Built specifically for International Medical Graduates
Find Trust Grade, LED, Staff Grade and Clinical Fellow positions across the UK. Build the NHS experience you need under the 2026 Medical Training Prioritisation Act. Get instant alerts when new IMG-friendly roles are posted.
Get Alerts Now - £9.99/monthThe Medical Training Prioritisation Act 2026 legally prioritises UK graduates for Foundation and Specialty Training posts. IMGs who are not already in the NHS must secure Locally Employed Doctor (LED) or Trust Grade roles to build the required NHS experience for future training prioritisation.
International medical graduates can apply for Trust Grade, Locally Employed Doctor (LED), Staff Grade, Clinical Fellow, SHO equivalent, and Specialty Doctor roles. These positions help build the NHS experience needed for specialty training applications.
NHS doctor jobs, especially LED and Trust Grade positions popular with IMGs, can be filled within 24-48 hours of posting. This is why instant job alerts are essential.
Trust Grade positions are your gateway to NHS experience. Fully open to international medical graduates, not affected by the 2026 Prioritisation Act, and offering competitive salaries with visa sponsorship.
Trust Grade doctors are employed directly by NHS Trusts to provide clinical services outside of formal training programmes. They work at SHO or Registrar level across various specialties, gaining hands-on clinical experience that counts towards their NHS portfolio.
Unlike Foundation or Specialty Training posts, Trust Grade roles are not part of formal training programmes - meaning they are fully open to IMGs. Contracts typically range from 6 months to 2+ years, with many Trusts offering extensions or permanent positions.
The Medical Training Prioritisation Act 2026 does not apply to Trust Grade positions. IMGs compete on equal footing with UK graduates.
Build NHS Experience: Time spent in Trust Grade roles counts towards your NHS experience, which may qualify you for secondary priority in future training applications.
Visa Sponsorship Available: Many NHS Trusts sponsor Skilled Worker visas for Trust Grade positions. This is often easier to obtain than for training posts.
Competitive Salary: Trust Grade doctors are paid on NHS pay scales, typically £43,923 - £63,152 depending on experience and seniority level.
Trust Grade is typically at SHO or junior registrar level, while Specialty Doctor is a more senior grade requiring substantial post-qualification experience (usually 4+ years). Both are non-training posts open to IMGs.
Yes. NHS experience in Trust Grade roles counts towards your portfolio and may qualify you for secondary priority consideration under the Medical Training Prioritisation Act.
Very quickly. Popular Trust Grade posts can receive dozens of applications within 24-48 hours of posting. Instant job alerts are essential.
Yes, if you have GMC registration and right to work in the UK. Many Trusts interview candidates remotely and sponsor Skilled Worker visas.
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Trust Grade positions fill within 24-48 hours. Get instant email alerts when new jobs are posted.
Start Getting Alerts - £9.99/monthLocally Employed Doctor positions are your direct route into the NHS. Not affected by the 2026 Prioritisation Act, with visa sponsorship available, LED jobs offer IMGs equal opportunity to build their UK medical career.
LED is the official NHS term for doctors employed directly by Trusts outside of national training programmes. LED doctors are employed directly by individual NHS Trusts, not through national training programmes managed by Health Education England.
These are service-focused roles providing direct patient care. You will work alongside training-grade doctors doing similar clinical work. LED positions are outside the formal training pathway, which means they are not subject to the 2026 Prioritisation Act for IMGs.
Contracts range from 6 months to permanent. Many IMGs use LED roles as a stepping stone while building NHS experience.
Application Process: LED jobs - Apply directly to NHS Trusts via TRAC/NHS Jobs. Training posts - National application through Oriel/HEE.
Competition: LED jobs - Local competition only, equal access for IMGs. Training posts - National competition, UK graduates prioritised from 2026.
Visa Sponsorship: Many Trusts sponsor Skilled Worker visas for LED positions.
Location: LED jobs - You choose, apply to specific Trusts. Training posts - Allocated based on preferences and ranking.
LED jobs are not affected by the Medical Training Prioritisation Act 2026. You compete on merit with all other applicants.
Build NHS Experience: Every month in an LED role adds to your NHS experience, which may qualify you for secondary priority in future training applications.
Choose Your Location: Apply to specific Trusts in cities and regions where you want to work. No allocation system.
Competitive Salary: LED doctors are typically paid on the same NHS pay scales as training-grade doctors at equivalent levels.
LED stands for Locally Employed Doctor. These are doctors employed directly by individual NHS Trusts rather than through national training programmes managed by Health Education England.
LED and Trust Grade are essentially the same thing - different Trusts use different terminology. Both refer to non-training NHS doctor posts employed directly by Trusts.
