GMC-acceptable primary medical qualifications
The GMC accepts a primary medical qualification if it appears on its list of acceptable qualifications for full or provisional registration. If your degree isn't on the list — or if you took it via a non-standard mode of study — the GMC may refuse to accept it as evidence of medical training. Check the list before booking PLAB.
Who this applies to
- Doctors preparing to apply for PLAB.
- Doctors with degrees from schools with multiple campuses or partner universities.
- Doctors who studied part-time or by distance learning.
Key requirements
| Source of truth | GMC's acceptable-qualifications list |
|---|---|
| What counts | Full-time, in-person medical degree from a listed school |
| What typically does not | Purely distance-learning MBBS, unaccredited private schools |
Steps
1. Look up your medical school on the GMC's list
Match the school and the campus you actually studied at, not just the parent university.
2. Confirm mode of study
The GMC expects the qualification to have been earned through predominantly in-person training.
3. Contact your medical school if unclear
Ask them to confirm which listed institution issued your degree.
Common failure points
- Mistaking a related university for the listed medical school.
- Taking a course that switched accreditation partway through.
Official sources
Every fact above should be confirmed against the controlling source before you act on it.