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After completing graduation in medicine from a foreign medical college or university, a student needs to clear the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination) to practise medicine in India. The FMGE or MCI screening test is mandatory to get a medical licence in India. 

The FMGE is conducted biannually, in June and December, by the National Board of Examinations. Once the exam is cleared, aspirants often find themselves asking what after FMGE? In today’s article, various options that can be availed after FMGE 2023 exam will be discussed.

What to Do after FMGE?

Once candidates have passed the FMGE, they are required to apply for an internship in any Indian Medical College for a duration of one year. Here are the steps involved in detail:

Step 1

After clearing the FMGE, candidates will be given a qualifying certificate from the conducting body, i.e. the National Board of Examinations. This certificate needs to be used to apply for temporary registration with the Medical Council of India. The registration can be done by visiting the official website of MCI and after the completion of the process, candidates will receive an acknowledgment number through which the application status can be tracked. 

Step 2

The next step in the process involves registering with the respective State Medical Council. In order to register with the State Medical Council, candidates are required to submit these documents as listed below:

• Photocopy of the FMGE mark sheet that is attested by a Gazetted officer.
• Provisional MBBS pass certificate as well as mark sheet issued by the respective university or college.
• Photocopy of the tracking number provided by the MCI.
• A demand draft that is in favor of the State Medical Council.
• An affidavit on a non-judicial stamp paper that states you have qualified for the FMGE and have received the tracking number.

Step 3

Before beginning the internship, candidates need to submit a NOC (No Objection Certificate) issued by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) once the above-stated documents and sealed acknowledgment from the State Medical Council are provided. One can apply for the NOC by putting together all the documents along with a letter addressed to the DME which specifies all the details of courses completed. Educational institution and the choice of an institute for the internship. 

Step 4

After obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from DME, candidates need to apply for NOC for an internship at the following places:

• Superintendent of the respective hospital 
• The principal of the respective institute/ university
• The registrar of the same university where one is seeking to pursue the internship.

Step 5

After receiving the authorization/ recognition letters from all the above-mentioned personnel, applicants have to submit the official documents and letters before the prescribed deadline. Before beginning the internship at the respective hospital, aspirants also have to submit a demand draft in favor of the university.

Step 6 

The last step involves 3 fresh Demand Drafts and all the required and relevant documents that candidates would be finally applying for at an MCI recognised hospital. 

Career Options after Clearing FMGE 2023

While pursuing clinical practice and teaching in India after completing an MBBS degree abroad and clearing the FMGE is one career path that candidates can choose from, there are several other options available that are equally lucrative and have the prospect of a good career. 

MD/ MS/ Diploma

People who wish to continue their career in the field of medicine can opt for an MD/ MS/ Diploma after completing their MBBS and clearing FMGE. There are various postgraduate programs that train students in various fields such as general medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, etc. 

DNB (Diplomate of National Board)

The second option for MBBS graduates is to opt for a Diplomate of National Board course or DNB if they wish to continue their journey as specialist doctors. This PG diploma course is offered by the National Board of Examinations and is also recognised by the MCI. 

Combined Medical Services (CMS)

UPSC conducts UPSC CMS exam every year in the month of July/ August for candidates who are willing to work in various government sectors such as railway

The FMGE or Foreign Medical Graduates Exam is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). This exam is also known as the MCI exam or MCI screening for foreign medical graduates. FMGE exam is conducted bi-annually and its syllabus is as per the MBBS course for clinical, para-clinical, and preclinical students. 

Unfortunately in the past few years, the passing rate for the FMGE exam has gone down to less than 18% which includes a number of medical graduates from Russia, China, Ukraine, the Philippines, etc. Unless foreign medical graduates pass the FMGE, the MBBS degree earned by foreign medical graduates has no significance. 

What is the Reason Behind the Low Pass Rate in FMGE? 

The reasons behind the low pass rate in FMGE are varied. In the recent past, the global analysis of the number of foreign medical students qualifying in FMGE have indicated a rapid decrease in the pass rate. While some common reasons for the same could be identified as different medical procedures and the use of medication, some others could be defined as the language or medium of studying MBBS being different than what the candidates are comfortable with, etc. 

