Quick Read
- PLAB Exam has two parts: PLAB 1 (MCQ) and PLAB 2 (clinical OSCE in Manchester).
- PLAB 1 fee is Rs.35,941 (£283); PLAB 2 fee is Rs.1,31,572 (£1,036) from April 2026.
- IELTS Academic 7.5 overall (7.0 in each section) is mandatory to register.
- PLAB 1 can be taken in India before completing the internship.
- GMC will stop offering PLAB 1 in Chennai from February 2027.
What Is the PLAB Exam and Who Needs It?
The full form of PLAB is Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board. It is the main licensing route for international medical graduates (IMGs) to obtain GMC registration. It is the easiest way for Indian MBBS graduates with no postgraduate qualification recognized by the General Medical Council to practice in the UK.
PLAB 1 is a written, multiple-choice paper testing clinical knowledge in all major specialties. PLAB 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) that is only held in Manchester and involves you demonstrating your history taking, communication, and clinical decision-making skills in simulated patient scenarios. Both parts are mandatory. After passing PLAB 2, you have two years to apply for GMC registration before results expire.
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Counselor insight: If you are a graduate with a recognized postgraduate qualification, for example, MRCP, MRCS, or MRCOG, then you may be eligible for a specialized registration option that avoids the PLAB Exam entirely. PLAB is the only way out for most of the MBBS-only graduates from India. Please confirm your eligibility with the GMC before assuming any exemption.
PLAB Exam Eligibility for Indian Doctors in 2027
PLAB exam eligibility for Indian applicants consists of an academic requirement and a language requirement, both verified directly by the GMC.
| Eligibility Requirement | Specifics for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|
| Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) | MBBS from a college listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and recognized by the GMC |
| English Proficiency: IELTS | IELTS Academic overall score of 7.5, with a minimum of 7.0 in each section. IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are NOT accepted |
| English Proficiency: OET | OET Medicine, with a Grade B in all four subtests, is a valid alternative to IELTS |
| English Test Validity | Must be within two years of your PLAB 1 application date |
| Internship | Not required to sit PLAB 1; 12-month verified internship required for full GMC registration |
| Attempt Limit | Maximum 4 attempts per part; a fifth requires evidence of additional postgraduate training |
| Age Limit | No official ceiling; practical minimum around 23-24 years given degree and internship duration |
IELTS scores from a one-skill retake are not accepted. All four band scores must be achieved in a single sitting.
Counselor insight: The GMC verifies IELTS and OET results directly with the exam bodies, which takes about two working days. Do not book a PLAB 1 date before your English evidence is verified in your GMC Online portal; an unverified account will block the booking option entirely.
PLAB Exam Pattern: PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 Explained
PLAB 1
PLAB 1 is a 3-hour written exam with 180 single best answer (SBA) questions, based on the GMC's MLA content map updated in August 2024. Topics span internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and emergency medicine. All clinical scenarios follow UK protocols, primarily NICE guidelines and the BNF, which differ meaningfully from Indian textbook sequences, especially in first-line treatment choices and referral pathways.
This MLA alignment is also why the exam is sometimes described as running on "UKMLA content" even though international graduates still book and sit it under the PLAB name; the GMC has not renamed or replaced PLAB for IMGs.
Pass mark: 115-120 out of 180 (roughly 60-65%). Overall pass rate: 65-75%. The pass mark adjusts per sitting based on question difficulty.
PLAB 2
PLAB 2 has 16 clinical stations of 8 minutes each, testing history-taking, physical examination, communication skills (breaking difficult news, consent), and data interpretation. According to GMC's published pass rate data, the PLAB 2 pass rate has ranged between 58% and 66% in recent sittings, making it the harder of the two parts for most IMGs. It is held exclusively at the GMC's clinical assessment center in Manchester; there are no international venues.
Counselor insight: Indian candidates often score well on clinical knowledge in PLAB 1 but lose marks on "most appropriate next action" questions. These reward the UK-standard first step, not the most thorough investigation. Train yourself to think in NICE protocols, not Indian textbook sequences. For PLAB 2, no amount of reading substitutes for live OSCE station practice with a partner.
