General
How do I provide evidence of my English language proficiency?
There are three acceptable forms of evidence of English language proficiency for an eligibility application.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
When do I need to provide evidence of my English language proficiency?
You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency on your eligibility application form, so this must be ready and fully meet our requirements at the time you apply.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Are there any exceptions or exemptions from providing English language proficiency?
No. You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency regardless of your citizenship, nationality, GMC registration status, country of medical school, or otherwise. This is a requirement which forms part of the national person specification for entry to foundation training in the UK.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Why are the UKFPO’s requirements for English language proficiency higher than the GMC’s?
It is important to remember that the UKFPO and the General Medical Council (GMC) are not the same organisation and may have differing requirements for demonstrating your English language proficiency.
The UKFPO has set the level for English language proficiency to be in line with the expectations of a doctor operating at F1 level and to meet the national F1 person specification.
Will the UKFPO accept any other evidence of English language proficiency?
No. The UKFPO does not accept any other form of evidence of English language proficiency apart from those specifically outlined within the eligibility applicant guidance.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Can I submit an eligibility application and provide IELTS/OET results later?
No. You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency on your eligibility application form, so this must be ready and fully meet our requirements at the time you apply. We are unable to offer extensions to deadlines – this is to ensure that we are able to apply consistency and uphold a fair and transparent process for all applicants.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what is required.
I have taken the IELTS/OET examination on more than one occasion; can I use either examination?
The certificate you use for your UKFP eligibility application does not have to be from your most recent sitting. You can use any one certificate which meets the requirements.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Will my IELTS/OET result be accepted?
You must sit the IELTS/OET exam before the eligibility application window opens, and the certificate must be less than 2 years old on the date the foundation programme begins.
The UKFPO does not consider the date your results are released for determining the validity of the certificate; however, the UKFPO must be able to view and verify your results within the application window. We encourage prospective applicants to sit their IELTS/OET exams in plenty of time to account for this.
Your IELTS TRF number or OET candidate number and your test date are used to look up and verify your test results, and when we do this, the exam providers only show us the date of examination sitting.
For IELTS One Skill Retakes, the original test and the One Skill Retake must have been taken before the eligibility application window opens, and the certificate must be less than 2 years old on the date the foundation programme begins.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
IELTS
What type(s) of IELTS will the UKFPO accept?
The UKFPO accepts the Academic and UKVI (Academic) versions of the IELTS test.
The UKFPO does not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator versions of the test.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
What delivery methods of IELTS are accepted?
Paper, computer and online delivery methods of the IELTS Academic and UKVI (Academic) test are accepted.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Does the UKFPO accept IELTS One Skill Retake?
Yes. If you would like the UKFPO to consider your One Skill Retake score, you must ensure that the TRF number you provide on your eligibility application form relates to your One Skill Retake. Ensure that this is correct as it cannot be changed or updated after your application has been submitted.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Do I need to send a physical copy of my IELTS certificate via post?
No. Do not send copies of any physical documents via post. These are not required as the UKFPO has the ability to verify IELTS results online. Please ensure you have followed the guidance and include all the correct information on your application form. We regret that we will be unable to return physical documents sent via post.
OET
What type(s) of OET will the UKFPO accept?
The UKFPO accepts the Medicine version of the OET test.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
What delivery modes of OET are accepted?
OET Test on Paper, OET Test on Computer and OET@Home delivery modes of the Medicine version of the test are all accepted.
Refer to the English language proficiency guidance which is relevant to the recruitment year you are applying to for full details of what can be accepted.
Can I use results from multiple sittings of the test?
No. You cannot combine sittings to achieve the required score. Your OET scores must have been achieved from one test administration – the UKFPO does not accept ‘clubbing’ of OET scores from multiple sittings.
Does the UKFPO accept single sub-test resits for OET?
No. You cannot combine sittings to achieve the required score. Your OET scores must have been achieved from one test administration – the UKFPO does not accept single sub-test resits for OET.
Do I need to send a physical copy of my OET certificate via post?
No. Do not send copies of any physical documents via post. These are not required as the UKFPO has the ability to verify OET results online. Please ensure you have followed the guidance and include all the correct information on your application form. We regret that we will be unable to return physical documents sent via post.