Mentioned below are some of the major reasons behind the low pass rate in FMGE, as recorded by the experts over the years:

Examination Difficulty Level

As we know already, FMGE is one of the most difficult examinations to crack for candidates wishing to pursue a career in the medical stream. Evidently, through the past five sessions of conducting the FMGE examination, it has been prevalent that the passing rate of candidates in the following have drastically decreased. As recorded previously, only about 25% of the candidates appearing for FMGE have successfully just managed to pass the following, in the previous five sessions. 

Thus, the difficulty level of the FMGE examination is regarded as one of the primary reasons for the rapid decrease in the passing rate of FMGE. There is no set limit of the number of attempts a candidate can pursue, therefore, a majority of the candidates appearing for the same are most likely repeaters. 

Unfamiliarity with Specific Subject Topics

Another challenge that often many candidates belonging from different countries face is the alienity of some specific topics covered in the FMGE syllabus. Depending on the geographical regions, some candidates are made to focus on some particular topics throughout their academics, which may not be the highlight or focus of discussion in other countries. This, therefore, creates an unequal discrepancy for the candidates to prepare for the unfamiliar subject topics in order to qualify FMGE. 

Examination Difficulty Level

Talking about unfamiliarity with subjects, the candidates appearing for FMGE also often report the unavailability or lack of a defined syllabus to prepare for FMGE. While 80% of the candidates struggle with securing the minimum passing percentage in the exam, the remaining 20% have opened up about the difficulty in analyzing the reason behind the absence of a defined syllabus for the FMGE. 

Moreover, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) does not quite provide the aspirants with a list of suggested books/study materials to prepare for the exam either. This not only makes it difficult for the candidates to understand the fundamentals of the topics to be covered for FMGE, but also creates a lot of confusion and disruption in the exam preparation process.

Lack of a Proper Preparation Strategy 

Owing to the previously stated reasons, many candidates fail to chart a proper preparation strategy for FMGE every year, resulting in their failure to secure a minimum passing percentage to qualify the same. While most of the time is spent calculating and understanding the syllabus of FMGE, the remaining is spent trying to chart a proper method to prepare for the exam. Without a guideline of prescribed books and notes, it becomes not only difficult but equally daunting for the candidates appearing in the FMGE Exam. 

Language Barrier

The FMGE exam is conducted in English, which may be a second language for many students. This can pose a challenge for some students, especially if they are not proficient in English. Students may have difficulty understanding the questions or expressing their answers in English, even if they have the required medical knowledge.

Differences in Medical Curriculum

The medical curriculum in India may differ significantly from that in the student's home country. Some students may have gaps in knowledge or may not be familiar with certain topics that are covered in the FMGE exam. This can make it difficult for the

FMGE 2023 Qualifying Marks:- The minimum qualifying marks for FMGE 2023 exam are 150 out of 300. For those who want to crack the test, securing at least 150 marks is essential. The FMGE 2023 qualifying marks are set by the exam authorities, i.e., the National Board of Examinations. It is mandatory for all the aspirants of the FMGE 2023 exam to secure the qualifying marks in order to be eligible for practicing medicine in India. The Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2023 exam for the June session will be held in May/ June tentatively.

As per the latest FMGE exam pattern 2023 released by the National Board of Examinations, there are two parts of the exam - Part A and B. Students will be able to answer each section within 2 hours and 30 minutes. One mark will be awarded for each correct answer. For good preparation for the FMGE exam, MBBS graduates need to be well acquainted with the exam pattern of FMGE. Students can read the article below in order to get more information about the kinds of questions asked in the FMGE exam along with its structure and other important details.

FMGE 2023 Qualifying Marks

Check out the qualifying marks for FMGE 2023:

FMGE 2023 Exam Pattern

All the important information regarding the FMGE 2023 June session such as the structure of the exam, marking scheme, and other crucial details, is given in the table below. 

FMGE Exam 2023 Marking Scheme

Students must have a sound understanding of the FMGE 2023 marking scheme to improve their chances of scoring better. One can refer to the marking scheme given below to know more about the same.

FMGE 2023 Cut Off

In order to qualify for the FMGE exam, candidates need to score the following marks: