Regulating doctors, ensuring good medical practice

English language requirements

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

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:

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 each of the areas tested (speaking, listening, reading and writing).
  • That you obtained these scores in a single sitting of the test.

IELTS is administered by the British Council, IDP Education Australia and Cambridge ESOL, 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.

and

  • Evidence that you have successfully completed a postgraduate course of study, where all elements of the course of study, including clinical activities, were taught and examined solely in English, within the past two years.

or

  • A reference from an employer or your tutor or lecturer on a postgraduate course of study from a country where English is the first and native language. The reference must cover at least three months full time employment or study within the last two years. (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. However, 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 consider alternative evidence. The table also identifies the alternative evidence that will be required.

Please note that we will not accept English language evidence issued by Al-Fateh University in Libya (formerly known as the University of Tripoli).

Table 1: Alternative evidence requirements

Circumstances Evidence requirements

You hold a primary medical qualification which was taught and examined solely in English

and

you sat your final examination during the twelve months before applying for registration or to sit Part 1 of the PLAB test.

An original letter or certificate from the institution where you qualified that confirms

  1. a) All elements of the course, including clinical activities, were taught and examined solely in English
  2. b) At least 75% of any clinical interaction, including personal contact with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals, which took place as part of the course of study, was conducted in English
  3. c) The date you passed your final examination

And

A statement that you have not taken the IELTS test before (there is a form for completion click here).

You hold a primary medical qualification which was taught and examined solely in English

and

you sat your final examination more than 12 months before applying for registration or to sit Part 1 of the PLAB test

and

you have been practising in a country where the first and native language is English.

Please note that we do not accept evidence of experience in countries where English is an official language.

An original letter or certificate from the institution where you qualified that confirms

  1. a) All elements of the course, including clinical activities, were taught and examined solely in English
  2. b) At least 75% of any clinical interaction, including personal contact with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals, which took place as part of the course of study, was conducted in English
  3. c) The date you passed your final examination

and

An original 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

Original references from your employers covering your practice over 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 (please download and complete the IELTS declaration).
You are moving to the UK from an English speaking country where you took an English examination to obtain registration with the medical regulatory authority in that country.

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

and

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

and

Original references from your employers for the last two years, outlining your English language capability.

and

A statement that you have not taken the IELTS test before (please download and complete the IELTS declaration).

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

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 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 (AEL)
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3AW

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