Pathway timeline visualiser

A realistic UK IMG pathway takes 12–30 months from graduation to your first NHS shift. Choose a scenario, and we lay out the pathway in parallel lanes so external-wait blocks (regulators, medical schools, UKVI) are visible next to the tasks you actually control.

Your situation

Parallel-lane timeline

Grad September 2026 → first NHS shift January 2028 (~17 months)

M0
M3
M6
M9
M12
M15

English test

English test (book → sit → result)September 2026 → November 2026

PLAB 1 & 2

Wait for PLAB 1 slotNovember 2026 → January 2027
PLAB 1 sit → resultJanuary 2027 → February 2027
Wait for PLAB 2 slot (Manchester)February 2027 → July 2027
PLAB 2 sit → resultJuly 2027 → July 2027

EPIC verification

EPIC verification (Intealth)February 2027 → June 2027

GMC registration

GMC registration decisionJuly 2027 → August 2027

NHS job + visa + start

NHS job search → offerAugust 2027 → November 2027
Certificate of Sponsorship → visa decisionNovember 2027 → December 2027
Arrival + trust induction → first shiftDecember 2027 → January 2028
Effort task (you control)External wait (regulator, school, UKVI)

Expected scenario · first NHS shift around January 2028

A parallel-lane plan from graduation to your first NHS post, with external-wait blocks flagged so you can protect the critical path.

Why this result

  • Expected scenario end-to-end: ~16 months (70 weeks) to first NHS shift.
  • External-wait blocks (regulators, schools, UKVI) account for ~56 weeks — schedule effort tasks around them.
  • EPIC verification runs in parallel with PLAB 2, shaving weeks off the critical path.
  • English test is the first blocker on the PLAB lane.

Recommended next actions

  • 1. Book English test (or confirm your certificate is <2 years old)

    The English pass is the earliest lever you control — no other GMC step accepts an expired certificate.

    Open official page

  • 2. Open your EPIC account with Intealth today

    EPIC is almost always on the critical path. Start early so the school response overlaps with PLAB.

    Open official page

  • 3. Track PLAB 2 Manchester slot releases

    PLAB 2 slot availability is the single largest source of delay for most IMGs.

    Open official page

Official sources

Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.

Rule version 2026.07.01 · Generated 10/09/2026, 04:19:19

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