The NExT exam is split into two parts: NExT 1, a theoretical test, and NExT 2, a practical, clinical and oral test on 7 clinical topics (representative image)
The NExT test will serve as both the qualifying exam for seniors and the licentiate exam for the practice of modern medicine
India’s medical education regulator, the National Medical Commission, is finalizing the framework for the National Exit (NExT) exam, a combined test for medical graduates. According to reports, NMC will present these regulations in an upcoming meeting, where the test date will also be determined.
The NExT exam will function as both the final year of the bachelor’s degree qualification exam and the licentiate exam for the practice of modern medicine. It will also be used to allocate postgraduate places to MBBS students and to evaluate international medical graduates who wish to practice in India.
The draft rules for the NExT exam were made available for public comment by the National Medical Commission in December 2022.
The NExT exam was supposed to begin within three years since the NMC was created by the National Medical Commission Act 2019. However, the commission delayed the timeline by a year through a notice in the state gazette.
The goal is to provide consistency in the summative assessment process for medical graduates across the country, ensuring common standards of education and training. To facilitate scheduling, the committee’s academic unit recently contacted medical colleges to inquire about the status of their current batches of final MBBS courses. This data will be useful in finalizing the exam dates.
The NExT exam consists of two parts: NExT 1, which will be a theoretical test, and NExT 2, which includes practical, clinical, and oral tests covering seven clinical subjects or disciplines. Officials also schedule a mock test to familiarize students with the procedure.
In addition to the existing National Aptitude Cum Admission Test (NEET), NExT will apply to prestigious institutions such as the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). This initiative aims to develop a uniform standard for medical education across the country.