When Does UKMLA Start? Full Timeline, Who Takes It & PLAB Impact
When Does UKMLA Start? Full Timeline, Who Takes It & PLAB Impact
Medically Reviewed & Validated by Dr. Ran Wilkosin, Senior Advisory Chair & Global Licensing Expert. If you have searched 'when does the UKMLA start', this guide gives you the complete, current timeline — and, just as importantly, what it actually means for you.
The UKMLA (United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment) is the new assessment introduced by the General Medical Council (GMC) to standardise the licensing of doctors in the UK. The short answer is: the UKMLA has already started — the first full cohort sat it in 2024/25 — and in 2026 it continues to be the route for new UK medical graduates while IMGs largely continue through PLAB.
This guide clears up the confusion around UKMLA start dates, who takes it, how it interacts with PLAB, and the format of its two components: the AKT and the CPSA.
Clinical & Academic Content Verified
This educational resource has been reviewed by Dr. Ran Wilkosin, MD, FACP, FRCP for alignment with current sittings, board guidelines, and publicly available exam-board information.
1. When Did the UKMLA Start? (The Real Timeline)
The UKMLA began in the 2024/25 academic year. The first full cohort of final-year UK medical students sat the assessment in early 2025, and it has been the standard route for new UK graduates since then.
For 2026, the assessment continues. Each year, final-year students at UK medical schools must pass both components of the UKMLA — the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) — as part of their degree before they can be granted provisional registration.
The key nuance that most search results miss: the UKMLA is not a brand-new 'upcoming' change for 2026 — it is already live. What changes each year is the sitting schedule and, over time, the extent to which it absorbs other routes.
2. Who Has to Take the UKMLA?
The UKMLA is mandatory for final-year students at UK medical schools. Passing both the AKT and the CPSA is now a condition of graduating with a recognised UK medical degree and being granted provisional GMC registration.
For international medical graduates (IMGs), the picture is different. As of 2026, IMGs continue to register through the PLAB route, which the GMC has aligned with the same content map as the UKMLA. The UKMLA has not replaced PLAB for IMGs — they still sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 unless they hold a qualification or registration that exempts them.
This is the single most common point of confusion, and it is the reason we publish a separate, detailed UKMLA vs PLAB comparison.
3. Will the UKMLA Replace PLAB?
The short answer: not for international graduates, not yet. The GMC has stated that it will move toward a single licensing assessment, but as of the 2026-2027 cycle, IMGs still sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 to gain GMC registration.
The UKMLA and PLAB now share the same content map, so preparation overlaps substantially. This is why many candidates who have prepared for one can transition to the other more easily than before.
For the long term, the GMC's direction of travel is a unified assessment. However, any change is signalled well in advance, and existing PLAB registrants are not retroactively affected. If you are an IMG, the practical advice for 2026 remains: prepare for PLAB, and keep an eye on GMC announcements for any future migration.
4. The UKMLA Format: AKT and CPSA
The UKMLA has two components, both aligned to a single content map derived from the GMC's outcomes for graduates.
The AKT (Applied Knowledge Test) is a computer-based multiple-choice exam covering the knowledge expected of a doctor at the point of registration. The CPSA (Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment) is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) testing clinical and communication skills in a simulated setting.
UK medical students must pass both to graduate. IMGs who progress through the aligned PLAB route sit PLAB 1 (an AKT-equivalent written paper) and PLAB 2 (a clinical OSCE), which map closely onto the same knowledge and skills domains.
5. UKMLA Timeline: Key Dates for 2026-2027
The UKMLA sits are scheduled by each UK medical school around the final-year calendar, so there is no single national 'UKMLA exam date'. Most students sit the AKT in the first half of the final year and the CPSA shortly afterward.
For IMGs, PLAB 1 sittings are held at set dates through the year (typically several sittings per year in centres including the UK), and PLAB 2 has scheduled OSCE sittings. The GMC publishes the PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 dates on its website each cycle.
For 2027, the pattern continues: UK students sit the UKMLA as part of their degree, and IMGs book PLAB sittings from the published schedule. We recommend confirming the exact dates on the GMC's official pages, as these are updated each cycle.
6. What This Means for IMGs in 2026
If you are an international medical graduate targeting GMC registration, the practical situation for 2026 is unchanged: you prepare for and sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 (or use an exemption such as an accepted primary qualification from a recognised country).
The UKMLA's existence does not change your route today, but the alignment of content means high-quality PLAB preparation is effectively UKMLA preparation. A strong performance on PLAB demonstrates the same competencies the UKMLA assesses.
Our advisors help IMGs map the fastest compliant route to GMC registration, including PLAB preparation, document verification, and direct-registration pathways where eligible. If you are unsure which route applies to you, contact us before you commit time and money to the wrong exam.
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Dr. Ran Wilkosin, MD, FACP, FRCP
Chief Academic Advisor & Chair of the Corporation
Dr. Ran Wilkosin is an academic physician and medical board examiner. He oversees curriculum development and quality assurance across our medical board and specialty training pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the UKMLA start?
The UKMLA started in the 2024/25 academic year. The first full cohort of final-year UK medical students sat it in early 2025, and it continues each year for new UK graduates.
Does the UKMLA replace PLAB in 2026?
Not for international graduates. As of 2026, IMGs still sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 to gain GMC registration. The UKMLA applies to UK medical students, though both share the same content map.
Who has to take the UKMLA?
Final-year students at UK medical schools must pass both the AKT and the CPSA as part of their degree to gain provisional GMC registration. IMGs continue through the PLAB route.
What are the two parts of the UKMLA?
The AKT (Applied Knowledge Test), a computer-based MCQ, and the CPSA (Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment), an OSCE testing clinical and communication skills.
When will the UKMLA fully replace PLAB for IMGs?
There is no confirmed date. The GMC's direction is toward a unified assessment, but as of 2026-2027 IMGs still sit PLAB. The GMC signals changes well in advance.