What Is the FMGE Exam? Eligibility, Pattern and Pass Rates

The FMGE exam is the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, the mandatory licensing test run by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for Indian and OCI students who complete their MBBS or MD abroad. Clearing it is a legal precondition for registering with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council and practising medicine in India — without it, a foreign medical degree cannot be converted into an Indian licence. Recent cycles have been tough: NBE data shows a pass rate of just 25.40% in the January 2026 sitting and 12.77% in June 2026. This guide covers exactly who must take the FMGE exam, its format, eligibility rules, registration steps, and what changes once the National Exit Test eventually arrives.

Key Takeaways

• The FMGE exam runs twice a year through NBEMS; 2026 pass rates were 25.40% in January and just 12.77% in June, among the lowest recorded in recent cycles.

• Format: two papers of 150 MCQs each (300 total, 1 mark per question), computer-based, with no negative marking and a flat qualifying cutoff of 150/300 marks (50%).

• FMGE eligibility applies only to students whose primary medical qualification is not from one of five exempt countries; graduates of every EU country, including the nine countries covered later in this guide, must clear FMGE.

• Anyone admitted to a foreign MBBS programme on or after May 2018 must hold a qualifying NEET-UG score, which now doubles as the NMC Eligibility Certificate requirement for sitting the FMGE exam.

• The National Exit Test (NExT), meant to eventually replace FMGE, remains deferred to February 2028 under NMC's CBME schedule — FMGE is what actually governs licensing today.

What is the FMGE exam?

The FMGE exam is a screening test, not a competitive ranking exam: every candidate who scores at least 150 out of 300 marks passes, regardless of how others perform. Its purpose is to confirm that a doctor trained outside India, at a university in the EU or elsewhere, has clinical knowledge equivalent to an Indian MBBS graduate before being allowed to register with the NMC or a State Medical Council and treat patients in the country.

Who needs to take the FMGE exam?

Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who hold a primary medical qualification from a country outside India's exempt list must take it to practise in India. Only degrees from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are exempt from FMGE under current NMC rules; graduates from every other country, including all nine EU countries futureMBBS works with — Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, and Romania — must clear it. See our full breakdown of which exam applies after MBBS abroad if you're unsure which category you fall into.

What is the FMGE exam pattern?

The FMGE exam consists of two computer-based papers held on the same day, together comprising 300 multiple-choice questions worth one mark each, with no negative marking for wrong answers.

A candidate needs a combined 150 out of 300 marks (50%) across both papers to qualify — there is no separate minimum for each paper.

What are the FMGE exam eligibility requirements?

To be eligible, a candidate must be an Indian citizen or OCI holder with a primary medical qualification from a university listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools, plus proof of a completed internship. Anyone whose primary medical qualification began on or after May 2018 must additionally hold a qualifying NEET-UG score, which now serves as the NMC's Eligibility Certificate requirement in place of the older, separately issued certificate. Without meeting both conditions, NBEMS will not permit a candidate to register for the exam.

How do I register for the FMGE exam?

Registration happens entirely online through the NBEMS portal, twice a year ahead of each cycle.

1. Create an account on the official National Board of Examinations website and select the FMGE application link.

2. Upload your primary medical qualification certificate, internship completion proof, passport, and NEET-UG scorecard (for post-2018 admissions).

3. Pay the prescribed application fee online through the payment gateway provided.

4. Download your admit card once released and confirm your allotted exam centre.

5. Appear for both papers on the scheduled exam date and check results on the NBEMS website once declared.

FMGE exam pass rates: how tough is it really?

FMGE pass rates have stayed low through 2026, underscoring why structured preparation matters far more than it did a decade ago, when close to half of all candidates used to qualify.

What happens after clearing the FMGE exam?

Passing it lets a candidate register for a provisional or permanent licence with the NMC or a State Medical Council, after which they can legally practise medicine, join a hospital, or open a private clinic in India. Many graduates also use this registration as the eligibility gateway for postgraduate entrance exams like NEET-PG. For the full range of what comes next — postgraduate specialisation, government jobs, or non-clinical roles — see our broader guide on what to do after MBBS.

Is the FMGE exam being replaced by NExT?

Not yet. The National Exit Test (NExT) is designed to eventually absorb FMGE, NEET-PG, and the final-year MBBS exam into one unified licensing and PG-entrance test, but as of mid-2026 it remains deferred, with NMC's own CBME schedule setting NExT Step 1 for February 2028. Until that actually happens, FMGE continues to run exactly as described above. Read our complete National Exit Test status update for the full timeline and structure.