Becoming a UK Doctor
All the information international doctors will need about becoming a UK doctor.
All the information international doctors will need about becoming a UK doctor.
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BECOMING A<br />
<strong>UK</strong> DOCTOR
Are you a passionate doctor who<br />
is keen to develop your medical<br />
expertise in a country renound for its<br />
national health service?<br />
If so, you have come to the right place.<br />
Introduction<br />
Drake Medox are dedicated to excellence in<br />
supporting overseas doctors to find the best<br />
and most suitable jobs in prestigious healthcare<br />
organisations in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
We have successfully placed over 15,000<br />
healthcare professionals from around the world<br />
into rewarding careers in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
We offer free expert recruitment advice to help<br />
you through every step of what can be a daunting<br />
process offer guidance for every step of the way,<br />
including; preparing yourself for job interviews,<br />
GMC (General Medical Council) registration, visa<br />
application as well as providing ongoing support<br />
throughout your employment here in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
2
Contents<br />
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2<br />
The process of becoming a <strong>UK</strong> registered <strong>Doctor</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4<br />
PLAB Route to GMC Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
Primary Medical Qualification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5<br />
English Language Proficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Booking a PLAB 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Booking a PLAB 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7<br />
Other Routes to GMC Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Acceptable Postgraduate Qualification (PGQ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Medical Training Initiative (MTI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Living and working in the <strong>UK</strong> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
<strong>UK</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong>’s Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10<br />
Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11<br />
National Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
Opening a Bank Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12<br />
Accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13<br />
3
The process of becoming a<br />
<strong>UK</strong> registered <strong>Doctor</strong><br />
As well as a licence to practise, you must register<br />
with the Gneral Medical Council (GMC) in<br />
order to work as a <strong>Doctor</strong> in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
There are a few different routes you can take to<br />
register with the GMC;<br />
1. PLAB - The PLAB test is for doctors who<br />
have qualified overseas and wish to practise<br />
medicine in the <strong>UK</strong> under limited registration.<br />
The test assesses your ability, as a doctor, to<br />
work safely as a senior house officer (SHO) in<br />
a <strong>UK</strong> NHS hospital.<br />
2. PGQ - Some Postgraduate Qualifications are<br />
accepted by the GMC as evidence of your<br />
skills and experience without undergoing the<br />
PLAB tests.<br />
3. MTI - The Medical Training Initiative is a<br />
scheme that allows international doctors to<br />
work for a maximum of 24 months in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
4
PLAB Route to GMC Registration<br />
BECOMING A GMC REGISTERED DOCTOR - PLAB TEST ROUTE<br />
<strong>Becoming</strong> a <strong>UK</strong> GMC fully registered doctor<br />
through PLAB test routes<br />
IN<br />
<strong>UK</strong><br />
English proficiency<br />
PLAB Test Part 1<br />
Visitor visa to <strong>UK</strong><br />
PLAB Test Part 2<br />
ID check with GMC<br />
GMC Application<br />
Reputable Recruiter<br />
Employment – Job Offer<br />
Pre-Employment Checks<br />
Sponsorship<br />
<strong>UK</strong>VI / Visa<br />
Travel to <strong>UK</strong><br />
Full GMC Registration<br />
Revalidation<br />
Primary Medical Qualification<br />
International doctors applying for full registration with a licence to practice need to have their<br />
primary medical qualification independently verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign<br />
Medical Graduates (ECFMG) through their online system Electronic Portfolio of International<br />
