Practicing in the UK

[usmd]

Hi. I have some questions about practicing in the UK and needed some advice from real practitioners rather than some clerk behind a desk.

I'm American with a US MD degree. I started my residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics and finished as Internal Medicine. I am Board Certified in Internal Medicine and had practiced for 7 years in the US. My husband is British and we moved to the UK so he could "come home". I am in the process of applying for GMC registration but it seems there are questions they are unable to answer for me. Here they are:

1.) With my background, what are the chances of me getting qualified as a GP or Specialist through the PMETB? I'd hate to spend money on trying for one of those registrations if it's unlikely they'll approve me for it. If I have a chance, which should I go for? I never practiced pediatrics, but I did the Internal Medicine/Pediatrics residency for two years. My impression is that the GP is equivalent to the US Family Practice. Even though Internal Medicine and Pediatrics are considered "primary care physicians" in the US, they are viewed as specialists or consultants in the UK.

2.) I have a full indefinite settlement visa. How does a trust or hospital's stance that they will fill their positions with EU applicants before going to non-EU candidates apply to me? I do not need sponsorship to work in the UK.

3.) If I only get full GMC registration, at what level would I be practicing? I do not understand the tiers in the UK medical system, although I do understand that the Foundation stages are similar to internships in the US. Obviously, I cannot apply at too low a stage because not only would I be over-qualified, but I would be attempting to take positions away from newly qualified doctors.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'll probably have more questions later regarding the grades of doctors.

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[bambi]

Are you at attending level? If you are, even though you are a non-EU citizen you could apply for consultant positions , it's only training positions that are to do with the EU thing I think. A consultant job wont be easy to get though.
If you aren't at attending level I think you would have to go back to the start of training really. Maybe not the 2 foundation years but perhaps ST1.
If you want a GP job, rather than a specialist job you will find it a lot easier but not sure how much the non-EU thing will affect you. EU grads are pretty much guaranteed a GP job if they want one and are willing to go anywhere.
If your husband is British doesn't that give you citizenship if you want it?

What do you mean by only full registration? We get it after F1, it means you don't need to be supervised, sort of anyway.

 

[bambi]

Are you at attending level? If you are, even though you are a non-EU citizen you could apply for consultant positions , it's only training positions that are to do with the EU thing I think. A consultant job wont be easy to get though.
If you aren't at attending level I think you would have to go back to the start of training really. Maybe not the 2 foundation years but perhaps ST1.
If you want a GP job, rather than a specialist job you will find it a lot easier but not sure how much the non-EU thing will affect you. EU grads are pretty much guaranteed a GP job if they want one and are willing to go anywhere.
If your husband is British doesn't that give you citizenship if you want it?

What do you mean by only full registration? We get it after F1, it means you don't need to be supervised, sort of anyway.

 

[usmd]

In the US, I am at attending level. I could do consultancy work, but I don't think I'm allowed. This is my understanding. There are three levels of registration - full, GP, Specialist. The GMC can grant full registration and I am in a lengthy waiting period for that, trying to bypass PLAB. They may decide I have to take the PLAB. If I want GP/Specialist registration, I need to go through PMETB and I'm unsure if I qualify. I won't be able to work as a consultant without being on the Specialist register, as far as I can tell. Please correct me if I'm wrong. On the other hand, if I only get full registration, I need to work in an approved practice setting, which sounds like it needs to be supervised. All these layers of bureaucracy is extremely confusing to an outsider. My husband is British, but it does not automatically make me a citizen. However, it does grant me rights to live and work here.