Important
This exam was formerly called the National Licensing Examination (NLE) and was later replaced by the National Registration Examination (NRE), which PM&DC runs today for Pakistani graduates of foreign medical and dental colleges. In August 2025 the British Council reported that PM&DC had decided to reintroduce the NLE for all MBBS and BDS graduates, trained in Pakistan or abroad. As of October 2026, the PM&DC website still announces only the NRE, and its Registration Regulations 2023 require the NRE for foreign graduates only. Check the PM&DC site for any change before you apply.
Overview
The National Registration Examination (NRE) is set by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC), Pakistan's regulator for doctors and dentists. Passing it is required for Pakistani nationals with a foreign MBBS or BDS (or equivalent) degree to get full registration, which is their licence to practise in Pakistan.
The NRE has two steps: Step I is a theory exam made up mostly of computer-based multiple-choice questions, and Step 2 is a clinical skills examination (CSE). It is the same exam the registry lists under its former name, the NLE. Most facts below come from PM&DC's own pages. Because the planned return of the NLE rests on a press report, treat that part as unconfirmed.
Who can apply
Under PM&DC's Registration Regulations 2023:
Pakistani graduates with an undergraduate medical or dental qualification from a foreign university or institution recognised by PM&DC must pass the NRE before full registration.
These graduates can get provisional registration to do their house job once their degree is verified, and can pass the NRE at any point before full registration.
Doctors and dentists who qualified at a recognised foreign institution and are registered to practise in another country must also pass the NRE for full registration in Pakistan.
Graduates of recognised foreign institutions who also hold a standard postgraduate qualification recognised by PM&DC (such as MRCP, FRCS, or US board diplomate or fellow status), with a valid foreign licence and good standing, are exempt.
Exam pattern
| Step | What it tests | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Step I | Knowledge (theory) | Mainly computer-based multiple-choice questions |
| Step 2 | Clinical skills | OSCE-style Clinical Skills Examination with 20 stations, 3 hours 30 minutes |
According to PM&DC's 2024 press release, the Step 2 stations cover Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Ophthalmology and ENT, and include patient interaction, clinical procedures and decision-making.
Marking and results
PM&DC's 2024 press release says candidates must pass the theory and the clinical skills components separately, with a pass mark of 60% in each. Step I results can be checked by roll number on the PM&DC website.
The Registration Regulations 2023 put no limit on the number of times a person may attempt the NRE.
Important dates
The regulations require PM&DC to hold the NRE at least twice a year. For the October 2026 sitting:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opened | 27 August 2026 |
| Registration closed (extended) | 15 September 2026 |
| NRE Step-I exam | Sunday 11 October 2026 |
PM&DC holds the October 2026 Step-I exam through the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi.
How to apply
Create an account on the PM&DC NRE portal, using your CNIC.
Register for the sitting during the registration window and pay the prescribed fee.
Watch pmdc.pk for public notices on dates, venues and results.
After the exam
After passing the NRE and completing the one-year house job or internship after provisional registration, a foreign graduate can apply for full registration. Clinical work done abroad before the degree was awarded does not count toward this house job.
Is the PMDC NLE still held?
Not under that name. PM&DC now runs the National Registration Examination (NRE) for Pakistani graduates of foreign medical and dental colleges. A 2025 British Council report said PM&DC planned to bring back the NLE for all graduates, but as of October 2026 the PM&DC site announces only the NRE.
How many times can I take the NRE?
PM&DC's Registration Regulations 2023 put no limit on the number of attempts.
Do graduates of Pakistani medical colleges take the NRE?
No. Under the 2023 regulations, the NRE is for Pakistani graduates of foreign institutions. Check PM&DC for any decision to reintroduce the NLE for all graduates.