Are you eligible for an additional PLAB 2 attempt?

If you’ve had four failed attempts at either PLAB 1 or 2, you’ll need to make an application if you wish to sit the exam for the fifth and final time.

When can you apply for an additional attempt?

You can’t apply for an additional attempt immediately after your fourth fail. You’ll need to complete at least 12 months of additional learning and development after your fourth failed attempt, for us to consider any application for an additional fifth attempt. This period is intended for remedial learning and professional development to give you the best chance of success in any final, exceptional attempt.

What is the purpose of our requirements for an additional attempt?

When a candidate hasn’t met our standards in the exam on four separate occasions, it indicates that their skills and knowledge aren’t currently at the level we’d expect of a doctor seeking registration in the UK.

Therefore, our requirements are designed to give candidates an appropriate opportunity to develop their medical skills and knowledge so that they are sufficiently prepared to take their final attempt.

To provide us with assurance that a candidate has appropriately developed their knowledge and skills, we therefore require evidence to demonstrate work or study that is likely to increase their knowledge and skills as a doctor.

How can you demonstrate you’re eligible for an additional attempt?

Following your fourth failed attempt, you need to demonstrate that you’ve undertaken further learning to improve your medical knowledge and clinical skills. You can evidence this by completion of either:

• 12 months of clinical practice
• a relevant postgraduate qualification.

The above must be evidenced within the application and meet our criteria for us to consider granting an additional attempt.

Our evidence suggests that experience in other roles or courses in a clinical environment, or honorary posts involving observation (such as clinical attachments, shadowing, observerships and clerkships), does not provide the right level of assurance to either us or candidates.

How to apply for an additional attempt

Using evidence of clinical practice

You should provide fully completed structured report form reports from senior doctors responsible for supervising your work during the 12 month period, to show satisfactory completion.

You should also complete the application form and return all documentation to us at plab@gmc-uk.org for our assessment.

Information provided must be verifiable, and demonstrate that:

• Clinical practice involved direct patient care full time (or equivalent part time basis) and was undertaken in an institution that meets the standards for regulation within its jurisdiction.
• Each post was at least two months in duration, and within the last two years before making the application.
• Referees are independent, and include a professional email address. Reports from relatives or individuals with whom you have a personal or financial interest will be rejected.

Using evidence of your post graduate qualification

You need to provide evidence of your postgraduate qualification, including a copy of your certificate from the awarding institution and a copy of the course curriculum.

You should also complete the application form and return it to us along with the evidence to plab@gmc-uk.org for our assessment.

Information provided must be verifiable, and demonstrate that:

• It is a clinical qualification that requires a primary medical degree or other medically relevant degree for entry.
• It has been completed over at least one academic year (or equivalent part time basis), and within the last two years before making the application.
• The qualification is not an Honorary qualification.
• Undertaken in an institution that meets the standards for regulation within its jurisdiction.

What happens if I’m granted an additional attempt?

If you are granted an additional attempt at PLAB 1, you may need to submit valid English language evidence for verification before you are able to book.

If you are granted an additional attempt at PLAB 2, you may need to sit PLAB 1 again if your PLAB 1 validity has expired. This may also mean you have to submit further English language evidence in line with our PLAB 1 eligibility criteria.

What happens if I fail the fifth attempt?

We can’t grant further attempts beyond the fifth and final attempt. If you’ve had five failed attempts at either part of PLAB 1 or 2, you’re no longer eligible to take the test or apply for an additional attempt.