All about Foreign Medical Graduate Screening Exam (FMGE)

Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) or MCI screening test is a national level exam conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE) twice in a year in the months of June and December.

It is a licensure exam conducted for candidates who are Citizens of India/ Overseas Citizen of India who possess Medical Degree awarded by a Foreign College or University and are desirous of getting Provisional or Permanent registration with the Medical Council of India (MCI).

Qualifying the FMG Exam enables foreign medical graduates to practise medicine in India.

In this article, we’ll explore all the important aspects of FMGE including the eligibility criteria, application process, syllabus, exam pattern and more. Read on.

Eligibility Criteria for FMGE

The eligibility criteria for applying to FMGE is as follows:

• Candidates must be a citizen of India or an Overseas Citizen of India.
• Candidates need to possess primary medical qualification which is confirmed by the Indian Embassy to be a recognised qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the country in which the Institution awarding the said qualification is situated.
• It is mandatory for the candidate to show the proof of passing the primary medical qualification on or before the cutoff date.

FMGE Exam Pattern

Successful exam preparation requires the knowledge of what to expect in an exam, how the paper is structured and what is the overall marking scheme.

The table below highlights the details of FMGE exam pattern -

Recommended reading: FMG Exam Pattern and Subject-Wise Weightage

Application Procedure for FMGE

Candidates who wish to apply for the FMG exam must adhere to the following procedure -

1. Visit the official website www.fmge.nbe.gov.in and register

2. You can then login to the website with your User ID and Password

3. Next click on “Go to Application” link to proceed with the application process

4. Fill out the application form and upload the necessary documents

5. Upload your scanned photograph and signature

6. Pay application fee of Rs. 7080/- (as of June 2023)

7. Submit your application

Note: Once the application is submitted you will only be able to make limited changes during the edit window. Therefore, it is highly recommended to fill out the form and submit the application carefully after cross-checking all the details multiple times.

Read our blog on how to fill FMGE application form for more detailed information.

List of Documents Required for FMGE Application

The candidate shall be required to upload scanned copies of following original documents at indicated places:

• Primary Medical Qualification Degree certificate
• Provisional Pass Certificate duly attested by embassy of India in the country from where the qualification has been obtained/apostilled in accordance with the requirements of Hague Convention of 5 October1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for Foreign Public Document (Apostille Convention).
• Proof of citizenship -
  • Indian Citizen NRI: Valid Passport Issued by GOI (front and last page)
  • Overseas Citizen of India: OCI Card + Valid Passport of country of citizenship (Front and last page)
• Eligibility Certificate
• Photograph
• Scanned Signatures
• Thumb Impressions

Read our blog on the list of documents required to complete the FMG application for more information.

FMG Examination Fee

As of June 2023, the application fee for the FMG exam is INR 7080/-. Once the application form is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn, and the fee is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances.

The payment can be made through a payment gateway using a Credit Card or Debit Card issued by Indian banks. It is important to ensure that the payment is successful and reflected as "S" (for successful) in the application form's payment status.

If the status is shown as pending, the payment may be stuck with the bank and could be cleared later. The application submission process is not considered complete until the payment status is reflected as "S".

It must be noted that NBEMS is not responsible for rejection of applications due to delayed payment settlement by the bank. However, if multiple payments are made for the same application ID, NBEMS will refund the excess fees received after the closure of the application window.

On the other hand, in case of absent or ineligible candidates, the examination fees will be forfeited. Therefore, candidates are advised to carefully read the screening test regulations and the information bulletin to ensure eligibility criteria are met before proceeding with fee payment.

FMG Exam Syllabus

The FMG Exam Syllabus comprises subjects knowledge areas as per the Graduate Medical Education Regulations issued by Medical Council of India with prior approval of Government of India.

The exam will test the candidates knowledge of all the subjects studied during the MBBS and includes pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects. These subjects are -

Also read: Latest FMGE Syllabus for Paper 1 & Paper 2

Frequently Asked Questions About FMGE:

What is the MCI Exam?

MCI exam full form is Medical Council of India Exam or screening test which is also known as the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). It is a licensure examination which is conducted every year, biannually by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India. Successfully qualifying the MCI Exam or FMGE is a mandatory for all Indian citizens who have a medical degree from a college outside India but wish to practise medicine in India.

MCI Screening Test is not required for which countries?

MCI Screening Test is not required for US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand qualified medical under-graduates & post-graduates. The exemption was granted in an amendment made by the Medical Council of India in December 2011.

What are my career options after MBBS abroad?

After completing MBBS abroad, you can explore several career options including further pursuing postgraduate studies in the respective country or returning to your home country for further specialisation. You can also work as a general practitioner, or navigate some research opportunities in the medical field.

Which country's MBBS degree is valid in India?

You can study MBBS from any country but in order to practise medicine in India, you must obtain your medical degree from a Medical School that has been listed in the WHO international directory of Medical Schools.

Can I get a doctor job in India without MCI registration?

No, qualifying the MCI screening test or the FMGE is a mandatory requirement to practice medicine in India.