contact us any time for advice and support with medico-legal and ethical issues.
This page was correct at publication on 03/10/2024. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.