Buy Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) License

The Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) is a two-part exam required for all doctors who wish to practice in the UK, ensuring they meet a common threshold for safe practice. All UK medical students graduating from the 2024–2025 academic year onward must pass the MLA as part of their degree. International medical graduates (IMGs) also must pass the MLA, which is now incorporated into the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam. 
 
Two-part assessment
The MLA consists of two parts, both of which must be passed: 
  • Applied Knowledge Test (AKT): A computer-based, multiple-choice exam that assesses a doctor’s ability to apply medical knowledge in clinical scenarios.
  • Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA): A practical, in-person exam that uses scenarios to test a doctor’s clinical and professional skills. 
 
Requirements for UK medical students
For students attending a UK medical school, the MLA is integrated into their final-year exams. 
  • AKT: This test is an online exam with 200 “single best answer” questions. It is typically split into two two-hour papers taken on consecutive days.
  • CPSA: This is a practical exam, often an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), that is administered by the student’s medical school.
  • Administration: The medical school arranges the assessment and determines the schedule for its students. 
 
Requirements for international medical graduates (IMGs)
The PLAB test now serves as the MLA for IMGs. The PLAB blueprint has been replaced by the MLA content map, ensuring that all candidates are assessed against the same standard. 
  • AKT: The AKT for IMGs is delivered as PLAB Part 1. It is a three-hour, 180-question paper-based, multiple-choice exam, offered at various locations worldwide.
  • CPSA: The CPSA for IMGs is delivered as PLAB Part 2. This is an OSCE featuring 16 scenarios and is held at the General Medical Council (GMC) clinical assessment center in Manchester.
  • Registration requirements: To take the PLAB/MLA, IMGs must meet the GMC’s requirements, which include providing evidence of their primary medical qualification, sufficient clinical experience, and English language proficiency. Registration for the exam is done through the GMC’s online portal. 
 
Content and preparation
The content of the MLA is based on the MLA content map, which outlines the core knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required for doctors working in the UK. 
  • Preparation: The GMC and Medical Schools Council provide resources, and commercial question banks and revision materials are also available. 
 
Passing and registration
  • Pass or fail: The MLA is a pass/fail assessment.
  • Validity: After passing, candidates have two years to apply for full GMC registration with a license to practice.
  • Attempts: Both UK graduates and international graduates have a maximum of four attempts for each part of the MLA. 
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