NRE Registration: Step-by-Step Guide to Apply for the PMDC NRE

You've confirmed you meet the NRE eligibility criteria — so what does actually registering for the PM&DC National Registration Examination involve? This is the step most candidates search for and the one that's easiest to get stuck on, usually for the same reason: trying to register before the one prerequisite that unlocks everything else is in place. Here's the actual process, in order.

The One Thing You Need Before You Can Register

You cannot register for the NRE directly. You first need a PM&DC provisional licence, issued after PM&DC verifies your foreign MBBS/BDS degree and confirms your college's approval status. Your entire NRE portal account — registration, admit card, result — is created from this provisional licence record. Skipping ahead and trying to register before this is confirmed is the single most common reason candidates get stuck, so confirm your provisional licence status first.

How to Register for the NRE: Step by Step

1. Confirm your provisional licence is active. Without it, there is nothing for an NRE portal account to attach to.
2. Go to the official PM&DC website — pmdc.pk — and find the NRE / National Registration Examination section. There is no separate branded "NRE portal" domain; always reach it through pmdc.pk, not a third-party link, since NRE-related phishing pages do circulate on social media.
3. Create your candidate account. If this is your first time, use the "New Candidate" or "Register" option and follow the account-creation flow tied to your provisional licence number. This is what turns your verified licence into an active NRE portal login.
4. Watch for the official session notification. PM&DC holds the NRE at least twice a year, but doesn't publish a fixed recurring calendar months in advance — registration for a specific sitting opens once PM&DC announces that session. Check your portal dashboard periodically rather than relying on dates circulating on social media.
5. Select and register for the open session from your dashboard once it appears.
6. Pay the registration fee through the method PM&DC specifies on the portal for that cycle. The fee amount and accepted payment channels are set by PM&DC and can change between cycles — confirm the current figure directly on pmdc.pk when you register rather than from a number you've seen elsewhere, including on this page.
7. Wait for your registration to be processed. Status is visible on your dashboard; PM&DC does not confirm registration by SMS or email beyond a notification that something has been updated.
8. Download your roll number slip once it's released. It appears in your dashboard after your registration for that session is processed — see our roll number slip guide for what to do if it isn't showing up yet.

Registering for Theory vs. the CSE

Registration isn't a one-time event covering the whole exam. You register for the theory paper (NRE Step 1) first, and only become eligible to register for the Clinical Skills Examination (NRE Step 2) after you've passed it. Each has its own registration window inside the same portal account — don't expect a single registration to cover both components.

Why Candidates Get Stuck at This Step

• Registering before the provisional licence is confirmed. There's nothing to register with yet — this causes more stalled applications than any other issue.
• Relying on third-party dates. Registration windows are announced by PM&DC directly; a date circulating on a Facebook group or WhatsApp forward isn't a substitute for checking pmdc.pk yourself.
• CNIC/passport mismatch. If the identity document on your provisional licence record doesn't match what you're entering, the account won't link. This has to be corrected by PM&DC directly, not through the portal.
• Assuming the fee is fixed. It's set per cycle by PM&DC — always confirm it at the point of registering rather than budgeting from an older figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I actually register for the NRE?

Through the official PM&DC website, pmdc.pk, under the NRE / National Registration Examination section — not a separate portal domain and not a third-party site.

Can I register without a provisional licence?

No. Your NRE portal account is created from your provisional licence record. Get that confirmed first.

How much does NRE registration cost?

PM&DC sets and can revise the registration fee between cycles. Rather than quoting a figure that may be out of date, confirm the current amount directly on pmdc.pk when you register.

When does NRE registration open?

PM&DC doesn't publish a fixed annual calendar — the exam runs at least twice a year, and registration opens once that specific session is officially announced. Check your portal dashboard rather than waiting for a date from social media.

Do I register separately for the theory paper and the CSE?

Yes. You register for the theory paper (NRE Step 1) first; registration for the CSE (NRE Step 2) only opens up once you've passed theory.

Already registered and waiting on your admit card? See our NRE roll number slip guide. Checking back after your exam? See PMDC NRE Login & Result.

While your registration is processed, start building discipline-wise accuracy with HighYield's NRE QBank — past-paper-style MCQs across every clinical and basic-science discipline the theory paper tests, each with a full explanation. Your first 20 questions are free.