Should I sit PLAB or FRCPath for GMC?

The process of getting GMC registered can often feel overwhelming to an international doctor. There are many boxes to tick and documents to check (and double-check). Not only do you need the right skills, knowledge, and experience to get on the GMC register, but you must also be able to prove that! One of the most common ways IMGs do this is by taking the PLAB test, a popular entryway into working as a UK doctor. However, that’s not your only option, as the GMC also accepts certain postgraduate qualifications instead of PLAB, including FRCPath which is aimed at more senior Pathology specialists.

Who are PLAB and FRCPath for?

Your route to the UK involves proving your current capabilities in the form of a qualification, and the GMC accepts both PLAB and FRCPath for this. Keep in mind, though, that they are very different – each qualification proves varying levels of knowledge and dictates the type of NHS roles you can apply for. That’s why it’s so important to know which one is right for you!

The PLAB Route

The GMC created PLAB as a way to ensure all IMGs hold the same level of experience and expertise as UK doctors, thus ensuring patient safety. The exams test the knowledge and skills of an equivalent FY2 level doctor already in the UK. The test is a recognised qualification by the GMC, allowing IMGs to gain access to the UK to start their NHS careers. As such, PLAB is for international medical graduates who got their PMQ from somewhere outside of the UK, EEA, or Switzerland.

If you have recently graduated (say, in the past couple of years) and you haven’t yet specialised in a specific branch of medicine, PLAB makes sense. However, if you have attained a postgraduate qualification or have gained specialised medical experience overseas, other options may appeal to you more than PLAB as they’ll allow access to more specialised roles.

The FRCPath Route

FRCPath is a well-regarded postgraduate qualification awarded by The Royal College of Pathologists, and it demonstrates your ability to work independently as a pathologist. To take FRCPath part 1, you need one year of specialty training; for part 2, you’ll need even more specialty training years behind you. So, FRCPath is for IMGs who already have attained knowledge in one of these specialties – often a substantial amount of knowledge.

FRCPath has over twenty specialties in total, including:

• Clinical Biochemistry
• Dermatopathology
• Forensic Pathology
• Genetics
• Haematology
• Histopathology
• Immunology
• Infection
• Medical Microbiology
• Molecular Pathology
• Neuropathology
• Paediatric Pathology
• Reproductive Science
• Toxicology
• Virology

Comparing Job Roles and Career Levels

While PLAB and FRCPath both grant you access to GMC registration, they have a major difference in the types of NHS roles they lead to. The following comparison highlights the differences in career entry points:

• PLAB: Usually leads to junior and middle-grade jobs, so you can start at FY2 up to ST2. It is for those who haven’t yet specialised in a specific branch of medicine.
• FRCPath: Demonstrates your abilities and allows you to start your NHS career at a higher level – usually ST3+, Specialty Doctor, Specialist or Consultant. It is geared towards the UK curriculum.

Keep in mind that FRCPath is also taken by UK doctors (unlike PLAB) towards the end of their specialty training in a pathology subspecialty. In fact, IMGs can even take FRCPath after using PLAB to work in the UK and then working through the UK’s training system. So, even if you choose to do PLAB, you might end up doing FRCPath at some point down the line while training in the UK!