Yes. NHS experience in LED roles can strengthen your training application portfolio and may qualify you for secondary priority consideration under the 2026 Prioritisation Act.
Generally yes. LED doctors are typically paid on the same NHS Medical and Dental pay scales. The exact grade depends on your experience level.
Yes, many NHS Trusts are licensed Skilled Worker visa sponsors and actively recruit internationally for LED positions.
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LED positions fill fast. Be the first to know when new jobs matching your criteria are posted.
Start Getting Alerts - £9.99/monthPassed PLAB? Your NHS career starts here. Find Trust Grade, LED, and Clinical Fellow positions open to PLAB-qualified international medical graduates. Get instant alerts for new vacancies.
Step 1 - Apply for GMC Registration: Once you pass PLAB 2, apply for GMC registration with a licence to practise. This typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Step 2 - Identify Your Target Specialty: Decide which specialty you want to work in. This helps you focus your job search on relevant LED and Trust Grade positions.
Step 3 - Apply for LED/Trust Grade Jobs: These non-training posts are the fastest route to NHS employment. They are fully open to PLAB-qualified doctors.
Step 4 - Build NHS Experience: Start accumulating UK clinical experience. This strengthens future training applications under the 2026 Act.
SHO to Registrar equivalent. The most common entry point for PLAB doctors. Direct employment by NHS Trusts, typically in general medicine, surgery, or emergency medicine.
Registrar equivalent. Often include teaching or research components. Popular in academic hospitals and teaching trusts.
Staff Grade: Middle grade, more senior than Trust Grade, often requiring additional experience. Good for doctors with overseas specialty experience.
Specialty Doctor: Career grade, typically requires 4+ years post-qualification experience. Long-term career option.
Once you receive your GMC registration (typically 2-4 weeks after passing PLAB 2), you can start work immediately if you have a job offer.
PLAB-qualified doctors can apply for Trust Grade, LED (Locally Employed Doctor), Clinical Fellow, and Staff Grade positions. These non-training posts are fully open to doctors without prior UK experience.
No. If you have completed a recognised internship in your home country, you do not need to repeat Foundation Year 1 in the UK.
The Medical Training Prioritisation Act 2026 affects formal training posts but NOT non-training posts. LED, Trust Grade, Clinical Fellow, and Staff Grade jobs remain fully open to PLAB-qualified IMGs.
Yes. Many NHS Trusts sponsor Skilled Worker visas for doctors in LED and Trust Grade positions.
Learn more about the specific job types you can apply for:
PLAB jobs get snapped up quickly. Get instant alerts when new positions are posted.
Get Job Alerts - £9.99/monthThe Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 introduces legal priority for UK graduates in Foundation and Specialty Training applications. Here is what it means for international medical graduates and what you can do to protect your career pathway.
UK medical graduates now have statutory priority for Foundation Year and Specialty Training posts, significantly reducing available training positions for IMGs.
IMGs with substantial NHS experience may qualify for secondary priority. This makes gaining NHS experience through LED/Trust Grade roles essential.
Locally Employed Doctor and Trust Grade positions are NOT affected by the Act. These remain fully open to IMGs and are the fastest route to NHS experience.
2026 Implementation: The Act takes effect from 2026. IMGs planning to apply for specialty training in 2027 and beyond need to start building NHS experience immediately.
Step 1 - Secure an LED or Trust Grade Position: These non-training NHS posts are your fastest route to gaining the clinical experience you need. They are not affected by the priority system.
Step 2 - Build Your NHS Experience: Time spent in LED, Trust Grade, Staff Grade, and Clinical Fellow roles counts towards your NHS experience for secondary priority consideration.
Step 3 - Document Everything: Keep detailed records of your NHS experience, including dates, roles, responsibilities, and any achievements or additional training.
Step 4 - Set Up Job Alerts: LED and Trust Grade positions fill quickly. Use TRACJobsAlert to get instant notifications when new positions matching your criteria are posted.
No. The Act specifically affects Foundation Programme and Specialty Training posts. LED, Trust Grade, Staff Grade, and Clinical Fellow positions are NOT affected.
If you are currently in a training programme, you should be able to continue. The Act primarily affects new applications for training posts from 2026 onwards.
The exact requirements are being finalised, but substantial NHS experience in clinical roles will be considered. Start building experience now.
Absolutely. The Act does not prevent IMGs from working in the NHS. LED, Trust Grade, Staff Grade, Specialty Doctor, and Clinical Fellow positions remain fully available.
Focus on Trust Grade, LED (Locally Employed Doctor), Staff Grade, and Clinical Fellow positions. These provide valuable NHS experience and are not subject to the training priority system.
Learn more about the specific job types that remain fully open to international medical graduates:
LED and Trust Grade positions are your fastest route to NHS experience. Get instant alerts when new positions are posted.
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