In August 2018, Channel 4 featured a number of international medical graduates on their journey to becoming doctors in the UK in its documentary, ‘The Foreign Doctors are Coming’.
Among them is Anna Zonato, from Brazil. Here she tells us about the process she has gone through to become a licensed doctor ready to begin working in the UK.
I am a doctor from Brazil and was until recently living and working in Curitiba, my hometown. Most people have probably never heard of it, but it’s a really nice city in Paraná state, southern Brazil. The weather there is known to be mostly cold and the streets very clean.
My journey to pursue a career in the United Kingdom started way back, while I was still a child. I had always dreamed about visiting the country and fulfilling all of the British stereotypes, such as meeting the Queen, seeing her guards and having afternoon tea like the English.
However, as time went on and I grew up, this dream kept dormant in a little space in my heart. Up until the point when I was in my fourth year as a medical student and there came an opportunity to live and study one year abroad, through a programme called Science without Borders.
I completed an English test and applied for the programme. Happily, I was selected to study at De Montfort University, in Leicester. I studied Forensic Science for a year, as Medicine was not an option. I loved the course. And I particularly loved living in England, I loved their way of doing things, the way its people are and how they accept differences so well, although not so much the weather, as it can be very cold and rainy at times. That was the year I started to seriously contemplate the idea of moving to the UK for good.
My journey to working as a doctor in the UK
After coming back home, I began research living in England and how I could use my medical qualification there. It was very confusing at first, there was a lot of information and sometimes it was too much to take in. I had spent years working hard to become a doctor and it took me a while to understand why I needed to complete a multiple choice and practical assessment (the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exams) before being able to practice in the UK.
I felt helpless at times and started to believe I was pursuing a dream that wasn’t for me. Plenty of times I almost gave up. I questioned why I would leave everything I know, everyone I love for the uncertainty of living in a completely different place where I would be speaking another language with customs unlike my own. It seemed like madness.
Nonetheless, I remained stubborn. I had the support of my family and friends, and little by little I got an idea of what the road ahead would be like. And I accepted the challenge.
I was a lot driven not only by my childhood dream, but also because I saw better opportunities for me in England as a doctor than in Brazil, especially in the NHS. The public health system in my country (aka SUS) has generally the same concept of it, but it lacks so much investment and infrastructure that it is discouraging to work there.
I went step by step, so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed or discouraged. Firstly, I had to graduate. I qualified in January 2017 and I was very happy, particularly because I had plans, plans abroad.
Next, I needed to show I was competent in the English language. I opted to take the International English Language Testing System test (IELTS). After passing the test I had to wait several months to sit PLAB 1, the multiple choice exam testing medical knowledge. The months went quicker than expected, though, since I worked part-time as a doctor in an Occupational Health clinic and studied in my free time.
On the day of the PLAB 1 test, which I sat in June, in London, I was very nervous and anxious. The room was huge, full of candidates from all over the world. Time was super rushed and I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish it all but, thankfully, there was just enough time. I thought there was no way I would pass it, yet after four long weeks waiting for the results, I was elated to know I had!
However, I still had to take PLAB 2 to get a step closer to my dream of moving to the UK. I was back in Curitiba then, so I booked my plane tickets and arrived in Manchester, where the test takes place at the GMC’s office. I gave myself a few weeks to prepare for the course and studied with other candidates for around eight hours a day.
It was tiring, nerve-racking and uncertain. We comforted each other, we cheered for each other and a true bond formed between us. I can safely say it was one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding periods of my life, among so many different cultures, diverse languages, various customs and still so many feelings in common, so much to relate to.
While studying I agreed to be filmed as part of a Channel 4 documentary. It was a good experience, as it helped me take my mind off the studies at times, although most importantly, it reminded me why I was doing all of it, why I was putting myself through this much trouble to be away from home. Moreover, I hoped other doctors could find comfort in seeing the process as well.
Again, time flew by. It was already the test day. I was more nervous than for PLAB 1, I just wanted it to be over. There had been so much preparation and investing, failing wasn’t an option, or one I could easily live with.
The test was pretty much like I was expecting it: 18 practical stations, where we would interact with patients in diverse situations. The scenario and rooms were just like the GMC video used to help prepare candidates. The time passed so quickly I could barely believe it was over and, by the end of it, I felt confused and exhausted. I hardly remembered what I had said in each station, and it still feels like a blurred day in my mind.
Two weeks later came the results, and I couldn’t be happier to find out I had passed! When I got the results I had been waiting for I was still in the UK for a job interview. I can say it was a couple of days full of thrill and excitement.
