NRE exam 2026: dates, registration and fee
NRE Step 1 for the second 2026 cycle has moved from 11 October to Sunday 8 November 2026. Here is the full 2026 NRE schedule, how registration works, the fee and what to check on the PMDC portal.
On this page
PMDC changes NRE dates by notification, sometimes at short notice. Before you book travel or leave, confirm on pmdc.pk and your candidate portal.
Next NRE date
PMDC moved Step 1 from Sunday 11 October to Sunday 8 November 2026, citing unavoidable circumstances (notification dated 5 October 2026, reported by Dawn). The exam is conducted by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi.
NRE 2026 full schedule
| Exam | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NEB (National Equivalence Board) | 16 May 2026 | Held |
| NRE Step 1, 1st cycle | 17 May 2026 | Held |
| NRE Step 2, 1st cycle | 4–5 July and 11–12 July 2026 | Held (moved from 27–28 June and 4–5 July) |
| NRE Step 1, 2nd cycle | 8 November 2026 | Moved from 11 October 2026 |
| NRE Step 2, 2nd cycle | 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026 | As announced in April; check for changes |
Step 2 (the clinical skills exam) runs over two consecutive weekends, so you are given one of the listed days, not all four.
- 27 AugStep 1 registration opened
- 15 SepExtended registration deadline
- 11 OctOriginal Step 1 date (cancelled)
- 8 NovNRE Step 1
- 28 Nov – 6 DecNRE Step 2 weekends
Who sits the NRE
- The NRE is for foreign medical and dental graduates: Pakistani nationals (and others) with an MBBS, BDS or equivalent from outside Pakistan who want full PMDC registration.
- It is mandatory under the PM&DC Act 2022 (section 18).
- Graduates of Pakistani colleges do not sit the NRE. There is a separate question about a licensing exam for local graduates: see NLE in Pakistan: current status.
Registration
- Log in to the PMDC candidate portal (from pmdc.pk). You need your PMDC provisional registration or approval first.
- Apply in the window PMDC announces for that cycle. For the second 2026 cycle, Step 1 registration ran from 27 August and was extended to 15 September 2026.
- Pay the fee by the deadline. An unpaid application is not a registration.
- Download the admit card or roll number slip when PMDC releases it, and check the centre.
Registered for 11 October? Check your portal for the updated admit card, centre and reporting time for 8 November. Missed the window? Watch the portal for the first 2027 cycle.
Fee
- The Step 1 public notice for November 2024 set the fee at Rs 20,000.
- 2026 notices refer to "the prescribed fee" without a figure in news reports. Check the amount on the portal when you apply.
Pattern and pass mark
| Item | What PMDC has said |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Theory, computer-based MCQs (about 200 single best answer); see the Step 1 guide |
| Step 2 | Clinical skills exam (OSCE-type stations); see the Step 2 guide |
| Pass mark | 60% (PMDC press release, 15 January 2026) |
| Negative marking | None |
| How often | At least twice a year |
| Conducted by | NUMS Rawalpindi sets, holds and marks Step 1 |
| Centres | Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar have been used |
You must pass Step 1 before you can sit Step 2.
Results
- NUMS marks Step 1; PMDC publishes the result on its website, and detailed marks appear on your portal.
- You can apply to PMDC for re-totalling through the portal.
Using the extra weeks
The move to 8 November gives two more weeks. Use them for timed blocks, not new books:
- Week 1: one 50-question timed block a day in NRE-1 Prep, and read every explanation.
- Week 2: two full-length mocks, then revise only your wrong answers.
- Last 3 days: high-yield clinical guides (sepsis, DKA, ACS, stroke, dengue), sleep, and check your centre and timing.
See also the 12-week study plan and the syllabus.
Frequently asked questions
What is the new NRE Step 1 date?
Sunday 8 November 2026. PMDC moved it from 11 October 2026.
When is NRE Step 2 in 2026?
For the second cycle, 28–29 November and 5–6 December 2026 as announced in April. The first-cycle Step 2 was held on 4–5 and 11–12 July 2026.
What is the NRE fee?
The last notice that gave a figure (November 2024) set Step 1 at Rs 20,000. Check the current fee on the PMDC portal.
What is the passing mark for the NRE?
60%, with no negative marking, according to PMDC's January 2026 press release.
Do local MBBS graduates take the NRE?
No. The NRE is for graduates of foreign institutions. Local graduates are covered by the separate NLE question.
Official sources
- PMDC press release: NRE is a standard examination (15 Jan 2026)
- PMDC NRE Step 1 public notice (fee and centres)
- Dawn: PMDC reschedules NRE Step 1 to 8 November (7 Oct 2026)
- ProPakistani: Step 1 registration deadline extended (10 Sep 2026)
- ProPakistani: new Step 2 dates (4 Jun 2026)
- DentalNews: 2026 NEB and NRE schedule (3 Apr 2026)