Critical Appraisal of Licentiate Examination in English Speaking Developed Countries - USA and UK as against Proposed National Exit Test (NExT) as the Licentiate Examination in India - A Study Protocol

Migration of doctors is inevitable in the context of globalization that has resulted in erosion of the geographical boundaries in a real sense. As such, to assess the eligibility of a foreign medical graduate for the purposes of practicing in a given country, there is a “test” which is necessary and therefore that is the “Licentiate examination” for the registration of foreign medical graduates in any given country. To standardize the quality of medical education and to provide a common level playfield, it is imperative that a single qualifying examination is put into place for all medical graduates independent of passing out from Indian Medical Schools or Foreign Medical Schools, which is attempted through the providence of National Exit Test (NExT). A comparative appraisal of NExT with licentiate examination in vogue in English-speaking countries, namely the USA and UK turns out to be necessary so as to evaluate its “structure” so as to deliver the required predetermined “outcome.”