The Bottom Line
- <strong>PLAB has scaled massively</strong> in recent years; passing PLAB is not the bottleneck anymore — <strong>first NHS job access is</strong>.
- GMC workforce data suggests <strong>slower ‘first job’ connection</strong> for recent PLAB joiners, implying a tougher market (and/or longer lead times).
- Plan like a project: <strong>exam timeline + registration timeline + job-hunt timeline</strong>. Your critical risk is <strong>runway</strong> (time + cash + visa constraints).
What changed: PLAB demand rose faster than ‘first job’ capacity
The UK remains attractive because the pathway is clear and the exams are standardised. But the market dynamic has shifted: the “post-PLAB” phase (shortlisting, interviews, onboarding) is increasingly the limiting step. In other words: more people can now reach GMC registration, but not everyone converts quickly into a first UK post.
PLAB volume and pass rates: the headline signals
GMC reporting shows very high PLAB 1 candidate volume in 2024, and the GMC also publishes recent PLAB 1 pass rates by year. Don’t over-interpret a single year — but do treat the direction of travel as a signal that competition at the job entry point has intensified.
A key ‘market truth’ for 2026
If you only optimise for PLAB, you may still lose time post-registration. In 2026, the winning play is to <strong>optimise for employability</strong> at the same time as exam performance.
The strongest proxy we have for ‘first job friction’
In GMC workforce research, “connection to a designated body” is often used as an employment-linked signal (many doctors connect when taking a UK post with a Responsible Officer framework). Recent cohorts show lower proportions connecting within six months than earlier cohorts — a hint of more challenging conditions for doctors seeking their first UK job via the PLAB route.
A safer planning model: three timelines, not one
1
1) Exam timeline (PLAB 1 → PLAB 2)
Book dates early, then build backwards. Your aim is not just a pass — it is a pass that leaves you enough runway to execute the next two timelines.
2
2) Registration timeline (PSV → GMC application → identity checks)
Treat credential verification as the gating step. Start PSV/verification early because it can be the longest lead time and it sits on your critical path.
3
3) Job-hunt timeline (shortlisting → interview → pre-employment checks → start date)
Assume the job-hunt is not ‘two weeks’. In many trusts, pre-employment checks alone can be a material delay. Build contingency time into your plan.
Where iatroX fits (without hype)
iatroX is useful as a <strong>revision layer</strong> (UK exam mapping + retrieval practice) and as a <strong>UK practice reference layer</strong> once you’re working (Knowledge Centre + Ask iatroX + Q&A). It does not replace dedicated PLAB resources — it closes the loop between content, questions, and guideline context.
Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.
SourceGMC: Recent pass rates for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2
Open Link SourceGMC PDF: Annual report 2024 (includes PLAB candidate volume reporting)
Open Link SourceGMC PDF: Workforce report 2025 (includes ‘designated body’ connection signal for PLAB joiners)
Open Link SourceiatroX Academy: GMC Registration Roadmap
Open Link SourceiatroX: Quiz Landing (UK exam revision)
Open Link SourceiatroX: Knowledge Centre (UK guideline index + clinical Q&A library)
Open Link