After five years in the United Kingdom, helping hundreds of people from all over Latin America understand the process, evaluating my initial posts and noticing how some things were not very clear, I’ve concluded that we need a general post that explains everything step by step to improve understanding. Based on the feedback I’ve received, the questions people ask me, and experiences shared with colleagues who have gone through the process, I decided to create this post, which will be considered the initial post for the entire pathway to the United Kingdom for all Latin American doctors. Here we go:
Pre-Qualification
During your undergraduate studies, there are several projects or extracurricular activities you can undertake to strengthen your CV. In the UK, this will be your presentation card, opening doors to the medical training system and job market.
To understand what things are taken into account, particularly when applying for postgraduate programmes (specialties), I’ve included the scoring system for internal medicine. Here, you can see how points are allocated for the academic index, postgraduate degrees, research, teaching, leadership, recognition, improvement projects and audits, commitment to the specialty, and conferences or presentations.
The approach you should take must be focused on working smart, not hard. In other words, identify which things score the most in each category and try to accomplish them during your undergraduate studies or while preparing for the licensing exams to practise in the UK.
Additionally, I’ve written a blog post that delves into each category, and you’ll also find links to videos on my YouTube channel where you can learn more about the topic.
General Medical Council (GMC) Licence
Once you’ve completed all your undergraduate exams, you can begin the process of taking exams to obtain your GMC licence, which opens doors to the UK job market and postgraduate training. In other words, if you take your final exams during your internship, you can take the GMC exams as soon as you finish it. You don’t need your diploma to do this. To get a macro view of the process, you can watch the following video:
Steps to Obtain the Licence:
Check if your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Link: https://search.wdoms.org/If your school is listed, the GMC recognises it as a medical degree. In some cases, the GMC doesn’t have your medical school listed, and you’ll need to submit documentation for it to be registered in their system, provided it’s in the directory. This process can be done simultaneously with the exams, and to confirm, you simply need to contact the GMC, and they’ll guide you. Note: In Honduras, only UNITEC is missing.
Take an English proficiency test. This can be the OET or Academic IELTS. They are valid for two years and can be used in the visa application process (meaning you won’t need to take the Academic IELTS UKVI).
Once you’ve passed the exam with the required score, you can upload the result to your GMC profile.The GMC profile is similar to a Facebook profile, and you don’t need any documents to create an account. To do this, you can use the following link: https://www.gmc-uk.org/help/4002.htm
Once the GMC validates your result, they’ll enable the first medical exam (PLAB 1, written).To prepare for this exam, you’ll need to use a question bank (PLABABLE, PASSMEDICINE, PASSTEST, etc.). The preparation time is around 2 to 3 months. Don’t review other content or national guidelines, as everything is covered in the question banks.
After passing PLAB 1, the GMC will enable the second medical exam (PLAB 2, simulations).This exam requires special preparation, where you’ll need to practise scenarios to understand the general approach to a consultation in the UK system, breaking bad news, managing a complex patient, performing basic general medicine procedures, among others. Additionally, you can take courses at academies to improve your understanding of the exam. Note: The academies are not run by experts in medical education or according to UK educational standards, so they may disappoint you pedagogically. However, the key is to use their MOCK exams and anatomical models to improve your skills.
Once passed, you can apply for the licence in your GMC profile, and they’ll request a short list of documents that only need to be translated. No apostille or authentication is required. Additionally, you’ll need EPIC (a company) to validate your degree with your medical school to verify its authenticity and confirm you’re a doctor.
If you’d like to learn more about the topic and see the document list, here’s a post:
Life After GMC Licence
Once you’ve obtained your licence, you can practise medicine in the UK. At this point, you can do two things:
Apply for Non-Training Jobs: These are resident positions in a specialty, but you don’t necessarily advance each year unless you meet requirements and accumulate evidence of acquired skills, similar to the German system.
Apply for Training Jobs: These are part of a national programme that ensures consistent training, with annual evaluations to see if you progress to the next year—essentially what we commonly know as residency.
To apply for Non-Training Jobs, you’ll use a platform (NHS Jobs/Track Jobs) that centralises all the information from the national health system to simplify the application process. Here’s a link to learn more:
To apply for Training Jobs, you’ll use a national platform (ORIEL). Like the previous platform, you’ll apply online. This platform will be used to apply for all the specialties you want. They’ll use the information from your CV based on the categories mentioned earlier in this post. Once your information is assessed, you’ll receive a score and an interview invitation if it’s high enough. During the interview, they’ll evaluate clinical, ethical, and CV-related aspects. If you achieve a high score, you’ll secure a spot, which you’ll rank in order of preference, and based on your final score, you could get your top or bottom preference. For more information, here’s a link:
Once selected for an interview and hired (Non-Training or Training Job), you’ll begin the visa process, which involves an online application through the UK government website, basic documents, and a sponsor certificate issued by the hospital that hires you. For more details:
Benefits
There are many advantages that can help you choose the UK over other countries, but it’s essential that your decision is based on what makes you happy and what you want for your life.
Work-Life Balance: Your weekly limit is usually 48 hours, with a monthly average of 40 hours. This means if you work 48 hours one week, the next week you’ll only work 32 hours. Schedules are consistent—normal days of 8 hours, 12.5-hour shifts, or rare 10-hour days, mainly in ICU. You don’t need to wait until you finish all your postgraduate studies to travel, get married, buy a house, have children, or anything else life requires.
Salaries: Whether in a Training or Non-Training Job, you’ll earn the same according to your academic grade. For example, R1 and R2 earn the same; R3-R5 earn more than the previous grades, and R5-R8 earn even more. You also have the option of doing extra shifts or overtime for additional income.
Annual Leave: 28 paid holiday days per year, increasing after 5 years.
Study Leave: 7 days for courses and professional development, or 15 days if in a Training Job.
Study Allowance: £500 annually to cover costs for courses and activities during study leave. Approximately £800 if in a Training Job.
Clinical and Educational Supervisors: You’ll always have a subspecialist (Clinical) supervising you during each rotation to address concerns, learning needs, projects, etc., and another subspecialist (Educational) overseeing your entire year.
Access to Free Courses and Training: The NHS offers constant training, with access to free courses and countless national and international professional development activities.
Opportunities in Research, Teaching, Leadership, etc.: Whatever your passion, you’ll find someone working on related projects, giving you the chance to participate, lead, or even propose new projects.
Programmes for Everyone: The British are known for wanting you to feel happy and passionate about your work. Because of this, there are programmes of all types to suit every interest.
No Bullying: While it’s not 100% eliminated and isolated cases exist, it’s not the norm, and when it happens, it’s treated seriously.
Academic Environment: From evidence-based medicine to cutting-edge educational methodologies, the training environment is among the best in the world.
Culture and Racism: There’s always something to do in every UK city, with plenty for everyone. The UK is highly multicultural, and although racism exists everywhere, it’s not tolerated in hospitals and is dealt with seriously when it occurs.
I hope this post helps you understand the process more clearly and navigate the blog more effectively. Don’t hesitate to ask questions via the blog, social media, email, or book your 1:1 advising meeting today.
Excelente y conciso post doc! Una duda, sobre la CREST form, la puedo llenar con la experiencia de mi servicio social? Si es así, qué nombre puedo ponerle a mi título de trabajo que no sea la expresión literal "médico de servicio social"? Espero su respuesta y de antemano gracias!