NRE Step 2 CSE 2026: Stations, Dates and Preparation Guide
NRE Step 2 at a glance
NRE Step 2 is the Clinical Skills Examination (CSE), an OSCE you sit after passing the Step 1 theory paper. Doctors rotate through 20 stations of 8 minutes each. You need 60% overall and must pass all three mandatory stations. The next sitting on the PM&DC calendar is 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026.
The National Registration Examination (NRE) is the exam you must clear for full registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). It has two steps. Step 1 is the theory paper of 200 MCQs. Step 2 is the CSE, which checks that you can do what a safe new doctor does every day: take a history, examine a patient, read a test result, explain a plan and carry out basic procedures. The exam is conducted by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi. For the full NRE picture, read our PMDC NRE exam guide.
NRE Step 2 dates 2026
Step 2 is held twice a year, in two batches over two weekends. PM&DC's 2026 calendar puts the second session on 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026 (Saturday and Sunday each week).
Step 1 for this cycle was moved from 11 October to 8 November 2026, and PM&DC has not yet confirmed whether the Step 2 dates will move as well. Only candidates who pass Step 1 can register for Step 2. Registration opens on nre.pmdc.pk after the Step 1 result. In the last cycle the portal stayed open for about ten days, so be ready with your documents as soon as the result is out.
NRE Step 2 exam pattern for doctors (MBBS)
- Format: OSCE with 20 stations.
- Time: 8 minutes at each station plus 2 minutes to move and read the next task, about 3 hours 30 minutes including the briefing.
- Pass mark: 60%, with no negative marking. The CSE is passed separately from the theory paper.
- Mandatory stations: three of the 20. Failing any one of them means failing the CSE, even with a high total.
How the 20 stations are split
| Discipline | Stations |
|---|---|
| Medicine and allied | 7 |
| Surgery and allied | 7 |
| Obstetrics and gynaecology | 2 |
| Paediatrics | 2 |
| Ophthalmology | 1 |
| ENT | 1 |
Each station tests one or more of these: reading clinical or test data, making a diagnosis, planning management, examination technique and key procedures. Medicine and surgery make up 14 of the 20 stations, so give them most of your practice time.
NRE Step 2 for dentists (BDS)
The dental CSE has two parts, according to the PM&DC dental NRE syllabus:
- Session 1: 15 OSCE stations of 6 to 10 minutes each, plus 2 minutes between stations.
- Session 2: 3 longer stations of about 50 minutes each, where you carry out dental procedures with attention to patient safety.
| Area | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and multidisciplinary skills | 5 | 0 |
| Periodontology | 2 | 0 |
| Operative dentistry, endodontics and paediatric dentistry | 2 | 2 |
| Prosthodontics | 2 | 1 |
| Oral surgery and oral medicine | 2 | 0 |
| Orthodontics | 1 | 0 |
| Medical and dental emergencies | 1 | 0 |
Practise history taking and consent, infection control, periodontal instrumentation, cavity preparation and restoration, access cavities, crown and denture steps, simple extractions and suturing, orthodontic first aid and basic life support. PM&DC can change the dental station plan and pass rules by notice, so check the current notice on pmdc.pk before your exam.
Common NRE Step 2 station types
PM&DC does not publish the station list. These are the kinds of tasks candidates should practise for each discipline:
How to prepare for NRE Step 2
- Start soon after Step 1. The gap between the Step 1 result and the CSE can be only a few weeks, so do not wait for the result to begin.
- Practise against the clock. Work with a partner who plays the patient and examiner, and stop at 8 minutes every time. Running out of time is the most common way to lose marks.
- Use a checklist for every station type. Introduce yourself, confirm the patient's identity, explain what you are going to do, wash hands, keep dignity and close with a summary. These marks are easy and they are on every sheet.
- Do not neglect procedures. Book time in a skills lab or a hospital you trained in to practise cannulation, catheterisation, suturing and basic life support on models.
- Keep your knowledge sharp. Data interpretation and management questions need the same knowledge as Step 1. Our NRE Step 1 QBank has ECG, X-ray and clinical photo questions with full explanations, and is a quick way to revise.
- Talk to the patient, not the examiner. Use plain language, check understanding and ask if they have questions. Communication is marked in most stations.
NRE Step 2 result, attempts and validity
- Results are announced on the PM&DC website and you can see your marks on the NRE portal.
- A Step 1 pass is valid for five years, and you must pass the CSE within that time.
- If you fail only the CSE, you register again for the CSE alone. After three failed CSE attempts in a row, you have to sit the whole NRE again, including Step 1.
- Once you pass both steps, you apply to PM&DC for full registration so you can practise.
Frequently asked questions
Who can sit NRE Step 2?
Only candidates who have passed NRE Step 1 in the last five years. You register for Step 2 on nre.pmdc.pk when PM&DC opens the portal after the Step 1 result.
How many stations are in NRE Step 2?
Doctors face 20 stations of 8 minutes each. Dentists have 15 stations in Session 1 and 3 longer procedure stations in Session 2.
What is the NRE Step 2 passing score?
For doctors it is 60% in the CSE, with all three mandatory stations passed. There is no negative marking.
Are the NRE Step 2 dates for November 2026 confirmed?
They are on the PM&DC calendar as 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026. Because Step 1 was moved to 8 November, watch pmdc.pk for any change to these dates.
Who conducts NRE Step 2?
NUMS, Rawalpindi conducts the exam for PM&DC, in the major cities announced in each notice.
Is there an MCQ part in Step 2?
No. All MCQs are in Step 1. Step 2 is a practical exam made of stations, though some stations ask you to read a test result or picture and answer questions about it.
Still preparing for Step 1 or retaking it? Try the free questions in our NRE Step 1 QBank or the NRE Dental QBank.