Licensing exam
PMDC NRE Step 1
4,600+
MCQs
- 300 new high-yield MCQs
- PMDC Step 1 blueprint
- Detailed explanations
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NRE Exam 2026: PMDC NRE Step 1 QBanks, Dates and Syllabus
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Physicians
GP and specialist doctors
Dentists
General dentists and dental specialists
Licensing exam
PMDC NRE Dental
2,300+
MCQs
- 11 dental subjects
- PMDC dental blueprint
- Pakistan focused
What is the NRE exam?
The NRE (National Registration Examination) is the licensing exam of the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC). Graduates of foreign medical and dental colleges must pass it to get a full PM&DC licence and practise in Pakistan. It is held under section 18 of the PM&DC Act 2022. You may still see its old name, NLE (National Licensing Examination), used for the same exam.
The NRE has two steps. NRE Step 1 is a theory exam of multiple-choice questions. NRE Step 2 is a Clinical Skills Examination (CSE). You must pass Step 1 before you can sit Step 2, and you need both for full registration.
NRE exam dates 2026
- NRE Step 1: Sunday 8 November 2026. PM&DC moved it from 11 October in a notice dated 5 October 2026. Registration for this sitting closed on 15 September 2026 and has not reopened.
- NRE Step 2 (CSE): the second 2026 cycle was planned for 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026. Check PM&DC’s notices in case these dates move after the Step 1 change.
- Result: PM&DC usually publishes Step 1 results within a few weeks. The December 2025 Step 1 was held on 14 December and its result came out on 24 December 2025.
PM&DC announces every session, registration window and change as a public notice on pmdc.pk, so check there before you book travel.
Who can take the NRE?
The NRE is for graduates of PM&DC-approved foreign colleges who hold an MBBS, MD, BDS or equivalent degree. Before you can register, PM&DC must verify your degree and issue you a provisional licence. Start this early: delays in verification can push you to a later session. Graduates of Pakistani colleges do not take the NRE.
The NRE is not the same as the NEB (National Equivalence Board). The NEB is for students who studied part of a medical or dental degree abroad and want to transfer to a college in Pakistan. The NRE is for graduates.
NRE exam pattern
- Step 1 (theory): 200 single-best-answer MCQs in three and a half hours. For doctors, 140 MCQs (70%) come from clinical sciences and 60 (30%) from applied basic sciences. Questions test how you apply knowledge, mostly through clinical cases.
- Step 2 (CSE) for doctors: an OSCE of 20 stations, 8 minutes each with 2 minutes to change over, lasting about three and a half hours.
- Step 2 (CSE) for dentists: two sessions. Session 1 has 15 stations of 6 to 10 minutes; Session 2 has 3 stations of 50 minutes each.
- Marking: no negative marking, so answer every question.
NRE Step 1 syllabus and subject weightage
Medical NRE (200 MCQs)
| Subject | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Allied | 52 |
| Surgery and Allied | 48 |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 14 |
| Paediatrics | 14 |
| Ophthalmology | 6 |
| ENT | 6 |
| Applied basic sciences: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, community medicine, forensic medicine | 60 |
Dental NRE (200 MCQs)
| Subject | MCQs |
|---|---|
| Operative Dentistry, Endodontics and Paediatric Dentistry | 45 |
| Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology | 25 |
| Prosthodontics | 25 |
| Oral Surgery | 25 |
| Periodontology | 20 |
| Science of Dental Materials | 15 |
| Community and Preventive Dentistry | 15 |
| Orthodontics | 10 |
| Pharmacology including Dental Therapeutics | 10 |
| General Medicine | 5 |
| General Surgery | 5 |
The full topic list is in PM&DC’s NRE Standard, Structure and Syllabus documents on pmdc.pk. Our QBanks follow these same subject weightings, so your practice tests look like the real paper.
NRE passing marks, attempts and validity
- Passing marks: 60% in Step 1 and 60% in Step 2, passed separately. PM&DC confirmed the 60% pass mark and no negative marking in January 2026.
- Attempts: there is no fixed limit on attempts.
- Validity: a Step 1 pass is valid for five years, and you must pass the CSE within that time. If you fail the CSE three times in a row, you must sit the whole NRE again.
How to register for the NRE
- Get your PM&DC provisional licence after degree verification.
- Wait for PM&DC’s public notice for the next session. For the 2026 Step 1, registration opened about six weeks before the exam and stayed open for about two weeks.
- Apply on the NRE portal, nre.pmdc.pk, with your documents.
- Pay the exam fee online. PM&DC shows the fee on the portal when you apply; its 2026 notices did not state the amount.
- Download your admit card when PM&DC releases it, and check your centre and reporting time.
For Step 2, apply from the same portal once your Step 1 result shows as passed.
How to check your NRE result
PM&DC publishes the result on pmdc.pk, and your detailed marks appear in your account on the NRE portal. The exam itself is conducted for PM&DC by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS).
How to prepare for NRE Step 1
The fastest way to prepare is to practise exam-style questions under timed conditions and fix your weak subjects. Our PMDC NRE Step 1 and NRE Dental QBanks are built on the PM&DC blueprint, use single-best-answer questions like the real paper, and give a detailed explanation for every answer. Start with the free trial, then use timed tests in the last weeks before the exam.
After you pass the NRE
With a full PM&DC licence you can work as a doctor or dentist in Pakistan and apply for postgraduate training. Most doctors start with FCPS Part I; see our FCPS exam page, or compare the shorter MCPS. Doctors planning to work abroad can also look at the PLAB exam for the UK and the USMLE for the United States.
Frequently asked questions
> What is the full form of NRE?
NRE stands for National Registration Examination. It is PM&DC’s licensing exam for graduates of foreign medical and dental colleges. It was earlier called the NLE (National Licensing Examination).
> When is the NRE exam in 2026?
NRE Step 1 is on Sunday 8 November 2026, moved from 11 October. The second 2026 Step 2 cycle was planned for late November and early December 2026.
> What are the NRE passing marks?
You need 60% in Step 1 and 60% in Step 2, each passed separately. There is no negative marking.
> How many MCQs are in NRE Step 1?
200 single-best-answer MCQs in three and a half hours. For doctors, 70% are clinical and 30% applied basic sciences.
> What is the NRE exam fee?
PM&DC shows the fee on the NRE portal at the time you apply. Its 2026 notices did not publish a fixed amount, so check the portal for your session.
> How many times can I take the NRE?
There is no fixed limit. A Step 1 pass is valid for five years, but after three failed CSE attempts in a row you must sit the whole NRE again.
> Is there a separate NRE for dentists?
Yes. Dental graduates take the dental NRE: 200 MCQs across 11 dental and allied subjects, then a dental CSE in two sessions.
> What is the difference between the NEB and the NRE?
The NEB is for students who studied part of their degree abroad and want to transfer to a Pakistani college. The NRE is for graduates of foreign colleges who want a full licence to practise.
Have a question about the NRE or our QBanks? Contact us.
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