Medical schools
Medical schools must make sure their students get the education that meets our standards. We monitor and check to make sure these standards are maintained.
How we quality assure
We’re responsible for assuring the quality of education and training and identifying where our standards are not being met. Our quality assurance framework shows how we do this and outlines how we interact with education and training organisations. These organisations all have their own quality management processes, which include monitoring, data collection and driving improvements. We're currently reviewing our quality assurance process.
Medical licensing assessment
We’re introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) which will test the core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practise safely in the UK. From 2023, international medical students will sit the MLA instead of PLAB. And UK medical students graduating in the academic year 2023-24 will need to pass the MLA.
Postgraduate bodies
Postgraduate bodies manage the delivery of postgraduate training. They must demonstrate to us that they are meeting our standards. Postgraduate bodies include: Heath Education England and its local offices, NHS Education for Scotland, Health Education and Improvement Wales, and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency.
Local education providers
Trainees receive training at approved locations including, hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries. Local education providers must meet our standards.
Royal colleges and faculties
The UK’s medical royal colleges and faculties set the curricula for specialty and GP training. Our role includes approving curricula for each training programme.
