If you wish to practice medicine in the UK, you are on the right page. As a foreigner, there is a lot involved when it comes to becoming a doctor in the UK. Like any other place in the world, it involves a complex training process after which you can specialize in the area of medicine you want.
Here is everything you need to know about practicing as a doctor in the UK.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Degree in the UK?
Generally, the length it takes to get to become a doctor in the UK can depend on your chosen path and your specialization. However, getting a medical degree in the UK can take up to 5 years for undergraduates and up to 4 years for graduates.
You will then need to spend two years completing the Foundation Programme in a clinical environment. This is followed by 2 to 3 years of Core Medical Training and 4-7 years of specialist training. Typically, one can take up to 10 years of training to become a doctor in the UK.
How to Become a Medical Doctor in the UK
Here is what you need to become a medical doctor in the UK.
- Go to Medical School
To qualify as a doctor in the UK, you need to undertake and pass a medicine program in medical schools in the country. If you are an undergraduate, you will need high grades in mathematics and sciences and pass the admission test.
However, if you are already a graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in a Medicine related field you can apply for graduate entry medicine programmes. This allows you to further your education and boost your career prospects.
- Get a License
According to UK law, anyone intending to become a medical doctor must hold a license to practice. This is regardless of whether they are working full time or part-time, in the NHS or the independent sector. This also applies whether you are working on a permanent or a locum basis.
Once you have attained a medical degree from a medical university in the UK, you now need to register with the General Medical Council (GMC). To complete this registration, you will need to pass specific exams and have a primary medical qualification. You also need to show your skills and capabilities like proficiency in the English language.
Also, the requirements for registration with the GMC depend on several factors such as:
- Your nationality
- Whether or not you have done a post-graduate training or internship
- Country where you acquired your primary medical qualification
- Type of work you are applying for
To know your qualification status, be sure to check with the GMC. It is also worth noting that those who graduate after 2022 must take the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) exam.
- Pass a Two-Year Foundation Programme
The next step is to begin the foundation programme, which takes two years. Ideally, the programme involves continuing with your education and working at the same time in the NHS.
You will be placed in different specialties in the medical field for several months and be assessed. When you start the programme, you will start to earn a salary and you will gain the necessary experience.
- Specialization
Once you have successfully completed the foundation programme, you have the option to continue working and learning through the GP training, which can go up to three years. Alternatively, you can choose another medical specialty training to help you specialize in your area of medicine.
With the specialty training, you will go through the training between five and eight years. Also, you will have to choose between a run-through programme, where you apply once and are then employed throughout the programme. The other option is the uncoupled programme where you have complete core training for about 2 to 3 years before going into a competitive entry to a higher specialty training.
- Earn Continuous Professional Development Points
As a medical doctor in the UK, it helps to continue building your knowledge by completing online courses and attending seminars and workshops. This will help you earn Continuous Professional Development points each year.
Conclusion
Although a long process, working as a doctor in the UK can be quite fulfilling and rewarding. If you are applying outside the UK, make sure that you meet all the requirements for the UK Visas and Immigration regulations.
This way, you will gain entry and work in the UK. You can apply for a Tier 2 visa, which is sponsored by a UK trust and offered to skilled workers or a Tier 5 visa, which is sponsored by a medical body and offered to medical trainees.