How many times can I take PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, and how long does a pass last?

You can sit each part until you have failed it four times, then apply for one final attempt. PLAB 2 must be passed within two years of PLAB 1, and registration approved within two years of PLAB 2.

You can sit each part of PLAB until you have failed it four times. After a fourth fail, you can apply for one final attempt, with evidence of 12 months of extra learning. And the clock matters as much as the count: PLAB 2 has to be passed within two years of PLAB 1, and your registration approved within two years of PLAB 2.

How many attempts you get

The rules are the same for PLAB 1 and PLAB 2:

You can keep booking and sitting while you meet the requirements, until you have failed four times.
After the fourth fail, you can apply for an additional attempt. You must show evidence of additional learning over a 12-month period.
If you fail that fifth and final attempt, you can no longer take that part.

Every attempt costs the full fee, so the cheapest route is to sit when you are ready.

How long a PLAB 1 pass lasts

You must pass PLAB 2 within two years of passing PLAB 1. During COVID-19 the GMC extended this to three years, but that extension ended on 31 March 2025.

Your pass date is the day you sat PLAB 1, not the day the result was issued. Since results take six weeks, and you cannot apply for PLAB 2 until yours is issued, the real window is a little shorter than it looks.

How long a PLAB 2 pass lasts

Your application for registration with a licence to practise should be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2. If more than two years have passed, the GMC asks for additional evidence of your knowledge and skills, and tells you what it needs after you apply.

Planning around the windows

Book PLAB 2 early in your two-year window, so a resit still fits inside it.
Start your degree verification and gather your registration documents while you prepare for PLAB 2, not after.
Time your English test. A recent PLAB 2 pass can count as your English evidence at registration, but only if your IELTS or OET minimum scores are less than three years old.

The free planner sketches these windows from your own dates.

Questions people ask

How many times can I take PLAB 1?

Until you have failed it four times. After that, you can apply for one final attempt with evidence of 12 months of extra learning.

Is the limit the same for PLAB 2?

Yes. The same rule applies.

How long is a PLAB 1 pass valid?

You must pass PLAB 2 within two years of passing PLAB 1. The COVID-era extension to three years ended on 31 March 2025.

How long after PLAB 2 can I register?

Your application should be approved within two years of passing PLAB 2. After that, the GMC asks for more evidence.