GMC and Evidence of knowledge of English

All countries require physicians who will provide services within their health system to use the local language at a good level. This condition applies to all western countries such as Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, the USA, Canada, and so on. In this context, people who want to take part in the provision of health services in England are required to document their English proficiency. As the academic language is predominantly English all over the world, it is easier for most physicians to pass the OET or IELTS exams to work in the UK than to learn a language they have not encountered before such as German, Danish, Finnish, etc.

When you apply for registration with a license to practice GMC needs to be satisfied you have the necessary knowledge of English to practice safely in the UK. The GMC needs to be confident physicians’ can communicate effectively in English, so they do not put the safety of patients at risk.

GMC is focused to increase flexibility for doctors who are keen to work in the UK and accepts “the Occupational English Test (OET)”, as an alternative to “the International English Language Test System (IELTS)”.