The UKMLA is a new national exam introduced by the General Medical Council (GMC) to establish a common threshold for safe practice for all new doctors in the UK. In other words, it ensures that every doctor, regardless of where they studied, possesses the core knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours needed to practise medicine safely UK​.

Who needs to take the UKMLA? 

Essentially, everyone who wants to practise as a newly qualified doctor in the UK from 2024 onwards will need to pass the MLA:

➡️ UK medical students – If you’re graduating in or after the academic year 2024–25, the MLA will be a part of your medical degree. All UK medical students will need to pass it (typically in their final year) before they can join the medical register and start working as a doctor​. This makes the MLA a requirement for UK graduates to obtain GMC registration (provisional registration for F1).

➡️ International medical graduates (IMGs) – If you earned your medical degree outside the UK and plan to practise in the UK, you will also need to pass the MLA. Starting in 2024, the current PLAB exams for overseas doctors will be aligned with the UKMLA content and standards​ . In fact, IMGs will continue to take PLAB, but PLAB 1 and 2 are now essentially the MLA (AKT and CPSA) in all but name . Therefore, from 2024 onwards, international doctors – including those from the EU – must pass the MLA/PLAB as part of the pathway to UK registration.

Why was the UKMLA introduced? 

Previously, UK medical schools each had their own final exams, and overseas doctors took a separate PLAB test, leading to variations in assessment. The MLA provides a UK-wide standardised exam for fundamental medical knowledge and skills​. This gives patients and employers confidence that all new doctors, including both UK graduates and IMGs, have met the same core standard when they begin their work​. It is conceptually similar to the USMLE in the United States, but tailored to UK practice​. In short, if you’re finishing medical school or applying to work in the UK, the MLA should be on your radar. ✅.