PLAB Exam Fees 2027: Full Cost Breakdown in INR
GMC's revised PLAB fees took effect on 1 April 2026 and are reviewed annually, so confirm the current rate before booking a 2027 sitting. Some students search for this as PLAB 1 fees or PLAB 1 exam fees, both referring to the same £283 / Rs.35,941 charge for the written exam. PLAB exam fees in rupees move with the GBP-INR exchange rate that GMC applies at the time of your booking, so treat the figures below as a snapshot, not a fixed rate.
| Component | Fee (GBP) | Fee (INR Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| PLAB 1 | £283 | Rs.35,941 |
| PLAB 2 | £1,036 | Rs.1,31,572 |
| Total Exam Fees | £1,319 | Rs.1,67,513 |
| GMC Registration (Full registration, standard rate) | £481 | Rs.61,090 |
The £481 standard Full Registration fee applies to most first-time IMG applicants from April 2026; a discounted rate of £184 (Rs.23,370) applies only if you already meet specific prior-registration criteria set by the GMC, so check your eligibility for the discount on GMC Online before budgeting for the lower figure.
PLAB 2 requires travel to Manchester. Factor in all additional costs:
| Additional Cost | Estimated INR Range |
|---|---|
| IELTS Coaching + Exam Fee | Rs.32,000 - Rs.57,000 |
| PLAB 1 Preparation (question banks, books) | Rs.20,000 - Rs.60,000 |
| UK Visitor Visa | Rs.17,000 |
| Return Flights: India-Manchester | Rs.60,000 - Rs.1,20,000 |
| Manchester Accommodation (1-2 weeks) | Rs.50,000 - Rs.1,00,000 |
| Living Expenses in Manchester | Rs.20,000 - Rs.40,000 |
| Estimated Total Budget | Rs.4,00,000 - Rs.7,00,000+ |
Counselor insight: Plan for a minimum of Rs. 5.5-6 Lakh for the full PLAB journey, from IELTS to GMC registration, with no retakes. A single PLAB 1 retake costs Rs.35,941 and delays your timeline by 3 to 6 months. Book your Manchester accommodation 4-6 weeks before your PLAB 2 date. Hotels near the GMC center on Deansgate fill quickly.
PLAB Exam Dates 2027 and Centers in India
PLAB exam dates for PLAB 1 have historically followed a four-times-a-year pattern: February, May, August, and November. Specific 2027 sitting dates were not yet published by the GMC at the time of writing; the table below shows the confirmed 2026 pattern for reference, but always confirm your exact 2027 dates through your GMC Online dashboard rather than any third-party site.
| Part | Confirmed 2026 Dates (for reference) | Result Release |
|---|---|---|
| PLAB 1 | 12 February 2026 | 26 March 2026 |
| PLAB 1 | 21 May 2026 | 2 July 2026 |
| PLAB 2 | Available throughout the year | Within 4 weeks of sitting |
Additional PLAB 1 dates were released for August-November 2026, following the same pattern. Expect 2027 sittings to follow a similar quarterly rhythm, confirmed via GMC Online roughly three to four months ahead of each date.
PLAB 1 is delivered through the Prometric testing network across six cities in India. The GMC does not publish specific venue addresses publicly; the confirmed center address is released only after you complete booking through your GMC Online account.
| City | State | 2027-28 Status |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi (Gurgaon) | Delhi NCR / Haryana | Continuing |
| Mumbai | Maharashtra | Continuing |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | Continuing |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | PLAB 1 ends here after February 2027 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | Continuing |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | Continuing |
Important update for 2027-28 applicants: the GMC has officially confirmed that, following a 40% drop in international bookings between 2023 and 2025, it will stop offering PLAB 1 in Chennai, along with Dhaka, Alexandria, and Accra, from the February 2027 sitting onward. If you were planning to sit PLAB 1 in Chennai for a 2027 cycle, you will need to book an alternative Indian city or a UK, Dublin, or Madrid sitting well ahead of your preferred date, since seats in the remaining centers are likely to see increased demand.
How to confirm your center: Log into GMC Online once your eligibility is verified. The booking interface shows available cities and dates for that sitting. Select your city and pay Rs.35,941 (£283) in the same session, and the center address is released in your booking confirmation email.
GMC contact for center queries: plab@gmc-uk.org or +44 (0)161 923 6602 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm UK time / 2:30pm-10:30pm IST).
