Which country MBBS degree is not valid in India?
Indian students migrating to foreign countries for MBBS education must follow the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines which were issued on 18th November 2021. As per the guidelines by the NMC, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) must qualify for the ‘National Exit Exam’ to practice Medicine in India.
While Foreign returned graduates must clear the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) to get a license to practice in India. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) organizes the FMGE exam for foreign returned graduates. It is mandatory to clear the FMGE exam with a required score to practice in India.
Students seeking to practice in India after completion of the MBBS course must have studied in the Medical Council of India-approved colleges. A medical degree obtained from a recognized university is considered to be valid in India. When it comes to practicing, foreign returned medical graduates must clear the MCI screening test and FMGE examination.
About FMGE
The FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in India. It is a mandatory requirement for Indian citizens with a foreign medical degree who wish to practice medicine in India.
The exam takes place twice a year, in June and December, usually on the third Monday or Tuesday of the month. Candidates have three attempts to clear the exam, which is known to be challenging.
Graduates from countries like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and Canada, who have degrees from MCI/NMC-recognized universities, are exempt from taking the FMGE. However, for graduates from other countries, the exam is compulsory.
Another option – What’s NEXT?
In 2019, the National Medical Commission (NMC) of India introduced a bill to replace the corrupt Medical Council of India (MCI) and improve medical education. As part of this reform, a proposed exam called the National Exit Exam (NEXT) was included.
The initial draft of the NMC Bill mentioned that the final year MBBS exam would serve as the National Licensure Exam, which would also qualify students for medical postgraduate seats.
Furthermore, the proposed NEXT was intended to replace the Foreign Medical Graduate Entrance Exam (FMGE), which is currently required for MBBS students who graduated from foreign universities to practice medicine in India.
Efforts to merge or replace the FMGE with the NEXT have been ongoing, although the exact details and implementation remain unclear. However, this development offers hope to foreign graduates who have been struggling with the FMGE.
Who is eligible to Practice Medicine in India?
Graduates from countries like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, and Canada, who have degrees from MCI/NMC-recognized universities are eligible to practice medicine in India.
Candidates not having an MCI-approved degree have to clear the FMGE examination as a must to practice as a physician in India.
