About the MLA content map

Doctors entering medical practice in the UK must be capable of delivering safe care across a range of clinical scenarios—from the routine management of patients with common conditions, to handling complex and uncertain situations.

This breadth of practice is reflected in three themes that underpin the content map and inform the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for entry to UK practice.

Readiness for safe practice

The ability to competently manage emergencies and acute health issues, as well as common chronic, and uncommon but critical, health and wellbeing concerns across diverse settings in the UK healthcare system.

Managing uncertainty

The ability to navigate uncertainty in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, while knowing when and how to seek help, escalate care and make informed clinical decisions.

Delivering holistic, person-centred care

Actively listening and supporting patient decision making; recognising the impact of comorbidities, frailty and social context; working effectively and professionally in multi-professional and multi-disciplinary teams across various settings to provide holistic patient care, guided by the ethical framework in Good medical practice. 

In Outcomes for graduates, we outline what all newly qualified graduates of UK medical schools must know and be able to do to practise safely as doctors in the UK Foundation Programme. The three themes that underpin, and thread through, the MLA content map are informed by the overarching outcome of Outcomes for graduates:

‘Medical students are tomorrow’s doctors. In accordance with Good medical practice, newly qualified doctors must make the care of patients their first concern, apply their knowledge and skills in a competent, ethical and professional manner and taking responsibility for their own actions in complex and uncertain situations’.

This overarching outcome applies equally to international doctors coming to work in the UK and to doctors entering the first year of Foundation Programme training after graduating from UK medical schools.

The content map outlines the core knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of doctors entering UK practice. It’s informed by and aligned with the following:

• Good medical practice: This sets out the principles, values, and standards of professional behaviour expected of all doctors registered with the GMC. Doctors must recognise that patients are individuals with diverse needs who deserve respect. They must consider contextual factors and work in partnership with patients to assess their needs and priorities in a non-discriminatory way.
• Outcomes for graduates: These establish mandatory outcomes aligned with the professional standards set out in Good medical practice. While the content map does not fully replicate these outcomes – some aspects cannot be assessed via the AKT or a CPSA (eg knowledge of how the UK health service operates, or maintaining a professional development portfolio) – it’s important to note that, in order to graduate from a UK medical school, students must pass the MLA and meet all the academic requirements set by their university.
• Generic professional capabilities framework: This defines the essential capabilities needed for safe, effective and high-quality medical care in the UK, reflecting the professional standards in Good medical practice.
• Relevant parts of the UK Foundation Programme curriculum: These reflect scenarios typically encountered by doctors working in the UK Foundation Programme.
• Core body of clinical knowledge, expected at this stage of training: This is presented through clinical presentations and conditions, providing a framework of what doctors sitting an MLA assessment are expected to understand and apply in practice.

The MLA content map is organised into six domains:

• Domain 1 – Areas of clinical practice
• Domain 2 – Areas of professional knowledge
• Domain 3 – Clinical and professional capabilities
• Domain 4 – Practical skills and procedures
• Domain 5 – Patient presentations
• Domain 6 – Conditions (note: this list is not exhaustive but highlights core conditions)

Each domain includes a description of its purpose and is designed to be interconnected rather than standalone. Candidates are encouraged to explore and consider relationships across domains.

For example, acute coronary syndromes comprise a group of conditions affecting the cardiovascular system. Candidates are expected to:

• understand the anatomy of the coronary arteries
• interpret clinical signs and symptoms in the context of the patient’s presentation
• formulate a prioritised differential diagnosis to guide appropriate management.

Where relevant, the domains reference our professional standards, including Good medical practice, as well as our education standards, outcomes and guidance. This helps candidates and assessment providers understand the context and intent behind the content.

We are committed to keeping the MLA content map up to date with timely revisions, ensuring it continues to reflect the core knowledge, skills and behaviours required by doctors new to medical practice in the UK, at their relevant point of entry to the register.