How to obtain a GMC medical license in the UK after Brexit?

07. January 2021.

To be eligible to practice the medical profession in the UK, doctors are required to obtain a medical license confirming that you are qualified for practising within the UK. On the occasion of the UK’s exit from the EU, the General Medical Council (GMC), which is the competent body that manages the licensing of doctors in the UK, has adopted new rules that apply during the registration process. In order to make the process easier for you, we bring you updated instructions on how to obtain a GMC license in the UK.

 

If you are not sure in which application category you need to start the process of registration for a GMC license, here is a short questionnaire that will tell you which group you belong to.

 

  • Swiss – if you are a Swiss citizen, currently the only way you can get a license is to contact GMC directly with an inquiry, as Switzerland and the UK have reached an agreement on citizens’ rights
  • Doctors coming from outside the EU – First of all, you need to check whether GMC accepts your degree, which you can find out about here. You will also need to pass the PLAB test unless your specialization is on this list of automatically accepted specialisations
  • General practitioners (GPs) and family medicine specialists from some countries have several additional steps when applying, details of which can be found here
GMC medicinska licenca UK
Doctors with a medical degree in the EU / EEA

For doctors who have completed medical education in the EU, the process has not changed much. When applying for “Full registration”, ie applying to obtain a full medical license, you must enclose a medical diploma, while medical specialists who are first-time applicants in GMC should also enclose a diploma of specialist training completion. It is also necessary to indicate that you are applying in the Specialist Register.

For doctors who have completed medical education in the EU, the process has not changed much. When applying for “Full registration”, ie applying to obtain a full medical license, you must enclose a medical diploma, while medical specialists who are first-time applicants in GMC should also enclose a diploma of specialist training completion. It is also necessary to indicate that you are applying in the Specialist Register.

Upon application, diplomas also need to be verified through the ECFMG. Details of the entire process can be found on the official website, where it is necessary to forward the diploma electronically in order for ECFMG to confirm the authenticity of your diploma. Once the ECFMG confirms that all is well with the diploma, you can proceed with registration with the GMC.

Internship certificate

To obtain full registration, it is necessary to submit a certificate or a written confirmation of a completed internship. The certificate must contain the dates and details of the course of the medical internship. The written confirmation must come from the institution where your training was held, and the conditions for recognition must be met:

  • If the internship lasted 12 to 18 months, it is necessary to have at least 3 months in general medicine and at least 3 months in surgery
  • If the internship lasted 18 months or more, it is necessary to have at least 6 months in general medicine and at least 6 months in surgery

If the internship requirements are not met, a certificate of medical practice for at least 2 continuous years after graduation must be attached, provided that it must be held in a public hospital under the jurisdiction of a state body and must also contain at least 3 months in general medicine and 3 months in surgery.

Certificate of English language proficiency

Along with the medical documentation, it is necessary to enclose a certificate of knowledge of the English language, with IELTS Academic and OET being the most available options. The minimum average grade that the GMC accepts on the IELTS Academic test is 7.5 (the minimum for each section of reading, writing, listening and speaking must be 7.0) and a grade of B in case you have passed the OET. Doctors are also admitted with the PLAB test, which you can read more about here.

EU certificates

It is also necessary to enclose the EU certificates that you can request with your competent medical authorities. The GMC is requiring a Certificate of Conformity (also known as Certificate of Acquired Rights) and a Certificate of Good Standing. Both EU certificates, as well as diplomas and other official documents, must be translated and certified by a court interpreter, and copies of the originals must also be forwarded alongside their translations.

Completion of registration

Once you have paid the registration costs, which you can read more about here, GMC will send you an email asking you to forward all the mentioned documentation. After successful registration, you will receive an invitation to visit the UK and personally confirm your identity and pick up your medical license!

 

For additional information and inquiries about employment in the United Kingdom, contact us at:
Email: info@incor.hr
Facebook: @incordoo

Next articles