Note
The official recruitment site, joinpakarmy.gov.pk, could not be opened when this page was checked. The details below come from a news report of the official advertisement and course instructions for the 159th course, so confirm them on the Join Pak Army site or at an Army Selection and Recruitment Centre before you apply.
Overview
The PMA Long Course is the entry through which young men join the Pakistan Army as regular commissioned officers. Selected candidates train for 2 years at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA). A new course is advertised in each intake; the 159th course opened for registration in September 2026.
Selection has several stages: an online registration, preliminary tests at an Army Selection and Recruitment Centre (AS&RC), nomination to the Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB), a detailed medical examination, and final selection by General Headquarters (GHQ).
Who can apply
For the 159th course (as reported in 2026):
Gender and nationality: male Pakistani citizens, including domicile holders of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. On final selection, a candidate with dual nationality, a Green Card, an Iqama or a residence permit must give up any nationality other than Pakistani.
Marital status: unmarried. Married serving members of the armed forces over 20 years of age may apply.
Height: at least 5 feet 4 inches (162.5 cm), with weight meeting the required BMI standard.
Age is calculated as on 1 May 2027:
| Category | Age limit | Minimum marks |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate (FA, FSc) or equivalent | 17 to 22 years, 3 months' relaxation at both limits | 60% in FA/FSc |
| Two-year graduates; serving Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force personnel | 17 to 23 years, 3 months' relaxation at both limits | 60% in the degree with 50% in FA/FSc |
| Four-year BS, BA Honours, BBA or BPA graduates | 17 to 24 years, no relaxation | 60% in the degree with 50% in FA/FSc |
| Serving Army soldiers | 17 to 25 years, no relaxation | 50% in FA/FSc |
Candidates from specified areas, who hold the area's domicile and studied there, can apply with 55% in FA/FSc. The listed areas include Balochistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, Neelum district, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Balakot tehsil (including Kaghan and Naran), Tharparkar, Umerkot tehsil, Rajanpur district and listed parts of Cholistan.
A-Level candidates need an IBCC equivalence certificate showing at least 60% aggregate marks.
Exam pattern
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Preliminary tests at AS&RC | Written and intelligence tests on computer, medical examination and physical test |
| Physical test | 1 km run in 8 minutes; push-ups and sit-ups to a qualifying standard |
| Essays and interview | A 10-line essay in English and one in Urdu, then an interview with a Selection and Recruitment Officer and a psychologist |
| ISSB | Candidates nominated on merit by the Personnel Administration Directorate |
| Detailed medical | At a Combined Military Hospital, for candidates recommended by ISSB |
| Final selection | By GHQ, based on performance across the process |
The interview carries 20 marks; a candidate scoring below 10 fails and is not given an ISSB form. The panel looks at expression and confidence in English and Urdu, current affairs, geography, Pakistan Studies, presentation, and sports and hobbies.
Registration and tests are computer-based, so a working knowledge of computers is needed.
Important dates
For the 159th course, as reported in September 2026:
| Activity | Dates |
|---|---|
| Online registration | 14 September to 23 October 2026 |
| Preliminary tests | 5 October to 15 December 2026 |
| Preliminary tests for repeater candidates | 12 to 23 October 2026 |
| Age calculated as on | 1 May 2027 |
How to apply
Register online on the Join Pak Army website during the registration period.
Revisit the site to download your computerised roll number slip; it usually takes 5 to 7 working days to be generated.
Report to your AS&RC on the exact date and time on the slip, which will not be changed.
Bring original Matric and FA/FSc (or equivalent) certificates and detailed mark sheets, one set of attested photocopies, a computerised CNIC (or, under 18, a computerised B-Form with a parent's CNIC) and three attested passport-size colour photographs. Repeaters also bring their original ISSB "Not Recommended" letter.
After the preliminary tests, submit Form D and a verified character certificate to your recruitment centre within 5 working days.
A candidate who applied earlier through the Technical Cadet Course counts as a repeater. A first-time PMA Long Course applicant counts as fresh, even if he has appeared before ISSB for the Navy or Air Force.
AS&RCs are listed in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Multan, Dera Ismail Khan, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Khuzdar, Pano Aqil and Turbat.
After the exam
Candidates finally selected by GHQ join the Pakistan Military Academy for 2 years of training before being commissioned.
Preparation tips
Work on running so that 1 km in under 8 minutes is comfortable, along with push-ups and sit-ups.
Practise writing short essays in both English and Urdu.
Read up on current affairs, geography and Pakistan Studies for the interview.
Get documents such as the CNIC or B-Form, IBCC equivalence and any verification certificates ready early.
FAQs
How long is training at PMA?
Two years at the Pakistan Military Academy for candidates selected through the Long Course.
Can married men apply for the PMA Long Course?
Civilian applicants must be unmarried. Married serving members of the armed forces over 20 years of age may apply.
What is the minimum height for the PMA Long Course?
5 feet 4 inches (162.5 cm), as reported for the 159th course in 2026, with weight meeting the BMI standard.