NHS Clinical Attachment Support for IMG Doctors
Getting an NHS clinical attachment is harder than it should be. There's no central system, most Trusts don't advertise placements, and many emails to consultants never get a reply. Meanwhile your visa, PLAB date or job applications are waiting.
Our NHS clinical attachment support service helps international medical graduates find and arrange a clinical attachment in an NHS hospital. We match you with suitable placements, contact hospitals on your behalf, guide you through the paperwork and help you turn the attachment into evidence for your NHS job applications.
Quick answer: CareerPro UK helps IMG doctors find and arrange NHS clinical attachments. Email your CV, preferred specialty and the locations you can travel to. We look for suitable placements, contact hospitals for you, and guide you through the application, police or DBS checks and occupational health. The Trust's own fee (if any) is paid to the Trust.
What we do
Find the right placement: we look for clinical attachments that fit your specialty, career plans and where you can realistically live or travel.
Contact hospitals for you: we approach the right departments and medical education teams, so you aren't sending dozens of unanswered emails.
Guide you through the paperwork: application forms, references, police certificate or DBS, occupational health and the documents each Trust asks for.
Prepare you to stand out: how to set goals, behave on the ward and in MDTs, and collect examples, feedback and a UK reference you can use in your applications.
Link it to your NHS job applications: if you want, we can also review your CV and supporting statements so your attachment is described properly. See our £35 NHS CV review.
Recent clinical attachments we've arranged
Here are some of the placements we've recently set up for IMG doctors. We keep the Trust names confidential, at the request of the doctors and hospitals involved.
General Surgery, London: a clinical attachment in the surgical department of a well-known London NHS Trust.
Psychiatry, the Midlands: a clinical attachment in psychiatry at an NHS Trust in the Midlands.
Respiratory Medicine, the Midlands: a clinical attachment in respiratory medicine at an NHS Trust in the Midlands region.
Anaesthesia, West Yorkshire: a clinical attachment in anaesthesia for an international medical graduate from Sri Lanka.
Surgery, Manchester: a clinical attachment in a surgical department for an international medical graduate from India.
“Really professional. I was struggling. I had sent 200 emails to consultants and none of them got a response, but CareerPro helped me to arrange this attachment. Really thankful to them.”
— Dr A., international medical graduate from India (clinical attachment in Surgery, Manchester)
Every placement is different, and we can't guarantee a particular hospital, but these show the range of specialties and regions we work across.
Who it's for
IMG doctors who want UK clinical experience before applying for NHS jobs
Doctors preparing for PLAB 2 who want to combine the exam with an attachment
GMC-registered doctors still looking for their first NHS post
Doctors who have tried contacting hospitals themselves without success
How it works
Tell us what you need. Email your CV, preferred specialty and the locations you can travel to at cvreviewexperts@gmail.com.
We look for placements. We match you with clinical settings that fit your goals and contact hospitals on your behalf.
We guide you through the paperwork. From the application to DBS or police clearance and occupational health.
You start your attachment prepared, with a plan for turning it into evidence for your NHS applications.
What you'll usually need
Each Trust has its own list, but most ask for:
An up-to-date CV
Passport and, if you're coming from abroad, a standard visitor visa
Primary medical qualification certificate
PLAB results or GMC registration, depending on the Trust
English language results (IELTS or OET) where required
Police certificate from your home country or a UK DBS check
Occupational health clearance and vaccination records
Two professional references
Costs and timelines
Many NHS Trusts charge their own fee for a clinical attachment, which you pay directly to the Trust. In our directory of NHS clinical attachment programmes, published Trust fees range from free for short placements to £1,600. On top of that, budget for your visa, travel, accommodation and any checks. Allow at least two months for clearances; several Trusts say so on their websites.
Email us for our current support fee and availability for your specialty.
What we don't do
We can't guarantee a placement in a particular hospital or specialty. Final decisions are made by the Trust and the supervising consultant.
A clinical attachment is observational. You won't have patient care responsibility, and it doesn't guarantee an NHS job.
We're independent and not part of the NHS, any Trust or the GMC.
Free resources
NHS Clinical Attachment Directory: official Trust programmes, fees and requirements
Clinical Attachment in the UK: the complete guide for IMG doctors
Clinical attachment email to a consultant: 3 templates that get replies
Clinical attachment vs observership: what's the difference?
Paid clinical attachments in the UK: what actually exists
After PLAB 2: what next? Your route to a first NHS job
Frequently asked questions
Can you arrange a clinical attachment for me?
Yes. We help you find and arrange a clinical attachment, contact hospitals on your behalf and guide you through the paperwork. The final decision is made by the Trust.
Which specialties can you help with?
Tell us your preferred specialty when you email. We'll look for suitable placements and let you know what's realistic.
Do I need GMC registration?
It depends on the Trust. Some programmes need GMC registration; others accept doctors with PLAB or registration in their home country.
How long does it take to arrange?
Allow at least two months, because Trust clearances such as police checks and occupational health take time.
Is a clinical attachment paid?
No. Attachments are unpaid, and many Trusts charge their own fee.
Will a clinical attachment get me an NHS job?
Not on its own, but it gives you UK experience, NHS examples and often a UK reference, which strengthen your applications.
Get started
Email your CV, preferred specialty and the locations you can travel to at cvreviewexperts@gmail.com. You can also see all our services on the services page.
CareerPro UK is an independent service and is not affiliated with the NHS, any NHS Trust or the GMC.
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