NLE in Pakistan: is the licensing exam back?
PMDC announced in July 2025 that it would bring back the National Licensing Exam for all MBBS and BDS graduates. As of 24 October 2026 we could not find a published NLE date, fee or syllabus. Here is what is known and what to do meanwhile.
On this page
This is a moving policy. Treat the PMDC website and official notifications as the only final word.
The short answer
- Foreign graduates: you sit the NRE, which is running now. See NRE exam 2026 dates.
- Local graduates: PMDC said in July 2025 it would reinstate the NLE for all medical and dental graduates. We could not find an announced NLE date, fee, syllabus or start batch as of 24 October 2026. Until PMDC publishes one, your house job and registration carry on under the current process.
How we got here
- 2021PMC makes a licensing exam (NLE) compulsory for new MBBS and BDS graduates
- 2022–23PM&DC Act 2022 replaces PMC; licensing exam for local graduates waived
- 2022 onwardNRE runs for foreign graduates only
- Jul 2025PMDC announces it will reinstate the NLE for all graduates
- Oct 2026No NLE schedule found yet
NLE vs NRE
| Point | NLE | NRE |
|---|---|---|
| Who | All MBBS/BDS graduates, as announced in July 2025 | Graduates of foreign institutions |
| Status | Announced; no published schedule found | Running, at least twice a year |
| Run by | Not yet stated | PMDC, conducted by NUMS |
| Pass mark | Not yet stated | 60%, no negative marking |
Some websites still call the NRE "the NLE". That is a naming mix-up, not a sign that the NLE has started for local graduates.
What to do now if you are a local graduate
- Finish your house job and keep your PMDC registration up to date. Nothing published so far stops either.
- Don't pay anyone for "NLE registration" until a notice appears on pmdc.pk.
- If you want to be ready anyway, the best preparation is the same clinical reasoning the NRE tests. Timed blocks in NRE-1 Prep cover that ground, and the clinical guides cover day-to-day ward management.
- If you are aiming for specialist training, your next exam is FCPS Part 1, which runs four times a year.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NLE compulsory for MBBS graduates in Pakistan in 2026?
PMDC announced in July 2025 that it would reinstate it for all graduates, but we could not find a published start date as of 24 October 2026. Check PMDC for the latest notice.
Is the NLE the same as the NRE?
No. The NRE is for foreign graduates and is running now. The NLE is the licensing exam PMDC said it would bring back for all graduates.
Are there NLE past papers?
There are no official NLE past papers from PMDC. The closest current exam is NRE Step 1, which tests clinical MCQs at MBBS level.