NHS Roles for International Medical Graduates

Published: 30th Jan, 2021

NHS is one of the world's best healthcare systems across the globe. I would not deny that we have some flaws, but honestly who does not!! Nevertheless, this is one of the brightest avenue of opportunities for International Medical Graduates (IMG) from various regions, and this will continue being the case in the foreseeable future. One common question I often come across is "What do these various roles mean, and which one should I pursue?". In this blog, I aim to elaborate a bit more on this subject and alleviate this concern for you

In most cases HR will evaluate if you qualify for a role, and automatically assign you with an appropriate equivalency level, so you should be fine applying to various roles. However, to maximize your efficiency in applications, you may consider only applying to roles that are more suitable to you (eg: An IMG with full registration may not want to invest time in applying for an ST1+ equivalent role). Let's break down the various aspects you would want to be aware of during a job application:
 
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Training vs Non-Training

A training position leads to specialization , and you could eventually become a Consultant upon completion. However, in most cases an IMG may not be eligible to apply directly for specialist training, so the general starting role is 'Non-training'
Note: The eligibility criteria keeps changing from time to time, so keep an eye on these opportunities though

Job Title

This is more of an internal reflection of seniority, and is "mostly based" on prior experience within UK. Moreover, this may differ in case you are hired directly by an NHS trust vs a placement agency. Below are few examples:

NHS Trust Titles (preferred for IMG's)
- Junior Clinical Fellow
- Clinical Fellow
- Senior Clinical Fellow

Placement Agency titles
There are various placement agencies who hire IMG's directly on their company payroll, and place them in suitable NHS Trusts for a period of time
- Medical Officer
- Resident Medical Officer
- Locum
***Recruitment vs Placement agency (in the referenced context): A recruitment agency only helps you find a job, whereas a placement agency hire people directly



Equivalency Level

This defines the training level (or equivalent level for non-training roles). Below are few examples:

- Foundation Year 1 (FY1): Entry level position for UK Medical Graduates in Internship. Moreover, an IMG with Provisional registration also needs to start at this level

- Foundation Year 2 (FY2): IMG's with Full registration via the PLAB route are eligible to apply for FY2 equivalent positions

- Specialty Training (ST1 & above): These positions are available for anyone who has completed at least 1 year in an FY2 equivalent position

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