What is MCI FMGE Exam?
The Medical Council of India (MCI) Foreign Medical Graduate Examination or more commonly referred to as FMGE is a medical licensing examination. Conducted by the National Board of Examination (NBE), FMGE is a mandatory examination required to be undertaken by all Indian citizens or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders who have pursued their medical education abroad and plan to practice in India. Candidates who successfully qualify the MCI FMGE would be permitted to register themselves with the Medical Council of India (MCI)/State Medical Council (SMC) and practice in India.
However, candidates who have undertaken their undergraduate medical qualification from Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America, and New Zealand are not required to appear for their FMGE test to practice in India provided they are eligible to enroll as a medical practitioner in the respective country.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) was established in 2002. Hence, candidates who have qualified their medical studies on or before March 15, 2002, are not required to appear for the licensing examination (MCI FMGE). Candidates are hereby reminded that MCI FMGE is not an entrance test but a licensing examination that allows Indian nationals who have pursued medical studies abroad to register with MCI and practice in India.
Recent Updates for MCI FMGE
This section would cover any latest developments revolving around MCI FMGE for the benefit of students who are planning to appear for their FMGE test.
Coronavirus COVID-19 MCI FMGE Alert
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic COVID-19, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) to be held in June has been postponed. The examination will now be held in the month of August/September (tentative).
Why take the FMGE Exam?
As mentioned earlier, the MCI FMGE is a licensing examination that allows Indian nationals who have pursued medical studies abroad to register with the Medical Council of India (MCI) and work as a registered medical practitioner in India.
MCI FMGE 2020: Key Highlights
| Exam Name | FMGE |
| FMGE full form | Foreign Medical Graduate Examination |
| Official Website | https://natboard.edu.in/ |
| Conducted by | National Board of Examinations (NBE) |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| FMGE Registration Fee | INR 5,500 |
What are the Eligibility Criteria for FMGE?
National Board of Examination - the conducting body of the FMGE has laid down the following eligibility guidelines for students wanting to appear for the MCI FMGE test.
- The candidate is required to be a citizen of India or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.
- The candidate must possess a primary medical qualification which is equivalent to an MBBS degree from the country where the university awarding the degree is located.
- The candidate must have completed his MBBS degree (primary qualification) before appearing for the FMGE test.
MCI FMGE Fees
Candidates appearing for the MCI FMGE examinations are required to pay a non-refundable FMGE registration fee of INR 5,500 along with their application form.
How to register for MCI FMGE?
Candidates who qualify the above-mentioned eligibility criteria are required to register for the MCI FMGE test on the official National Board of Examination website. Candidates would be required to fill the online FMGE registration form, upload the required documents, and submit the same along with the FMGE registration fee of INR 5,500. Candidates are required to keep a copy of the submission acknowledgment which may come handy later on.
MCI FMGE Test Dates
The FMGE Examination is held twice in one year. The MCI FMGE test happens in the months of June and December. Read: FMGE Important Dates
MCI FMGE Exam Centres
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is held across all major cities in India. A comprehensive list of cities where the FMGE test is held is mentioned below.
- Ahmedabad
- Bhubaneshwar
- New Delhi
- Jaipur
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Patna
- Shillong
- Visakhapatnam
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Guwahati
- Jammu
- Lucknow
- Nagpur
- Pune
- Srinagar
- Bhopal
- Dehradun
- Hyderabad
- Kozhikode
- Mohali/ Chandigarh
- Noida
- Ranchi
- Thiruvananthapuram
MCI FMGE Exam Pattern
Conducted by NBE – the MCI FMGE examination is an online examination that requires candidates to solve 300 multiple choice questions divided into two sections, i.e. Part A and Part B. Candidates would be given 150 minutes to solve each section. All the questions in the FMGE question paper will carry equal weightage. One mark would be awarded for every correct answer and no negative marking for an incorrect entry. According to the exam pattern of FMGE, a candidate needs to score at least 50% marks in the examination to qualify.
MCI FMGE Syllabus
Designed by the Medical Council of India, the FMGE syllabus compasses all the topics that were covered during the undergraduate medical degree course. The MCI FMGE syllabus can be broadly divided into the following subjects: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine, General Surgery, Anesthesia, Orthopedics, Radio-Diagnosis, Radiotherapy, Pediatrics, Medicine, Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, Psychiatry, Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Community Medicine.
MCI FMGE Exam Day Guidelines
Candidates appearing for the MCI FMGE test are required to follow the below-mentioned guidelines.
- Candidates would be required to download the FMGE Admit Card and mandatorily carry the same on the day of the exam.
- Candidates are required to bring along with them a valid, original, and non-expired government-approved photo Id proof.
- Candidates are required to reach the examination centre on or before the reporting time mentioned on the admit card.
MCI FMGE Scores
The FMGE results are announced online by its conducting body, the National Board of Examination (NBE). The result simply states whether the candidate has cleared the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination or not. Once available, candidates can download their MCI FMGE results in PDF format from the official website of NBE.
Candidates who successfully qualify the MCI FMGE examination would be required to collect their FMGE Pass Certificates in person from the office of the NBE. They would be required to produce the same to the Medical Council of India, who would then issue them their registration certificate, making them eligible to practice in India.
FMGE FAQs
Got more questions regarding MCI FMGE? Check out our FMGE FAQ section below.
Can a candidate study in India if he has not cleared his FMGE?
If the candidate has completed his undergraduate medical studies from abroad and wants to study further in India, he is required to qualify for the MCI FMGE examination. However, candidates with an undergraduate medical degree from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States of America or the United Kingdom, are exempted from FMGE.
How many times can a student attempt the MCE FMGE?
Candidates can take the MCI FMGE a maximum of three times. If a candidate is unable to qualify the examination in three attempts, he will not be eligible to practice/study in India.
Is there an age limit to appear for MCI FMGE?
NBE – the conducting body of MCI FMGE has not set an age limit to appear for the FMGE.