For any South Asian medical graduate dreaming of a white coat in the UK, USA, or Australia, the path begins with a licensing exam — and a very serious financial commitment. The problem? Most guides list fees in foreign currencies that feel abstract. This post converts every single cost into Pakistani Rupees and Indian Rupees so you know exactly what you’re dealing with before you begin.
We’ve broken down three major pathways: PLAB for the UK, USMLE for the USA, and AMC for Australia. Each section includes mandatory exam fees, essential add-ons, and realistic estimates for the full journey — not just the headline registration fee.Hence, in this article you will know complete cost of each exam and total pathway. Wether it is the cost of usmle 1 or the cost of plab 1, you will know everything.
🇬🇧 PLAB — United Kingdom
Professional & Linguistic Assessments Board
Pathway to GMC Registration & NHS Practice · Fees in British Pounds (GBP)
Route Overview: PLAB has two parts. PLAB 1 is a written MCQ exam (180 questions) taken at international centres including Pakistan and India. PLAB 2 is a clinical OSCE held exclusively in Manchester, UK. Both must be passed to apply for GMC registration.
| Fee Item | GBP | PKR (₨) | INR (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLAB Part 1 — Exam Fee | £283 | 1,07,205 | 36,483 |
| PLAB Part 2 — Exam Fee UK only | £1,036 | 3,92,340 | 1,33,638 |
| Total Core Exam Fees | £1,319 | 4,99,545 | 1,70,121 |
| MyIntealth Credential Verification required | ~£80 | ~30,340 | ~9,500 |
| IELTS Academic required | ~£175 | ~71,920 | ~22,600 |
| OET Medicine (alternative) optional | ~£285 | ~1,08,015 | ~36,765 |
| Question Bank Subscription (3–6 months) recommended | £80–£150 | 30,320–56,850 | 10,320–19,350 |
| PLAB 2 Prep Course (OSCE academy) recommended | £500–£1,000 | 1,89,500–3,79,000 | 64,500–1,29,000 |
| UK Visitor Visa (for PLAB 2) required | ~£127 | ~50,231 | ~16,383 |
| Return Flights to Manchester | £400–£800 | 1,51,600–3,03,200 | 51,600–1,03,200 |
| Accommodation in Manchester (1–2 weeks) | £300–£600 | 1,13,700–2,27,400 | 38,700–77,400 |
| GMC Full Registration Fee | £433 | 1,64,045 | 55,845 |
| Realistic Total (Core + Essentials) | £3,200–£4,200 | 12,12,000–15,91,000 | 4,13,000–5,42,000 |
⚠️ Re-attempts: PLAB 1 re-sit = £273 (≈ PKR 1.03 lakh / INR 35,217). PLAB 2 re-sit = £998 (≈ PKR 3.78 lakh / INR 1.29 lakh). Maximum 4 attempts per part. PLAB 1 can be sat in Pakistan and India; PLAB 2 is Manchester only.
🇺🇸 USMLE — United States
United States Medical Licensing Examination
Pathway to US Residency & Medical Practice · Fees in US Dollars (USD)
Route Overview: USMLE has three Steps. IMGs must pass Step 1 and Step 2 CK before applying for residency. Step 3 is taken during or after residency and is only administered in the USA. IMGs also pay an additional International Test Delivery Surcharge on Steps 1 and 2. ECFMG certification is a prerequisite for residency applications.
