How to Book PLAB 2: Costs, Eligibility, Visas, and Timeline

Before you can think about consultation technique or the mark scheme, there's a logistical hurdle every PLAB candidate has to clear: actually getting a seat at the exam. Booking PLAB 2 involves eligibility checks, fees, and — for most candidates — a visa application, and each step has its own timeline. Getting this wrong costs months, not marks. This guide walks through the process in order.

Step 1: Confirm You're Eligible

You can only book PLAB 2 once you meet the GMC's prerequisites:

• You've passed PLAB 1 (or hold an acceptable alternative, such as a relevant postgraduate qualification recognised by the GMC)
• PLAB 1 is still valid — a PLAB 1 pass is valid for 2 years, and you must sit PLAB 2 within that window
• You meet the English language requirement — an accepted IELTS (Academic), OET, or equivalent score, valid at the time of your PLAB 2 booking
• You have a valid passport matching the identity on your GMC account

If your PLAB 1 pass is close to expiring, prioritise booking PLAB 2 immediately — there is no extension, and a lapsed PLAB 1 means resitting it from scratch.

Step 2: Understand the Fee

The PLAB 2 exam fee is set by the GMC and reviewed periodically, so always confirm the current figure on the GMC's official PLAB 2 page before paying — at the time of writing it sits in the region of £938, payable online at the time of booking.

Budget beyond the exam fee itself:

• Travel to Manchester and, for most candidates, accommodation the night before (see our exam day guide for why arriving the day before matters)
• Visa costs, if applicable, including the Immigration Health Surcharge for longer stays
• Preparation costs — courses, question banks, or practice platforms, which vary widely but are a fraction of the exam fee itself

There is no partial refund for withdrawing close to your exam date, so don't book a slot until your preparation timeline is realistic — see our study plan guide for how long that typically takes.

Step 3: Book Through GMC Online

Booking happens through your GMC Online account:

1. Log in and navigate to the PLAB 2 booking section
2. Available slots appear as they're released — popular months (especially post-holiday periods) fill quickly, sometimes within hours of release
3. Select a slot, pay the fee, and you'll receive a booking confirmation — keep this, you'll need it on exam day
4. The GMC releases new slots periodically throughout the year; there's no fixed monthly release date, so check GMC Online regularly if you're targeting a specific window

Practical tip: decide your target month before slots open, and have your English test results and passport details already entered in your GMC profile. Candidates who scramble to update their profile after a slot appears often lose it to someone faster.

Step 4: Sort Out Your Visa Early

This is the step candidates most often underestimate. If you need a visa to enter the UK to sit PLAB 2:

• The exam is not an automatic visa entitlement — you apply as a Standard Visitor, using your booking confirmation as supporting evidence of purpose of visit
• Visa processing times vary significantly by country — check your local processing time and add buffer, since standard visitor visas are typically decided within a few weeks but can take longer during peak periods
• You'll usually need: your booking confirmation, proof of funds, and evidence of your intention to return home after the exam
• Book your exam slot only once your visa timeline is realistic — a visa refusal or delay after committing to a non-refundable exam fee is one of the most common and costly mistakes in the whole process

If you're already living and working in the UK (e.g., on a Tier 2/Skilled Worker visa, Student visa, or as a UK/settled resident), this step doesn't apply — proceed straight from booking to preparation.

Timeline: Putting It Together

The overall lesson: visa timelines, not preparation time, are usually the true bottleneck. Candidates who need a visa should start that process before they even think about booking a slot, then let the exam date anchor their study plan backwards from there.

What Happens After You Book

Once booked, shift focus entirely to preparation. Our study plan breaks down what to do week by week, and the common mistakes and marking criteria guides will tell you exactly what examiners are scoring. On the day itself, our exam day walkthrough covers what to expect from arrival to results.

Booking is paperwork, not preparation — but paperwork done late or wrong can cost you a sitting entirely. Confirm eligibility, sort visas early, book the moment a suitable slot appears, and let everything else follow from that date.