Joint Centralized Admission Test (JCAT)

Table Of Contents
  1. Introduction
  2. Eligibility
  3. Important Points
  4. Application Guidelines
  5. March 2026 Attempt

Introduction

The Joint Centralized Admission Test (JCAT) was introduced in 2016 by the Health Department with the cooperation of King Edward Medical University Lahore, University of Health Sciences Lahore, and Fatima Jinnah University Lahore. It is an entrance test for MD/MS/MDS program admissions in various Public Institutes/Hospitals of Punjab and Federal Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. In the private sector, Sharif Medical City Lahore requires this test for admission to its programs. After this test, candidates can apply for admission to the Punjab Residency Program (Central Induction Policy).

Eligibility

  • One year house job from a recognized Institution/Hospital of HEC/PM&DC/PMC.
  • The candidate (Pakistani National) must have permanent or provisional valid registration with the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council/Pakistan Medical Commission.
  • Candidates doing house jobs are not eligible to apply.
  • Candidates from other provinces and Foreign Nationals can also apply.

Important Points

  • There is no negative marking.
  • If you pass the test will a low score, you can retake the test to improve your previous scores. If you fail to improve, your previous marks remain valid.
  • They ask for a permanent PMC. If your PMC is expired, apply for the renewal of your PMC.

Application Guidelines

March 2026 Attempt

  • See the advertisement at this link
  • Applications from 21st Jan. 2026 to 6th Feb. 2026
  • Application Portal link https://jcat.kemu.edu.pk/
  • Tentative Exam dates: 29th March 2026.
  • Pass percentage 60% (aggregate)
  • It will comprise two (02) papers: Paper I and Paper II. Each paper will contain 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each worth 100 marks. Paper I, which covers Basic Sciences, will be common to all specialties of MS/MD/MDS candidates. In contrast, Paper II will be administered separately. (Notice Copy). The following 9 specialties will be announced: Medicine & Allied, Surgery & Allied, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesiology, Ophthalmology, Diagnostic Radiology, Psychiatry, Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ENT), and Dentistry. Note: Physiology, Community Medicine, and Pathology will be announced once Universities start induction in this.
  • Speciality-specific JCAT will be implemented starting with the January 2025 induction.
  • To accommodate candidates with a valid common JCAT, they must pass the second (speciality-based) paper of the JCAT. The validity of the JCAT for such candidates will be calculated from the date they passed the common JCAT.
  • You need to appear in the following exams for these specialties:
    • Medicine & Allied: Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Neurology, Pediatrics, Pulmonology, Radiology
    • Radiology: Radiology (Radiology is also mentioned in Medicine)
    • Surgery & Allied: General Surgery, Urology, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Pediatric Surgery
    • Ophthalmology: Ophthalmology
    • Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
    • ENT Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
    • Anesthesia: Anesthesia
    • Psychiatry: Psychiatry
    • MDS: Dentistry Specialties
  • New Table of Specifications for JCAT MD/MS
  • New Table of Specifications for JCAT MDS

Record of Previous JCAT Attempt Link: https://upmed.net/previous-jcat-attempts/

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