Provisional registration - allows newly qualified doctors (alongside a license to practice) to undertake general clinical training required for full registration. This allows doctors to work only in Foundation Year 1 posts.
Full registration - enables doctors to work in any form of professional medical practice in the UK, provided they hold a license to practice. Doctors must, however, also hold specialist registration to take up a consultant post (other than a locum consultant post) in the NHS.
Specialist registration - all consultants (other than a locum consultant appointment) must be on the specialist register of the GMC and all consultants (including locums) must hold a license to practice before they can take up a post. It is not possible to hold specialist registration without also holding full registration. You may be required to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) if you did not complete a PMETB approved training programme)
GP Registration - if you are a GP in the UK Health Services, other than a trainee, you must be on the GP Register. It is not possible to be entered on the GP Register without also holding full registration.
The registration section on the GMC website will help you assess the type of registration you may be eligible to apply for.
For overseas doctors, full registration with the GMC is usually obtained through:
a) Sitting the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) Test exam
OR
b) Through having a recognised higher qualification such as MRCP.
A copy of the approved qualifications can be foundhere.
