The NExT exam will be divided into two parts: NExT 1, a theoretical test, and NExT 2, a practical, clinical and oral test consisting of 7 clinical topics (representative image).
The NExT exam will serve as both a qualifying exam for final year undergraduates and a license exam to practice modern medicine.
Medical Education Regulator of India, National Medical Commission, a joint examination for medical graduates, is in the process of finalizing the structure of the National Exit (NExT) examination. According to reports, the NMC will be presented with these rules in the upcoming meeting, where the date of the test will also be decided.
The NExT exam will serve as both a final year undergraduate qualifying exam and a licensure exam for the practice of modern medicine. It will also be used to allot postgraduate seats 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 comments in December 2022 by the National Medical Commission.
The NExT exam was to begin within three years since the NMC came into existence through the National Medical Commission Act 2019. However, the commission, through a gazette notification, delayed the deadline by one year.
The aim is to provide continuity in the summative assessment process for medical graduates across the country while ensuring common standards of education and training. To facilitate the scheduling, the academic wing of the commission 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 will be divided into two parts – NExT 1, which will be a theoretical exam, and NExT 2, which will consist of practical, clinical and oral tests covering seven clinical topics or subjects. The officials are also planning a mock test to familiarize the students with the process.
In addition to the existing National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), NEXT will be applicable to prestigious institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The initiative seeks to develop a unified standard for medical education across the country.