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From FRCPath to UK consultant: the IMG roadmap.

For international medical graduates in medical microbiology: sitting FRCPath from abroad, using it for GMC registration, the two routes to the Specialist Register, and a 12-month Part 1 plan.

CHANGED IN 2026Part 1 is now sat on computer at British Council test centres — no longer at home.
CLOSEDNHS England closed the Medical Training Initiative (MTI) on 31 March 2026. RCPath’s sponsorship scheme is under review and not taking applications.
RENAMEDCESR is now the GMC Portfolio Pathway to specialist registration, assessed against the curriculum’s Capabilities in Practice.
The exams

Sitting FRCPath from abroad.

Part 1

2026 fee £749
Format125 SBA questions · one 3-hour paper
EligibilityNormally 12+ months in recognised microbiology training
WhereBritish Council test centres
International centresNew Delhi · Karachi · Amman · Singapore · Colombo · Yangon
Read the Part 1 exam guide →

Part 2

2026 fee £1,576
FormatWritten paper + 15-station OSPE · 3 h each
EligibilityPart 1 passed · 3+ years’ training recommended
WhenUsually both papers on one day
WhereUK only — plan travel and any visa early
Read the Part 2 exam guide →
EQUIVALENCERCPath assesses whether your overseas training counts. Contact the College before you apply.
SPONSOROverseas candidates are sponsored by their head of department.
GMC registration

Three ways onto the UK register.

You need full GMC registration with a licence to practise before you start a UK post — plus English language evidence and a work visa.

MOST RELEVANT

FRCPath by examination

FRCPath (Part 1 and Part 2) is on the GMC’s list of accepted postgraduate qualifications — a route to full registration without PLAB. It should be awarded within three years of your GMC approval; older passes need evidence of recent practice.

PLAB 1 and 2

The GMC’s own test: PLAB 1 is a 180-question single best answer paper; PLAB 2 is a practical OSCE. Usually the route for doctors without an accepted postgraduate qualification.

Accepted overseas exams

Certain USMLE, Canadian (MCCQE 2) and Australian (AMC) exams passed before set cut-off dates in 2020. Contact the GMC to check.

English language The GMC usually asks for IELTS (academic) 7.5 overall with at least 7 in each part, or OET grade B in each paper — check the GMC’s current requirements before you book. Doctors taking NHS posts usually need the Health and Care Worker visa (see GOV.UK).
Becoming a consultant

Two routes to the Specialist Register.

A substantive NHS consultant post needs entry on the GMC Specialist Register. IMGs get there in one of two ways.

Best if you are earlier in your career. You join UK specialty training and finish with a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

  1. 01GMC registrationThrough PLAB or an accepted qualification, plus English evidence.
  2. 02Core medicine + MRCP(UK)IMT Stage 1 years 1–2, or an accepted equivalent such as the JRCPTB alternative certificate.
  3. 03Combined Infection TrainingApply nationally for ST3. Two years, with FRCPath Part 1 (CICE).
  4. 04Higher Infection TrainingTwo years in Medical Microbiology, including FRCPath Part 2.
  5. 05CCT → consultantSpecialist registration and eligibility for consultant posts.
See the full UK training pathway →

Best if you are already an experienced microbiologist. The GMC Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR) is for doctors who haven’t completed a UK training programme but can show they have the knowledge, skills and experience of a UK specialist.

  1. 01Pass FRCPathPart 1 from a test centre near you, then Part 2 in the UK.
  2. 02GMC registrationFRCPath by examination is an accepted qualification, with English evidence.
  3. 03Work in the NHSA specialty doctor or other non-training post, building UK evidence.
  4. 04Evidence against the CiPsShow how you meet each Capability in Practice of the Medical Microbiology curriculum.
  5. 05Apply to the GMCRCPath’s specialty guidance explains what evidence is expected. Success means specialist registration.
RCPath’s Portfolio Pathway guidance →
Where IMGs lose marks

Close the UK gap.

FRCPath tests UK practice, not just microbiology. These are the areas to work on deliberately.

KNOWLEDGE
  • UK guidance — NICE, UKHSA (formerly PHE), the UK SMIs and the Green Book
  • NHS context — structure, IPC policy, clinical governance and the MDT
  • Laboratory standards — UKAS accreditation, quality and health and safety
  • Exam style — UK single best answer wording and Part 2 marking
PRACTICE
  • OSPE stations — UK laboratory scenarios against the clock
  • Communication — UK consultation for the face-to-face stations
  • Complex cases — UK investigation and management pathways
  • Data interpretation — UK reference ranges and report formats
SYSTEMS
  • UK law — Health and Safety at Work Act, data protection, Human Tissue Act
  • Regulators — the roles of the GMC, MHRA, UKAS and CQC
  • Research — study design, statistics and research governance
  • Professional life — CPD, appraisal and revalidation
Your plan

A 12-month Part 1 roadmap.

