Overseas medical qualifications not accepted by the GMC

We do not accept applications to sit the PLAB test or for registration from graduates of the medical schools listed on this page. Please see below for details of qualifications we do not currently accept.

Contents

1. 1. Background
2. 2. About the unacceptable list
3. 3. Qualifications we do not currently accept
4. 4. Important notes

Background

If you wish to sit the PLAB test or to apply for registration with an overseas qualification you must satisfy us that your qualification meets our acceptability criteria.

About the list of qualifications which are not acceptable

We do not accept qualifications on the unacceptable list for the purposes of sitting the PLAB test or applying for registration. There are a number of reasons why a qualification may be added to the list of qualifications which are not acceptable. These include (but are not limited to):

• where we have information that demonstrates the qualification does not meet our acceptability criteria
• where there are questions about the acceptability of the qualification and, after investigation, we cannot obtain sufficient information to satisfy our selves that the qualification is acceptable
• where we receive information about irregularities relating to the programme of study or the awarding of qualifications and cannot obtain sufficient information to satisfy ourselves that the qualification is acceptable.

If your medical school is on this list you will not be able to apply to sit the PLAB test or for registration. This approach reflects our primary duty to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public in the UK.

A decision to place a medical school on this list is not taken lightly. We only do so following a full investigation and where we conclude that it is the most appropriate course of action in light of our main objective to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public.

Any queries about this list should be sent to: gmc@gmc-uk.org

Qualifications we do not currently accept

1. 1. Belize
   • St Matthew’s University School of Medicine
   • Grace University School of Medicine
2. 2. Cook Islands
   • St Mary’s Medical School
3. 3. Liberia
   • Saint Luke School of Medicine
4. 4. Saint Lucia
   • Spartan Health Sciences University (where course of study commended on or before 31 December 2008)
   • St Mary’s Medical School
5. 5. Senegal
   • St Christopher Ibrahima Mar Diop College of Medicine
6. 6. Seychelles
   • University of Seychelles American Institute of Medicine (USAIM)

Important Notes

Where a qualification or medical school is not included on the list of qualifications which are not acceptable, this does not mean that it will be acceptable. In all cases a qualification is only acceptable where it meets all of our acceptability criteria.

Where we need to undertake an assessment we try to deal with it as quickly as we can. However, assessments can take some time, especially where we need to get information from a third party such as the medical school.

The information on this page is subject to change. You are advised to check these pages regularly for up to date information on qualifications which are not currently acceptable. Any application to sit the PLAB test or for registration will be assessed in line with the legislation, procedures and criteria in place at the time such an application is received.