NBE FET 2026 (Fellowship Entrance Test) is the NBEMS computer-based exam for admission to Fellow of National Board (FNB) courses in the 2026 admission session. NBEMS has not announced its dates yet. FET 2025 was held on 14 March 2026, so FET 2026 is expected around March 2027, with applications around January 2027.
NBE FET 2026
This page covers NBE FET 2026 expected dates, how to apply, the fee, eligibility, the fellowship courses and the exam pattern.
| Full name | Fellowship Entrance Test (FET), also called NBE FET |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| Exam level | National, post-MD/MS/DNB fellowship entrance |
| Courses / Purpose | Fellow of National Board (FNB) courses; FPIS for international candidates |
| Exam date | FET 2026 expected March 2027 (FET 2025 was held on 14 March 2026) |
| Application | Expected January 2027, online only |
| Application fee | Rs 3,500 plus gateway charges, as per the FET 2025 bulletin |
| Eligibility | MD / MS / DNB / DM / MCh / DrNB in an eligible feeder specialty by the bulletin's cut-off date |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), one paper per fellowship course or clubbed group |
| Questions and marks | 100 MCQs (Part A 40, Part B 60), 400 marks, 105 minutes |
| Negative marking | 1 mark deducted per wrong answer (+4 for a correct answer) |
| Official website | natboard.edu.in |
NBE FET 2026 Important Dates
NBEMS names FET after the FNB admission session, not the year of the exam, so FET 2025 was held in March 2026. FET 2026 dates are not out yet; the table shows expected months based on the FET 2025 schedule.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | January 2027 Expected |
| Admit card | March 2027 Expected |
| Exam | March 2027 Expected |
| Result | April 2027 Expected |
| FNB 2026 counselling | July 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for NBE FET 2026
You apply for NBE FET 2026 online only, through the FET page on natboard.edu.in, once the information bulletin is released. The FET 2025 form was open from 14 January to 3 February 2026, so the FET 2026 window is expected in January 2027. Your application is complete only after the fee payment succeeds.
Apply Online for NBE FET 2026
Applications for NBE FET 2026 are expected in January 2027.
- Open the FET page on natboard.edu.in and read the information bulletin.
- Fill the user registration form. Your User ID (application ID) and password are sent by SMS and email.
- Log in through the Applicant Login link and fill the application form, including your Aadhaar number (it cannot be changed later).
- Upload a recent photograph (not more than 3 months old), signature, thumb impression and the prescribed documents.
- Choose one fellowship course or clubbed group you are eligible for, then choose your test city.
- Pay the fee online by UPI, credit card or debit card.
- Preview the form, accept the declaration and submit. Keep a printout showing payment status “S” (successful).
| Fee | Amount (latest bulletin, FET 2025) |
|---|---|
| Exam fee (Indian and international candidates) | Rs 3,500, plus payment gateway charges |
The fee is neither refunded nor carried forward, and you may submit only one application. In the edit window you can change everything except name, nationality, test city, mobile number, Aadhaar number and email ID. A later selective window is only for fixing deficient photographs, signatures or thumb impressions.
Who can apply for NBE FET 2026?
You can apply if you hold a recognised MD, MS, DNB, DM, MCh or DrNB (or an equivalent recognised qualification) in a feeder specialty that the bulletin lists for your chosen fellowship. For FET 2025 the qualification had to be obtained by 31 December 2025; the FET 2026 bulletin will give the new cut-off date.
- Feeder specialty: each fellowship accepts only the broad or super specialty degrees listed in Annexure B of the bulletin.
- Recognition: the degree must be recognised under the NMC Act, 2019.
- Registration: NMC or State Medical Council registration is mandatory; a photocopy of permanent registration is collected at the test centre.
- Age: there is no upper age limit.
- International candidates (FPIS): the PG qualification must be registered in your own country; a no-objection certificate, valid passport and visa, and MHA security clearance where required, are checked at counselling.
Which fellowship courses can you join through NBE FET?
The latest bulletin offers 36 FNB courses to Indian candidates and 16 courses to international candidates under FPIS. Some courses are clubbed: they share one question paper and you apply once for the whole group.
| Clubbed group | Courses in the group |
|---|---|
| Paediatric medicine group | Paediatric Hemato-Oncology, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Paediatric Nephrology, Paediatric Endocrinology |
| Reproductive and foetal medicine group | Reproductive Medicine, Maternal and Foetal Medicine, Minimally Invasive Gynaecologic Surgery |
| Orthopaedics group | Paediatric Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine, Arthroplasty |
| Anaesthesia group | Paediatric Anaesthesia, Onco-Anaesthesia, Transplant Anaesthesia, Trauma Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Pain Medicine |
| Cardiology group | Interventional Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology |
| Minimal access surgery group | Minimal Access Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Colorectal Surgery |
| Radiology group | Fetal Radiology, Breast Imaging, Musculoskeletal Radiology |
The other 13 courses have their own paper: Addiction Psychiatry, Hand and Micro Surgery, Head and Neck Oncology, Liver Transplantation, Minimal Access Urology, Neurovascular Intervention, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Paediatric Urology, Renal Transplant, Spine Surgery, Stroke Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and Vitreo Retinal Surgery.
What is the NBE FET 2026 exam pattern?
NBE FET is a 100-question computer-based test of 105 minutes, split into two timed parts. Part A tests your feeder specialty (or all feeder specialties of the course), and Part B tests the fellowship course at entry level. This is the FET 2025 pattern; the FET 2026 bulletin will confirm it.
| Feature | Details (latest bulletin, FET 2025) |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), single session |
| Question paper | Separate paper for each fellowship course or clubbed group |
| Questions | 100 MCQs: Part A 40 from the feeder specialty, Part B 60 from the fellowship course |
| Duration | 105 minutes (Part A 45 minutes, Part B 60 minutes) |
| Maximum marks | 400 |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 wrong (25% negative), 0 unattempted |
| FET 2025 timing | 9:00 to 10:45 AM |
For a clubbed group, Part B has an equal number of questions from each course in the group. Questions marked for review are still evaluated. How qualifying marks and ranks work is explained on the NBE FET 2026 result page.
NBE FET 2026 Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFFET 2025 Information Bulletin (latest) (12 January 2026)Official site · nbe.edu.inOpen
- LINKNBEMS Fellowship Entrance Test (FET) official pageOfficial site · natboard.edu.inOpen