IMGs have extra UK ground to cover, so plan a year. Give the question banks at least 24 weeks of that time.

  1. Months 1–2 · Assess and plan
    • Confirm training equivalence with RCPath
    • Agree sponsorship with your head of department
    • Read the curriculum and map your gaps
    • Consider the RCPath International Trainee Support Scheme
  2. Months 3–4 · UK knowledge
    • NHS structure and infection prevention policy
    • NICE, UKHSA guidance and the UK SMIs
    • UK laboratory standards and UKAS
    • FRCPath Prep foundation modules
  3. Months 5–6 · Clinical context
    • UK clinical pathways and the MDT
    • The legal framework for pathology
    • Start the MCQ bank topic by topic
    • Join the discussion group
  4. Months 7–8 · Intensive practice
    • Timed question sessions
    • First full 125-question mocks
    • Target weak areas from your analytics
  5. Months 9–10 · Refine and apply
    • High-yield topics and recent guideline changes
    • Mocks under exam conditions
    • Submit your application before the closing date
  6. Months 11–12 · Exam ready
    • Final mocks and systematic review
    • Check your allocated test centre and ID
    • Flash cards for last-minute recall
Costs

What to budget for.

FRCPath Part 1 exam (RCPath, 2026)£749
FRCPath Part 2 exam (RCPath, 2026)£1,576
RCPath ITSS, Medical Microbiology (optional)£455
Travel and stay in the UK for Part 2Varies
GMC, English test and visa feesSee GMC / GOV.UK
Fees change each year. Always confirm with RCPath, the GMC and GOV.UK.
FRCPath Prep

One membership per part.

Part 1 Premium£1,999 / year5,300+ MCQs, including The Green Book bank
Part 2 Premium£2,999 / yearOSPE, Case, SAQ and Viva — 1,000+ each

Both include every training module, timed mocks with analytics, videos, podcasts, the discussion group and WhatsApp access to consultant microbiologists. Free plans let you try before you commit.

Compare plans

After each pass

  • Part 1You can join RCPath as a Diplomate (DipRCPath). Start Part 2 planning and keep building practical experience.
  • Part 2You become eligible for Fellowship — FRCPath — which the GMC accepts for full registration.
  • ThenChoose your route to the Specialist Register: UK training to CCT, or the Portfolio Pathway.

Before you apply

  • Training equivalence confirmed by RCPath
  • Sponsor (head of department) agreed
  • Fee ready to pay online at application
  • Valid passport or national ID for the test centre
  • Calendar set around the application closing date
RCPath International Trainee Support Scheme →
FAQ

IMG questions, answered.

Can I sit FRCPath Part 1 outside the UK?

Yes. Part 1 is sat on computer at British Council test centres. RCPath’s international centres for autumn 2026 are New Delhi, Karachi, Amman, Singapore, Colombo and Yangon; some rotate between sittings and run only with enough candidates. Part 2 Medical Microbiology is held only in the UK.

Does FRCPath give me GMC registration without PLAB?

FRCPath by examination (Part 1 and Part 2) is on the GMC’s list of accepted postgraduate qualifications for full registration. It should be awarded within three years of the GMC approving your application, and you still need English language evidence. Check the GMC’s guidance for your situation.

How do I become a consultant microbiologist in the UK?

You need to be on the GMC Specialist Register — either by completing UK training to a CCT, or through the GMC Portfolio Pathway (formerly CESR), which assesses your experience against the Medical Microbiology curriculum’s Capabilities in Practice.

Is the MTI scheme still available?

No. NHS England closed the Medical Training Initiative on 31 March 2026 and RCPath no longer accepts MTI applications. RCPath’s sponsorship scheme is currently under review and not accepting applications.

Do I need MRCP(UK)?

To enter UK Combined Infection Training at ST3, yes — the 2026 person specification asks for the full MRCP(UK) by the offer date, or an accepted alternative.

How does FRCPath Prep help IMGs?

Our content is written around UK guidance — NICE, UKHSA, the UK SMIs and the Green Book — which is where most IMGs need help. Premium adds timed mocks with analytics, a discussion group and WhatsApp access to consultant microbiologists.

Think like a UK microbiologist.

UK-referenced question banks, mocks and expert support — from wherever you are.

Registration, visa and training rules change. Always check with RCPath, the GMC and GOV.UK before you act. FRCPath Prep is independent and not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Royal College of Pathologists, the GMC or the NHS. Sources: RCPath — Routes to GMC registration · GMC — Acceptable postgraduate qualifications · RCPath — Portfolio Pathway · RCPath — MTI · RCPath — ITSS · RCPath — Membership · RCPath — Part 1 FAQs, autumn 2026 · RCPath — Fees 2026 · GOV.UK — Health and Care Worker visa
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