PLAB changing to UKMLA effective from 2024

The PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board) exams have been the UK’s manner of assessing international medical graduates’ (IMGs) qualifications for several years now. But back in 2015, the GMC announced that PLAB will be replaced by the UKMLA (United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment) which will standardize the medical evaluation system for UK medical students and IMGs. That substitution is planned to happen in 2024 and that’s almost upon us.   

We don’t have concrete information yet about exactly from which month it’ll be available from, but here’s what we know about the UKMLA: 

Terence Stephenson, chair of the GMC, said that the UKMLA would ensure a “straightforward and transparent route” to medical practice in the UK. “We believe it would be fairer and more reassuring for the public for there to be a standard for entry to the register that everyone can rely on. Over time we are confident that the UKMLA will help to drive up standards and that it could become an international benchmark test for entry to medicine,” he said.

He added, “We do think all those becoming doctors in the UK [both national and international applicants] should have demonstrated that they have the skills and competence to practise here and have all passed the same assessment before being admitted to the register with a licence to practise.”. 

The UKMLA will be a two-part assessment just like PLAB, consisting of an applied knowledge test (AKT) – similar to PLAB 1 – And a clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA) – Similar to PLAB 2. 

The AKT is intended to be a computer-based test which will be the same for all UK students and IMGs. There will be four sittings available each year at a number of locations worldwide for IMGs. For UK medical students, it will be the medical schools who will decide which of the four sittings available in each year their students will take.

The CPSA for IMGs will meet the same requirements that are expected of UK medical schools, and delivered at the GMC’s Clinical Assessment Centre. For UK medical students, universities already assess clinical and professional skills. If the medical school's current assessments meet those requirements set by the GMC, then students who pass it will have passed the CPSA element of the UKMLA. 

Even though the name will change, the assessment remains similar and following the same standards.

Need help preparing for it? Reach out to us: 

Phone: +44 2036376722 

Email: doctors@iemedical.co.uk 

WhatsApp: +44 7511 441874