Hi, my name is Alankruta, an IMG from India. I recently passed my PLAB 1 exam in May ’22 and am currently preparing for my PLAB 2, which is in November this year. In today's blog, I will share my experience of the few things I did after my PLAB1 result, which I hope will help those of you who are confused or in doubt about what to do after your PLAB1 result.
In this blog, I’ll be covering the following topics:
• Booking PLAB2 exam.
• Academy, Accommodation, and VISA
• Miscellaneous
Booking the PLAB 2 Exam
Getting your PLAB1 scorecard reading “pass” is the best feeling ever, isn’t it? The weeks of patient yet anxious wait is over. As the news begins to settle and you feel your brain working again, you start thinking about the next step - PLAB2.
The PLAB2 booking is not even close to that of the PLAB1 exam. It’s straightforward and very simple. With the GMC increasing the PLAB2 seats, ensuring everybody gets a slot, you can heave a sigh of relief. You can book your PLAB2 seat as soon as you have your PLAB1 result.
Just one thing to keep in mind before you do so- keep your debit/credit card ready. You see, a lot of cards have a limit set on them for safety purposes. Be sure to get in touch with your bank to increase the limit on your card to make the payment of approximately 950 GBP, without which you will be unable to book your slot. And as you will have done for PLAB1 booking, your card must be enabled for international transactions.
Academy, Accommodation & VISA
Once you have booked your PLAB2 seat, all you have to do is make arrangements to get there. Before you apply for your VISA, you need to have accommodation, without which you cannot apply for the VISA. Most candidates join an academy for practice, and most academies have their own accommodations that they offer.
It’s really up to you to join an academy or not; either way, you need to have a confirmation showing the place where you plan on staying while you’re in the UK. Once you have that sorted, you can apply for a VISA. You can check out this blog post by our Community Expert Dr. Prem for more information regarding the PLAB2 visa:
Miscellaneous
Well, now that you’re set with your VISA, all you’ve got to do is book your flight tickets. I would say it’s always better to book them well in advance as you can save quite a bit of money that way.
A lot of doctors, myself included, try to get hold of a clinical attachment while they’re in the UK to take their exam. This is a sort of observer-ship in one of the trusts which allows a doctor to get acquainted with the NHS system. You can check out this blog which describes all you need to know about clinical attachments and how you can apply for the same: https://www.trewlink.blog/post/how-to-get-a-uk-clinical-attachment-firsthand-experience-from-uk-based-imgs
You can also do an ALS/ATLS/ILS course if you have the time. So the thing is, GMC does not recognise the courses provided by organisations other than the Resuscitation Council UK. So if you do have the time, you can consider doing one of these courses. These are paid one-day or two-day courses, and you will be able to find all that you need to know about these on the Resuscitation Council UK official website.
Summary
Passing PLAB1, although a great achievement, is not the end of the road. There is no doubt that you need a big celebration after you get your result, but once the party spirit wears off and you start planning ahead, you’ll realise that with each step, there comes a set of new challenges and new tasks you ought to do. It’s alright, everyone feels this way, and you’re not the only one. The key is to take one step at a time keeping your eyes fixed to the goal. And if you have any doubt in your mind, we here at TrewLink have always got your back.
If you have any questions about building your portfolio, PLAB1, VISA application and PLAB2 bookings, I would be happy to answer them at trewlink.com. You can register using this link <https://trewlink.com?referrer=rao952172 >. Find me as an Ambassador and Follow my profile -Alankruta Rao- to receive regular support and advice
Good luck!