Can I sit PLAB 1 outside the UK?

Yes. PLAB 1 runs in UK cities, in Dublin and Madrid, and at overseas venues, four times a year. Some overseas venues close from February 2027, so check GMC Online before you plan travel.

Yes. PLAB 1 is held in the UK, in two other European cities and at a number of overseas venues. PLAB 2 is different: it is held only in Manchester, so every candidate travels to the UK for it.

Where PLAB 1 is held

In the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford and Sheffield.
In the EU: Dublin and Madrid.
Overseas: a number of other countries. The dates and locations show in the PLAB booking service in GMC Online, and candidates booked outside the UK and EU get their venue details from the British Council.

There are four sittings a year, in February, May, August and November.

What is changing

The GMC has announced that, because of declining demand, it will stop offering PLAB 1 in Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra and Chennai from February 2027, and that its overseas schedule will drop from four sittings a year to three.

If you are in Ghana, that means planning to travel for PLAB 1 from 2027. Wherever you are, check the current venues in GMC Online before you book flights or a visa, and allow for the smaller overseas schedule when you choose a sitting.

Choosing where to sit

A few things to weigh:

Cost. A venue near home saves flights and hotel nights. A UK venue may make sense if you plan to combine the trip with other things, but it adds a visa and travel.
Dates. With fewer overseas sittings, the date that fits your study plan may be at a different venue from the one nearest you.
Visas. If your venue is in another country, allow time for the visa before you commit to a date.
Comfort on the day. Three hours of focused work goes better after a night's sleep near the venue than after a long journey that morning.

PLAB 2 means Manchester

PLAB 2 runs throughout the year at the GMC's clinical assessment centre in Manchester. You must pass it within two years of passing PLAB 1, so the trip to the UK is part of every doctor's plan. Read more in what happens after you pass PLAB 1.

Questions people ask

Can I sit PLAB 1 in my own country?

Possibly. The GMC runs PLAB 1 at a number of overseas venues and lists them in the booking service in GMC Online. Check there for the current list.

Is PLAB 1 still held in Accra?

The GMC will stop offering PLAB 1 in Accra, as well as Dhaka, Alexandria and Chennai, from February 2027.

How often is PLAB 1 held?

Four times a year, in February, May, August and November. The GMC has said its overseas schedule will drop to three sittings a year.

Where is PLAB 2 held?

At the GMC's clinical assessment centre in Manchester.