Cost gap
~£800+
MRCP costs almost 2× PLAB in exam fees alone.
Time gap
12–24 months
PLAB is the faster route to GMC registration.
Career unlock
Different
PLAB = registration. MRCP = specialty progression.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | PLAB | MRCP (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | GMC licensing exam (PLAB 1 written + PLAB 2 OSCE). | Royal College postgraduate qualification (Part 1 + Written + PACES). |
| Grants GMC registration | Yes — direct route to full registration. | No — MRCP alone does not register you with the GMC. |
| Total exam fees (2026) | ~£1,189 | ~£2,000+ |
| Typical timeline to sit | 3–9 months of prep | 18–36 months across three parts |
| UK travel required | Yes — PLAB 2 in Manchester | Yes — PACES in the UK |
| Pass rate (IMG cohort) | PLAB 1 ~70% · PLAB 2 ~60% | Part 1 ~40% · PACES ~40–50% |
| Career ceiling | Registration — enter any Trust-grade / IMT / GP training | Required for medical ST3+ (cardiology, gastro, respiratory, etc.) |
| Best for | Any IMG needing GMC registration | Doctors targeting UK medical specialty training |
Choose PLAB if…
- You need GMC registration as fast and cheaply as possible.
- You're targeting a Trust-grade / SHO / IMT-1 post first.
- You're open to any specialty and want to keep options open.
- You're within 5 years of graduation with limited postgrad experience.
Choose MRCP (usually alongside PLAB) if…
- You're set on a UK medical specialty (cardiology, gastro, etc.).
- You're aiming for ST3+ competitive entry within 2–3 years.
- You already have IM postgrad experience and want to fast-track your portfolio.
- You're considering the Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR).
The realistic pathway most IMGs take
- 1. Sit PLAB 1 & 2 — the cheapest, fastest route to GMC registration.
- 2. Land a first NHS post — Trust grade, MTI, or IMT-1 depending on your CV.
- 3. Start MRCP in year one — Part 1 while you settle, Written and PACES over the next 18 months.
- 4. Apply for ST3+ — full MRCP unlocks competitive medical training numbers.
Frequently asked
Does MRCP exempt me from PLAB?
No. MRCP (UK) does not grant a PLAB exemption. IMGs still need either PLAB or an accepted alternative (sponsored postgraduate qualification with a specific GMC-approved sponsor route, e.g. MTI) for full GMC registration. What MRCP does give you is credit against later specialty training milestones and a much stronger CV for medical ST3+ applications.
Which is cheaper — PLAB or MRCP?
PLAB is roughly £1,189 total in GMC exam fees (PLAB 1 + PLAB 2) plus travel to a UK test centre for PLAB 2. Full MRCP (Part 1 + Written + PACES) is ~£2,000+ in fees alone, plus prep resources and UK travel for PACES. PLAB is the cheaper and faster entry route; MRCP is a career investment.
Which is faster to a first NHS job?
PLAB. A motivated IMG can typically go from PLAB 1 to a UK IMT/Trust-grade post in 8–18 months. MRCP typically takes 2–3 years and is designed for doctors already in training, so most IMGs still sit PLAB first for GMC registration and pursue MRCP alongside their first NHS post.
I want to be a physician (medicine) — should I skip PLAB and do MRCP?
Almost never as a first step. Even physicians-in-training route via PLAB for registration, then use their first UK post to complete MRCP for IMT/ST3+ progression. The exception is a Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) candidate with substantial post-CCT-equivalent experience — for them MRCP is a portfolio requirement, not a shortcut.
Do NHS employers prefer MRCP over PLAB?
For Trust-grade and non-training posts (SHO, MTI, clinical fellow) both are accepted. For medical IMT and ST3+ training numbers MRCP Part 1 (and later full MRCP) is essentially required. So PLAB gets you in the door; MRCP gets you into a training number.