MDCN Assessment Examination for Foreign-Trained Doctors: What You Must Know

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) administers the Assessment Examination for foreign-trained medical and dental graduates. If you studied medicine or dentistry outside Nigeria and want to practice here, you must pass this exam. It is not optional. The exam tests your clinical knowledge and skills at the level of a Nigerian medical graduate. It is divided into two parts: a written multiple-choice paper and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The written part covers internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and community medicine. The OSCE tests practical skills with real or simulated patients.

Eligibility requires that your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools and that you hold a valid medical degree. You must apply through the MDCN portal and submit certified copies of your credentials. The application fee is set by the council. Processing takes several weeks. Apply early.

To prepare, study the same materials used by Nigerian medical students. Use the current editions of Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery, and the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Also revise the MDCN Code of Medical Ethics. Practice OSCE stations with a partner. Time each station. Speak clearly and professionally. Passing this exam grants you a provisional license to undergo a one-year internship in an accredited Nigerian teaching hospital. After the internship, you receive full registration. The exam is tough, but with disciplined preparation, many foreign-trained doctors pass at their first attempt.