Career After MBBS in Pakistan: Jobs, Salary & Abroad

Career After MBBS in Pakistan: Jobs, Salary and Options Abroad

MBBS gets you the degree, but it doesn't finish the journey. The first year and the first big decision after it shape the next decade, so this page starts with the fixed steps and then lays out your options.

Step one for everyone: house job and registration

You complete a one-year house job in a recognised hospital. You then register with PMDC, which lets you work independently. The house job certificate and your degree are part of the online registration.

A note on licensing exams. PMDC has reintroduced a National Licensing Examination, according to a British Council report that says it applies to both locally and internationally trained graduates. The 2026 PMDC schedules I could confirm cover foreign-qualified graduates (NEB and NRE). If you're a local graduate, confirm with PMDC whether an exam applies to your batch.

Your main options in Pakistan

1. Specialise: FCPS or MCPS

Specialist training through the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) is the most common route to a consultant career. A CPSP notification dated 30 May 2026 directs institutions to pay FCPS and MCPS trainees a stipend equal to a Grade-17 salary, around Rs 104,000 a month, and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation approved that figure for its hospitals.

2. Work as a medical officer

After the house job, you can work as a medical officer in a government or private hospital. Government medical officers usually sit in BPS-17. Under the 2026 pay scales (effective 1 July 2026), BPS-17 basic pay starts at about Rs 54,140. Gross pay rises with allowances and varies by city.

3. Private hospitals and clinics

Private-sector pay varies widely by hospital and city. Ask for the full package, including call duties.

4. Non-clinical careers

Not every MBBS graduate ends up at a bedside. Common non-clinical directions include public health (often via an MPH), medical research, teaching basic sciences, health management, and roles in the pharmaceutical and medical-education sectors. Some of these need further degrees.

What do doctors earn in Pakistan?

The honest answer is "less than you'd expect, and it depends where you work." Reported figures:

Don't treat any single number as a promise. Provinces set stipends separately, disputes are ongoing, and allowances change the total.

Careers after MBBS abroad

Nearly every country requires foreign-trained doctors to pass its own licensing route. Plan the exam before you plan the move.

• USA: you need ECFMG certification, which requires passing USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK and verification of your degree. You then apply for residency through the match. Residency lasts three to seven years, depending on the specialty.

• UK: you sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, complete an internship, show your English ability and apply to the GMC. The GMC's route requires you to have passed both PLAB parts within the past two years.

• Gulf countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar each use their own licensing exams (DHA, SCFHS/Saudi licensing exam, QCHP), often Prometric-based, and may want post-internship experience. PLAB or USMLE doesn't replace them.

Whichever route you pick, your medical school must be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, and the process usually takes a year or more of preparation.

Which path fits you?

• You want to be a specialist in Pakistan: aim for FCPS or MCPS straight after the house job.

• You need income sooner: work as a medical officer while you prepare for postgraduate entry.

• You want to practise abroad: start USMLE, PLAB or Gulf exam preparation during your house job, not after.

• You're drawn to public health, research or teaching: ask about a master's route early.

Frequently asked questions

What can I do after MBBS in Pakistan?
Complete the one-year house job, register with PMDC, then specialise through FCPS or MCPS, work as a medical officer, move into a non-clinical field, or practise abroad through a licensing exam.

What is the salary of a doctor after MBBS in Pakistan?
House officers earn tens of thousands of rupees a month (reports range from about Rs 45,000 to Rs 75,000). A government medical officer is on BPS-17, and FCPS trainees are being paid about Rs 104,000 a month under a 2026 CPSP directive.

Is the house job compulsory?
Yes. It is required before full registration.

Do I need FCPS to become a specialist?
FCPS and MCPS through CPSP are the main postgraduate routes in Pakistan.

How can I work abroad after MBBS?
Pass the destination's licensing route: USMLE for the USA, PLAB for the UK, and local licensing exams in the Gulf.

Can I practise in the UK with a Pakistani MBBS?
Through PLAB 1 and 2, an internship, English-language evidence and GMC registration.

Are there non-clinical jobs after MBBS?
Yes: public health, research, teaching, health management and pharmaceutical-sector roles, some needing extra degrees.

Has PMDC introduced a licensing exam for local graduates?
Reports say it has reintroduced the NLE. Check PMDC for details that apply to your batch.