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Pakistan: the structure of the National Registration Examination, two components

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

This page sets out the structure of the National Registration Examination (NRE) 2024, as the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) printed it in its 2024 standard. The standard applies to candidates who have graduated from PM&DC approved foreign medical colleges and hold a provisional license issued by PM&DC, and it states that passing the NRE, both the theory and clinical skills examination components, is mandatory for a full license to practise as a General Practitioner. For practising back home, see this register's section page, and check PM&DC's current notice for the sitting you plan to take.

Purpose and eligibility

The standard says the NRE 2024 was designed under Section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022. It states that the examination will gauge the ability of MBBS graduates' competence to practise independently.

The standard's eligibility sentence reads: 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 license issued by PM&DC, are eligible to sit for NRE 2024. Section II names no college, so this page cannot say which colleges PM&DC has approved.

Centres, frequency and attempts

  • Centres: the standard says the NRE 2024 will be conducted at multiple centres across Pakistan to facilitate the candidates.
  • Frequency: the NRE will be held at least twice a year.
  • Number of attempts: there is no bar on the number of times a candidate can attempt the complete NRE.

The two components

The standard says the NRE will consist of two components: a theory component and a skill-based clinical component, the Clinical Skills Examination (CSE).

Component What the standard says
Theory MCQs targeting higher cognition; 200 MCQs, of which 70% are from clinical sciences disciplines and 30% from basic sciences disciplines
Clinical Skills Examination (CSE) Assesses essential clinical skills required for practice by a general medical practitioner; format similar to an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

The standard says the NRE shall be substantially based on objective computer based multiple choice questions. It also says that only candidates qualifying in the theory (MCQs) component will be eligible for the CSE.

The clinical skills examination (Section 7)

Section 7 of the standard says the CSE aims to assess essential clinical skills. These include interpretation of clinical data, including diagnostic data, formulation of diagnosis and development of management plans. The CSE would also include examination skills and key procedural skills.

The standard sets these figures for the CSE:

  • Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, including the initial briefing.
  • Stations: 20.
  • Time per station: 8 minutes, with 2 minutes for the changeover.
  • Pass percentage for the final result of the CSE: 60%.

The standard says 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. It adds that any such change is to be notified and displayed on the PM&DC website at least 12 weeks prior to the date of commencement of the CSE.

The standard distributes the stations across disciplines as follows. The total line is printed as 20.

Discipline Total number of stations
Medicine and Allied 7
Surgery and Allied 7
Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2
Paediatrics 2
Ophthalmology (Eye) 1
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) 1
Total stations 20

Questions people ask

How often is the NRE held?

Section II of the 2024 standard says the NRE will be held at least twice a year. The standard also says it will be conducted at multiple centres across Pakistan.

Is there a limit on how many times a candidate can attempt the NRE?

Section II of the 2024 standard says there is no bar on the number of times a candidate can attempt the complete NRE.

What does the clinical skills examination test and how is it run?

Section 7 of the 2024 standard says the CSE assesses essential clinical skills, including interpretation of clinical data, formulation of diagnosis, development of management plans, examination skills and key procedural skills. The format is similar to an OSCE, with 20 stations, about 3 hours and 30 minutes including the briefing, and 8 minutes per station plus 2 minutes for the changeover.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal, medical or professional-licensing advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and it promises no admission, examination or registration outcome. The official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.

MBBS Register Desk