After passing, it was easy to start the online registration with GMC, I had the documents ready and sent them as soon as they were requested. I booked the ID check a few weeks after and it was a fairly easy process.
Welcome to UK practice
I also attended a free Welcome to the UK Practice session held by the GMC, which was helpful as it reinforced important GMC guidelines we should keep in mind and enabled us to interact with other newly registered or soon to be registered doctors. It also provided us with various guides and helplines for us to use before and while working in the UK. I highly recommend this workshop to everyone.
The session lasted for a few hours and had various activities and practical situations we could face while working within the NHS, which could pose a challenge if we are not familiar with the new culture. I don’t think there were too many different aspects of the British practice compared to how we do things in Brazil, apart from local protocols. I believe some medical situations are universal and similar everywhere, whilst the way we have to deal with them might differ quite a lot depending on where you are.
I didn’t know about the session before taking the practical assessment, however, I was glad to have participated. I believe attending the Welcome to UK Practice session, reading the GMC ethical guidance material we were given plus having a fair bit of common sense should be enough to avoid serious mistakes while working in the UK.
So, now that I am GMC registered, what’s my situation?
Well, I remained in Brazil for more than seven months waiting for my Certificate of Sponsorship to be issued by the UK government in order for me to apply for a visa and actually start working there. I remained hopeful, looking forward to the next chapter to start.
I have now been in the UK for just over a week as my visa has now been approved. I am just getting things in place to start working as a junior doctor in A&E at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust. I plan to work as a junior doctor for some time and ideally, I would like to train to become a general surgeon. Later, I would like to specialise in a particular area, depending on what I relate to the most during the training.
And, of course, I hope to keep living in the United Kingdom and build my life and career here permanently.
The documentary, The Foreign Doctors are Coming was shown on Channel 4 on Tuesday 7 August, at 10pm.
Nice work!
nice
I am a student from Nepal and I aim of becoming a doctor.
How can I apply for Bachelor of Medicine & bachelor of surgery (MBBS) in UK.
Hi Aman,
You can learn more about applying to study medicine in the UK via the Medical Schools Council website here: https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/applications/international-applicants
International applicants are encouraged to contact the medical school of their choice directly for specific information about the requirements for applying however you can find some useful information on the process via the Medical Schools Council website here: https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/applications
After passing PLAB2 how do I apply for foundation programme? Where can I check if there are available places in FY1 for international medical graduates?
Hi Asil,
You can learn more about applying for the Foundation Programme via the dedicated website here: http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/
You can follow the links on each page to find guidance relevant to you and the steps to take on how to apply for a place.
Hello,
I will be a trained general surgeon in 2 years, right now I am a trainee at Turkey. Is there a way to register myself as a general surgeon with out taking a step backwards? What is the route after taking PLAB tests?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Umut,
Thank you for your query. We would need some further information from you to give specific guidance on your path to registration and we would encourage you to contact one of our advisers direct so they can assist you with this query. You can speak with an adviser either via email gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively by phone +44 161 923 6602.
Hello,
The medical graduates from Republic of Moldova ( with equivalied diploma in Romania) must take PLAB 1? Thank you.
Hi Mirela,
To find out whether you are required to take the PLAB exam, you can visit the applications page on our website and click on the links that apply to you in our guide for step by step instructions of the process of applying for registration. You can find our applications page here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/application-registration
How much time will it take to become a consultant in paediatrics ?
Hi Aru,
We would need some further information from you to best answer this query. If you could please contact one of our advisers either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively +44 161 923 6602, they would be more than happy to assist.
I am a MBBS doctor in Pakistan and has got 3 years experience in Anaesthesia. I am British National as well.
Do I need to give Ielts test?
Hi Dr Arsalan,
Thank you for your query. You can find our requirements for showing your English language knowledge on our website here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/evidence-of-your-knowledge-of-english
To discuss your specific situation we may need some further information from you and would encourage you to contact one of our helpful advisers either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively +44 161 923 6602.
Hi I am preparing for plab exam
Can you please tel how to get foundation 1 year job in uk
To get uk tier 2 visa I saw minimum salary req is 30000 pounds but most fy1 job offers 25000 pounds
In that case how do I get tier2 visa please help me
Thank you so much
I have masters in obstetrics and gynecology from 2012 in egypt , how can i apply for work in the UK
Hi i have done MD in Pathology from india. I am looking forward to work in UK. Can u please help. Are there any other options like fellowship etc without giving plab exams? Or plab is compulsory forany special training or fellowship programs also?
