PLAB Part 2
PLAB Part 2 is the second part of the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) test, which is a requirement for doctors who graduated from a medical school outside of the UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland to practice medicine in the UK.
The test is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of these doctors to ensure they are on par with those starting their second year of Foundation Programme training in the UK.
PLAB Part 2 is an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) which is designed to evaluate the candidate's practical skills, knowledge and judgement in a simulated patient-doctor setting.
The exam is made up of 16 scenarios, each lasting eight minutes, which aims to reflect real-life settings, including mock consultations and acute ward scenarios.
During the OSCE, candidates will be assessed on their communication skills, examination skills, and ability to make a diagnosis and management plan. The exam will also evaluate the candidate's knowledge of ethical and legal issues, and their ability to provide safe and effective care to patients.
The exam is conducted by trained assessors at GMC's clinical assessment center and it runs throughout the year.
It's important to note that candidates must pass PLAB Part 1 before moving to PLAB Part 2. Also, after passing both parts of the PLAB test, candidates can apply for registration with a license to practice.
The application must be approved within two years of passing Part 2 of the test.
After two years of passing Part 2, the candidate's PLAB test results will expire. The GMC provides sample questions and past papers for PLAB Part 2 on their website, as well as guidance on what to expect in the exam. Additionally, there are also various PLAB preparation courses and resources available online.
