Every doctor who practises in the UK must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Almost everything on this website is a route to that registration, and then a route from registration to being a consultant or GP who can practise independently.
The journey in one table
| Stage | What happens | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Medical degree | A UK medical school (MBBS/MBChB/BMBS), or a medical degree from overseas | 5–6 years (4 if graduate entry) |
| 2. Licensing assessment | UK graduates pass the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA). Overseas graduates pass PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 (or another accepted route) | Built into medical school; PLAB usually 6–18 months |
| 3. GMC registration | Provisional registration for UK graduates; full registration with a licence to practise follows internship or Foundation Year 1 | On graduation / after F1 |
| 4. Foundation Programme | Two supervised “foundation” years (F1, F2) in hospital and community posts | 2 years |
| 5. Specialty training | Core or run-through training, with Royal College exams, in your chosen specialty or General Practice | 3–8 years |
| 6. Higher / sub-specialty training | Becoming a specialist, then sub-specialising and fellowships | Included in the years above, plus optional fellowships |
| 7. CCT and the specialist register | A Certificate of Completion of Training puts you on the GMC Specialist or GP Register | Total of about 10–15 years from starting medical school |
Rules change: how to use this site
Pay, visas, exam fees, test centres and recruitment rules change often, sometimes within a single year. Each page tells you what to check and links to the official source. Where we give a figure we say when it applies. If this site and an official page disagree, the official page is right, and we would be grateful if you told us.
Your checklist
- Read the table of stages
- Decide which route fits me (Route A or Route B)
This page is general education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Rules, fees and dates change: always confirm with the official sources below. It is not medical, legal or immigration advice.