The NEXT (National Exit Test) or FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is an important exam for Indian students who have completed their MBBS from another country and want to work as doctors in India. Right now, the FMGE is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). But soon, it will be replaced by the NEXT exam, which will be used for getting a license to practice, applying for postgraduate medical courses, and also for students coming from abroad.
This exam checks if the student has enough medical knowledge and skills to work as a doctor in India. FMGE is held twice a year, in June and December. The questions are based on what students learn in MBBS. To pass the exam, a student needs to get at least 50% marks. After passing FMGE or NEXT, students can apply for internships and register with the State Medical Councils to legally practice medicine in India. This exam makes sure that all doctors—whether they studied in India or abroad—have the right knowledge and training to treat patients safely and effectively.
The NEXT Exam is a proposed exam that is set to replace the FMGE in 2025. It will serve as a common licensing exam for Indian medical graduates as well as foreign medical graduates who wish to practice medicine in India. The exam will also be used for admission into postgraduate medical courses.
NEXT Exam
(National Exit Test)
NBE (National Board of Examination)
Paper 1 (Theory)
Paper 2 (Practical)
Computer Based Test
English
Multiple Choice
Questions (MCQs)
540
+4 for Correct Answer
0 for Incorrect Answer
There are certain eligibility criteria which the candidates need to fulfill in order to be eligible for the exam. These rules apply to both Indian medical students and foreign medical graduates. If a candidate does not fulfill any of the below-mentioned conditions, they will not be allowed to take the exam.
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Mark Sheet
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Mark Sheet
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Proof
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Certificate
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Certificate
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Photos
The NEXT Exam Application Process is still in the proposal, as it is proposed by the NBE that the FMGE exam will be replaced by the NEXT exam. So we have mentioned the FMGE Exam Application Process which is almost similar to the proposed NEXT Examination.Students who seek to study MBBS Abroad and then practice in India need to keep in mind the points mentioned below:
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Students can check the regular updates by visiting the official website of NBE www.natboard.edu.in or they can also Contact Us for further updates.
Candidates can select their preferred exam centre while filling out the application form. The exact address of the allotted centre will be mentioned on the admit card. For the most accurate and updated information, please refer to the official NBE website.
| S. No. | City | S. No. | City | S. No. | City |
| 1 | Agra | 21 | Kannur | 41 | Rajkot |
| 2 | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar | 22 | Kanpur | 42 | Salem |
| 3 | Aizawl | 23 | Karimnagar | 43 | Samba |
| 4 | Aligarh | 24 | Kolkata | 44 | Shillong |
| 5 | Amritsar | 25 | Kollam | 45 | Shimoga |
| 6 | Bareilly | 26 | Kottayam | 46 | Sikar |
| 7 | Bengaluru | 27 | Kozhikode | 47 | Surat |
| 8 | Bhatinda | 28 | Kurnool | 48 | Thrissur |
| 9 | Belagavi | 29 | Lucknow | 49 | Tiruchirappalli |
| 10 | Bhilai Nagar | 30 | Madurai | 50 | Tirunelveli |
| 11 | Bhopal | 31 | Mangalore/Manguluru | 51 | Tirupathi |
| 12 | Bhubaneswar | 32 | Meerut | 52 | Udaipur |
| 13 | Chennai | 33 | Mehsana | 53 | Udupi |
| 14 | Coimbatore | 34 | Moradabad | 54 | Ujjain |
| 15 | Delhi NCR | 35 | Mumbai | 55 | Vadodara |
| 16 | Ernakulam | 36 | Muzaffarnagar | 56 | Vellore |
| 17 | Guntur | 37 | Nagpur | 57 | Visakhapatnam |
| 18 | Guwahati | 38 | Patna | 58 | Warrangal |
| 19 | Hyderabad | 39 | Prayagraj | ||
| 20 | Jammu | 40 | Pune |
The NEXT or FMGE syllabus is based on the MBBS curriculum followed in Indian medical colleges. It is designed to test students' knowledge in medical science and their ability to apply it in clinical settings. The exam consists of two parts: Part 1 (Theory) and Part 2 (Practical/Clinical). The syllabus includes all the major subjects taught during the MBBS course, divided into Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical subjects. This makes sure that students are well-prepared to practice medicine safely and effectively.
| Category | Subjects Included |
|---|---|
| Pre-Clinical | Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry |
| Para-Clinical | Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine |
| Clinical | General Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Anesthesiology |
| Skills-Based Practical | Case-taking, diagnosis, clinical reasoning, patient management, counseling |
The FMGE is conducted by the National Board of Examinations for Indian citizens with medical degrees from abroad who wish to practice in India. The exam is held twice a year and is computer-based. The exam pattern is based on 2 steps which are given below:
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Type: Theoretical examination
Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Questions: 540 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Subjects Covered: 19 subjects from the MBBS curriculum
Qualifying Criteria: Minimum of 50% marks
Purpose: Qualify for internship and eligibility for NExT Step 2
NEXT-2
Type: Practical/Clinical examination
Mode: Conducted in person by respective state health universities/institutions
Assessment: Clinical case-based evaluations, simulated patients, and viva voce
Purpose: Final licensure to practice medicine in India
This two-step examination ensures that candidates are evaluated on both theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills before being granted a license to practice.
The NEXT is a new medical licensing exam proposed to replace both the FMGE and the NEET PG. While NEET PG was primarily an entrance test for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India, NEXT serves a dual purpose. It will act as a final year MBBS qualifying exam, a licensing exam to practice medicine, and also as a PG entrance exam. The structure, purpose, and scope of NEXT are broader and more comprehensive than NEET PG. NEXT will also test clinical and practical skills more thoroughly in its second step, which NEET PG lacked.
| Feature | NEXT Exam | NEET PG EXAM |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | National Exit Test | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (PG) |
| Purpose | MBBS final exam, License to practice, PG entry | Admission to PG medical courses only |
| Replaces | NEET PG and FMGE | - |
| Conducting Authority | National Medical Commission (NMC) | National Board of Examinations (NBE) |
| Structure | Two Steps: Step 1 (Theory), Step 2 (Practical) | Single exam (MCQ-based) |
| Type of Assessment | Theory + Clinical skills | Only Theory (MCQ-based) |
| Eligibility | Final year MBBS students (India/Abroad) | MBBS graduates with completed internship |
| Mode of Exam | Step 1 – CBT, Step 2 – Practical Assessment | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Frequency | Annually (Step 1 & Step 2 at different times) | Annually |
| Marks Usage | Internship eligibility, PG admission, Licensing | PG admission only |
Q1. How many questions are in the FMGE/NEXT Exam?
Q2. What is the passing percentage for the NEXT Exam?
Q3. Is the NEXT Exam tougher than the NEET PG exam?
Q4. Is there negative marking in the NEXT Exam?
Q5. Why do Indian students need to pass the NEXT Exam?
Q6. What if I fail the NEXT Exam?
