GMC English certificate expiry and combining sittings
The GMC applies validity rules to your IELTS or OET certificate that differ between booking PLAB and applying for registration, and it allows limited extensions in set circumstances. Check the GMC's 'Using your IELTS certificate' or 'Using your OET certificate' page for your exact dates. IELTS results can be combined only under the GMC's accepted One Skill Retake conditions; OET grades must all come from the same, most recent sitting.
Who this applies to
- Doctors whose English test is more than 18 months old.
- Doctors who scored below the threshold in one sub-test and are considering combining sittings.
Key requirements
| Validity rule | Two years from sitting date to GMC receipt of application |
|---|---|
| Combining sittings | Same test, sittings within six months, all sub-tests reach the minimum across the two |
| Renewal | Fresh sitting only — no re-issue |
Steps
1. Check the sitting date
Count two years from the date on the test report — not the certificate issue date.
2. Plan around PLAB and registration
Line up the exam so your certificate is still valid when the GMC receives your application, not just when you start PLAB.
3. Consider combining sittings
If you're close to the threshold, a second sitting within six months can be combined under GMC rules.
Common failure points
- Booking a sitting late in the timeline and missing the two-year cut-off on the GMC receipt date.
- Combining sittings taken more than six months apart.
Official sources
Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.