Ghana Healthcare Licensing Exams 2026
A complete guide to Ghana’s licensing and qualifying examinations for medical doctors, dentists, physician assistants, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, allied health professionals and psychology practitioners. Find the correct regulator, exam structure, eligibility route and official application source.
Choose your regulator
Which Ghana healthcare exam applies to you?
Ghana does not use one universal healthcare licensing examination. The correct pathway depends on your profession, qualification and whether you trained in Ghana or overseas.
Medical Doctors & Dentists
Medical and Dental Council Ghana registration examination: Stage 1 theory followed by Stage 2 OSCE for the general-duty route.
Doctor & dentist pathway →Physician Assistants
Physician assistants follow the Council’s separate licentiate examination and registration pathway.
Physician assistant pathway →Nurses & Midwives
Licensing examinations for nursing, midwifery and nurse-assistant programmes, followed by the applicable registration process.
Nursing & midwifery pathway →Pharmacists & Pharmacy Support
GPPQE for pharmacists, GPTCE for pharmacy technicians and a separate certifying route for medicine counter assistants.
Pharmacy pathway →Allied Health Professionals
Professional licensure examination for regulated allied health disciplines, currently centred on a computer-based theory examination.
Allied health pathway →Psychologists & Related Practitioners
Registration examinations can apply to foreign-trained psychology practitioners and locally trained applicants who do not meet prescribed registration conditions.
Psychology pathway →At a glance
Ghana healthcare exam comparison
Use this table to identify the correct examination family. Always confirm the current application window, fee and venue with the regulator before applying.
| Profession | Regulator | Main exam / route | Current published format | Key standard / outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical doctor / dentist | Medical and Dental Council Ghana | Registration Examination | Stage 1: 200 single-best-answer MCQs; Stage 2: OSCE | Minimum 50% in each stage for general-duty candidates |
| Physician assistant | Medical and Dental Council Ghana | Licentiate Examination | Separate PA examination route; current sitting details must be confirmed with MDCG | Progression toward PA registration |
| Nurse / midwife / nurse assistant | Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana | N&MC Licensing Examination | Programme-specific licensing examination; online examination resources are provided by N&MC | Registration process leading to PIN or AIN where requirements are met |
| Pharmacist | Pharmacy Council Ghana | GPPQE | MCQs + Essay + Oral examination | 60% overall published pass requirement, with component minimums |
| Pharmacy technician | Pharmacy Council Ghana | GPTCE | Technician certifying examination under current Council notice | Part of the technician registration route |
| Allied health professional | Allied Health Professions Council | Professional Licensure Examination | 100 four-option single-best-answer MCQs; current notices use computer-based examination | Published pass mark: 60% |
| Psychologist / therapist / related psychology practitioner | Psychology Council | Registration / Licensure Examination where applicable | Format should be confirmed directly with the Council | Required for specified foreign-trained and other applicants |
| Postgraduate medical specialist | Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons | Primary, Membership and Fellowship examinations | Faculty- and level-specific postgraduate assessments | Specialist training/qualification; not the initial professional licence |
Doctors and dentists
Medical and Dental Council Ghana Registration Examination
The Medical and Dental Council Ghana (MDCG) registration examination covers eligible locally trained and foreign-trained medical and dental practitioners. The April 2025 guideline sets out separate rules for general-duty practitioners, specialists and special candidates.
Stage 1 — Theory examination
- 200 single-best-answer MCQs in total.
- Paper 1: 100 questions covering pure/applied basic sciences and paraclinical sciences.
- Paper 2: 100 questions covering clinical sciences.
- Each paper is administered over 2 hours, with the current guideline describing a 30-minute break between sessions.
- Each question has 4 answer options.
- A candidate must obtain an average of 50% or more in Stage 1 to progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2 — OSCE
Stage 2 is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination. For medicine, the clinical examination tests history taking, examination, data interpretation, procedures, counselling/patient education and community-health viva/oral skills across major disciplines. Dentistry uses dental clinical stations and image/data interpretation relevant to the dental curriculum.
- The current guideline describes both unmanned/image-based and manned/active OSCE stations.
- Medical OSCE content includes Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Community Health.
- Dental OSCE content includes areas such as Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Periodontics and Conservative Dentistry, with other dental disciplines represented in image-based assessment.
