PMDC Makes MDCAT Mandatory for Students Seeking Medical Education Abroad

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has announced that Pakistani students planning to study medicine or dentistry abroad will now be required to pass the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) and obtain PMDC registration before leaving the country.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Ishaq Dar, which focused on strengthening the regulatory framework for medical and dental education in Pakistan.

According to the PMDC, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of Medical and Dental Colleges and Postgraduate Qualifications reviewed ongoing reforms and introduced several measures aimed at improving standards in medical education.

The committee decided that all students seeking admission to foreign medical or dental institutions must first qualify for the MDCAT examination and register with PMDC to avoid future issues related to recognition, licensing, or professional registration in Pakistan.

Students were also instructed to confirm that their chosen foreign institution appears on PMDC’s list of recognised medical colleges before securing admission. The institution must either be accredited by the World Federation for Medical Education or listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

The PMDC further stated that the medical programme must include at least 6,200 hours of education with a minimum attendance requirement of 80% over a five-year period.

For countries where English is not the primary language of instruction, students will be required to spend at least five months learning the local language before starting their studies to ensure proper communication and academic understanding.

After completing their degrees abroad, graduates must pass PMDC’s National Registration Examination to become eligible for medical registration in Pakistan.

The committee also directed students to submit complete residential and contact details of their destination country before departure and advised them to obtain a multiple-entry visa covering the full duration of their studies.

According to the PMDC, these new regulations are intended to protect the academic and professional future of Pakistani students and ensure that foreign-qualified graduates meet both national and international standards for medical practice.