Counselor insight: India PLAB 1 seats go in under 10 minutes. Bengaluru and Delhi fill the fastest, and that's likely to get more competitive once Chennai candidates start booking elsewhere from 2027. Seats release at approximately 9:30-10:00 AM UK time (2:30-3:00 PM IST). Log in by 2:15 PM IST with your GMC account fully verified and IELTS confirmed and documents uploaded, and keep the booking tab open and ready to pay. Logging in for the first time when seats go live means losing your slot.
How to Register and Book the PLAB Exam
Step 1: Create a GMC Online Account. Register at GMC Online. Use a passport you will keep throughout the PLAB process; all document names must match exactly.
Step 2: Upload Your MBBS Certificate and English Evidence. Submit your degree certificate from a World Directory-listed college and add your IELTS/OET result in the "My Tests" section. English verification takes ~2 working days; PMQ verification can take several weeks for some Indian colleges. Start early.
Step 3: Book and Sit PLAB 1. Once verified, the booking option appears in your dashboard. Pay Rs.35,941 (£283) immediately; do not navigate away. Seats release fast. On exam day, your passport is the only accepted ID.
Step 4: Book PLAB 2 and Travel to Manchester. Book as soon as your PLAB 1 result is confirmed. Apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa at least 10-12 weeks before your PLAB 2 date; processing from India currently takes 6-8 weeks. Confirm your PLAB 2 date before booking any non-refundable travel.
Step 5: Apply for GMC Registration. Submit within two years of passing PLAB 2. Required documents: internship completion certificate, Medical Council of India registration certificate, and certificate of good standing.
PLAB Exam Preparation: What Works for Indian Doctors
Key Resources
For PLAB 1:
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (OHCM), the foundational UK clinical reference
- PLABable and Passmedicine, the most-used SBA question banks for PLAB 1, with detailed answer explanations
- GMC's 85 official sample questions (free on GMC UK); attempt these before anything else
For PLAB 2:
- Samson's Notes, widely used by Indian candidates for communication stations
- OSCE preparation courses run by UK-based centers, including providers in Manchester the week before exam dates
- Live station practice with a partner, mandatory since PLAB 2 cannot be prepared through reading alone
Preparation Timeline
| Phase | Duration | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| NICE Guidelines + OHCM Foundation | 3-4 months | UK protocols, BNF drug names, clinical reasoning |
| Question Bank Drilling | 3-4 months | 80-100 SBAs daily; PLABable or Passmedicine |
| Timed Mock Exams | 4-6 weeks | Full 180-question papers; target 65%+ consistently |
| PLAB 2 OSCE Prep | 2-3 months | Live station practice, communication, data interpretation |
PLAB Exam vs FMGE vs USMLE: Which Path Is Right for You?
| Factor | PLAB Exam (UK) | FMGE (India) | USMLE (USA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | GMC registration to practise in UK NHS | Practise medicine in India after a foreign MBBS | Multi-step USA medical licensing |
| Target Doctor | Indian MBBS graduate targeting UK career | Indian student who studied MBBS abroad | Indian doctor targeting US residency |
| Exam Structure | PLAB 1 (MCQ) + PLAB 2 (OSCE) | 1 written exam, 300 MCQs | Steps 1, 2, and 3 |
| Total Exam Cost | Rs.1,67,513 + travel and prep | Rs.6,000 (approx.) | Rs.2.2-2.4 Lakh in fees alone |
| Pass Rate | PLAB 1: 65-75%; PLAB 2: 58-66% | FMGE June 2025: 18.61% | Step 1: high first-attempt pass rate, but residency match is the real bottleneck |
| Time to Independent Practice | 12-18 months post-MBBS | 3-6 months | 3-6 years required |
| Starting Salary | Rs.52.4-60.5 Lakh/year (FY1-FY2) | Variable by state and specialty | Higher long-term, but a much longer runway |
Also read: Medical PG in UK After MBBS: The Ultimate Guide for Indian Doctors
NHS Salary After PLAB 2027: What Indian Doctors Actually Earn
Most Indian doctors who clear the PLAB Exam enter the NHS at Foundation Year 2 (FY2) or as Senior House Officers in specialty training. Salaries below reflect NHS Employers' Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026 R2, effective 1 April 2026, the most current pay award at the time of writing. Pay scales are reviewed annually each April, so a 2027-28 pay award may supersede these figures; verify the current rate on the NHS Employers page before finalizing your financial plan.