- The minimum published Stage 2 pass standard is 50%.
Foreign-trained doctors and dentists
The April 2025 guideline requires foreign-trained candidates to undertake a mandatory clinical rotation of at least 6 months before their first examination attempt. A comprehensive official report from the supervising specialist is required before examination registration.
Attempts and examination periods
- The guideline states a maximum of 5 attempts at Stage 1 or Stage 2.
- Normally, MDCG holds three examination periods each year: February/March, June/July and October/November.
- Exact dates can be varied by the Council and are published in official notices.
Specialist registration examination
Specialist registration is currently described as an oral examination by specialists in the candidate’s field. The published minimum score for specialist examinations is 60%.
Physician assistants
MDCG Physician Assistant Licentiate Examination
Physician assistants are also regulated by the Medical and Dental Council Ghana. The Council operates a separate licentiate examination and registration pathway for physician assistants.
- Applicants should hold a qualification recognised for the relevant physician-assistant category.
- The MDCG practitioners portal includes a dedicated Physician Assistant category.
- Candidates should prepare qualification evidence, identity documents, transcript, professional-status documents and any required internship or attachment evidence.
- Foreign-language documents should be accompanied by the required English translation.
Nurses, midwives and nurse assistants
Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana Licensing Examination
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana (N&MC) conducts licensing examinations for nurse assistants, nurses and midwives. The applicable examination depends on the candidate’s programme.
Programmes covered by N&MC
Eligibility for the licensing examination
- Completion of the required theoretical instruction and clinical experience for the programme.
- Passing the examination conducted by the training college/institution.
- Satisfactory clinical performance.
- Payment of the prescribed examination fee and completion of the Council’s application process.
Examination periods
N&MC states that licensing examinations for different programmes are held during February/March, June/July, August and November/December. Not every programme necessarily sits in every window.
Resits
The Council’s examination page states that candidates who fail may rewrite until they pass; it does not state a numerical limit on resits.
What happens after passing?
Passing the examination is followed by the applicable registration process. N&MC’s current licensing information describes registration at a regional office, issuance of a logbook and provisional licence/code for national service, followed by completion of rotation/national service before final PIN/certificate processing. Nurse assistants ultimately use an AIN, while nurses and midwives use a PIN.
Foreign-trained nurses and midwives
Foreign-trained applicants seeking permanent practice in Ghana must satisfy credential verification requirements and pass the Council’s licensing examination. N&MC’s foreign-trained guidance describes a written examination and, after success, a 3-month practical orientation in an approved hospital before final registration.
Pharmacists and pharmacy support workforce
Pharmacy Council Ghana Examinations
GPPQE — Ghana Pharmacy Professional Qualifying Examination
The GPPQE is a mandatory requirement for registration as a pharmacist in Ghana. The current Pharmacy Council page lists eligible approved qualifications including B.Pharm, M.Pharm and PharmD.
GPPQE eligibility highlights
- A pharmacy degree or equivalent that qualifies the applicant for registration in the country where it was obtained.
- Required Pharmacy Council experiential/internship training.
- Satisfactory preceptor assessment evidence.
- Additional post-qualification practice requirements for specified foreign-based practising pharmacists.
GPPQE examination format
- Part I — MCQs: 100 questions total.
- Section A: 60 questions in Pharmacy Practice, including Clinical Pharmacy.
- Section B: 40 questions in Health Policies, Ethics, Laws and Regulations, including Good Manufacturing Practices.
- Part II — Essay: two sections; the current page states 3 questions in each section, answer 2 from each.
- Part III — Oral examination.
GPPQE weighting and pass requirement
- MCQs: 50% of the final grade.
- Essay: 30%.
- Oral: 20%.
- The current Pharmacy Council page states a minimum 60% total to qualify, together with minimum component requirements.
How often is GPPQE held?
The Council describes the examination as being conducted twice each year, typically in August and December, but also states that dates are subject to revision. Candidates should rely on the current examination notice rather than assuming a fixed month.
GPTCE — Pharmacy Technician Certifying Examination
Pharmacy technicians follow the separate GPTCE route. Eligibility and documentary requirements should be checked on the current Council page for the relevant sitting.
Medicine Counter Assistants
Pharmacy Council Ghana also provides a separate certifying examination route for Medicine Counter Assistants. Candidates should use the current Council notice because public examination details can change.
