UKMLA vs PLAB- what’s changed!

With the latest news coming in from GMC regarding UKMLA finally being implemented in 2024, there may be questions popping up in your head regarding what it implies for you.

Whether you are an International Medical Graduate already in the middle of your PLAB journey or have just started thinking of starting your journey to practice in the UK, we have all your answers here.

What is UKMLA?

UKMLA stands for United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment. It is an attempt to ensure that all medical doctors seeking registration to practice medicine in the UK meet a common threshold for safe practice appropriate to their point of entry to the medical register.

So while earlier PLAB was only for IMGs, UKMLA will be the common pre-requisite for IMGs as well as medical doctors graduating from the UK.

What is the format of UKMLA?

UKMLA comprises of two parts:

AKT- Applied Knowledge Test- a written assessment of application of clinical knowledge via MCQs, similar to PLAB 1.

CPSA– Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment- Objective structured clinical exam(OSCE) involving simulations that reflect mock consultations/ wards, similar to PLAB2.

AKT will be a prerequisite to sit for CPSA.

Do IMGs now need to appear for PLAB or UKMLA?

GMC mentions that while UK medical doctors graduating from the academic year 2024-25 onwards will sit for UKMLA as part of their degree, IMGs will continue taking the PLAB test during 2024. The PLAB test though will become compliant with the requirements of the UKMLA. This will include replacing the PLAB blueprint with the MLA content map.

For PLAB 1, all tests sat on or after 8 August 2024 will be based on the MLA content map.
For PLAB 2, all tests sat on or after 17 May 2024 will be based on the MLA content map.

So what has changed and what has not?

The MLA content map outlines core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for UK practice. Since PLAB already covers these areas, this change won’t affect how candidates prepare for or their experience of the test.

Eligibility criteria won’t change. All those eligible to take the PLAB exam will continue to do so in the future as well.

English language criteria shall also remain the same.

The validity periods of both parts of the exam shall also remain the same.

What is the MLA content map?

The MLA content map lists the core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practice medicine in the UK and guides the structure of UKMLA and PLAB as well, going forward.

For MLA candidates, it indicates which content areas could possibly be covered by the questions or scenarios in both parts of the test.

It has 3 overarching themes and 6 sections:

Themes

Readiness for safe practice
Managing uncertainty
Delivering person-centered care

Sections

Areas of clinical practice
Areas of professional knowledge
Clinical and professional capabilities
Practical skills and procedures
Patient presentations
Conditions (pathological diseases or clinical diagnosis)

The MLA content map is expected to be regularly updated to reflect current medical practice.

This means that you should continue preparation as before and do not worry about the change as the changes are mostly administrative and do not impact the candidates but do be aware of the MLA content map that the tests will soon be based on.

Keep watching this space as we’ll keep updating it with the latest information as it keeps coming in. Do leave your queries in comments and we’ll do our best to clarify.