Licensing exams for Pakistani doctors and nurses
Free preparation for every exam that stands between a Pakistani medical or nursing graduate and a licence to practise, at home or abroad. For doctors: USMLE, PLAB, AMC, the NLE and FCPS Part 1. For nurses: the NCLEX-RN, the Gulf Prometric exams for DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SCFHS, the UK NMC CBT, and the PNMC licensing examination.
Each exam has its own page with the test pattern, the subjects it examines and how heavily, and unlimited topic-wise MCQs with an explanation on every answer. The subjects are shared: a Medical Surgical Nursing question you practise for Prometric counts for NCLEX and the NMC CBT too, and the basic sciences behind USMLE are the same bank as PLAB and FCPS.
Licensing exams for nurses
The Gulf is where most Pakistani nurses go first, through a Prometric exam set by the health authority. The NCLEX-RN opens the United States and Canada, and the NMC CBT the United Kingdom. All of them build on PNMC registration at home.
| Exam | Where | What it leads to | Mock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prometric Nursing | UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain | A nursing licence from DHA, DOH (HAAD), MOHAP, SCFHS and the other Gulf authorities | 150 MCQs |
| NCLEX-RN | United States, Canada, Australia | RN licence in the US and Canada; part of Australia's route for overseas nurses | 85 MCQs |
| NMC CBT | United Kingdom | NMC registration, with the OSCE taken in the UK | 115 MCQs |
| PNMC Licensing Exam | Pakistan | Registration as a nurse with the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council | 100 MCQs |
Licensing exams for doctors
USMLE, PLAB and AMC are the three routes abroad most Pakistani graduates weigh; the NLE and FCPS Part 1 are the licensing and specialist-training exams at home.
| Exam | Where | What it leads to | Mock |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLE | Pakistan | Licence to practise medicine in Pakistan (PMDC) | 100 MCQs |
| USMLE Step 1 | United States | ECFMG certification and US residency, with Step 2 CK | 100 MCQs |
| FCPS Part 1 | Pakistan | Entry to FCPS specialist training (CPSP) | 100 MCQs |
| PLAB 1 | United Kingdom | GMC registration, with PLAB 2 | 100 MCQs |
| AMC MCQ | Australia | AMC certificate and registration, with the clinical exam or workplace assessment | 100 MCQs |
The English test comes with it
Regulators in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland ask for an English test alongside the licensing exam. Most accept IELTS or OET, and OET is usually the easier of the two for a clinician, because its writing and speaking tasks are a referral letter and patient role plays. The difference is set out in OET explained.
Guides to choosing and preparing
Which licensing exam should a Pakistani nurse take to work abroad?
USMLE, PLAB, AMC or FCPS: which route should a Pakistani medical graduate take?
How does the USMLE route work for a Pakistani MBBS graduate?
How do PLAB 1 and the UK route work for a Pakistani doctor?
How does the AMC route to practising in Australia work?
How do you prepare for FCPS Part 1?
What is OET, and should a doctor or nurse take it instead of IELTS?
Licensing exams: frequently asked questions
Which licensing exam should a Pakistani nurse take to work abroad?
It depends on the country. For the Gulf it is the Prometric exam set by the health authority you are applying to (DHA or DOH in the UAE, SCFHS in Saudi Arabia, and the authorities of Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain). For the United States and Canada it is the NCLEX-RN, which Australia also uses for internationally qualified nurses. For the UK it is the NMC CBT followed by the OSCE. The regulator's own website is the authority on the current route.
Which licensing exam should a Pakistani doctor take?
USMLE for the United States, PLAB for the United Kingdom and the AMC examinations for Australia. At home, the NLE is required to practise and FCPS Part 1 is the entry to specialist training. The comparison guide on this page sets out the cost, time and outcome of each route.
Do I also need an English test?
For the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Ireland, almost always: regulators ask for IELTS or OET, and OET is written specifically for healthcare professionals. Gulf authorities set their own rules, so check the authority you are applying to.
Are these past papers of the real licensing exams?
No. Licensing bodies do not release their papers. The questions here are original, written to each exam's published content outline, with an explanation on every answer, and the mocks follow each exam's length where it is fixed.
Is the practice free?
Yes. Every subject behind these exams can be practised topic by topic without a fee or an account. Paid plans only add saved progress, analytics and premium full-length mocks.