PLAB
MRCP
Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test is the main route for the Overseas-International Medical Graduates (IMG’s) to practice the safe medicine in the United Kingdom (UK). PLAB is aimed to test the basic necessary skills and the clinical knowledge of the candidates wishing to practice medicine in the UK. PLAB exam is conducted by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK. MRCP or Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is a postgraduate (specialty) medical diploma in the UK for those medical postgraduates who are seeking to work in the UK as a doctor. MRCP examination ensures the continuing professional development of Physicians in the UK or abroad. It is a pre-requisite exam for those internationally trained medical graduates who are wishing to work in a specialty in the UK, as a doctor. To measure the level of attainment of those graduates who are working outside the UK, this exam is very important.
The PLAB test is aimed to test the depth of the knowledge and the skills that you have to demonstrate to make you eligible to practice medicine in the UK. You will be tested against limited registration to work as a doctor in the UK. PLAB will assess your ability, as a doctor, to work safely as a Senior House Officer (SHO) in a UK NHS hospital. MRCP examinations are run by the Federation of the Medical Royal Colleges. So, in a nutshell, the MRCP examinations will make you eligible to obtain the diploma from one of the following 3 Royal Medical Colleges of Physicians:
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Royal College of Physicians of London -
Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh -
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
There are actually, two components of the PLAB test series, PLAB 1 and PLAB 2. Given below is a brief overview of both the components. These three Royal Colleges of Physicians share this common 3-part assessment exam in general medicine which consists of 2-written parts and 1-clinical assessment exam. MRCP examinations are held throughout the UK and at many other international centers.
· MRCP part 1 written
· MRCP part 2 written
· MRCP part 2 PACES