Credentials (EPIC).<br />
5
6
PLAB Route to GMC Registration (continued)<br />
English Language Proficiency<br />
Before you can take the PLAB 1 exam, you need<br />
to prove that you have the necessary knowledge<br />
of English to practise safely in the <strong>UK</strong>. You can<br />
use IELTS certificate, OET certificate or Acceptable<br />
Primary Medical Qualification.<br />
• IELTS certificate must have at least 7.0 in<br />
each testing area (speaking, reading, writing<br />
and listening) and an overall score of 7.5.<br />
IELTS fee is £160 - £200.<br />
• OET certificate must show you got at least<br />
a grade ‘B’ in each testing area (speaking,<br />
listening, reading and writing). The fee for the<br />
OET is £332.<br />
• Acceptable Primary Medical Qualification<br />
which is less than 2 years old when you apply<br />
for registration and was taught and examined<br />
solely in English.<br />
Booking a PLAB 1<br />
You will need to create a GMC Online account in<br />
order to book PLAB 1 exam. PLAB 1 is a 3-hour<br />
written exam comprised of 180 multiple choice<br />
questions with the aim to test your ability to apply<br />
your knowledge for the care of patients.<br />
The PLAB 1 test is held 4 times a year in the <strong>UK</strong>;<br />
March, June, September and November. At a<br />
number of overseas venues, PLAB 1 is run twice a<br />
year in March and November by the British Council.<br />
You can prepare for PLAB 1 by using the blueprint<br />
which covers all the topics and skills needed to<br />
pass the test.<br />
It is also a good idea to check out Good Medical<br />
Practice which sets out the professional values and<br />
behaviours when you take the exam and when you<br />
medically practise in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
The fee for PLAB 1 is £230.<br />
Booking a PLAB 2<br />
PLAB 2 is an objective structured clinical exam<br />
(OSCE) made up of 18 scenarios, each with a<br />
duration of 8 minutes. The exam is to test your ability<br />
to apply knowledge to the care of patients through<br />
real life settings including a mock consultation or<br />
an acute ward.<br />
Similarly to PLAB 1, you can use the blueprint and<br />
Good Medical Practice to prepare for PLAB 2.<br />
Most international doctors choose to take an<br />
independent PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 course which can<br />
set the cost up to £700.<br />
PLAB 2 must be taken in the <strong>UK</strong>, therefore, you<br />
shall need to apply for a visitor visa to come to the<br />
<strong>UK</strong> for it.<br />
The fee for PLAB 2 is £840.<br />
7
Other Routes to GMC Registration<br />
BECOMING A GMC REGISTERED DOCTOR - OTHER ROUTES<br />
<strong>Becoming</strong> a <strong>UK</strong> GMC fully registered doctor<br />
through other routes<br />
Acceptable PostGrad<br />
qualifications, or<br />
GMC sponsored by employers<br />
on approved sponsors list.<br />
Proof of English competency<br />
• IELTS/OET<br />
• Primary Medical qualification in English<br />
• Reference from <strong>UK</strong> Employers<br />
• <strong>UK</strong> Job Offer from designated body<br />
GMC Application<br />
Reputable Recruiter<br />
Employment – Job Offer<br />
Pre-Employment Checks<br />
Sponsorship<br />
<strong>UK</strong>VI / Visa<br />
Travel to <strong>UK</strong><br />
ID check with GMC<br />
Full GMC Registration<br />
Revalidation<br />
Acceptable Postgraduate Qualification (PGQ)<br />
The GMC accepts the evidence of your knowledge, skills and experience without PLAB test if you have<br />
acceptable postgraduate qualifications. Click on the button below for a list of acceptable PGQs.<br />
Medical Training Initiative (MTI)<br />
MTI stands for Medical Training Initiative which is a national scheme designed to allow a small number<br />
of doctors from overseas to work and benefit from training and development in NHS services for a<br />
maximum of 24 months before returning to their home countries.<br />
8
MEDICAL TRAINING INITIATIVE (MTI) PATHWAY<br />
01<br />
International Medical Graduate (IMG) submits<br />
MTI application to Royal College<br />
02<br />
Application approved<br />
03<br />
Job Offer via reputable recruiter<br />
04<br />
Royal College liaises with Trust on paperwork<br />
for application<br />
05<br />
Paperwork from Trust is approved and IMG<br />
eligibility is confirmed<br />
06<br />
Royal College provides sponsorship for GMC<br />
registration<br />
07<br />
GMC<br />
IMG commences GMC registration process<br />
08<br />
GMC application is approved and IMG makes<br />
appointment for GMC ID check<br />
09<br />
