After PLAB 2: What Next? A Step-by-Step Guide to Your First NHS Job
Passing PLAB 2 feels like the finish line. It isn't quite. Between your result and your first day on an NHS ward there are a few more steps: GMC registration, job applications, interviews, a visa and pre-employment checks. Doctors who plan these steps early often start work months sooner than those who wait for each one to finish before starting the next.
Quick answer: after passing PLAB 2, apply straight away for GMC registration with a licence to practise through GMC Online. The GMC says your application must be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2. While it's being processed, prepare your CV, start applying for trust grade and clinical fellow posts on NHS Jobs and Trac, and line up referees. Once you have an offer, the employer issues a certificate of sponsorship for your Health and Care Worker visa and starts pre-employment checks.
Step 1: apply for GMC registration
Log in to GMC Online and apply for registration with a licence to practise. You'll usually need:
Your primary medical qualification, verified through the GMC's primary source verification process (EPIC)
Evidence of an acceptable internship, if you're applying for full registration
Evidence of your English language skills. The GMC currently accepts a recent PLAB 2 pass as evidence if you apply within three months of passing and your IELTS or OET scores are less than three years old.
Certificates of good standing from regulators you've been registered with
Your registration fee
Timing matters. The GMC says your application should be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2; after that it will ask for extra evidence of your knowledge and skills. Apply as early as you can, and check the GMC website for the current rules, because they do change.
The GMC will tell you whether you still need an identity check. If you sat PLAB 2 in the UK, your identity is normally checked at the test centre.
Step 2: work out which jobs to apply for
Most IMGs start in non-training posts: trust grade, locally employed doctor (LED) or junior clinical fellow, at the level that matches their experience. If you're not sure what the grades mean, read our guide to NHS doctor grades and pay.
Training posts (foundation, core and specialty training) are recruited nationally, and UK graduates are now prioritised for them under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026. Non-training posts aren't affected.
Step 3: prepare your CV and supporting statement
Don't wait for your GMC number to start this. Write a two-page UK-style CV, with your PLAB and GMC status at the top and your overseas posts given UK-equivalent grades. Then build a supporting statement you can adapt for each job. Our guides will help:
How to explain a career gap, including the months spent on PLAB
Step 4: start applying
Many Trusts shortlist only doctors with full GMC registration and a licence to practise, or those who will have it by the start date. Once your application is well under way, start applying, and say clearly when you expect your registration. Search on NHS Jobs and Trac, set up alerts, and apply within a few days of a post going live, because many close early. Our guide to getting your first NHS job with no UK experience explains how to get shortlisted.
Step 5: use the waiting time well
If you're waiting for GMC registration or for interviews, these all strengthen your application:
A clinical attachment in your specialty. See our clinical attachment guide and consultant email templates.
A UK course such as ALS or ATLS
Free e-learning, such as safeguarding and information governance. See our list of free CPD courses.
Interview preparation. See our 20 NHS interview questions for IMG doctors.
Step 6: interview and offer
Most interviews for trust grade and clinical fellow posts are 20 to 30 minutes, often online. If you're successful, you'll get a conditional offer, usually through Trac.
Step 7: visa and pre-employment checks
If you need a visa, the employer assigns a certificate of sponsorship, and you then apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. At the same time, the Trust carries out its pre-employment checks: identity, right to work, registration, references covering the last three years, criminal record checks and occupational health. Our guide to what happens after an NHS job offer explains each one.
A realistic timeline
Every case is different, but many IMGs follow roughly this pattern:
Weeks 0 to 4: PLAB 2 result, then apply for GMC registration
Weeks 2 to 12: CV and statement ready, applications going out, GMC application being processed
Months 2 to 6: interviews and an offer, depending on how widely you apply
Then 1 to 3 months: certificate of sponsorship, visa and pre-employment checks before your start date
The biggest delays usually come from slow referees, missing documents and applications that don't get shortlisted, so start those early.
Need help with the application part?
We help IMG doctors at exactly this stage. Our £35 NHS CV review, £35 supporting statement service and clinical attachment support are all designed to get you from PLAB 2 to your first NHS job faster.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do immediately after passing PLAB 2?
Apply for GMC registration with a licence to practise through GMC Online, then start preparing your CV and applications while it's processed.
How long after PLAB 2 do I have to register with the GMC?
The GMC says your application should be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2. After that, you'll need to provide extra evidence of your knowledge and skills.
Can I apply for NHS jobs before my GMC registration is complete?
Yes, but many Trusts only shortlist doctors who have, or will have by the start date, full registration with a licence to practise. State your expected date clearly.
Can I go back to my home country after PLAB 2?
Yes. GMC registration, job applications and most interviews can all be done online.
Do I need a clinical attachment after PLAB 2?
No, but it helps. It gives you UK examples for your applications and interviews, and sometimes a UK reference.
How long does it take to get a job after PLAB 2?
It varies a lot, from a few weeks to many months. It depends on your specialty, how flexible you are on location, and how strong your applications are.
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