# NRE Step 1 postponed to 8 November 2026: PM&DC moves exam from 11 October

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/education/nre-step-1-2026-exam-date-pmdc)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 6 Oct 2026
Updated: 6 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 6 Oct 2026

> The PM&DC licensing exam for doctors and dentists is now on Sunday 8 November. Registration stays closed, and registered candidates do not need to apply again.

The PM&DC NRE Step 1 exam will now be held on **Sunday 8 November 2026**, not Sunday 11 October. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) announced the change in a public notice dated 5 October 2026, citing "unavoidable circumstances". The exam is conducted for PM&DC by the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi.

For candidates, that is four extra weeks of preparation: 33 days from today to the new date, against five days under the old schedule.

## NRE Step 1 2026: the dates in one place

| Stage | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration portal opened | 27 August 2026 | PM&DC notice, 21 August |
| Registration closed (extended) | 15 September 2026 | PM&DC notice, 9 September |
| Original exam date | Sunday 11 October 2026 | PM&DC notices, August and September |
| **New exam date** | **Sunday 8 November 2026** | PM&DC notice, 5 October |

## What changes for you

**Registration has not reopened.** The notice moves the exam only. The NRE portal at nre.pmdc.pk still reads "NRE October 2026 NRE STEP I Registration is closed" and gives 15 September 2026 as the last date to apply. If you missed that deadline, the postponement does not give you a new chance unless PM&DC issues a fresh notice.

**If you registered, you do not need to apply again.** The notice says nothing about a new fee or a new form. Keep your portal login (the email and the CNIC you used at sign-up) ready, because admit cards and centre details come through the same portal.

**Plan travel and leave for 8 November.** Candidates who booked travel to a test city or took leave from a house job for 11 October will need to rearrange. 8 November is also a Sunday.

**Check the official notice, not forwards.** PM&DC's own notice says to keep visiting pmdc.pk for details. Exam-date messages on WhatsApp and social media are often old: PM&DC's printed notice itself carries a typing slip, giving the old date as "11th October, 2025", while its earlier notices of 21 August and 9 September give 11 October 2026.

## Other PM&DC notices this week

The council also published, on 5 October, a notice that MDCAT is no longer required for Pakistani students seeking admission to medical colleges abroad. We covered that separately: [MDCAT not required for MBBS abroad](/news/education/mdcat-not-required-for-mbbs-abroad-pmdc).

For students still applying at home, see the [MDCAT aggregate calculator](/tools/education/mdcat-aggregate-calculator) and the [KMU admission 2026-27 last dates](/news/education/kmu-admission-2026-27-mbbs-and-bds-public-last-date-21-october-private-9). Doctors going abroad after their licence will also need [HEC degree attestation](/guides/education/hec-degree-attestation).

## Frequently asked questions

**What is the new date of NRE Step 1 2026?**

Sunday 8 November 2026, according to the PM&DC public notice dated 5 October 2026. It was earlier scheduled for Sunday 11 October 2026.

**Has NRE Step 1 registration reopened?**

No. The notice changes only the exam date. The NRE portal still shows registration as closed, with 15 September 2026 as the last date.

## Sources

- Public Notice Regarding Re-Scheduled of NRE Step-I Exam (5 October 2026) (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council): https://pmdc.pk/Documents/Others/Public%20Notice%20Regarding%20Re-Scheduled%20of%20NRE%20Step-I%20Exam.pdf
- Public Notice Regarding Extension of Online Registration Portal for NRE (9 September 2026) (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council): https://pmdc.pk/Documents/Others/Public%20Notice%20Regarding%20Extension%20of%20NRE%20Registration%20Portal%20.pdf
- Public Notice Regarding Opening of Online Registration Portal for NRE (21 August 2026) (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council): https://pmdc.pk/Documents/Others/Public%20Notice%20Regarding%20Opening%20of%20Online%20Registration%20Portal%20for%20NRE.pdf
- NRE registration portal (Pakistan Medical and Dental Council): https://nre.pmdc.pk/

How to cite: "NRE Step 1 postponed to 8 November 2026: PM&DC moves exam from 11 October", Searchable, 6 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/education/nre-step-1-2026-exam-date-pmdc