UKMLA PLAB 2 Course to Help You Pass with Confidence

UKMLA PLAB 2 (also referred to as the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment or CPSA) is the second and final part of the PLAB pathway for international medical graduates seeking GMC registration. It is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) held at the GMC Clinical Assessment Centre in Manchester. Passing PLAB 2 is required for full GMC registration and the right to practise medicine in the UK.

PLAB 2 consists of 16 clinical stations plus 2 rest stations. Each clinical station lasts 8 minutes, preceded by 90 seconds of reading time outside the station. Stations cover history taking, clinical examination, communication skills, prescribing, practical procedures and data interpretation – all in a circuit format using trained clinical role players.

The current fee is £906 per sitting. A discounted rate applies for the first 2 sittings for UK refugee doctors. Check the GMC website for the most current fee information.

You are allowed 4 attempts at PLAB 2. If you fail your fourth attempt, you must wait 12 months before applying for a fifth attempt, and the GMC will require evidence of either 12 months of additional clinical practice or completion of a postgraduate qualification since your last failed attempt.

General guidance is around 4–6 weeks, though this varies. Some doctors pass in 3 weeks; others over-prepare with a scripted approach and still struggle. The key is understanding what the exam is assessing – UK-style empathy, patient-centred consultation and NICE-aligned clinical management – and practising with realistic timed cases rather than memorising scripts.

PLAB 2 is challenging primarily because it is an interactive clinical exam, not a written test. The most common difficulties are managing the 8-minute time limit, adjusting to UK-style patient-centred communication, and ensuring clinical management advice aligns with UK guidelines. Candidates with strong academic medical knowledge sometimes struggle more than expected if they have not practised specifically for the OSCE format and UK communication expectations.

The overall PLAB 2 pass rate is generally around 65–70%. Failure is most commonly linked to Interpersonal Skills and Clinical Management domains – not Data Gathering. Strong clinical knowledge alone is not enough; UK-style consultation technique must be specifically practised.

On arrival at the GMC building in Manchester, reception directs you to the assessment centre. ID is checked and a locker is provided. You receive a badge and are escorted to the circuit.

For each station: 90 seconds of reading time outside, then 8 minutes to complete the task. A 2-minute warning buzzes at the 6-minute mark. There are 2 rest stations for water and rest. You are escorted out at the end.

Dress as you would in a UK hospital clinical setting. Smart, comfortable clothing. Bare arms below the elbows – no watches, bracelets or heavy jewellery.

For men: collared short-sleeved shirt or full-length shirt rolled to elbows, no tie, smart trousers and shoes.

For women: smart dress, trousers or skirt. No jeans, leggings, casual wear or high heels.

PLAB 2 is the name most international medical graduates will recognise. The UKMLA (UK Medical Licensing Assessment) is the broader framework that PLAB 2 is transitioning into as part of the GMC’s updated licensing pathway.

For practical purposes, IMGs still book and sit the exam as PLAB 2 through the GMC Online account. The assessment standard and format remain the same.

For the Academy+ Package, Arora offers 3-month or 6-month access – as well as the live course.

For other options eg Gold Package, Arora offers 1-month, 3-month and 6-month access options for PLAB 2 preparation.

Choose the access length that best fits your exam date. All options include the same full content – video course, audiobook, AI-powered case bank, flashcards and Arora app access. Extensions are available at any access level.

The Academy+ Package is our most comprehensive UKMLA PLAB 2 preparation option. It includes 7 live teaching days in a hybrid format: the first 4 days are delivered live online via Zoom and the final 3 days are held in person at the Arora teaching centre in Solihull for practical clinical station elements. The package also includes recorded video courses, audiobook courses, an AI-powered OSCE case bank with 150+ cases, and multiple flashcards. All materials are accessible via the Arora app.

The PLAB 2 Gold Package includes the recorded video courses, audiobook courses, AI-powered case bank and clinical flashcards for comprehensive self-paced preparation. It does not include the live Academy teaching component. If you want the full hybrid live programme, upgrade to Academy+.

The Academy+ uses a hybrid model: 4 live online days via Zoom followed by 3 in-person days at the Arora teaching centre in Solihull.

The online days focus on live role-play, practice, feedback and use of breakout rooms to practice cases with other candidates.

The in-person days focus on practical clinical station elements – examinations, SimMan procedures and prescribing practice. These are the aspects of PLAB 2 that are best practised in person.

Yes. If you are not yet in the UK, you can attend the in-person days via livestream. You will receive the same teaching and demonstrations via Zoom.

You can then join in person at a later date for the hands-on practical elements when you are in the UK.

Yes. Each Academy+ package includes 9 hours of practice suite time, split across three sessions of 3 hours each. These sessions are bookable at no extra cost and are arranged based on your exam date.

The sessions are designed for focused, high-quality practice, with a maximum of 5 doctors per room, full access to mannequins, and a quiet environment. Most doctors find that 1 or 2 sessions are sufficient, but up to 3 sessions are available if needed.

The Arora PLAB 2 case bank contains 150+ consultation cases covering a wide range of PLAB 2 scenarios.

You can use this with a colleague as group practice, or purchase AI credits to use with self-study cases with feedback.

Yes. Download the free Arora PLAB 2 planner at https://aroramedicaleducation.co.uk/free-planner. It gives you a structured preparation schedule to help you cover all key station types and clinical scenarios in the time available before your exam.

No. Not all doctors wish to have mocks and hence we don’t include these in the package in order to keep prices as low as possible.

Mocks can be booked as an optional extra if wished.

Yes, you can book in-person or online PLAB 2 Mocks at any point after the course. Taking mocks earlier gives you more time to act on the feedback before your exam.

Yes. All Arora PLAB 2 packages include access to the Arora app on iOS and Android. You can download audiobook content and access your case bank for offline study through the app.

Yes. If you already hold an Arora PLAB 2 Gold Package, you only pay the difference to upgrade to Academy+. Contact the team by email or WhatsApp to find out your upgrade amount.

If you have worked through the full PLAB 2 package and are unlucky on the day, Arora has a range of low-cost extension options. There is no need to re-purchase a full package.

Yes. At checkout, select the PayPal option and choose ‘Pay Later’ to spread the cost. Available in certain countries.

Arora Medical Education
Regus Building
Blythe Valley Business Park
Central Boulevard
Solihull
B90 8AG, UK.

Yes. Email the team once your main batch is booked, stating which earlier batch you would also like to attend online. The team will arrange your access.