What is GMC and why do I need it?
If you are a Doctor looking to work in the UK then you most likely would have heard of the ‘GMC’. Usually you would hear about this whilst looking at the steps you need to take in order to be accepted and able to work in the UK. Understandably, the application process can be confusing - especially if you are in another country or if you have never heard of this term before.
Therefore, we wanted to provide you with a series of blogs to breakdown the GMC steps needed to be undertaken and ensure you complete the full process and necessities required to be a qualified Doctor who has the license to work in the UK.
We wanted to start with the basics so you understand all aspects of the GMC – see below.
What is the GMC?
The GMC (General Medical Council) is the professional public body who oversees the UK’s medical register and issues a valid medical license to all Doctors who plan to legally practice medicine in the UK.
The GMC have a duty to ensure all doctors that obtain a license to practice meet the minimum safety requirements and have the appropriate qualifications to practice medicine within the UK, this registration process allows the GMC to monitor these standards and promote best practice.
To obtain a licence to practice, doctors will be required to follow the registration process, we have broken this down into five clear steps - which are to:
- Check you are eligible
- Complete an application
- Pay a fee
- Provide the required evidence
- Attend an identity check
Some things to consider would be:
• Nationality *
• Qualifications
• Experience
*Now the Brexit transition period has ended, the registration process for some doctors with non-UK qualifications has changed. This follows the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The type of application and evidence needed for registration depends on their medical qualifications, rather than nationality. Nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) no longer benefit from automatic recognition of professional qualifications. This guide provides a brief summary of the key changes for different types of registration. For full information about our routes to registration, please use the GMC’s route finder.
How do I get started?
Before you take your first steps you must be able to provide certain documents and evidence to prove you are eligible to apply for the GMC license. The evidence you will need to provide is:
1. Evidence of English language skills (OET, IELTS or SELR)
If the doctor is relocating from a country where English is not the primary language then they will need to sit and pass an English Language test, in order to be accepted by the GMC. More information on this step can be found here
2. Evidence of primary medical qualification
In order to register with the GMC or to sit a PLAB test, the doctor must have a primary qualification in allopathic medicine which must meet all of the correct criteria.
They can sometimes accept your primary medical qualification as evidence of your knowledge of English.
The evidence needed to be provided for the primary medical qualification can be found here
3. PLAB or postgraduate qualification
The GMC website provides information on all aspects of PLAB and acceptable postgraduate qualifications – click on the below links for a guide on each category:
4. ECFMG verification
In order to be granted your license, your qualifications will need to be verified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). To learn more about this step please click here.
5. Evidence of your fitness to practice (Certificates of good standing and can include references)
A certificate of good standing (CGS) confirms to regulators in other countries that a doctor is in good standing with the GMC. A CGS will show whether, at the time of issuing, the doctor is registered with them and if there are any restrictions on their practice in the UK. For more information click here.
6. Proof of identity (passport or identity card which states your nationality)
All of the above will need to be sent to GMC for you to be considered to progress to the further stages.
The license also requires doctors to pay a fee:
• newly qualified Doctors (within 5 years of obtaining your primary medical qualification) registering for a license to practice as of April 2020, they will pay £156.
• standard licence to practice is £406
• renewing annual registration, then a standard fee of £406 occurs.
Some doctors are eligible for a discount therefore please click on the link below to see if this applies.
See full list of fees from the GMC website here.
We will be publishing our next blog to follow on from this first step, so be sure to check our website and social platforms for it’s release.
