You book NRE Step I online through the PM&DC NRE portal: create a profile, upload documents, generate a bank challan, pay through banking channels and submit before the deadline. PM&DC states that late applications are not entertained. The last published fee for Step I is PKR 20,000 (November 2024 notice); the October and November 2026 notices say only "prescribed fee". The next sitting is Sunday 8 November 2026, moved from 11 October, and its registration deadline was extended to 15 September 2026. Exam centres are in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. PM&DC holds the NRE at least twice a year, but 2027 dates were not out when this page was updated.
Who does what
Two bodies matter, and mixing them up causes wasted emails. PM&DC (the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council) sets the policy, publishes notices, runs the registration portal and publishes results. NUMS (the National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi) conducts the examination. Your application, fee and licence questions go to PM&DC. Neither body endorses TriagePass.
Sitting dates: what has happened and what is planned
| Sitting | Date | What we know |
|---|---|---|
| Step I | 6 August 2023 | Past sitting |
| Step I | 2 June 2024 (planned) and 24 November 2024 | The November 2024 notice set the fee at PKR 20,000 |
| Step I | 1 June 2025 | Press release states 3 hours 30 minutes. Medical pass rate 25.26% |
| Step I | 14 December 2025 | Noon start with candidates to report by 10:00. Medical pass rate 21.17% |
| Step I | 17 May 2026 (planned) | From the 2026 schedule notice; confirm on pmdc.pk whether it went ahead as planned |
| Step I | 11 October 2026, moved to Sunday 8 November 2026 | PM&DC's Examination Department cited unavoidable circumstances. Registration had been extended to 15 September 2026 |
| Step II | 24 to 25 January and 31 January to 1 February 2026 | Portal open about 2 to 12 January 2026 |
| Step II | 28 to 29 November and 5 to 6 December 2026 | From the NRE schedule notice (scanned table, medium confidence) |
The pattern is two Step I sittings a year, one around mid-year and one around the end of the year, with changes announced at short notice. That is useful for planning but not a promise. PM&DC has published dates and registration windows with little advance warning, so do not wait for the notice to start studying.
If you are reading this after 15 September 2026, registration for the 8 November sitting has probably closed. PM&DC extended it once already, but it states that late applications are not entertained. Do not rely on a second extension.
Fees
| Item | Amount | Date and source |
|---|---|---|
| NRE Step I | PKR 20,000 | PM&DC public notice, November 2024 |
| NRE Step I, 2026 notices | "Prescribed fee" via bank challan; no figure in the pages we found | PM&DC notices, October and November 2026 |
| NRE Step II | Not stated in the documents we reviewed | Read it from the portal challan |
| Provisional registration (foreign graduate) | PKR 10,000 | Registration Regulations 2023, Regulation 30 |
We cannot give you a 2026 Step I figure with a source, so we do not. The only safe method is to read the amount printed on the challan generated by the portal and match it to the current notice. If an agent or a group asks for more, ask for the challan.
The September 2025 PM&DC press release mentions that several candidates asked for fees already paid to be adjusted against the NRE and that the Council is aware of those concerns. It does not announce a refund or adjustment policy. Keep every challan, receipt and portal screenshot until your registration is finished.
How to register, step by step
- Read the notice for the sitting on pmdc.pk. Look for the portal opening date, the closing date, any change to eligibility or documents, and the roll number slip date.
- Create your profile. Enter your name exactly as on your degree and passport. Use an email address and phone number you will still use in six months.
- Upload documents. The 2024 syllabus says candidates need an MBBS, MD or equivalent from a PM&DC-approved foreign college and a PM&DC provisional licence. Upload what the portal lists; see what PM&DC needs from you for the document side.
- Generate the challan. Pay through the banking channels the challan names. Cash payments to individuals are not a valid route.
- Submit. Do this at least two days before the deadline. Portals slow down in the last hours of a window.
- Download your roll number slip. Check name, centre, date, reporting time and instructions on what to bring. Print two copies.
Centres, time and exam day
PM&DC states that the NRE is conducted across Pakistan, with NUMS centres in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. You select a centre during registration if the portal allows it. Choose the one you can reach the night before without a long road trip, because the December 2025 notice required candidates to report two hours before a noon start. A candidate arriving from abroad should plan to be in Pakistan several days early.