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)<br />
provides MTI Tier 5 Visa sponsorship<br />
10<br />
IMG applies for and receives Tier 5 Visa<br />
11<br />
Travel to the <strong>UK</strong><br />
12<br />
ID check with GMC<br />
13<br />
Full GMC registration<br />
Revalidation<br />
9
Living and working in the <strong>UK</strong><br />
<strong>UK</strong> <strong>Doctor</strong>’s Pay<br />
LEVELS OF NON-TRAINING DOCTORS AND PAY IN THE <strong>UK</strong><br />
Medical School<br />
Minimum 4 years of<br />
PostGrad training<br />
FY1<br />
Foundation Year 1<br />
£23,553 pa - £26,493 pa<br />
SD<br />
Specialty <strong>Doctor</strong><br />
£39,060 pa - £72,840 pa<br />
FY2<br />
Foundation Year 2<br />
£29,213 pa - £33,034 pa<br />
ST1-2<br />
Speciality Registrar<br />
£31,217 pa - £41,300 pa<br />
ST3+<br />
Speciality Registrar<br />
£31,217 pa - £49,086 pa<br />
Certificate of Completion<br />
of Training (CCT)<br />
C<br />
Consultant<br />
£77,913 pa - £105,042 pa<br />
PLEASE NOTE: In addition to basic salary, doctors will be paid an additional supplement depending<br />
on their working pattern. For more information, please email info@drakemedox.co.uk<br />
10
Tax<br />
How much Income Tax you pay in each tax year depends on:<br />
• How much of your income is above your Personal Allowance<br />
• How much of your income falls within each tax band<br />
Band Taxable Income Tax Rate<br />
Personal Allowance Up to £11,850 0%<br />
Basic Rate £11,851 to £46,350 20%<br />
Higher Rate £46,351 to £150,000 40%<br />
Additional Rate Over £150,000 45%<br />
11
National Insurance<br />
Everyone who works in the <strong>UK</strong> needs to have<br />
National Insurance (NI) Number which is a unique<br />
personal reference number for all your tax/<br />
employment affairs.<br />
The amount of National Insurance you pay<br />
depends on your employment status and how<br />
much you earn.<br />
You can use the online calculator to estimate how<br />
much tax and NI contribution you need to pay.<br />
Your NI number might be available on the back<br />
of your Biometric Residence Permit (2 letters, 6<br />
numbers, 1 letter).<br />
If you do not have an NI number on the Biometric<br />
Residence Permit, you must apply for one when<br />
you are in the <strong>UK</strong> with the right to work. You will<br />
need to contact the National Insurance Number<br />
Application line on 0800 141 2075 from Monday<br />
to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM.<br />
Opening a Bank Account<br />
The majority of banks in the <strong>UK</strong> request the<br />
following information when processing your<br />
application for opening a bank account:<br />
1. Passport<br />
2. Biometric Resident Permit (BRP): You need<br />
to collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving<br />
in the <strong>UK</strong> or before your vignette expires,<br />
whichever is later.<br />
3. Proof of your address in the <strong>UK</strong>, such<br />
as signed tenancy agreement from your<br />
landlord or a hospital accommodation letter<br />
from within the last 3 months.<br />
4. A confirmation letter of employment from<br />
your employer which shows your name,<br />
date of birth, job title, contract start date and<br />
end date, type of contract and your current<br />
address in the <strong>UK</strong>.<br />
Your bank card (debit card) will normally be posted<br />
to you within few days after your bank account is<br />
opened. You can also use their online banking<br />
service or mobile apps to check your account<br />
balance, transfer money and pay bills.<br />
12
Accommodation<br />
There are plenty of property agencies in the <strong>UK</strong>,<br />
inculding a couple of popular property websites<br />
such as rightmove.co.uk and zoopla.co.uk.<br />
Click on the buttons below to visit the sites:<br />
When you choose accommodation, it is a good<br />
idea to take into consideration the distance and<br />
travel time between the place and your work site.<br />
In <strong>UK</strong>, the average commuting time is normally<br />
between 30 minutes and 1 hour.<br />
In order to support your accommodation<br />
application, you will need a confirmation letter of<br />
employment from your employer to prove that<br />
you have a job and can afford the monthly rent.<br />
13
CONTACT US<br />
If you are ready to take your medical career to the next level<br />
and relocate to the <strong>UK</strong>, please get in touch.<br />
+44 207 484 0820<br />
info@drakemedox.co.uk<br />
facebook.com/DrakeMedoxMedical<br />
linkedin.com/company/drake-medox-uk-medical-division<br />
www.drakemedox.co.uk