A guide to living and

working in the UK
for doctors
 So you want to work in the UK?
Is it your dream to work as a doctor in the UK? We’ve put together a guide to help you on your way.
The first thing you need to know is that doctors who want to work in the UK must register
with the General Medical Council (GMC). To do so, overseas-trained doctors must first take an
English test such as OET, to prove that they have the right level of English.
There’s a lot to think about as well as registration, including applying for a work visa, registering for
tax and arranging things like accommodation and a bank account.
It might seem a bit overwhelming right now, but if you take it one step at a time and do your
research, you can get to live your dream of working in the UK soon.
This guide contains:
1. An introduction to the UK’s GMC
2. Information about taking OET as proof of English proficiency
3. Introduction to working and living in the UK
4. Useful Links
5. Contact Us

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 1. Introduction to the UK’s General Medical Council
The GMC works to protect the public by setting, upholding and raising the standards of medical
education and practice across the UK. As part of this, all doctors must register with the GMC
to be able to work in the UK, so that the GMC can make sure doctors have the necessary skills,
including good enough English, to do their job well.
GMC has strict requirements for medical qualifications and proof of English proficiency – for
more information, take a look at their website.
You can now take OET to prove to the GMC that your English is good enough for them to
allow you to register to work in the UK.
To find out more about how to register with the GMC, go to:
https://www.GMC.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/

2. Information about taking OET as proof of English proficiency

If you studied medicine overseas, you will need to take an English test to register and work in
the UK. We recommend OET, an international English language test that assesses the language
proficiency of healthcare professionals who want to register and practise in an English-speaking
environment.

Why do doctors choose OET?

Doctors who want to work in the UK choose OET for many reasons:
»» OET is recognised by the GMC
»» OET helps you prove you have the right level of English, while at the same time learning
the kind of language you’ll need every day at work
»» OET uses real healthcare scenarios so you’ll feel more confident on test day
»» OET is widely recognised and well respected
»» It’s easy to prepare for the test using the OET Preparation Portal
»» OET tests all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.
You can find out more about OET on the website:
Why choose OET?
How is OET different to general or academic English tests?
Who accepts OET as proof of English proficiency?
What’s in the test?
How is OET scored?
Where and when can I take OET?
How do I apply to take OET?
How can I prepare for the test?
Shop for OET preparation materials
Success stories

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3. Introduction to working
and living in the UK
Moving to a new country and starting
a new life is exciting and scary at the
same time.
We recommend that you do as much
research as possible before you arrive
– the more prepared you are, the
smoother your move will be. Below you
will find some pointers on what you
need to do and where you need to go to
apply, as well as an explanation of some
systems and terms you might not be
familiar with.
 3.1 Applying to work in the UK
Once registration with the GMC is complete, doctors can search for jobs in the National Health Service
(NHS) via NHS Jobs and NHS Careers or on ID Medical, one of UK's leading healthcare recruiters.
Job openings are also advertised in local and national newspapers, healthcare journals
and employer websites. Once you find a suitable job opening, make sure you read the job
description carefully and take your time to apply for it.
You can apply for both permanent and temporary contractual jobs to add valuable experience.
Join NHS Professionals (NHSP) bank to get the latest updates on temporary and flexible
job openings.
As a part of the recruitment process, you may be asked to take aptitude tests. These
are basically tests that are designed to test the skills you will need for work. You are also
likely to have a health assessment and criminal record check through the Disclosure and
Barring Service.
Learn more about how you can develop your healthcare career.

3.2 Getting a UK work visa

Once you have been offered a job, your employer will need to sponsor you for a work visa if
you are from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Once the sponsorship
process has been completed you will need to apply for a work visa via the UK Visas and
Immigration website.

3.3 Registering for income tax in the UK

You will need to register for tax in the UK by applying for a National Insurance number (NI).
This is a unique number assigned to individuals who work in the UK. It is used to ensure
that you pay the correct amount of tax, and also ensures you can benefit from the UK
health system.
You can apply for a National Insurance number here.

3.4 Finding accommodation

You can rent an entire home or look for shared accommodation, which will include a room in a
house or apartment where you share a kitchen, bathroom and lounge. There are several options
listed below. Usually rented accommodation is fully furnished and this is clearly stated in the
advert. In the UK tenants have specific rights and responsibilities, which you can view on the
Government renting website.
Types of accommodation:
»» Studios have the bed, sofa and kitchen all in one room with a separate bathroom.
»» Flats are apartments with one or more separate bedrooms and usually several flats share
a common entrance from the street.
»» Houses and maisonettes have their own entrance from the street.
Start looking for houses in the area via the internet before you arrive so you can get an idea
of rent and where you would like to live. You may need to stay in hotels or backpacker hostels
when you first arrive, so you can view accommodation and make an application to rent.

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 When you first arrive in the UK, make sure you have enough funds to pay the following initial
costs before you start work:
»» Temporary accommodation when you arrive.
»» Bond/deposit and your first month’s rent – rent is paid in advance.
»» Mobile phone and internet access
»» Council tax
»» Transport
»» Food
Some common terms when searching for accommodation:

F/F Fully furnished N/S Non-smoking

S/C Self Contained O/R Own Room

Cost per week

S/R Share Room 80pw/inc inclusive of bills
Cost per week
AGY Advertised by an agency 80pw/exc exclusive of bills

DEP Deposit/Bond required

3.5 Utility bills

Water, gas and electric bills will normally need to be paid monthly. To find out more, take a look
at the energy company websites and compare them to see which suits your need best.

3.6 Transport
If you are going to rely on public transport to travel in the UK, use the following links to get an
idea of the cost of travel:

UK transport planning: Trains:  Transport for London: 

http://www.traveline.info/ http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ http://tfl.gov.uk/

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 3.7 Bank account
Your salary will be paid into a UK bank account. To open a bank account in the UK, in most cases,
you will be required to visit a branch (local bank) with proof of identity and proof of a UK address
(for example a utility bill or rental contract). To find the best bank for your purposes, visit different
UK bank websites and make sure you understand the benefits, terms and conditions of your
selected bank account before you apply.

3.8 Council tax

Council Tax is payable to the local government authority where you live to cover the costs of
common areas such as parks and pavements, waste removal and general maintenance of the
area. If you are renting a property you will most likely need to pay council tax, but the amount
varies depending on the size of your property and where it is located. When searching for
accommodation make sure you ask how much the council tax will be.
You can find more information about council tax here.

3.9 Language
The language in the UK is mainly English but you are likely to meet people from all over the world
who speak languages other than English.

3.10 Climate
Temperatures range between 1-degree Celsius in the winter and 30 degrees in the summer. Rain is
common and occurs throughout the year.

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 5. Useful links
GMC
GMC Registration
NHS Jobs
NHS Careers
OET
OET Prepare
UK Visas and Immigration

5.1 Source links

https://www.GMC.org.uk/
https://www.GMC.org.uk/standards/code/
https://www.GMC.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/trained-outside-the-eueea/
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/
https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk
https://www.gov.uk
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

6. Contact Us
If you have a question about OET, go the Helpdesk.