Foreign medical graduates are those people who do not have basic graduation or primary qualification from any university or medical college or institution based in India and are seeking a license for medical practice in India.
The FMGE regulations came into force on 18th November 2021. Foreign medical graduates who have completed their medical degree or primary qualification prior to 18th November 2021 are exempted from the FMGE regulations. Also, those candidates who are pursuing their medical education in foreign institutions before 18th November 2021 are exempted.
As per the norms, the minimum course duration for a foreign medical degree should be 54 months with English as the medium of instruction.
FMGE – Medical Council of India Screening Test
Medical Council of India Screening Test, also known as Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, is a licensure examination conducted by the National Board of Examinations in India.
When is it conducted?
It is conducted twice a year.
What is the mode of the exam?
The exam is conducted in an ‘online mode’.
Is there any application fee for the exam?
Yes, the examination fee is 5,500 INR.
What are the documents required to take the exam?
The following documents are necessary:
- Class X certificate and mark sheet
- Class XII certificate and mark sheet
- Address proof
- Internship certificate
- ID Proof like Aadhar Card/ Voter ID/ PAN Card/ Driving Licence
- MBBS or primary qualification Pass Certificate
- Copy of the passport
- Eligible certificate issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI)
- Passport size photographs
- Digital signatures
Is there any qualifying score for FMGE exam?
Candidates must have at least 50% marks to pass the exam. So, a score 150 out of 300 is the minimum requirement to qualify for the exam.
What is the application process?
Follow these steps:
- Click on FMGE Application Form on the official website.
- Register with your phone number and email address
- You will receive login credentials over email
- Log in with your User ID and password
- Submit the required details
- Fill the city of your choice for examination centre
- Upload scanned images of photo, signature and left thumb impression
- Agree to the declaration
- Make payment
- The confirmation page will appear.
What subjects are to be studied during the course of medical qualification?
A candidate must have a theory course, practical and clinical training to be considered equivalent to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery MBBS in India, and a 12 months internship in the same institution where the primary medical qualification was obtained along with hands-on training in the clinical subjects. It should include General Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Community Medicine, General Surgery, Anaesthesia, Obstetrics and gynecology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Emergency and Casualty Services, Lab services along with their sub specialties. The candidates must have the course and internship to be considered equivalent to the MBBS course of India as per the norms laid by the graduate medical education in 1997.
The foreign medical graduates need to be registered with their respective regulated body to get a license to practice medicine under the National Medical Council of India or any other State Medical Council in the country. FMGs have to clear the National Exit Test and other such tests which are necessarily conducted by the National Medical Council of India.
The total duration of the foreign medical graduates and course should be completed mandatorily only within 10 years from the date of joining.
Is there any scope for transfer between medical colleges for an internship and exams?
There is no such allowance for transfer to any Indian medical College for internship and exam during the course of education. The entire course training and internship program shall be completed in the respective institution and no medical training or internship falling under the graduate course can be done in India.
An internship of a minimum of 12 months in India is necessary for foreign medical graduates to get permission for practice in India.
What are the eligibility criteria for foreign medical graduates to get an internship in India?
- The foreign medical graduates must have a course leading to a medical degree with a minimum duration of 54 months. They must have gone through an internship for a minimum of 12 months from the same foreign medical institution.
- The course should have been done with English as the medium of instruction.
- Foreign medical graduates must have these subjects: General Medicine, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Community Medicine, General Surgery, Anaesthesia, Obstetrics and gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Emergency and Casualty Services, Lab services along with their sub specialities.
- They must be registered with their respective regulatory body and have the competency to grant a licence to practice medicine in their respective jurisdiction in the country.
- They must pass the screening test or the National Exit Test and other mandatory tests conducted by the National Medical Council of India.
- They must have a provisional registration from their respective State Medical Council.
Is there any difference between clinical posting and clinical training done in the 54 month MBBS course and the internship to be done in India?
Yes, there are differences. The clinical posting and training and internship program are the separate phases of practical learning in the medical journey. The internship is done after the completion of the MBBS course and is an integral part of the undergraduate medical education degree in India. It ensures that the medical graduates are trained well for practical life.
Is there any provision for online classes?
Foreign medical graduates can undergo online classes only for theory subjects. They have to physically attend the offline practical and clinical training sessions done in the respective medical University and its affiliated hospitals during the course.
If you have more questions regarding the screening tests, feel free to reach us. We are happy to assist.
