The National Exit Test (NExT) is the most significant reform to Indian medical licensing in decades. It affects every MBBS student and every foreign-educated Indian doctor. Here is everything you need to know. What is the National Exit Test (NExT)? NExT is a national licensing and exit examination proposed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) for MBBS graduates. It serves three purposes simultaneously: Licensing exam to determine if an MBBS graduate is competent to practice PG entrance exam for MD/MS admissions replacing NEET PG Screening exam for foreign medical graduates replacing FMGE The goal is a single uniform national standard for all medical graduates. What will NExT replace? NExT will replace three existing assessments: Final year MBBS university examinations — NExT becomes the common national licensing test NEET PG — the current postgraduate entrance exam by NBEMS FMGE — the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination for Indian citizens with foreign degrees Who must take NExT? All MBBS students graduating from Indian medical colleges Indian citizens who completed MBBS from foreign universities (currently require FMGE) Any MBBS graduate seeking admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma programs in India What is the two-step structure of NExT? NExT Step 1 Objective MCQ-based assessment Covers the entire MBBS curriculum — pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects Taken at the end of final year MBBS or by foreign medical graduates seeking registration Score used for PG admission merit list, replacing NEET PG rank Must be passed before starting internship NExT Step 2 Clinical and practical skills assessment (OSCE-style) Tests clinical examination, patient interaction, procedural skills Taken after completing the internship Passing Step 2 grants permanent medical registration Both steps must be passed to practice medicine independently in India. Has NExT been implemented yet? No. As of March 2026 NExT has not been fully implemented. It was introduced in the NMC Act 2019 and announced in 2020 but has been repeatedly delayed due to infrastructure and policy issues. Until NExT launches officially: NEET PG continues for PG admissions FMGE continues for foreign graduates University final exams remain the licensing mechanism for MBBS graduates When will NExT start? No confirmed date has been announced as of March 2026. Monitor official notifications at nmc.org.in and natboard.edu.in. How is NExT Step 1 different from NEET PG? The critical difference: NEET PG is taken after completing internship, while NExT Step 1 is taken before internship at the end of final year. Other key differences: NExT combines licensing with PG admissions, whereas NEET PG only serves PG admissions NExT will be conducted by NMC, while NEET PG is conducted by NBEMS How is NExT different from FMGE? FMGE is conducted by NBEMS and has a historically low pass rate of 15–20% per attempt Under NExT, FMGE will be abolished Foreign medical graduates will take NExT Step 1 alongside Indian MBBS graduates on equal terms This is intended to create a single, uniform standard for entry into Indian medical practice. What subjects will NExT Step 1 cover? Pre-clinical: Anatomy