Being a doctor is one of the more rewarding career choices open to people; not only do you work to save and improve the quality of life of your patients, but you get paid an attractive salary the more qualified you are. However, the road to becoming a doctor can be very difficult and long, taking an average of seven years to become fully registered.
The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK’s healthcare system, and it is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Many people in Europe and around the world go the extra mile to gain employment in this system as it is both lucrative and provides opportunities to grow and improve their skills. However, before you begin this journey, it is very important that you understand the path ahead of you and decide if it is a journey you want to embark on.
In this article, we’ll go over the different pathways that potential doctors can take to enable them to work in the NHS.
The UK’s Medical Pathway
There are a few prerequisites to becoming a doctor in the UK. The first is that you must have a medical degree from a medical school recognized by the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC is the UK’s regulatory body that screens, catalogs, and ensures that all medical practitioners in the UK are legitimate and meet the minimum standard required to treat citizens.
There are 130 UK universities, but only 37 of them have a medical program. So, it is no surprise that there is fierce competition for a position in those halls, and some schools have a 5% acceptance rate. While some universities have specific requirements, all of them typically expect a minimum of three A-levels or equivalent in Chemistry, Biology, and a third in another subject like Physics or Maths. Due to the heavy competition, some even ask for four A-levels. You will also need to prepare for the University Clinical Aptitude Test, which most medical schools use to test your attitude and aptitude by assessing if your behavioral attributes and mental abilities are the right fit for the job.
You should also prepare a personal statement that reflects your motivations and relevant experiences, such as volunteering or clinical placements, that shows why you’re suitable for medical school. This is crucial because, as mentioned before, medical school is a long and arduous journey, so you need to have more than academic chops; you need to have the right temperament. An interview will likely be held as well to assess you in person.
Once you get into the school of your choice, you have to stay committed for the next five years as you undergo lectures, practical classes, individual research, exams, and placements in local hospitals where you shadow doctors in different specialties. After you graduate, you enter a two-year foundational program where you begin to work in the medical fields you have the most zeal for to get more hands-on experience. A perk of this is that you start to receive a salary for the work you put in. At the end of the second year, you’ll emerge as a registered and licensed Junior doctor of the GMC. From here, you are free to choose the route you wish to follow, and you can decide to go into a nonclinical role like teaching or management or select a specialty and begin training. Depending on your choice of specialty, training could take anywhere from three years (GP) to eight years (pediatrics).
Alternative Paths
Some universities offer a graduate program for those who graduated with an undergraduate degree from a nonmedical field. People with a 2.1 or first-class degree can apply for accelerated training. This route is similar to the normal undergraduate route, except it lasts for four years instead of five. Doctors who finish this route will continue into the two-year foundation program.
International Doctors
New International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and doctors trained outside the UK who wish to practice in the country have to undergo some additional tests to ensure their qualifications hold up to the standards the NHS expects from its doctors. First, your medical degree must come from a school recognized by the GMC. The next step for these doctors is to register for the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam. It’s an exam designed to test if the doctors who want to work in the UK are trained and equipped to work with British patients and their unique characteristics. Doctors from countries like the US, Australia, South Africa, and Hong Kong are exempt from writing the PLAB exam; they may still be required to show their English proficiency by passing the IELTS or a similar exam.
The PLAB is a two-part exam that can be difficult to pass with flying colors. So many doctors undergo weeks of intense preparations to ensure they pass the exam with as many points as they can score. These potential doctors utilize textbooks, study guides, flashcards, and question banks like CanadaQbanks to best prepare for the exam. Another way is by gaining sponsorship through specific GMC sponsorship schemes or the Medical Training Initiative (MTI) or being a graduate of the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Alternatively, if you’ve obtained degrees such as MRCP (Membership of the Royal College of Physicians) or MRCS (Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons) – or similar postgraduate certificates – these can serve as evidence of your competence.
The GMC
The GMC stands as the final barrier to a career as a medical doctor, and in their drive to ensure that you are a good match, the GMC may review your past employer references and your documented fitness-to-practice. Think of it as the final background check, ensuring that any red flags—from disciplinary issues to unresolved complaints—are sorted out before you’re cleared to serve patients.
Working as a Doctor in the UK
Now that you’ve navigated your way through medical school and licensing, you step into the vibrant, challenging world of working as a doctor in the UK. Here, the journey doesn’t end at the door of the hospital—it morphs into a dynamic career with its own set of rewards and hurdles.
The pay structure in the UK is laid out in clear NHS pay bands, which determine how much you earn based on your role and experience.
During your first year in the foundation program, you might earn around £28,000 to £32,000 a year, which then increases modestly in year two. As you move into core and specialty training, salaries gradually rise. By the time you become a registrar, earnings can be in the region of £40,000 to £50,000 per year. Once you reach consultant status, salaries typically range from £80,000 to over £100,000 a year, depending on your specialty and experience.
Yet, while these figures sound promising, keep in mind that a significant portion of your income goes toward taxes. The UK’s progressive tax system ensures that while you’re earning a respectable wage, your take-home pay might be less than expected. However, the beauty of a medical career in the UK is that there’s always room for further growth and specialization.
As you progress, you’ll take further examinations (e.g., MRCP for internal medicine, MRCS for surgery) that mark your journey toward becoming a specialist. These milestones are stepping stones that lead to greater responsibility and higher earning potential. Once you reach the consultant level, there’s room to specialize further. Whether it’s focusing on a niche area within surgery or delving into research and teaching, the opportunities are vast. For example, an IMG from South Asia might use their unique background and experiences to contribute to culturally sensitive care, bridging gaps between diverse patient populations. Finally, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is built into the system to ensure that doctors continue to update their knowledge and skills, reflecting the latest advances in medicine. It’s a commitment to lifelong learning—a promise that each doctor will always strive to be better.