Hi. I have done Doctor of Medicine but the program was half in India and half Philippines. Can you please tell if this will be accepted at the time of gmc registration.
Hi, thank you for your comment. We may need some further information from you to be able to provide the best guidance on your steps to registration. If you could please contact one of our helpful advisers either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or +44 (0)161 923 6602, they would be more than happy to ask you a few questions so we can provide step-by-step guidance on how you can apply for registration.
Hi. Did you apply for Provisional Registration after passing PLAB 2? I have heard that it is very difficult and almost impossible to get a FY1 job in the UK. Did you get a FY1 job in the UK or did you do internship in your home country?
Hi Sarah, thank you for your message. If applying for registration without having completed an acceptable internship but have completed all other requirements, including PLAB, you would be eligible to apply for provisional registration. You can learn more about what is an acceptable internship here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/check-if-your-practical-training-internship-is-acceptable
If you are interested in applying for the Foundation Programme here in the UK, we would encourage you to visit the dedicated website here: http://www.foundationprogramme.nhs.uk/
You will find lots of helpful information including how to apply, the requirements and contact details if you have any queries about applying for the Foundation Programme.
Am a Dentist in India, want to pursue my Masters in Dentistry from UK. How to get enrolled in Masters (clinical) in UK?
Hi Atigya,
Thank you for your message. We are the regulator for doctors in the UK however we do not regulate the practice of dentists. You may wish to contact the General Dental Council for further information regarding registration and studying in the UK. You can find the General Dental Council website here: https://www.gdc-uk.org/
I have completed a period of pre-graduate supervised experience, which is called internship in my country. It lasted for 2 years, with a 40-days holiday break between them. However, I did not attend 6 months in surgery AND medicine as it is required according the GMC website. I had slightly different rotations with shorter periods. When applying for registration, should I select provisional or full registration? Moreover, will I need to provide evidence that my internship did not meet the requirements or simply stating that it did not is enough? Thank you.
Hi Dr Luis,
Thank you for your comment. You can find our requirements for an acceptable internship here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/check-if-your-practical-training-internship-is-acceptable
We’re unable to provide guidance on whether your internship would be considered acceptable until you submit your application and supporting information as this will all be taken into consideration. We may also ask for further clarification around certain points.
We would encourage you to contact one or our advisers for further advice however and you can speak with an adviser either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively by calling +44 (0)161 923 6602.
Hi, I am a final year student hoping to move to the UK to start my practice. May I ask approximately how much time is needed from graduation until the start of the training, ie FY1? Thanks!
Hi Benjamin,
Thank you for your query. We’re unable to provide a definite time frame as this does depend on your pathway to registration, the documents you provide and how long it may take for these to be verified by your medical school. If you do want to discuss your situation specifically, we would encourage you to speak with one of our helpful advisers either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively +44 (0)161 923 6602 so they can ask you some further questions and provide a more detailed answer.
Hi.. I m kevin.
Final year MBBS student in india.
Can you tell me.. Is NHS provide living facility in hospital for whom who job there as junior doctor ??
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your query. We are the regulator for doctors in the UK however we do not manage employment within the NHS. We would advise you to contact any prospective hospitals you wish to apply to for their specific policies regarding accommodation and living arrangements.
Some do- but not many, especially in larger towns
Hi GMC,
A quick question: passed my PMQ two years ago, got pregnant prior to starting internship but did PLAB 1 & 2 (and passed). I’m thinking of doing a 1-year internship now and then apply for a full registration (my PLAB 2 expiry date will still be valid by the time of registration).
Am I allowed to do this? According to your website I can only do my 1 year internship directly after graduating, is this true?
https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/application-guides/full-registration-for-international-medical-graduates/your-internship
Could you also elaborate on the wording at https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/breaks-in-practice/criteria
It is confusing as I’m not sure if it applies to me (IMG with an international degree) or if it only applies to EEA nationals with a non-EEA degree.
Thanks,
Adita
Hi Adita,
Thank you for your comments. With regards to your internship, if this wasn’t immediately after graduating, we may need to refer your application to an Assistant Registrar for consideration. We do appreciate that a gap can sometimes happen and would need to consider your full application prior to making a decision.
In terms of our breaks in practice guidance, this only applies to EEA doctors, as an IMG doctor your path to registration would be via the PLAB route and as such the breaks in practice guidance would not apply to you.
Thank you, that’s helpful.
