The staffing crisis deepens in NHS England.
The NHS is facing a deepening staffing crisis, with the number of unfilled posts across health services in England rising to 110,192, official figures show. The shortages include 39,652 nurses and 8,158 doctors, according to the latest quarterly data for health service vacancies published by NHS Digital.
Can you work without the PLAB test?
If you have a specialist medical qualification, training or experience and you want to work as a consultant in a UK health service you need to apply to join the Specialist Register. You will not need to have the PLAB test if you are a Specialist Register doctor.
Medical Training Initiative?
The Medical Training Initiative (MTI) is a scheme that provides an entry route for overseas doctors wishing to train and develop their skills in the NHS before returning to their own country. You only get two years visa. The scheme allows medical specialists to undertake a fixed period of training in the UK, before returning back to their own healthcare systems.
GMC Registration via USMLE, MCCQE, or AMC
General Medical Council (GMC) of the UK will be accepting USMLE, MCCQE, and AMC pass results for the consideration of full registration. This would then allow these individuals to work in the UK without the need of the PLAB test.
Pre-approved NHS trusts can also sponsor doctors without the PLAB test.
Your job must be in one of the following occupation codes to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa
- 1181: health services and public health managers and directors
- 1242: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- 2112: biological scientists and biochemists
- 2113: physical scientists
- 2211: medical practitioners
- 2212: psychologists
- 2213: pharmacists
- 2214: ophthalmic opticians
- 2215: dental practitioners
- 2217: medical radiographers
- 2218: podiatrists
- 2219: health professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
- 2221: physiotherapists
- 2222: occupational therapists
- 2223: speech and language therapists
- 2229: therapy professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as osteopaths and psychotherapists
- 2231: nurses
- 2232: midwives
- 2442: social workers
- 3111: laboratory technicians
- 3213: paramedics
- 3216: dispensing opticians
- 3217: pharmaceutical technicians
- 3218: medical and dental technicians
- 3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- 6141: nursing auxiliaries and assistants
- 6143: dental nurses
- 6145: care workers and home carers
- 6146: senior care workers
- Approved UK health and care sector employers
- You must have a job offer from an approved UK employer before you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa. Approved employers are also known as sponsors because they sponsor you to come to or stay in the UK.
- You must have a job offer from: the NHS
- an organization providing medical services to the NHS
- an organization providing adult social care
- Salary requirements
- Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. How you find the going rate depends on your job. CLICK HERE FOR National pay scales for eligible healthcare occupation codes. (Updated 11 April 2022)
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-pay-scales-for-eligible-healthcare-jobs/national-pay-scales-for-eligible-healthcare-occupation-codes
- You’ll need to meet different salary requirements for this visa if your job is in one of the following occupation codes:
- 1181: health services and public health managers and directors
- 1242: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- 2112: biological scientists and biochemists
- 2113: physical scientists
- 3111: laboratory technicians
- 3216: dispensing opticians
- 3217: pharmaceutical technicians
- 6145: care workers and home carers
- 6146: senior care workers