Eligibility Applications: GMC Registration and PLAB FAQs

No. However, you will need to have applied for and obtained provisional registration by the start of the programme. You are advised to apply for registration at least three months before the start of the programme. Applicants are advised to have their GMC registration confirmed before the start of their individual induction and shadowing period.  

For further information on applying for registration, please visit the GMC website.

Applicants who have postgraduate experience of working in a clinical setting are advised to liaise with the GMC about their registration status. For example, applicants who have undertaken a 12-month internship may be eligible for full registration with the GMC, rendering them ineligible to apply for foundation training.

We would advise you to use the GMC’s online applicant registration tool to identify which registration status you are eligible for, and for guidance on the steps you need to take.

The definition of an internship is a period of pre-graduate or post-graduate clinical experience prior to having a licence to practise medicine unsupervised. You can check whether your internship is considered acceptable for full or provisional registration on the GMC website.

Before starting work as a foundation doctor, you must have provisional registration with a licence to practise from the GMC. To obtain provisional registration, many applicants qualifying outside the UK are required to pass the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) examinations; PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. These applicants must follow the GMC requirements for PLAB.

Please visit the GMC website for more information on the requirements for gaining provisional registration. If you have any specific queries in relation to PLAB, please contact the GMC directly as PLAB is regulated by the GMC (not the UKFPO).

If you have not yet qualified from medical school:

You must upload evidence related to your GMC registration status by uploading ONE of the following: –

• A copy of the email/letter from the GMC proving you are not required to take PLAB. Please visit the GMC’s website for further information. The onus is on all applicants to determine if they are required to sit PLAB.

• A letter from your medical school dean to confirm that you will qualify by the deadlines specified in the timeline. (This is so that the UKFPO can be assured that you will be able to take PLAB by the deadlines detailed in the Eligibility Applicant Guidance). Please ensure you use the UKFPO template letter which you can download from the UKFPO website.

If you have already qualified from medical school:

You must upload evidence related to your GMC registration status by uploading ONE of the following:

• A copy of the letter from the GMC confirming that you already have provisional registration with a licence to practise.

• A copy of the email/letter from the GMC proving you have successfully passed PLAB 1 or PLAB 2.

• A copy of the email/letter from the GMC proving you are not required to take PLAB.

• A copy of the confirmation email/letter from the GMC showing that you have booked a place to take the PLAB 1 examination by the deadlines specified in the timeline.

For further information about PLAB, please visit the GMC website.

The previous point explains what evidence you must provide concerning PLAB, at the time of submitting your eligibility application.

If, however, you have not sat and passed all of your PLAB exams at the time of your eligibility application (which is often the case), then you will need to continue to update the UKFPO every time you pass or fail a PLAB exam in line with the stated deadlines in the Eligibility Guidance.

To do this after you have submitted your eligibility application, you must forward the email confirmation that you receive from the GMC confirming your pass/fail to helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk.

The GMC email must identify you as the candidate (name and GMC reference number), and specify the exam name (i.e. PLAB 1 or PLAB 2), the date of examination, and whether you passed or failed the exam. This is the only form of proof that we can accept.

Applicants must sit and pass PLAB by the specified deadlines. If they do not, their application will be withdrawn.

You do not need to complete PLAB 1 and/or 2 at the time of making your eligibility application.

There are several deadlines in the Eligibility timeline for completing PLAB which can be found on the UKFPO website. Evidence must be submitted by the deadlines to the UKFPO Helpdesk.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure they have completed both parts of PLAB and have obtained provisional registration by the stated deadlines for programme commencement in August 2025. This process can take several months, it is therefore recommended to begin the process at least 3 months in advance.

If you do not pass either part of PLAB / meet the deadlines / submit evidence stated to obtain provisional registration, your application will be deemed ineligible / withdrawn from the process.

If you have any questions about PLAB please email PLAB@gmc-uk.org. And if you have any questions about the Foundation Programme, please email helpdesk@foundationprogramme.nhs.uk.