Work as a doctor in the UK

If you’re looking for locum or permanent job opportunities abroad, you might consider relocating to work as a doctor in the UK. The United Kingdom has a well-established healthcare system that consists primarily of the NHS (National Health Service), while offering private healthcare for patients that can afford it. Still, their NHS is considered to be one of the largest and best public healthcare sectors in the world.

On this page we aim to provide you with more information on the steps involved for a South African to work as a doctor in the UK.

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The pros and cons of working as a doctor in the UK

PROS

There are a number of reasons why a South African doctor might want to work in the UK, such as:

  • Good job opportunities: As mentioned, the UK has a large and well-established healthcare system, which means that there are often more job opportunities available for doctors.

  • Higher pay: Salaries for doctors in the UK tend to be higher than in South Africa.

  • Professional development: The UK has a reputation for providing high-quality training and education for doctors, which can be appealing for those looking to develop their skills and knowledge.

  • Quality of life: The UK is known for its high standard of living, for doctors looking for a better work-life balance.

  • Cultural exchange: Working in the UK can be an opportunity for South African doctors to experience a new culture and broaden their horizons.

CONS

Although there are many benefits to working as a doctor in the UK, it’s always wise to weigh them up with the potential difficulties before making the decision to relocate:

  • Competition for jobs: While there may be more job opportunities available in the UK compared to South Africa, there is also more competition for these positions as many doctors from around the world are interested in working in the UK.

  • Cost of living: The cost of living in the UK, particularly in larger cities, tends to be higher than in South Africa. So, you may need to budget carefully to maintain the same standard of living.

  • Cultural adjustment: Moving to a new country remains an adjustment, both personally and professionally. You will need to adapt to new working practices, cultural norms, and healthcare systems.

  • Weather: The UK is known for its often damp and chilly climate, which may be a significant adjustment for those used to the warmer, sunnier weather of South Africa.

Requirements for working as a doctor in the UK

The most important thing to know is that you cannot work in the UK until you have registered with the GMC (General Medical Council) with a license to practise. Unfortunately, registering with the GMC has its own requirements. Below is an overview of the requirements you will have to meet to work as a doctor in the UK:

  1. Pass the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or OET (Occupational English Test) test.
  2. Pass the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) test.
  3. OR hold an acceptable post-graduate qualification (in which case you won’t need to complete the PLAB test – see below).
  4. Finally register with the GMC (General Medical Council) with a license to practice.

As you can see, the process becomes a bit more complicated than meets the eye. Although we will try to provide you with as much practical information as possible, you would do well to consider contacting an international recruitment agency to assist you with the process from the get-go. 

Types of GMC registration

There are various types of GMC registration. Make sure you apply for the right registration to avoid wasting time and money.

Provisional registration

Provisional registration is similar to the HPCSA registration for medical interns. This registration enables doctors to work under supervision to complete the Foundation year one (F1) of the UK Foundation Programme. The F1 is essentially the equivalent of a 2-year South African medical internship. Therefore, if you have already completed your internship in South Africa then this registration shouldn’t apply to you.

Full registration

Full registration with a licence to practise typically applies to South African doctors that have completed their internship and are now looking to work in the UK. With this registration doctors can:

  • Complete the Foundation year two (F2) of the UK Foundation Programme in whichever training programme they are accepted into (i.e., if you want to train further in a specific field).
  • Work unsupervised in the NHS.
Specialist and GP registration

Doctors have to specialise in general practice if they want to practise as a GP in the UK. They would essentially be the equivalent of a Family Medicine specialist in South Africa. 

So, specialist and GP registrations apply to doctors that wish to work as consultants or GPs in the NHS, even as locums. However, it is important to note that doctors that trained or specialised in South Africa first need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) or Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR) before they can apply for either of these registrations. 

Since the process of obtaining these certificates can be difficult and lengthy (especially from outside the UK), it might be a good idea to first apply for full GMC registration, enter a relevant training programme in the UK, and then apply for specialist/GP registration once you have completed the necessary training. Click here to read what the GMC says about applying for specialist and GP registration.

Different routes to registering with the GMC

Luckily for us, if you’ve graduated with an MBChB degree in South Africa then the GMC sees your degree as an Acceptable Primary Qualification (APQ). That basically means that they view it as equal to receiving a medical degree in the UK (before internship).

Below is an overview of the main routes you can then follow to register with the GMC, depending on your starting point.

  1. If you have not yet completed your internship in South Africa, you can apply for provisional registration with a licence to practise. This will enable you to enter the first year of the UK Foundation Programme (F1) – if you get accepted. You will not be able to practise in any other scope.
  2. If you have already completed your internship in South Africa then you must apply for full registration with a licence to practise. This can be done in one of three ways:
    • The PLAB route (most common route taken).
    • The sponsorship route.
      • For this route, you will need sponsorship from a GMC-approved sponsor (they usually assist with your registration).
    • The acceptable post-graduate qualification route.
      • If you hold an acceptable post-grad qualification then you don’t need to pass the PLAB exams.
      • Click the link to view the current acceptable post-grad qualifications.
  3. Apply directly for specialist or GP registration (only if eligible – see above under Types of GMC Registration).
Tip

If you want to move to the UK to start specialising or working as a qualified specialist, getting a full GMC registration and first finding your feet in the NHS would still be a great start to your journey. Getting a full GMC registration does not preclude you from getting a specialist/GP registration at a later stage when you have complete the necessary training.

Steps to working as a doctor in the UK

1. Register with the General Medical Council (GMC)

Since most South African doctors will have to take the PLAB route if they want to relocate to the UK for work, we will focus on that route in the section below.
 