Hi GMC,
I had a few more questions that I couldn’t find online:
– If I apply for a provisional registration, then complete my internship in my home country (rather than FY1), am I able to go from provisional > full using that path? (assuming GMC accepts my overseas internship)
– If I freeze a provisional licence, the timer for ~3 years pauses, what are the exact steps to restore this (i.e. do I need to provide evidence of what I’ve been doing during the freeze and how long does this process take?)
– Is there a time limit how long you can keep a provisional frozen/paused?
Based on the above, it seems to me it makes sense to apply for the provisional as soon as possible and then freeze it until I apply for a full registration (assuming overseas internship) or restore it prior to internship in the UK (FY1)
Thanks again,
Hi Adita,
If you do, or have, completed an acceptable internship overseas, you would be eligible to apply for full registration with us, however up until the point you have completed that internship, you would only be eligible to apply for provisional registration.
In order to ensure your allocation of provisional registration days is kept, you may need to apply for voluntary erasure to give up both your registration and licence to practise. If then wishing to restore to provisional registration, you would be required to show you are still in good standing. You can find our guidance on this here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/managing-your-registration/changing-your-status-on-the-register/restoration-to-the-register
If you were to progress and apply for full registration having already applied for voluntary erasure from your provisional registration, you would be required to make a brand new application for registration.
There is no time limit on how long you can give up your registration for via voluntary erasure, however should you have any further queries about this we would encourage you to speak with one of our helpful advisers either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively +44 (0)161 923 6602.
Do you have an estimate of how much it all cost with the visa etc.
Also, do you have to pay for F1 and F2? I can’t find that information anywhere
I’m a medical students in one of the Caribbean Medical schools
Please how many weeks of clinical rotations is required to be eligible to practice in the UK because my school as well as other Caribbean medical schools offer 72weeks of clinical rotations in total
Hi Esther, thank you for your comment. You can find further information on our criteria for an acceptable primary medical qualification, including clinical rotations, on our website here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/before-you-apply/acceptable-overseas-qualifications/our-criteria-for-acceptable-overseas-qualifications
If you do require specific guidance for your situation, you can speak with an adviser either via gmc@gmc-uk.org or alternatively +44 (0)161 923 6602.
Hi GMC,
I have investigated a lot and an information that I find confusing is if after approving the PLABs and being certified by the GMC (having a internship) can I get a job easily in the UK as a doctor? Or is it a requirement to have the MCRPs (I know that the are for residency options)
Hi Carlis,
Thank you for your comment. Provided you have successfully completed the PLAB exams and been awarded both registration and a licence to practise here in the UK, and hold the relevant working VISA, you would be eligible to apply for and accept roles to work in the UK as a doctor, without the requirement to hold a postgraduate qualification. You may however elect to undertake a postgraduate qualification during your time in the UK if you wish.
What are the steps taken after passing PLAB 2 in order to get pediatric training or become a pediatrician to be able to take MRCPCH?
hey!! great work and congratulations !!! I just had one question for you.. after completion of PLAB 2 and results , is it our choice to find a workplace and training programme to continue as a junior doctor? I mean is it left to us where we want to work and study an d complete our specialty training?
thanks.
Hi Srinidhi – thanks for getting in touch. Upon being awarded registration and a licence to practise in the UK by us, you would be eligible to take on employment as a doctor in the UK. We do not manage this process however if applying for the Foundation Programme we would encourage you to contact the UK Foundation Programme Office (https://foundationprogramme.nhs.uk) for more information or contacting the relevant Royal College if you would like to learn more about specialty training.
Hi , I will be finishing my MD pathology in India. I am considering giving the Frcpath exam. Can I get employed in the UK after passing Frcpath?
Hi Alena – provided you have successfully applied for and been awarded both registration and a licence to practise in the UK by us, you would be eligible to apply for and work as as doctor in the UK. We would encourage you to visit the applications page of our website to view the steps involved with applying for these. You can visit the page here: https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-the-register/registration-applications/application-registration
Nice Post!
I plan to apply for a graduate medicine program in the UK after I get my bachelor’s degree from India. Am interested in knowing the process of getting a fully working license to work in the UK as an international student graduating from UK Medical School. Will I be taking the PLAB examination, or is it not required due to am being a graduate of a Medical School in the UK? It would be great to help me on this topic as I am really making my plans to pursue medicine in the UK.
Thank You
Hi Sai. To be able to provide the most detailed advice for your specific situation, we’d encourage you to speak with one of our advisers who can help you through the steps you will need to take when you come to apply for registration with us. You can speak with an adviser via the contact details here. https://www.gmc-uk.org/contact-us