The National Medical Council (NMC) has announced that the National Exit Test (NExT) will be mandatory for all medical graduates, whether from Indian or foreign institutes. The NExT exam is expected to replace the existing NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate) and serve as a qualifying and screening exam for final-year MBBS students.
According to reports, the NExT examination guidelines are near completion, and AIIMS Delhi will administer the exam. MBBS graduates will be required to pass the exam after completing their four-and-a-half-year course and one year of internship in designated hospitals.
Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) will also be required to pass the NExT exam to obtain a license to practice medicine in India. FGMs were recently allowed to complete their compulsory rotating medical internships in India by the NMC, in line with the guidelines of the erstwhile Medical Council of India.
It is expected that the NMC will conduct the National Exit Test in 2024, with Part 1 consisting of theory-based questions and Part 2 comprising practical tests and interview-based exams.
While NEET PG 2023 has been held on March 5, and the registration for FMGE 2023 June session is ongoing, the NExT exam will not be held this year.
The National Exit Test will also act as an entrance exam for medical education postgraduate courses, replacing NEET PG. Candidates should note that the NMC is yet to release final guidelines on the matter.
As the NExT exam is expected to have significant implications for medical graduates, it is increasingly crucial for students, both Indian and foreign, to remain informed and attentive to updates on the examination.
In conclusion, while the NExT examination is yet to take place, its introduction will ensure that all medical graduates meet the requisite standards and ensure that new standards for competency and knowledge are implemented across the medical fraternity.
