Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

English language requirements

This webpage sets out our English language requirements for registration with a licence to practise.

Required IELTS scores are changing on 1 October 2010

The IELTS scores required for international medical graduates who wish to book a PLAB test place or apply for registration will change on 1 October 2010.

Read more information about the required IELTS scores changing.

 

Go through the steps on the flowchart below to see how you can provide evidence of your knowledge of English. Click the highlighted text for further information.

Are you a new medical graduate You may satisfy our english language requirements by providing us with alternative evidence Are you moving to the uk from an english speaking country Have you been practising continuously in a country where the first or native language is english

Contents

  1. 1. Who needs to provide evidence of knowledge of the English language?
  2. 2. IELTS
  3. 3. Alternative evidence of knowledge of English
  4. 4. Where to send the information

1. Who needs to provide evidence of knowledge of the English language?

If you are an International Medical Graduate seeking registration with a licence to practise, you must satisfy us of your knowledge of English. The only exceptions, under European law, are:

  • Nationals of member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) other than the UK
  • Swiss nationals who since 1 June 2002 benefit under European law.
  • UK nationals who are exercising their European Community (EC) rights of free movement within the EEA.
  • UK nationals and non-EEA nationals who are married to EEA nationals who are exercising their EC rights of free movement within the EEA.

2. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

To satisfy us that you have the necessary knowledge of English you must submit an original IELTS certificate showing:

  • That you have taken the academic version of the IELTS test.
  • That you have obtained an overall score of 7.0, with minimum scores of 7.0 in speaking and 6.0 in listening, reading and writing.
  • That you obtained these scores in a single sitting of the test.

IELTS is administered by the British Council and IDP Education Australia and is run in over 100 countries. You can find further information at the IELTS website at http://www.ielts.org

IELTS certificates are only valid for two years. Please note that your IELTS test or alternative language evidence must be valid;

  • on the day you sit PLAB Part 1 or
  • if you are sponsored, hold an acceptable postgraduate qualification or are eligible for entry onto the Specialist Register it must be valid when your registration with a licence to practise is granted.

If it is over two years old you must prove to us that you have maintained your English language skills. You can do this by submitting:

  • Your original IELTS certificate showing that you acquired the required scores.

or

  • Evidence that you had your alternative English language evidence accepted by us

and

  • Evidence that you have successfully completed a postgraduate course of study, where the language of instruction and examination is English, within the past two years.

or

  • A reference from a UK employer or your tutor or lecturer on a postgraduate course of study within the last two years covering at least three months full time employment or study. (There is a form for completion click here) (71kb, pdf ).

We will consider whether we can accept this as proof that you have maintained your language skills. If we are not satisfied, we will ask you to take the IELTS test.

3. Alternative Evidence

Under certain circumstances we will consider evidence other than an IELTS certificate. This will not be considered if you have already taken the IELTS test and failed to achieve the required scores. In these circumstances you must retake the IELTS test and achieve the required scores.

Table 1 lays out the circumstances where we will accept alternative evidence. The table also identifies the alternative evidence that will be required.

Table 1: Alternative evidence requirements

 Circumstances Evidence requirements
If you passed your primary medical qualification during the twelve months before applying for registration with a licence to practise or to sit Part 1 of the PLAB test and you graduated from an institution where the language of instruction and examination is English.

An original letter or certificate from the institution where you qualified confirming that the language of instruction and examination is English and the date you passed your final examination.

and

A statement that you have not taken the IELTS test before.

If you received your primary medical qualification more than twelve months before applying for registration with a licence to practise or to sit Part 1 of the PLAB test.

And you have been working in a country where the first and native language is English. We do not accept evidence from experience in countries where English is an official language.

An original letter or certificate from the institution where you qualified, confirming that the language of instruction and examination is English.

and

A Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) from the medical regulatory authority in the country where you have been practising covering your work experience for the last two years.

and

References from your employers for the last two years, outlining your English language capability. (There is a form for completion click here (71kb, pdf)).


and

A statement that you have not taken the IELTS test before.
If you are moving to the UK from an English speaking country where you took an English examination to obtain registration or a licence to practise with the medical regulatory authority.

 A Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) from the medical regulatory authority in the country where you have been practising.

and

The English Language test certificate used for the purpose of gaining registration or a licence in that country.

We will also contact the medical regulatory board for further details about the test they use and what their requirements are for that test.

and

Evidence that you have practised in that country for the two years immediately preceding your application for PLAB or registration with a licence to practise.

and

A statement that you have not taken the IELTS test before.

Please note that we will need to confirm this information with our overseas contacts, which can take up to three months. If you require registration with a licence to practise sooner please consider taking the IELTS test.

4. Where to send the information

Please send all documentation to the address below;
General Medical Council
Registration Support Team (IMG)
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW

Please note sending information to our London address will delay your application.