Understanding the UK Medical Licensing Assessment

Mar 3, 2025

UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UK MLA)

Overview

  • Presented by: Chris from Geeky Medics
  • Purpose: Discuss the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UK MLA)
  • Mandatory for: All UK medical students
  • Overseen by: General Medical Council (GMC)
  • Requirement for: Graduation, joining the medical register, and working as a doctor
  • Applicable from: Academic Year 2024-2025

Components of UK MLA

  1. Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)

    • Format: Multiple choice exam with single best answer questions
    • Managed by: Medical Schools Council
    • Papers: 2 papers, each with 100 questions
    • Format: Online, held in person at local medical school
    • Pass Mark: Varies; determined by standard setting process involving experts

  2. Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)

    • Format: Practical assessment of clinical and professional skills
    • Managed by: Individual medical schools, validated by GMC
    • Common Format: OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)

Topics Covered

  • Content Map: Provided by GMC, available on their website
    • Divided into 24 areas of clinical practice
    • Includes 311 conditions, 212 patient presentations, and 12 areas of Professional Knowledge

Key Areas of Clinical Practice

  • Combines medical and surgical specialties (e.g., renal medicine and urology)
  • Example Areas: Neurosciences (neurology and neurosurgery)

Conditions

  • Definition: Pathophysiological disease or clinical diagnosis
  • Examples: Appendicitis, lung cancer, thyrotoxicosis
  • Some conditions appear in multiple areas (e.g., anemia)
  • Frequent Conditions: Anemia, substance use disorder, cardiac failure, obesity, stroke, deep vein thrombosis

Presentations

  • Definition: Signs, symptoms, investigation results, patient issues
  • Examples: Chest pain, urinary incontinence
  • Frequent Presentations: Breathlessness, trauma, urinary symptoms, chest pain, fever, acute and chronic pain management

Areas of Professional Knowledge

  • Covers: Biochemistry, biomedical science, medical ethics and law, histopathology

Preparation for UK MLA

  • Content Map: Essential guide for preparation
  • Question Types: Focus on single best answer questions
  • Skills Development: Improve clinical reasoning and application of medical knowledge

Resources

  • **Geeky Medics Resources:"
    • OSCE Station Collection: 900+ ready-made stations
    • Clinical Examination Guide
    • Free MCQs and Advanced Single Best Answer Questions on Geeky Medics Quiz Platform

Conclusion

  • Key Takeaway: Understanding the UK MLA structure and content map is crucial for preparation
  • Advice: Practice single best answer questions and improve clinical reasoning skills
  • Further Resources: Subscribe to Geeky Medics for latest updates and videos

[Music] End of Presentation

Full transcript