ISTP eligibility criteria: checklist & guidance

• Do you hold a passport from a country outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)?

   

  Guidance:

  You must be citizen of a non-EEA country and you will need to provide us with a copy of your passport.
  

• Do you have a recognised Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ)?

   

  Guidance:

  You must:

  1. Hold a GMC-recognised Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ); and
  2. Have obtained your medical qualification outside of the EEA. 

  Please note: only qualified overseas surgeons are eligible to apply to join ISTP.

• Do you currently reside outside of the EEA?

   

  Guidance:

  You must be residing outside of the EEA at the time of submitting your application.

• Do you have a Postgraduate Medical Qualification (PGMQ)?

   

  Guidance:

  You must hold a Postgraduate Medical Qualification (PGMQ) that contained a clinical assessment. 

  
  

• Have you taken and passed the IELTS (academic) test OR the medicine version of the Occupational English Test (OET)?

  
  

  Guidance:

  You must have taken and passed either the IELTS or OET test prior to applying for ISTP.  Applicants will be asked to submit a copy of their test report form to support their application.

   

  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  The doctor must have achieved a score of at least 7.0 in all four areas (listening, reading, writing and speaking modules) and an overall score of at least 7.5. The certificate is valid for no more than two years, and must be in date at the point of registration with the GMC.

  Occupational English Test (OET) You need to have taken the medicine version of the test with at least grade ‘B’ in each testing area (speaking, listening, reading and writing). The grades should been obtained in the same test. The test is valid for 2 years. The certificate must have candidate’s number.

   

  Applicants who have not achieved the required score in each section or overall test score will not be eligible to apply.

• Has your PMQ been verified by the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)?

  
  

  Guidance:

  Your PMQ must be verified by the ECFMG. 

  Further information about this requirement and the process can be found on the GMC website.

• Has your PGMQ been verified by the ECFMG?

  
  

  Guidance:

  You must have had your PGMQ verified by the ECFMG before submitting your application. 

• Are you currently working within, or a member of one of our ISTP Partner Institutions?

  
  

  Guidance:

  The RCS works with a number of international Partner Institutions as part of the application verification process.  

  Membership, employment (service delivery and/or teaching) or enrollment with one of our partner institutions is essential for admission to the programme.

• Have you ever attempted the GMC Professional & Linguistics Assessment Board (PLAB)?

   

  Guidance:

  You should have not previously attempted the GMC PLAB test if you wish to apply for ISTP. 
  

  If you have attempted and failed any part of the PLAB test you will not eligible to apply to ISTP.  

• Have you been in active medical practice in the most recent 12 months?

   

  Guidance:

  The 12 months counts from the date that your application is submitted. 

  You must ensure that you have been medically active (i.e. in full time employment and registered with the relevant medical regulatory body in your country) throughout that time period. 

  The GMC allows for a gap of up to 5 weeks maximum in the most recent 12 months. 

  If you have gap longer than this you will not be eligible for ISTP.

• Have you been in active medical practice at least 3 out of the last 5 years?

   

  Guidance:

  You must ensure that you have been in active medical practice for at least 36 months out of last five years (in employment and registered with relevant medical regulatory body in their country).

  If you have gap in your practice within the 3 out of last 5 years you may still be eligible depending on the reasons for the gap (for example, a gap due to maternity leave whilst still employed is permitted). 

  Gaps longer than 5 weeks during this period will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis.

• Have you completed an acceptable internship (or equivalent)?

  
  

  Guidance:

  You must have completed an acceptable internship (or equivalent) of not less than twelve months following your undergraduate training. 

• Have you completed at least 3 years of full-time clinical practice and/or training?

  
  

  Guidance:

  You must have completed at least 3 years of full-time clinical practice and/or training (equivalent to ST3 or above in the UK) since obtaining your PMQ, including the most recent 12 months. 

  Please note: clinical attachments and/or observerships do not count.

• Have you passed the MRCS (UK) OR hold acceptable alternative qualification?

   

  Guidance:

  You must have either passed the MRCS (UK) or hold an acceptable alternative qualification.