English language proficiency

You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency via one of the methods outlined on this page.

Non-urgent advice: Important

There are no exceptions or exemptions. You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency regardless of your citizenship, nationality, or GMC registration status. This is a requirement which forms part of the national person specification for entry to foundation training in the UK.

The UKFPO does not accept any other form of evidence of English language proficiency apart from those specifically outlined.

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.

You must provide evidence of your English language proficiency as part of your application, so this must be ready at the time you apply. Please note that the application window will not be extended (for example, if there is a delay to IELTS/OET results being issued, or if you are awaiting a re-mark or the result of an appeal), and no additional evidence can be submitted after your application has been submitted or after the application window closes – whichever comes first.

Primary medical qualification (PMQ)

You can use your PMQ as evidence of your English language proficiency if it was gained from a medical school/university in a country where English is the first and native language.

The GMC maintains a list of countries where English is a first and native language – the UKFPO will refer to this list when making decisions about applications.

If you studied at an overseas campus of a UK university, you will be deemed by the UKFPO for the purpose of English language proficiency as having studied in a country where English is the first and native language.

If you gained your PMQ from an overseas campus of a non-UK university, you will be deemed by the UKFPO as having studied in the country where the campus is located.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

If you would like to use your IELTS certificate as evidence of your English language proficiency, you must provide your IELTS Test Report Form (TRF) number on your application form. The UKFPO will verify IELTS results online using the TRF number to check that the result meets requirements.

To be valid for your UKFP 2026 eligibility application, your TRF must show:

  • Scores of 7.5 or higher in every skill (speaking, listening, reading, and writing)
  • The date of the exam was on or after 05 August 2024 – this is to ensure that the result is less than two years old when the programme begins
  • The date of the exam was on or before 01 July 2025 – this is to ensure the result is available for the UKFPO to view and verify, and also to ensure fairness for all applicants during the eligibility checking process
  • The exam was the Academic or the UKVI (Academic) version of the test

Test results are not always immediately available for verification by third parties, so we encourage you to sit your IELTS test at the earliest opportunity.

Paper, computer and online delivery methods of the Academic and UKVI (Academic) test are accepted.

The IELTS TRF you use for your UKFP eligibility application does not have to be your most recent sitting. If you have taken the IELTS test more than once, you can use any one certificate which meets our criteria.

Overall band scores are not considered. If your TRF shows that you have scored below 7.5 in any skill, your IELTS certificate will not be accepted as evidence of your English language proficiency – even if your overall band score is 7.5 or higher.

You can only provide one TRF number on your application form. Ensure this is correct as the UKFPO will use the number you provide to verify your result online and ensure that it meets the requirements.

IELTS General Training certificates and the IELTS Indicator test are not accepted.

More information about IELTS can be found on the IELTS website.

The UKFPO will accept your IELTS One Skill Retake if your TRF shows:

– Scores of 7.5 or higher in every skill (speaking, listening, reading, and writing)
– The date of the initial exam was on or after 05 August 2024
– The date of the One Skill Retake was on or before 01 July 2025
– The exam was the Academic or the UKVI (Academic) version of the test

You can only provide one Test Report Form (TRF) number on your eligibility application form, so you must ensure that the TRF number you provide relates to your One Skill Retake if you would like the UKFPO to consider this. Ensure that this is correct as it cannot be changed or updated after your application has been submitted.

More information about IELTS One Skill Retake can be found on the IELTS website.

Occupational English Test (OET)

If you would like to use your OET certificate as evidence of your English language proficiency, you must provide your OET Candidate Number on your application form. The UKFPO will verify OET results online using the Candidate Number to check that the result meets requirements; however, you must remember to share your results with the UKFPO first.

To be valid for your UKFP 2026 eligibility application, your OET certificate must show:

  • Scores of 400 or higher in every skill (speaking, listening, reading, and writing)
  • The date of the exam was on or after 05 August 2024 – this is to ensure that the result is less than two years old when the programme begins
  • The date of the exam was on or before 01 July 2025 – this is to ensure the result is available for the UKFPO to view and verify, and also to ensure fairness for all applicants during the eligibility checking process
  • The exam was the Medicine version of the test

Test results are not always immediately available for verification by third parties, so we encourage you to sit your OET test at the earliest opportunity.

OET Test on Paper, OET Test on Computer and OET@Home delivery modes of the Medicine version of the test are all accepted.

Your OET scores must have been achieved in one test sitting – the UKFPO does not accept ‘clubbing’ of OET scores from multiple sittings. If you have taken more than one OET test, bear in mind that the UKFPO will only consider the scores from the test which matches the test date you specify on your application form. Ensure that this is correct as it cannot be changed or updated after your application has been submitted.

The OET results you use for your UKFP eligibility application do not have to be your most recent sitting. If you have taken the OET test more than once, you can use the results from any one sitting which meet our criteria.

You must share your OET results with the UKFPO. If you do not, the UKFPO will be unable to verify the result and your application will be deemed ineligible. It is a good idea to share your results before you submit your UKFP eligibility application. Instructions on how to share OET results through your OET online account can be found on the OET website.

The UKFPO does not consider OET letter grades. If your results show that have scored below 400 in any skill, your OET certificate will not be accepted as evidence of your English language proficiency – regardless of your overall letter grade.

More information about the OET can be found on the OET website.

Additional information about evidencing English language proficiency for your UKFP eligibility application

The UKFPO does not accept any other form of evidence of English language proficiency apart from those specifically outlined. Other courses and qualifications including (but not limited to) PhD, Masters or Bachelors’ degrees, Diplomas or Certificates of Higher Education, GCSEs, BTECs, A-Levels, and Duolingo are not considered satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency for entry to foundation training in the UK. The required assurances regarding English language proficiency specifically relate to patient contact and communication.

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. You do not have to use the same evidence of your English language proficiency for both organisations.

The UKFPO’s requirements for satisfactory IELTS and OET certificates are set at a higher level than the requirements for the GMC. The UKFPO has set the level for English language proficiency to be in line with the expectations of a doctor operating at foundation level and to meet the national person specification.

Please do not send physical copies of any documents by post (for example, your IELTS/OET test certificate). These are not required, as the UKFPO can verify IELTS and OET test results online. Simply ensure that you have followed the provided guidance and included all necessary information in your application form. Please note that we are unable to consider or return any physical documents submitted by post.

Frequently Asked Questions on English language proficiency can be found here.