Language tests for EU doctors set to start in June in UK

• Published in: BMJ (Online) Vol. 348; no. feb26 3; p. g1809
• Main Author: Rimmer, Abi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 26.02.2014; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Careers; Communication Barriers; Cultural Competency; Employers; English language; European Union; Foreign Medical Graduates - standards; Humans; Language Tests; NEWS; Physicians; Professional Competence; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; England; Europe
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 1756-1833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.g1809

The Department of Health in England confirmed in January that it would implement a UK-wide plan to allow the GMC to begin the tests. 1 After a public consultation the regulator announced that it would require doctors from other European Union countries to provide evidence of their English skills or to undergo a language assessment if it had concerns about their ability to communicate effectively. 2 The GMC said that it expected to introduce the checks in June, subject to the legislative process. [...]as introducing tests for European doctors, the GMC will also introduce a requirement for doctors from all overseas countries to achieve an overall score of 7.5 out of 9 in the International English Language Testing System test. Of the 302 respondents to the public consultation on tests for doctors from other European Union countries, 91% agreed that it was fair and proportionate to require the same evidence of English language proficiency from European doctors as from other international medical graduates.