| Grade | Annual Salary (GBP) | Annual Salary (INR Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| FY1 | £41,226 | Rs.52.4 Lakh |
| FY2 | £47,610 | Rs.60.5 Lakh |
| Specialty Registrar (entry point, ST1/CT1) | £55,355 | Rs.70.3 Lakh |
| Consultant (starting threshold) | £113,565+ | Rs.1.44 Crore+ |
These are base salaries, current as of the 1 April 2026 pay award. On-call allowances, night shifts, and London weighting (£2,000-£3,000/year extra) increase take-home significantly. Exchange rate used: Rs.127 per GBP. Note that NHS Employers restructured the doctors-in-training pay-point system from five points to ten from April 2026, so figures between ST1 and higher specialty grades now sit on a finer scale than a single ST1-ST2 range; verify your exact nodal point on NHS Employers' current pay circular.
Source: NHS Employers, Pay and Conditions Circular (M&D) 1/2026 R2; NHS Employers, Clinical Academic Pay Scales from 1 April 2026.
Counselor insight: A GMC number does not guarantee an NHS job. Specialty training posts are competitive, and many IMGs wait months between registration and their first post. Build your portfolio, audits, research, and presentations before you arrive. Start searching NHS Jobs as soon as your PLAB 2 result is confirmed.
What to Do If Things Go Wrong
If You Fail PLAB 1
You have up to four attempts. After four failures, a fifth requires evidence of additional postgraduate training or clinical experience submitted to the GMC. A sixth attempt is not possible. Check your GMC Online result breakdown, identify the weak subject clusters, and switch question banks if your current approach is not working.
If Your IELTS Score Misses 7.0 in One Section
One-skill retake certificates are not accepted. You must resit the full IELTS and hit 7.0 in all four sections in a single sitting. If writing is consistently below 7.0, consider switching to OET Medicine. Many Indian doctors find the clinical context of OET questions more familiar.
If You Miss the Two-Year PLAB 2 Window
Your PLAB 1 result expires, and you must resit it from scratch. This is a real risk when UK visa delays push back your Manchester date. Book PLAB 2 as soon as your PLAB 1 result arrives and apply for the UK Visitor Visa immediately after.
If Your UK Visitor Visa Is Refused
Reapply with stronger financial evidence and clearer documentation of ties to Indian property, family, and employment. Apply at least 10-12 weeks before your PLAB 2 date to allow time for a reapplication if needed. UKVI official guidance is the only reliable source for current visa requirements.
3 Takeaways Before You Begin the PLAB Exam Journey
- Start with IELTS, not PLAB registration. Your GMC account will not unlock the PLAB booking option unless you have a verified IELTS Academic score of 7.5 overall and at least 7.0 in each section. Every other step waits on this requirement.
- Budget Rs.4-7 Lakh for the full journey, not Rs.1.67 Lakh. The exam fees are the smallest part. PLAB 2 requires a trip to Manchester, a UK visa, and a 1-2 week accommodation plan for these expenses before you begin.
- Build your NHS CV before you land. GMC registration is essential, but specialty training posts are competitive. Start audits, presentations, and any clinical research while preparing for PLAB, it directly affects how quickly you get your first NHS post after arriving.
Verified by: LeapScholar's UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian doctors through PLAB preparation, GMC registration, and NHS placement processes.
Have questions about the PLAB Exam or your UK medical career? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About PLAB Exam
-
Is PLAB harder than USMLE?
PLAB is generally believed to be easier to pass than USMLE, and in our experience with hundreds of candidates, that's held up. USMLE has three levels, takes 3-5 years end to end, and then throws you into a brutal US residency match that's tough even for strong IMGs. PLAB is just two phases, and most of our students land NHS jobs within 12-18 months of starting the whole process.
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What is the salary of a doctor in the UK after PLAB?
After you clear PLAB and get your GMC registration sorted, you'll most likely start at Foundation Year 2, earning around Rs.60.5 Lakh a year (£47,610) as base pay under the current April 2026 award. Move into specialty training and entry-level registrars pull in roughly Rs.70.3 Lakh, while consultants start at Rs.1.44 Crore and beyond, before you even add on-call or shift allowances.
