MBBS in China Q&AMenuWhat is the PM&DC NRE for foreign graduates?
Unofficial · Sources checked
The National Registration Examination (NRE) is an examination conducted by the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) under section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022. For Pakistani nationals who have graduated in medicine from a foreign institution, passing both of its components is mandatory to obtain a full licence to practise as a general practitioner in Pakistan. The rules below come from PM&DC's own documents; see the licensing exams section for the steps in other countries.
What the NRE is for
The 2024 standard states that the NRE was developed and will be administered to gauge the competence of MBBS graduates to practise independently (National Registration Examination (Medical): Standard, Structure and Syllabus 2024, PM&DC). Passing the NRE — both the theory and the clinical skills examination components — is mandatory for obtaining a full licence to practise as a general practitioner (2024 standard, section II).
Two components
The NRE has two components (2024 standard, section II):
- Theory component — 200 multiple-choice questions, computer based. 70% are from clinical sciences disciplines and 30% from basic sciences disciplines. Only candidates qualifying in the theory component are eligible for the clinical component.
- Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) — in Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) format. It assesses essential clinical skills for a general practitioner, runs about 3 hours 30 minutes including briefing, and has 20 stations (8 minutes each, plus 2 minutes changeover).
The 20 CSE stations are distributed as follows (2024 standard, section VII):
| Discipline | Stations |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Allied | 7 |
| Surgery and Allied | 7 |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 2 |
| Paediatrics | 2 |
| Ophthalmology (Eye) | 1 |
| Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | 1 |
| Total | 20 |
Where and how often
The 2024 standard states that NRE 2024 will be conducted at multiple centres across Pakistan and will be held at least twice a year (2024 standard, section II).
Who may sit the NRE
The documents give three separate statements, each with its own date. They are not merged here.
2024 standard (NRE 2024): Candidates who have successfully graduated from PM&DC-approved foreign medical colleges with an MBBS/MD or equivalent degree (as per the approved foreign degree nomenclature), along with a provisional licence issued by PM&DC, are eligible to sit for NRE 2024 (2024 standard, section II).
14 September 2025 press release: The PM&DC Act 2022 provides that only graduates of foreign institutions duly recognized by PM&DC are eligible for provisional registration, and only graduates of foreign institutions included in the ECFMG-accredited lists are eligible to appear in the NRE (Press Release of 14 September 2025, PM&DC). The release also states that graduates enrolled under the erstwhile PM&DC or PMC whose institutions are not yet recognized under the new law will be issued provisional registration once they qualify for the NRE.
31 July 2026 public notice: Only Pakistani nationals who obtained their primary medical or dental qualification from foreign institutions recognized by the Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) shall be eligible to appear in the NRE, subject to fulfilment of all other applicable requirements (Public Notice No. PF-5-ADR-PM&DC/2026/1220 of 31 July 2026, PM&DC). The notice states that PM&DC shall not entertain any request for exemption, relaxation, or special dispensation from the prescribed eligibility requirements.
Because these statements carry different dates and scopes, check PM&DC's current notice for the sitting you will take.
Pass marks and attempts
In the 2024 standard, the minimum pass percentage is 60% for the theory component and 60% for the CSE (including three mandatory stations that must each be cleared), and there is no negative marking in either component (2024 standard, section II; the CSE pass percentage also stated in section VII). The 2024 standard sets no bar on the number of times a candidate may attempt the complete NRE, and a theory pass remains valid for five years, within which the CSE must be passed (2024 standard, section II).
Related questions
Can PM&DC change the CSE details later?
The 2024 standard states that the details about the content and conduct of the CSE (duration, number of stations, pass percentage) remain subject to change at the discretion of PM&DC, provided any change is notified and displayed on the PM&DC website at least 12 weeks before the date of commencement of the CSE (2024 standard, section VII).
Sources
- National Registration Examination (Medical): Standard, Structure and Syllabus 2024 — Pakistan Medical & Dental Council
- Press Release of 14 September 2025: Registration Examination is Mandatory for all Foreign Medical Graduates under the Law — Pakistan Medical & Dental Council
- Public Notice No. PF-5-ADR-PM&DC/2026/1220 of 31 July 2026 — Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (Registrar)
Checked 11 October 2026. This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or professional-licensing advice, is not published by the bodies named, promises no admission, examination or registration outcome, and the official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.