MDCN Exam
Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Assessment Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The MDCN Assessment Examination is the assessment route administered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the body whose stated mission is "To regulate the practice of Medicine, Dentistry and Alternative Medicine in the most efficient manner that safeguards best healthcare delivery for Nigerians." The exam is relevant to doctors and dental surgeons who must demonstrate fitness before proceeding through the Council's registration and licensing pathways, which the MDCN portal lists as provisional registration, full registration, temporary/limited registration, annual licence, life licence, certificate of good standing and change of name. Candidates access it through the Council's online "application for assessment examination" portal, and outcomes are published as pass lists - the MDCN homepage carries a news item titled "October 2026 assessment examination pass list released."
Because the MDCN publishes no item count, duration, pass mark or fee on the material available here, this guide does not invent them. Preparation should instead be built around the four areas the Council regulates most visibly: registration and licensing rules; the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria and the disciplinary process (complaints, investigation panel, interim suspension, tribunal directions, sanctioned doctors list); the Guidelines on Minimum Standards for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education together with accredited school lists; and CPD and housemanship requirements, including recognised CPD providers and approved housemanship training centres. Read the primary MDCN pages directly, since several lists are dated snapshots (for example September 2026) and are updated over time. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the MDCN.
What you'll study
About MDCN Exam preparation
What exactly is the MDCN Assessment Examination?
It is the assessment route run by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, reachable from the MDCN website's education section through the "application for assessment examination" link on the Council's portal. The Council publishes outcomes as pass lists, such as the October 2026 assessment examination pass list. The public page does not state the exam's format, length or pass mark.
Who should sit the assessment examination?
It is intended for practitioners who must satisfy the Council's assessment route rather than proceed directly through standard registration. Because eligibility depends on your registration category - provisional, full, temporary/limited, or full registration without provisional registration for Nigerians only - confirm your position with the MDCN directly before applying. This page cannot determine individual eligibility.
How many questions are on the paper and how long does it last?
The MDCN material available does not state a question count, duration, or pass mark for the assessment examination. Treat any specific number you see elsewhere with suspicion unless it comes from the Council. Plan your practice sessions around untimed accuracy first, then add your own timed mock conditions once you know the real format.
What topics does the exam cover?
The Council's own site is organised around regulation of practice and registration/licensing, professional discipline and the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria, minimum standards for undergraduate medical and dental education and accreditation, and CPD plus housemanship training. Those four areas are the sensible study frame, since they are what the MDCN publishes and enforces.
Can I retake the examination if I fail?
The MDCN page reviewed here does not publish a retake policy, number of attempts, waiting period, or fee. Do not rely on secondhand claims about resit rules. Check the Council's portal and circulars, or contact the MDCN registrar's office, for the current position before you plan a repeat attempt.
How should I order my study?
Start with registration and licensing categories, because they underpin everything else and are easy marks. Then study the Code of Medical Ethics and the disciplinary pathway from complaint to tribunal. Next, learn the accreditation and minimum-standards framework. Finish with CPD and housemanship rules, including approved centres and recognised CPD providers.
Where do candidates commonly lose marks?
Two patterns dominate. First, confusing registration types - provisional, full, temporary/limited, and full without provisional registration - and what each permits. Second, vague knowledge of the disciplinary process, such as what the investigation panel does versus the tribunal, or when interim suspension applies. Learn the sequence and the correct name of each stage.
Are the MDCN lists of schools, centres and CPD providers current?
The Council labels several lists as snapshots, for example accredited medical schools, accredited dental schools, approved housemanship training centres, and recognised public and private CPD providers "as at September 2026." These are updated periodically, so always open the live MDCN page rather than relying on a copied list, and check the date shown on it.
Is this page official MDCN material?
No. This is independent study content written to help candidates find and understand the Council's published material. It is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and it does not reproduce any commercial question bank. Always verify exam logistics, fees and eligibility on the MDCN website and portal.