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To be a doctor in the UK, you essentially need two key things: relevant qualifications and experience, along with good English language skills. Unlike the Middle East, where English is a foreign language, those aspirants wanting to practice in Great Britain must work on improving their English skills. Candidates must ensure that they complete the ‘academic version’ of the IELTS, according to the GMC’s requirements.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score requirement for doctors to register with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK is an overall score of at least 7.5 (out of a possible 9) overall in the Academic format of the IELTS exam, with a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four sections (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). This requirement applies to doctors who have completed their medical education in a country where English is not the first or native language and are applying for registration with the GMC.
It's worth noting that there are other language proficiency tests that may be accepted by the GMC, including the Occupational English Test (OET).
Kindly note that The GMC does not accept applicants who score lower than this standard and the IELTS scores are valid for two years.
If a qualified, experienced Doctor has given IELTS and was not able to qualify with the requisite score, what can be done to gain GMC Registration?
In all sincerity, GMC registration criteria are meant to inspire health professionals to prove their English Proficiency. It is recommended that Medical Professionals take dedicated one-on-one classes and achieve their goal. Alternatively, there are plenty of career opportunities that can be explored in middle eastern countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia wherein working knowledge of English is more than sufficient and health professionals will do just fine with just a short orientation of the Arabic language and culture.