The Medical Council this week launched a public consultation on a proposed amendment to its Registration Rules. The consultation process remains open until 22 June next.
It is seeking the views of doctors, patients, and other stakeholders on the addition of the UK’s Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board Part 2 (PLAB 2) as an alternative to the Pre-Registration Examination System Level 3 (PRES 3).
All doctors who wish to work in Ireland must first register with the Medical Council, whose role is to ensure that registered medical practitioners meet and maintain high standards of professional conduct, education, and competence.
Doctors who have qualified outside the EU/EEA and who do not hold a higher qualification, or an internship deemed equivalent to the Irish internship programme, may be required to pass the PRES before gaining registration. The PRES consists of two assessments: PRES 2, a written multiple-choice examination, and PRES 3, a clinical-based assessment of communication, interpretation, and practical skills.
The General Medical Council in the UK operates a similar assessment system. The PLAB also comprises two parts: PLAB 1, a written examination, and PLAB 2, a clinical assessment. Having reviewed both systems, the Irish Medical Council “is satisfied that the PLAB 2 is equivalent in standard to the PRES 3”.
The Medical Council has identified significant accessibility issues with the PRES 3, including limited availability and resulting waiting times that delay doctors from entering the Irish healthcare system. Adding PLAB 2 as a recognised alternative “will address these delays and enable eligible doctors to begin practising sooner”, it stated. The Medical Council has generally recognised PLAB level 1 exam as equivalent to PRES level 2 exam in practice, and the proposed changes also reflect this administrative practice.
The proposed Registration Rules amendment would provide for the following exemptions:
- Applicants who have qualified outside the EU/EEA and who have passed PLAB 1 will be exempt from PRES 2.
- Applicants who have qualified outside the EU/EEA and who have passed PLAB 2 will be exempt from PRES 3.
The draft Medical Council (Registration)(Amendment) Rules 2026 are available to view on the Council’s website.
Dr Maria O’Kane, CEO, Medical Council, said: “Our primary responsibility is the protection of patients, and that means ensuring that every doctor on our register has met the required standards. We are satisfied that the PLAB meets these standards.
“This change is also a practical one, as delays in the registration process have real consequences for doctors and for the health system. By recognising an established, equivalent assessment, we can ensure more doctors are registered without compromising on standards. I would encourage anyone with an interest in this proposal to take part in the consultation.”
The stakeholder consultation provides an opportunity for doctors, members of the public, individuals and organisations to submit comments and suggestions. Further information and instructions on how to complete the survey are available on the Medical Council’s website.
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