PLAB
PLAB stands for Professional Linguistic and Assessment Board. It is a licensing examination that gauges the eligibility of a doctor to get GMC (General Medical Council) Registration. However, PLAB is not a degree or certification by itself. It only makes one eligible for GMC registration.
Relevance of GMC Registration
GMC registration is a prerequisite for practising in the UK as a doctor. The General medical council (GMC) is responsible for the maintenance of the register of medical practitioners, general practitioners and specialists. In addition, in order to practise medicine at this level, registration with the GMC is a must.
Keep in mind that the GMC does not provide you with a medical degree. That is the responsibility of the Royal Colleges and other training bodies. Furthermore, GMC merely acknowledges your medical qualifications.
Timing of PLAB Exam
Taking your PLAB exam at the earliest is the ideal thing to do. But this may not be achievable for everybody. Moreover, you can get the PLAB at any time in your career. You should have earned your primary medical qualification before that.
What does PLAB offer?
PLAB provides you GMC registration as a medical practitioner. This will kick start your medical career in the UK. Moreover, PLAB is not a post-graduate qualification like membership exams such as MRCP, MRCS, MRCOG and MRCPCH. PLAB does not contribute much to your medical career. It only makes you eligible for GMC registration.
Comparison between PLAB and MRCP
MRCP
MRCP is an acronym for Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom [MRCP (UK)]. It is a postgraduate medical diploma in the UK. Furthermore, the examinations are conducted by the Federation of the Medical Royal Colleges, including the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. In addition, these exams take place all over the UK and in overseas centres.
Goal of the Examination
The MRCP (UK) exam evaluates the knowledge of basic medical sciences and clinical skills of a candidate. These are essential for detecting and treating diseases. Moreover, MRCP (UK) is a mandatory requirement if you want to enter specialist training as a physician in the UK. Lastly, one should not presume that having the MRCP diploma makes further learning unnecessary.
Timing of MRCP
MRCP Part 1 exam can be taken close on the heels of your internship. It is better to have around 2 years of clinical experience in hospitals after your primary medical qualification before taking the remaining exams.
You can complete the full MRCP (UK) before coming to the UK, if you want to. This can give an impetus for your future training in the UK. However, it cannot be an alternative for the training requirements that follow.
Know more about the exam: The MRCP exam
Final Verdict
MRCP is an approved postgraduate qualification accepted by the GMC. One can acquire full GMC registration and license to practice in the UK without taking the PLAB. You just need the required scores in IELTS/OET.