The paper is computer-based, 200 questions, and the June 2025 press release gives 3 hours 30 minutes. Your slip states the final timings. Items you may or may not bring are listed on the slip; follow it exactly.
| Night before | Morning of the exam |
|---|---|
| Print the slip twice. Pack CNIC or passport, any ID the slip names, a pen if allowed. | Leave early for traffic and security checks. |
| Check route and parking at the centre. | Eat and drink normally. Avoid new foods. |
| Sleep at least seven hours. No new topics. | Report at the time on the slip, not at the exam start time. |
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Terms that get confused
Several words in PM&DC notices sound alike. Mixing them up leads to wasted payments and rejected applications.
| Term | What it is |
|---|---|
| NRE Step I | The theory paper: 200 computer-based MCQs |
| NRE Step II | The clinical skills exam: 20 OSCE-style stations; also called NRE-II or the CSE |
| Provisional licence or registration | A PM&DC registration for foreign graduates that lets you train, for example in a house job. The 2024 syllabus lists it as an NRE eligibility condition |
| Full or permanent registration | The registration that follows house job, NRE and BLS |
| Challan | The bank payment slip generated by the portal for the fee |
| Roll number slip | The admission document that gives your centre, date and reporting time |
Notices and news reports sometimes call the Step I exam "NLE" for foreign graduates or "NRE-I". Read the document heading and the date, then match it to your sitting.
A registration timeline you can copy
The days below count back from the closing date of a registration window, and are our suggestion, not a PM&DC requirement.
| When | What to have done |
|---|---|
| Before any notice appears | Scan degree, transcript and identity documents; check name spelling; confirm college recognition status; start preparation |
| Day the portal opens | Read the notice; create or update your profile |
| Within three days of opening | Upload documents; fix any rejected files |
| At least five days before closing | Generate the challan and pay; save the receipt |
| At least two days before closing | Submit; check the portal shows the application as complete |
| When the slip is released | Download two copies; check name, centre and time; report any error to PM&DC at once |
If you are abroad
Many candidates live in Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan or elsewhere and fly in for the sitting. Plan the travel from the date on the notice, not from rumours, and keep your return flexible: PM&DC moved the October 2026 sitting by almost a month. Bring both originals and copies of your documents, and keep digital copies on your phone. Whether PM&DC will accept a remote document upload for a given step is stated in the notice, so read it before you book flights.
Budget: more than the fee
The fee is the smallest cost for many candidates. A realistic budget includes travel to Pakistan if you live abroad, accommodation near the centre for two nights, preparation materials, and possibly a second attempt. With no cap on attempts and a pass rate near 21%, a candidate who budgets for one attempt only is under-planning. Spending on preparation that raises your chance of passing first time is cheaper than a repeat sitting.
Common booking problems
- Missing the window. Registration windows for Step II have been about ten days. Step I windows were extended once in 2026. Do not plan around extensions.
- Name mismatch. Fix it in the profile before the challan is generated, not after.
- Using an old notice. Fee, eligibility and dates have changed between sittings. Read the latest notice.
- Paying a third party. Only pay against a PM&DC challan.
- Not checking recognition status. Your eligibility depends partly on whether your college is recognised. See the requirements guide before you pay.
Plan backwards from the date
For the 8 November 2026 sitting, a candidate starting a 12-week plan needed to begin in mid-August, so a candidate reading this now is probably better off planning for the next sitting. Use the study plan to count back from whichever date PM&DC announces, and the NRE overview for the format and blueprint.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I register for NRE Step I?
Through the PM&DC NRE online portal: create a profile, upload documents, generate the fee challan, pay through banking channels and submit before the deadline. PM&DC states late applications are not entertained.
What is the NRE Step I fee?
The last published figure is PKR 20,000, from PM&DC's public notice of November 2024. The 2026 notices say 'prescribed fee' without a figure, so confirm the amount on the challan and the current notice.
When is the next NRE Step I?
Sunday 8 November 2026. PM&DC's Examination Department moved it from 11 October 2026 citing unavoidable circumstances. Registration for this sitting was extended to 15 September 2026.
Where is the NRE held?
At NUMS centres in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. PM&DC holds the NRE at least twice a year.
How long is the exam?
The June 2025 press release states 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes) for 200 questions. The syllabus does not state the duration, so check your roll number slip.
Who runs the exam, PM&DC or NUMS?
PM&DC sets policy, runs the portal, issues notices and publishes results. NUMS in Rawalpindi conducts the examination. Send licence and registration queries to PM&DC.
Is the Step II fee the same as Step I?
The PM&DC documents we reviewed do not state a Step II fee. Use the amount on the challan generated by the portal.
Can I get a refund or fee adjustment if I miss the exam?
PM&DC's September 2025 press release says it is aware of candidate requests to adjust fees but announces no policy. Keep all receipts and contact PM&DC in writing.
What documents do I need to register?
The 2024 syllabus says candidates need an MBBS, MD or equivalent from a PM&DC-approved foreign college and a PM&DC provisional licence. The portal lists the uploads required for each sitting, so check the current notice.
When will the 2027 dates be announced?
PM&DC had not published 2027 Step I dates when this page was updated. Watch pmdc.pk for public notices; registration windows have been announced only weeks before a sitting.