| Fee Item | USD | PKR (₨) | INR (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 — Base Exam Fee (2026) | $695 | 1,93,905 | 66,025 |
| Step 1 — International Surcharge (IMGs) IMGs only | $235 | 65,565 | 22,325 |
| Step 1 Total (IMGs) | $930 | 2,59,470 | 88,350 |
| Step 2 CK — Base Exam Fee (2026) | $695 | 1,93,905 | 66,025 |
| Step 2 CK — International Surcharge (IMGs) IMGs only | $235 | 65,565 | 22,325 |
| Step 2 CK Total (IMGs) | $930 | 2,59,470 | 88,350 |
| Step 3 — Exam Fee (US only) USA travel required | $955 | 2,66,445 | 90,725 |
| Total Core Exam Fees (all 3 Steps, IMGs) | $2,815 | 7,85,385 | 2,67,425 |
| ECFMG Certification + MyIntealth Account required | $160 | 44,640 | 15,200 |
| OET Medicine (English Test) required | ~$330 | ~92,070 | ~31,350 |
| Credential Verification (EPIC/ECFMG) required | ~$100–$200 | ~27,900–55,800 | ~9,500–19,000 |
| UWorld Step 1 Subscription (12 months) | ~$389 | ~1,08,531 | ~36,955 |
| UWorld Step 2 CK Subscription | ~$389 | ~1,08,531 | ~36,955 |
| NBME Self-Assessment Forms (~$62 each) | $300–$500 | 83,700–1,39,500 | 28,500–47,500 |
| US Visa (B1/B2 or J1 for Step 3) | $185 | 51,615 | 17,575 |
| Flights to USA (for Step 3) | $800–$1,400 | 2,23,200–3,90,600 | 76,000–1,33,000 |
| Accommodation in USA during Step 3 (~2 weeks) | $700–$1,200 | 1,95,300–3,34,800 | 66,500–1,14,000 |
| US Clinical Observerships/Externships strongly recommended | $3,000–$8,000 | 8,37,000–22,32,000 | 2,85,000–7,60,000 |
| Realistic Total (Core + Essentials, excl. rotations) | ~$7,000–$12,000 | ~19,53,000–33,48,000 | ~6,65,000–11,40,000 |
🇦🇺 AMC — Australia
Australian Medical Council
Pathway to AHPRA Registration & Australian Medical Practice · Fees in Australian Dollars (AUD)
Route Overview: The AMC standard pathway has two parts. Part 1 is the CAT MCQ exam (Computer Adaptive Test, 150 MCQs), taken at Pearson VUE centres worldwide including Pakistan and India. Part 2 is the Clinical exam — either in-person in Melbourne or online. After passing both, you apply for AHPRA registration.
| Fee Item | AUD | PKR (₨) | INR (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC Portfolio Registration (1 qualification) required first | A$642 | 1,11,708 | 39,804 |
| Additional Qualification (each) if applicable | A$107 | 18,618 | 6,634 |
| AMC Part 1 — CAT MCQ Exam reduced Jul 2024 | A$2,920 | 5,07,880 | 1,81,040 |
| AMC Part 2 — Clinical Exam (In-Person, Melbourne) reduced Jul 2025 | A$3,000 | 5,22,000 | 1,86,000 |
| AMC Part 2 — Clinical Exam (Online) alternative | A$3,400 | 5,91,600 | 2,10,800 |
| Total Core Fees (Portfolio + MCQ + In-Person Clinical) | A$6,562 | 11,41,788 | 4,06,844 |
| EPIC Credential Verification required | ~A$350 | ~60,900 | ~21,700 |
| OET Medicine required | ~A$587 | ~1,02,138 | ~36,394 |
| IELTS Academic (alternative to OET) alternative | ~A$475 | ~82,650 | ~29,450 |
| AMC Prep Course / Question Bank (3–6 months) | A$300–A$800 | 52,200–1,39,200 | 18,600–49,600 |
| Flights to Melbourne (in-person clinical) | A$700–A$1,400 | 1,21,800–2,43,600 | 43,400–86,800 |
| Accommodation in Melbourne (1 week) | A$400–A$900 | 69,600–1,56,600 | 24,800–55,800 |
| AHPRA Application Fee (Provisional Registration) | A$720 | 1,25,280 | 44,640 |
| AHPRA Annual Registration Fee | A$506 | 88,044 | 31,372 |
| Realistic Total (Core + Essentials) | A$9,000–A$12,400 | 15,66,000–21,57,600 | 5,58,000–7,68,800 |
⚠️ Fee reductions in 2025: The AMC reduced the MCQ fee from A$3,124 to A$2,920 in July 2024, and reduced the Clinical Exam from A$3,991 to A$3,000 (in-person) and A$4,391 to A$3,400 (online) from July 2025. Candidates already booked received automatic refunds. Result verification costs an additional A$107 per request.
Money-Saving Tips
01
Use Free AMC Prep App First
The AMC provides a free preparation app with 210 practice questions. Use it exhaustively before paying for third-party question banks — it directly mirrors the CAT format and costs nothing.
02
Pass First Try — Saves Lakhs
USMLE and AMC re-sit fees are identical to original fees. A single failed attempt on USMLE Step 1 costs another PKR 2.6 lakh / INR 88,000. Invest in good prep materials upfront.
03
Choose IELTS Over OET for PLAB
IELTS Academic costs roughly £60–70 less than OET for PLAB. Both are accepted. If your English is strong, IELTS is the more economical choice and can save PKR ~25,000 / INR ~8,000.
04
AMC Online Clinical Saves Travel
The AMC online clinical exam costs A$400 more than in-person, but you save A$1,000–2,000+ on flights and accommodation to Melbourne — making it cheaper overall for South Asian candidates.
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