27 Jan, 2025, Tutelage Team, Article
NEXT and FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) are the examinations that have become crucial for foreign medical graduates looking to practice medicine in India. While FMGE had always been a more conventional route for foreign graduates, NEXT is expected to phase out the use of FMGE as a holistic licensing and entrance exam for postgraduates.
FMGE is a screening test conducted by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for Indian citizens who complete their medical education abroad. The exam was first initiated in 2002 to ensure that foreign-trained doctors meet the Indian medical standards. FMGE is conducted twice in a year, in June and December, and the candidates are required to secure at least 50% marks to pass.
| Aspect | FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam) | NEXT (National Exit Test) |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Foreign Medical Graduate Exam | National Exit Test |
| Purpose | Screening test for foreign medical graduates to practice in India | Common licensing exam for both Indian and foreign medical graduates |
| Applicability | Only for foreign medical graduates | Both Indian medical graduates and foreign medical graduates |
| Exam Nature | Objective-type (MCQs) | Two-step exam: NEXT 1 (MCQs) + NEXT 2 (Practical/Clinical) |
| Frequency | Conducted twice a year (June & December) | Expected to be conducted annually |
| Validity | Mandatory only for foreign medical graduates | Mandatory for both Indian and foreign medical graduates |
| Difficulty Level | Considered tough; low success rate of FMGE | Anticipated to be comprehensive but uniform for all graduates |
| FMGE Pass Percentage Country Wise | Varies significantly by country; often under 20% for many countries | NEXT aims to provide uniform assessment |
| Success Rate of FMGE | Historically low; success rate of FMGE ranges between 10% to 30% | Success rate is yet to be determined |
| Syllabus | Based on MBBS curriculum in India | Based on revised MBBS syllabus with clinical focus |
| Examination Body | National Board of Examinations (NBE) | National Medical Commission (NMC) |
| Registration Eligibility | Foreign medical graduates with recognized qualifications | Final-year Indian and foreign medical students |
| Postgraduate Admission Impact | Not applicable directly | NEXT 1 score is expected to be used for PG admissions |
| Replacement | Current licensing exam for foreign medical graduates | NEXT will replace FMGE, NEET-PG, and other licensing exams |
| Implementation Status | Currently in practice | Expected to replace FMGE from 2024 onwards |
| Foreign Medical Graduate Exam vs NEXT Exam for Foreign Medical Graduates | FMGE is the existing exam, NEXT will replace it | NEXT aims to create a level playing field for all medical graduates |
Kazakhstan has gained popularity among Indian students for several reasons:
The cost of MBBS in Kazakhstan is significantly lower than in India or other countries offering similar quality education. This affordability attracts students from middle-class families.
There are many international organizations like WHO and NMC that acknowledge the medical universities of Kazakhstan. This allows their degrees to be valid in any part of the world and one can easily clear FMGE or NEXT.
The curriculum is taught mostly in English and hence there would not be much problem in communication; Indian students find it easier to understand concepts.
The FMGE and NEXT examinations are challenging in nature and necessitate extensive study. Here's the challenge and approach to overcome this challenge:
Kazakhstan has been consistently higher than many other countries in the FMGE pass percentage.
| Name of Country | Name of College/Institute/University | Appeared # | Total Pass | Pass % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | AL FARABI KAZAKH NATIONAL UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE | 4 | 1 | 25.00% |
| ASFENDIYAROV KAZAKH NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY | 20 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| ASTANA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY | 1 | 1 | 100.00% | |
| CASPIAN UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | 294 | 18 | 6.12% | |
| JSC NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY | 366 | 33 | 9.02% | |
| JSC SOUTH KAZAKHSTAN MEDICAL ACADEMY | 15 | 1 | 6.67% | |
| KARAGANDA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY | 1106 | 118 | 10.67% | |
| KAZAKH NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY NAMED AFTER S D ASFENDIYAROV | 22 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| KAZAKH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF CONTINUING EDUCATION MEDICAL COLLEGE | 16 | 0 | 0.00% | |
| KAZAKH RUSSIAN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY | 355 | 54 | 15.21% |
Source:FMGE Pass Percentage Country Wise
Several universities in Kazakhstan are known to produce successful candidates for FMGE/NEXT:
Top Colleges
Kazakh universities offer customized support to help students perform well in FMGE/NEXT.
Students aspiring to clear FMGE/NEXT after studying in Kazakhstan should remember the following:
Select Right University
With the transition to the NEXT exam, students need to adapt to new challenges:
Kazakhstan is one of the top locations for MBBS studies because FMGE/NEXT success rates from this country are well above average, and students succeed in becoming certified doctors in India by choosing appropriate universities and sound preparation strategies.
Kazakhstan's commitment to quality medical education guarantees bright futures for its graduates. Students aspiring to take the pathway should do so now.
FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) is a screening test conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in India. It is mandatory for Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who have completed their medical education abroad to qualify FMGE to practice medicine in India or register with the Medical Council of India (MCI).
NEXT (National Exit Test) is a proposed examination in India to replace FMGE and the NEET PG exam. It will serve as a licensure exam for Indian and foreign medical graduates, a qualifying exam for PG admissions, and a common test for evaluating final-year MBBS students.
As of now, FMGE is still conducted for foreign medical graduates. However, NEXT is expected to replace FMGE once it is officially implemented. The transition timeline will depend on updates from the National Medical Commission (NMC).
To be eligible for FMGE, a candidate must:
NEXT is anticipated to be implemented in the near future, potentially replacing FMGE. Once implemented, all foreign medical graduates must clear NEXT to practice in India, ensuring a unified assessment for both Indian and foreign graduates.
There is no limit on the number of attempts for FMGE. Candidates can take the test multiple times until they pass and achieve the minimum qualifying score of 150 out of 300.
Both FMGE and NEXT are designed to assess clinical and pre-clinical knowledge. The subjects include Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, among others.
FMGE consists of 300 multiple-choice questions divided into two parts of 150 questions each. Candidates must score at least 150 marks out of 300 to qualify. The test is conducted online, and there is no negative marking.
To prepare for FMGE and NEXT:
In FMGE, candidates must achieve a minimum of 50% (150 out of 300 marks) to pass. For NEXT, scoring will likely follow a percentile-based system, as it also determines PG admission eligibility.
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