How to register with the General Medical Council:
    1. Contact HPCSA and request the following documents:
        • Internship Duty Certificate (IDC).
        • Certificate of Good Standing (CGS or COS) – please note that this is only valid for 3 months so consider requesting it at a slightly later stage!

       

    2. Get certified copies of the following:
      • MBChB degree.
      • Passport (NB expiry date must be >3 months after you plan to return to South Africa).
          • Certification by a commissioner of oaths is required.

         

    3. Submit the following documents to EPIC (Electronic Portfolio of International Credentials) for verification of your qualifications.
      • Internship Duty Certificate (IDC).
      • Certified copy of your MBChB degree.
      • *Certificate showing completion of your speciality training if applying for specialist registration (NB first check if your qualification falls under the GMC’s list of Acceptable Post-graduate Qualifications).
          • EPIC is the online portal used by ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates), an independent company that verifies the authenticity and validity of your qualifications. Via EPIC, they can then send your verification certificate through to the GMC upon request. Alternatively, they can send the certificate to you to submit to the GMC yourself.

         

    4. Apply for a police clearance certificate.

 

  1. Complete the IELTS or OET exam.
      • Only valid if completed within the last 2 years and you achieved an overall score of at least 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 per module.

     

  2. Apply for the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) tests.
    • The PLAB tests consist of two parts.
      • PLAB 1 is a written exam with 180 MCQs which you can write in Johannesburg.
      • PLAB 2 is an OSCE that can only be done in the UK.
    • Before you can apply for PLAB 1, you first need to create a GMC Online account and submit your IELTS/OET and EPIC verification documents (see above).
    • Once they have verified and accepted your documents, you can book a spot to sit PLAB 1.
    • Once you have passed PLAB 1, you can apply for PLAB 2.
        • Remember that you will need to apply for a visitor’s visa to do PLAB 2 in the UK. Click here to find out what the UK website says about applying for a visitor’s visa.

       

  3. Register with the GMC:
    • Please note that you can only start with this step once you have passed PLAB 1 & 2 and meet all the requirements.
    • If you haven’t done so already, you now have to create a GMC Online account.
    • Complete and submit the online application form for full GMC registration.
    • Submit the required certified documents.
    • Follow your application process on the GMC portal.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that the UK will be introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) in 2024. This test will be applicable to all international doctors that wish to work in the UK via the PLAB route.

2. Get a job in the UK

Registration with the GMC does not guarantee that you will find a job in the UK. Just as in South Africa, you still need to apply, interview, and get accepted for a job or training program. 

Since your full registration will be new, you’ll be required to work within an approved practice setting (APS) – facilities that have been appointed by the GMC where newly registered doctors can practice. This includes most NHS employers, but it’s important to confirm this before signing an employment contract. 

Considering the various factors involved in registering with the GMC and finding a job suitable for you, it might be well worth getting a recruitment agency to assist and support you throughout the process. They will know of various job opportunities at multiple facilities across the UK and can even provide CV setup and interview support to help you succeed.

But if you want to look for work directly, you can always start at the NHS Jobs website and take it from there.

3. Get a Health and Care Worker visa

As a South African doctor going to work in the UK, you can apply for the Health and Care Worker visa. You can apply for the visa up to three months before your employment start date, and the visa can last for up to five years. If the five years expire, or you change jobs, then you will need to apply for an extension to your visa.

Below are the eligibility criteria for a Health and Care Worker visa:

  • Be a qualified doctor, nurse, healthcare professional, adult social care professional (tick).
  • Work in an eligible job (tick).
  • Be appointed to work at a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office, i.e., at the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care (ensure this before taking a job in the UK).
  • Have a confirmed job offer (provided by your prospective employer).
  • Have a valid “certificate of sponsorship”. This electronic document contains all the information required about the UK job you have been offered (provided by your prospective employer).
  • Be paid the minimum salary for your type of work (again, prospective employer).
  • Passed the IELTS or OET (should have been completed prior to PLABs).
  • Have sufficient personal savings to support yourself for your first month in the UK (i.e., save up before applying for a visa).

If you applied for work through a recruitment agency then they can support you through this process. Many of the jobs acquired via agencies will also cover the fee for your work visa, so be sure to ask your agency before you apply!

If not, then we recommend that you visit the Health and Care Worker visa website to make sure you have everything you need before applying.

4. Find accommodation in the UK

This step is pretty straightforward but could take some time, depending on where you are looking to stay. If you are working through a recruitment agency then they should be able to help you to find accommodation close to your work, or at the very least point you in the right direction. 

Otherwise, you can either search for accommodation online or contact a local estate agent in the area that you would like to stay. If you can’t find accommodation immediately then there’s always the option of staying at a hotel, guesthouse, or Airbnb until you find the right place for you.

5. Open a UK bank account and get a tax number

Once you get to the UK, you want to open a bank account as soon as possible so that you can get paid. You will need the following documentation to open a bank account:

  • Certified copy of your passport.
  • Proof of address (or accepted equivalent if staying at a hotel/friend/etc.).
  • Employment letter.
Tax will be deducted by your employer before you get paid, which should take care of significant admin. However, you will still need to submit your annual tax returns. Click here to read what their website says about paying tax in the UK.

6. Get a National Insurance (NI) number

South African doctors employed in the UK have to pay National Insurance. With a NI number you can also claim certain benefits, like State Pension. 

Your NI contribution usually gets deducted from your monthly salary along with your tax contributions. It’s important to keep your NI number safe and only share it when absolutely necessary, as it also serves as your reference number with the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Click here to find out how you can apply for a NI number.

Read about Working as a doctor in Ireland

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