The Complete Guide To UKMLA

The PLAB exams are being replaced by the UKMLA in a few years. Let’s talk about what this means for you!

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What is UKMLA?

U.K. Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) is an assessment to test the core knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to practice safely as a doctor in the UK.

Who needs to appear for the UKMLA?

The UKMLA is going to be a must for :

• International medical graduates applying for registration with a license to practice in the UK
• UK medical students, as part of their medical school degree, before they can join the medical register

The UKMLA will replace the PLAB exams.

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When is UKMLA replacing the PLABs?

UKMLA will be rolled out for:

• IMGs sitting in early 2024 and
• U.K. medical students graduating in the academic year 2024–25

What are the parts of UKMLA?

It will be a 2-part assessment consisting of :

• Applied knowledge test (AKT)
• Clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA)

Part 1: Applied knowledge test (AKT)

•This will be an on-screen exam consisting of multiple-choice questions

•The type of questions will be like the current PLAB 1 exam

•The test will run 4 times a year for international candidates, at a number of locations worldwide

•You’ll need to pass the AKT before you can take the clinical and professional skills assessment (CPSA)

Part 2: Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)

• This will be an OSCE type examination
• It will be held in the Clinical assessment center in Manchester
• It will be similar to the existing PLAB 2 exam
• You will need to apply for GMC registration within 2 years when you pass the CPSA

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English Language Requirements

You need to appear for either of these exams and get the desired scores before you can appear for the parts of UKMLA.

IELTS Academic for UKVI

A score of at least 7.0 in each testing area and an overall score of 7.5

OET (Medicine version)

At least a grade ‘B’ in each testing area (speaking, listening, reading, and writing)

Both of these score certificates will be valid for 2 years.

Costs & Number of Attempts

The GMC is unclear about this and still deciding about the same.

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The Syllabus

The exams will include situations typically faced by doctors working in the UK Foundation Programme.

The syllabus is structured around:

3 themes

• Readiness for safe practice
• Managing uncertainty
• Delivering person-centered care

6 domains

• Areas of clinical practice (mental health, surgery, medicine)
• Areas of professional knowledge (biomedical sciences, medical ethics and law)
• Clinical and professional capabilities (assessing and managing risk and safeguarding vulnerable patients)
• Practical skills and procedures (otoscopy, ophthalmoscopy, checking peak expiratory flow rate)
• Patient presentations
• Disease conditions

Discussion around Personal Situations

You have passed both parts of the PLAB test and the UKMLA gets rolled out

You will have 2 years to apply for GMC registration to practice in the UK

You have passed PLAB 1 but not attempted PLAB 2

If passed within the last 2 years, you can go for CPSA, else you will have to appear in AKT.

You have attempted PLAB 1 but not passed it

You need to appear in AKT and the attempt will be counted towards the maximum attempt of part 1 of the exam (AKT)

You have passed PLAB 1 and attempted PLAB 2, but not passed

You need to appear in CPSA and the attempt will be counted towards the maximum attempt of part 2 of the exam (CPSA)

My Views about the UKMLA

I personally feel that UKMLA will be very similar to the PLAB exams because the themes and domains to be tested in UKMLA are very similar to ones that are tested in the current PLAB exams.

The UKMLA will standardize the entry into the foundation program and later into training posts because all medical students in the U.K. and IMGs will have to appear in the same exam (similar to the USMLE).

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