The PLAB test is two exams with two fees, and the rules that decide what you lose if plans change are strict: a PLAB 1 cancellation inside six weeks forfeits the whole fee, and the only way to change your date is to cancel and rebook. This page sets out the General Medical Council's fees and rules from its own pages, alongside the Myndaq PLAB and UKMLA course. For what PLAB 1 covers, see the PLAB 1 syllabus and content areas.
What PLAB costs
From the GMC's table of PLAB test fees, effective from 1 April 2026:
- PLAB 1 — £283 (it was £273 from 1 April 2025)
- PLAB 2 — £1,036 (it was £998 from 1 April 2025)
The full route is therefore £1,319 in exam fees at current rates, before travel to the UK for PLAB 2.
Refugee doctors living in the UK can take PLAB 1 free of charge for their first two attempts.
Cancellation fees
The GMC charges a cancellation fee that depends on how many days before the test you cancel:
PLAB 1
- More than 42 days before — 10% of the fee: £28.30
- 42 days or less before — 100% of the fee: £283
PLAB 2
- More than 42 days before — 10%: £103.60
- Between 42 and 29 days before — 50%: £518
- 28 days or less before — 100%: £1,036
The GMC says it may consider refunding the cancellation fee where exceptional circumstances arise.
Changing your date: cancel and rebook
There is no simple "reschedule" for PLAB 1. To swap dates, you must cancel your place first — the cancellation fee is deducted — and then book another place. So moving a PLAB 1 date more than 42 days out costs £28.30 plus finding a new place; moving it inside 42 days costs the whole fee.
Exceptional circumstances and GMC cancellations
- A full refund is considered for exceptional circumstances such as visa refusal, the introduction of travel restrictions, ill health or bereavement. The GMC's process is to cancel first, then email the evidence.
- If the GMC cancels an exam, booking fees are refunded automatically. The GMC does not reimburse visa, travel or accommodation costs.
Booking
- Who can book: you need an acceptable overseas primary medical qualification (or confirmation that you have passed your final exams) and evidence of your knowledge of English. The GMC says it recommends candidates strongly consider IELTS or OET.
- How: only through GMC Online, in the "My Tests" section. The GMC does not allow third parties to book, and sharing your account details is treated as misconduct.
- When: availability varies by location, and registration may close between two and six weeks before the test date — so the booking deadline is not the same everywhere.
- Where: PLAB 1 is held at centres in the UK and abroad, including several Indian cities. The GMC has announced that Dhaka, Alexandria, Accra and Chennai will close as PLAB locations from February 2027; if you planned to sit in Chennai, check the GMC's current list of locations before booking.
Attempts
- You can keep taking PLAB 1 until you have failed it four times.
- After a fourth failure you must apply for an additional attempt; the GMC requires evidence of 12 months' additional learning, such as clinical practice or a postgraduate qualification.
- If you fail that fifth and final attempt, you are no longer eligible to take the exam.
With the fee at £283, the money matters less than the attempts: plan to pass on the first or second sitting, and use full timed practice to judge readiness rather than a live exam.
Results and what comes next
PLAB 1 results are published six weeks after the exam, by email and in "My Tests" — not by phone. After passing PLAB 1 you can book PLAB 2; after passing PLAB 2, the GMC's guide states that your registration application must be approved within two years.
A realistic budget from India
- PLAB 1 once: £283.
- PLAB 1 twice: £566.
- PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, one attempt each: £1,319, plus the cost of travelling to and staying in the UK for PLAB 2.
- A late PLAB 1 cancellation loses the full £283.
Quick answers
How much does PLAB 1 cost?
£283 from 1 April 2026 (it was £273 before).
How much does PLAB 2 cost?
£1,036 from 1 April 2026.
What happens if I cancel PLAB 1?
More than 42 days before the test, you pay a 10% cancellation fee (£28.30); 42 days or less before, you lose the full £283. Exceptional circumstances may be considered for a refund.
Can I change my PLAB 1 date?
Only by cancelling — with the cancellation fee deducted — and booking another place.
How many times can I take PLAB 1?
Until you have failed four times; then you may apply for a fifth and final attempt with evidence of 12 months' additional learning.
