Any Indian citizen or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) who holds a primary medical qualification from a medical institution located outside India and wishes to obtain provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or any State Medical Council after March 15, 2002, must qualify a screening test conducted by the designated authority.
Eligibility Criteria to Appear for the Screening Test:
A person is eligible to appear for the screening test only if they meet the following conditions:
-
Nationality & Qualification Recognition:
-
The individual must be an Indian citizen or an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI).
-
The primary medical qualification must be recognized for enrolment as a medical practitioner in the country where the medical institution awarding the qualification is located.
-
-
Eligibility Certificate Requirement:
-
The candidate must have obtained an Eligibility Certificate from the National Medical Commission (or the former Medical Council of India) as per the Eligibility Requirements for Admission to Foreign Medical Institutions Regulations, 2002.
-
This condition does not apply to Indian citizens or OCIs who acquired their foreign medical qualification or took admission in a foreign medical institution before March 15, 2002.
-
-
NEET Requirement (Post-May 2018 Admissions):
-
Indian citizens/OCIs intending to pursue a primary medical qualification abroad on or after May 2018 must have qualified the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to the MBBS course.
-
The NEET-UG result will be treated as the Eligibility Certificate for such candidates, provided they also meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 1997.
-
The NEET result will remain valid for three (3) years from the date of declaration, allowing the candidate to begin an MBBS or equivalent medical course (including any required pre-medical or language training).
-
-
Exemption from Screening Test:
-
A person is exempt from the screening test if they hold an undergraduate medical qualification from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America, and also possess a postgraduate medical qualification from one of these countries.
-
Additionally, they must be recognized and licensed to practice as a medical practitioner in that country.
-
Screening Test Process:
-
The screening test will be conducted according to the schedule published by the Prescribed Authority and in line with the scheme announced by the NMC.
-
Results of the test will be communicated to the candidates, the National Medical Commission, and the respective State Medical Councils.
-
Candidates who pass the test can apply to the NMC or a State Medical Council for provisional or permanent registration.
-
Those who do not qualify will also be duly informed.