Allied health professions
AHPC Ghana Professional Licensure Examination
The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) regulates allied health training and practice in Ghana and conducts licensure examinations for regulated allied health professions.
Current published examination structure
- Theory: 100 multiple-choice questions.
- Question style: single best answer from 4 options.
- Published pass mark: 60%, subject to the Governing Board’s authority.
- The current policy describes a practical/OSCE-type assessment based on the logbook, with implementation stated for 2027.
- Current AHPC notices identify the licensure examination as a Computer-Based Examination (CBE).
Foreign-trained allied health professionals
The current AHPC policy requires foreign-trained professionals to undergo a Council interview before registering for the licensure examination. An internship period may then be prescribed following expert review.
Locally trained allied health professionals
The policy describes internship as mandatory for newly graduated locally trained professionals after an accredited allied health degree or diploma, alongside the Council’s supervised clinical-training requirements.
Examples of professions appearing in AHPC examination schedules
Exam timing
The examination policy describes two normal annual periods, while current 2026 notices also show supplementary computer-based examination activity. The practical rule is simple: use the latest AHPC examination announcement for the actual sitting date and centre.
Previously missing from the page
Psychology Council Registration and Licensure Examination
Ghana’s Psychology Council is also one of the statutory health-profession regulatory bodies under the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857). It regulates psychology and related applied-practice categories.
Who may need an examination?
- Foreign-trained psychologists, therapists and paraprofessionals are required to take a registration examination as part of the licensure process.
- The Council also has authority to examine locally trained practitioners who do not meet prescribed registration conditions.
- Registration categories include professionals, psychologist assistants, paraprofessionals and lay practitioners, depending on qualification and scope.
Licensure process
The Council’s published process shows application, submission of required documents, payment, verification and communication of the examination date, followed by either registration after a pass or a resit process after an unsuccessful attempt.
International applicants
Foreign-trained healthcare professionals: what changes?
Overseas qualifications do not automatically produce the same route across professions. Credential verification, local clinical exposure and regulator-specific examinations may be required.
Doctors & Dentists
MDCG requires the applicable qualification evidence and a minimum 6-month clinical rotation before the first examination attempt for foreign-trained candidates under the current guideline.
Nurses & Midwives
Foreign-trained applicants must satisfy N&MC document/verification requirements, pass the licensing examination and complete the prescribed practical orientation process.
Pharmacists
Foreign-trained pharmacy graduates must meet the GPPQE eligibility rules, including the applicable experiential-training and practice requirements.
Allied Health
AHPC requires a pre-examination interview for foreign-trained professionals and may prescribe an internship period following expert review.
Psychology Practitioners
Foreign-trained psychologists, therapists and paraprofessionals are required to take a Psychology Council registration examination as part of the licensure process.
Translation & Good Standing
Regulators may require certified English translations of non-English documents, professional registration verification, good-standing evidence and identity documents.
Application preparation
Documents you should prepare early
Exact requirements differ by regulator, but these categories repeatedly appear across Ghanaian professional-registration pathways.
Qualification documents
Degree, diploma or certificate plus detailed academic transcript from the awarding institution.
Identity documents
Passport, Ghana Card where applicable, photographs and evidence supporting any legal name change.
Professional status
Current/previous licence, verification of registration and certificate of good standing where required.
Clinical training
Housemanship, internship, clinical rotation, national service, logbook or experiential-training evidence.
Foreign-language documents
Certified English translation together with the original-language document when required by the regulator.
Application evidence
Completed portal application, payment evidence and any regulator-specific forms or admission letter.
Licensing roadmap
Five steps from qualification to Ghana registration
Identify the regulator
Match your profession to MDCG, N&MC, Pharmacy Council, AHPC or Psychology Council.
Verify eligibility
Confirm that your qualification, institution and professional status meet the regulator’s requirements.
Complete prerequisites
Finish required internship, clinical rotation, national service, interview or experiential training.
Apply and sit the exam
Use the official portal or notice, submit documents, pay the current fee and follow admission instructions.
Complete registration
Passing the examination may still be followed by orientation, rotation, documentation and licensing steps.
Specialist training
Postgraduate medical examinations in Ghana
These examinations are important for specialist training but should not be confused with the initial MDCG professional registration examination.
Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons
GCPS runs postgraduate pathways including Primary, Membership and Fellowship examinations. Eligibility for Membership training generally includes the College’s specified house-officer, medical-officer and MDCG registration requirements, subject to specialty exceptions.
The College publishes application and examination timelines for Primary, Membership and Fellowship examinations.
Official GCPS requirements →West African postgraduate colleges
Eligible doctors may also pursue regional postgraduate pathways through the West African College of Physicians or West African College of Surgeons. Recognition for a specific Ghana specialist-registration category should be confirmed with MDCG.
Exam preparation
How to prepare for Ghana healthcare licensing exams
For MCQ / computer-based exams
- Start with the latest official regulator blueprint or examination notice.
- Use timed single-best-answer questions rather than passive reading alone.
- Track weak topics and repeat missed concepts.
- Include ethics, patient safety, infection prevention and scope-of-practice questions.
- Complete full-length mocks under realistic timing before the examination.
For OSCE / oral / practical exams
- Practise structured history, examination and management frameworks.
- Rehearse communication, consent, counselling and escalation of care.
- Practise interpreting investigations, images, prescriptions and clinical data aloud.
- Use simulated stations with time limits and feedback.
- Review Ghana-specific professional ethics and regulator expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Ghana healthcare licensing exams FAQ
Is there one healthcare licensing examination for every profession in Ghana?
No. The examination and licensing route depends on the profession. Major regulators include MDCG, N&MC, Pharmacy Council Ghana, AHPC and the Psychology Council.
What is the MDCG medical and dental registration exam format?
The current general-duty pathway has Stage 1 theory with 200 single-best-answer MCQs and Stage 2 clinical assessment using an OSCE format. The published minimum is 50% in each stage.
Do foreign-trained doctors need a clinical rotation in Ghana?
Yes. The April 2025 MDCG guideline requires foreign-trained candidates to complete a mandatory clinical rotation of at least six months before their first examination attempt and submit the required official report.
How many times can I attempt the MDCG examination?
The current MDCG guideline states a maximum of five attempts at Stage 1 or Stage 2.
Can N&MC Ghana candidates resit the licensing exam?
Yes. N&MC’s examination page states that candidates who fail may rewrite until they pass and does not publish a numerical resit limit on that page.
What is the GPPQE format?
Pharmacy Council Ghana currently describes three parts: MCQs, essay and oral examination. The MCQ component contains 100 questions, divided between Pharmacy Practice/Clinical Pharmacy and Health Policies, Ethics, Laws and Regulations including GMP.
What is the AHPC Ghana licensure exam pass mark?
The current AHPC examination policy publishes a 60% pass mark, subject to the Governing Board’s authority.
Is the AHPC examination computer based?
Current AHPC examination notices refer to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE). Candidates should check the latest sitting notice for their profession and examination centre.
Do foreign-trained psychologists take an examination in Ghana?
The Psychology Council states that foreign-trained psychologists, therapists and paraprofessionals are required to take a registration examination as part of the licensure process.
Does passing a Ghana licensing examination guarantee employment?
No. Passing an examination is part of the professional registration/licensing process. Recruitment, work authorisation and employer requirements are separate.
Where should I confirm Ghana healthcare exam fees and dates?
Always use the responsible regulator’s current official notice, application portal or direct correspondence. Fees, application windows, venues and examination dates can change.
Prepare with the correct exam pathway first
Before buying a question bank or starting a study plan, identify the regulator, confirm your eligibility and use the current official blueprint. Then build your revision around the actual assessment format.
Official Ghana sources used for this guide
- Medical and Dental Council Ghana
- MDCG Registration Examination Guideline — April 2025
- Nursing and Midwifery Council — Examination & Licensing
- Pharmacy Council Ghana — GPPQE
- Pharmacy Council Ghana — GPTCE
- Allied Health Professions Council — Licensure Examination
- AHPC Examination Policy
- Psychology Council Ghana
- Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons
Independent educational guide: ExamCure is not affiliated with the Medical and Dental Council Ghana, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana, Pharmacy Council Ghana, Allied Health Professions Council, Psychology Council or Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons. Regulatory requirements can change. Always use the latest official regulator notice for eligibility, dates, fees, venues and final registration decisions.