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Which is tougher, NEET PG or PLAB?
Both exams test completely different things, so it's hard to compare them directly. NEET PG is a brutal, high-volume MCQ race against an enormous pool of Indian graduates. PLAB 1, honestly, is manageable with 6-8 months of focused prep. PLAB 2 is the harder one, since it tests live clinical communication in UK-style scenarios that most Indian medical colleges never train you for.
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Can I work as a doctor in the UK without PLAB?
Doctors can, yes, but only in fairly limited circumstances. If you already hold a GMC-recognized postgraduate qualification like MRCP, MRCS, or MRCOG, you might qualify for the CESR specialist registration pathway and skip PLAB entirely. But if you're coming in with just an Indian MBBS, PLAB is really your only route to direct NHS clinical practice as an IMG.
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Is giving PLAB Exam worth it?
For most Indian MBBS graduates set on the UK, PLAB is a genuinely strong investment. Yes, it costs Rs.4-7 Lakh end to end, but it leads to a structured NHS salary starting at Rs.60.5 Lakh a year, on a realistic 12-18 month timeline from start to your first post. Set that against USMLE or India's brutally competitive PG system, and the return on investment holds up well.
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Is PLAB Exam valid in India?
Passing PLAB gets you GMC registration, and that's a UK-only license, so it carries no legal standing with the Medical Council of India and won't let you practice clinical medicine back home. If you return to India after working in the UK, you will need to re-register separately with the NMC (National Medical Commission) before you can practice.
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How much money is required for PLAB Exam?
Total PLAB exam fees in indian rupees come to Rs.1,67,513 for both parts combined, at April 2026 rates, but don't budget around that number alone. Once you add IELTS prep, question bank subscriptions, a UK Visitor Visa, flights to Manchester, and two weeks of accommodation, you're looking at a realistic Rs.4-7 Lakh total, more if you need a retake anywhere along the way.
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What to do after clearing PLAB?
Apply for GMC registration within two years of passing PLAB 2, and have your internship certificate, MCI registration, and certificate of good standing ready to go. Once you're registered, you can start applying for NHS vacancies through NHS Jobs and sort out your Health and Care Worker Visa so you can actually move and start working in the UK.
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How long is PLAB valid for?
PLAB 1 is valid for two years, and you must sit and pass PLAB 2 within that time frame; otherwise, you will have to retake PLAB 1 from scratch. Once you clear PLAB 2, you get another two years to apply for GMC registration. After that, though, your registration itself never expires, as long as you keep up with annual revalidation.
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What is the success rate of PLAB 1?
Historical pass rates for PLAB 1 sit in the 65-75% range, so it's genuinely achievable with proper prep. After the MLA alignment sittings started in August 2024, that dipped to a lower band of 55-65% during the transition, but it's likely to climb back up as candidates get more familiar with the new content map. Students using MLA-mapped question banks and drilling clinical reasoning are already outperforming those still relying on pre-2024 materials.
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Is there any age limit for PLAB?
GMC doesn't set any official upper age limit for PLAB, so you're never "too old" to sit it. The practical floor sits around 23-24 years, simply because that's how long it takes to finish an Indian MBBS plus the required 12-month internship before full GMC registration. Plenty of doctors in their 30s, 40s, and beyond sit PLAB and pass it without any trouble.
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Will PLAB 1 still be available in Chennai for a 2027-28 attempt?
Chennai's run as a PLAB 1 center is ending. The GMC has confirmed that sittings there will stop from the February 2027 exam, along with Dhaka, Alexandria, and Accra, citing a steady decline in international bookings. If Chennai was your planned center, don't wait to sort out a backup. Confirm your available cities directly through GMC Online and book early, since the remaining Indian centers will likely see a demand spike.
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Is PLAB being replaced by UKMLA?
Not yet, at least for international medical graduates. PLAB's content has already followed the same MLA content map as the UKMLA since August 2024, but you still book and sit your exams under the PLAB name through GMC Online. The GMC's long-term direction clearly points toward one unified assessment, but there's no confirmed date yet for retiring the PLAB name for international candidates like you.
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