PMA Long Course Registration 2026 – Eligibility, Dates
Pakistan Army Regular Commissioned Officers: Apply Online by October 23, 2026
Applications are open for the PMA Long Course through the Pakistan Army’s Regular Commissioned Officers entry. Online registration runs from September 14 to October 23, 2026, and preliminary tests have been scheduled from October 5 to December 15, 2026. This guide explains who can apply, what the preliminary selection involves, which documents to prepare, and what to check before you register.
PMA Long Course Overview
The Regular Commissioned Officers entry is open to male candidates who are Pakistani citizens or domicile holders of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Candidates with dual nationality, a Green Card, Iqama or a residence permit must give up any nationality other than Pakistani if finally selected. Training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) lasts 2 years.
The advertisement does not mention the number of vacancies, the course number or the salary, so this article does not state them.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry | Regular Commissioned Officers (PMA Long Course) |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital status | Unmarried (married serving armed forces personnel over 20 years of age are eligible) |
| Minimum height | 5’4″ (162.5 cm) |
| Weight | As per Body Mass Index (no chart is given in the advertisement) |
| Registration | September 14 to October 23, 2026 (online only, including Saturday and Sunday) |
| Preliminary tests | October 5 to December 15, 2026 (except Saturday, Sunday and closed holidays) |
PMA Long Course Age Limit
Age is counted as on May 1, 2027.
| Category | Age limit | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| Intermediate or equivalent | 17-22 years | 3 months on both limits |
| 2-year graduates, serving Pakistan Navy/PAF personnel | 17-23 years | 3 months on both limits |
| 4-year graduates (BS, BA-Hons, BBA, BPA) | 17-24 years | None |
| Serving Army soldiers | 17-25 years | None |
Educational Qualification and Marks
- FA/FSc or equivalent: minimum 60% marks.
- Graduates: candidates with 60% in BA/BSc, BA/BSc (Hons), BBA or BPA, and 50% in FA/FSc, are eligible for the PMA Long Course.
- Specified areas: 55% in FA/FSc for domicile holders who have actually studied in the same areas. These include Balochistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, District Neelum (AJK), Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Tehsil Balakot (Kaghan, Naran) in Mansehra, Tharparkar and Tehsil Umerkot in Sindh, District Rajanpur, and parts of the Cholistan Desert (Drawar Fort, Salamsar, Mojgarh, Dingarh) in Punjab.
- Serving Army soldiers: 50% or above in FA/FSc or equivalent.
- A-Level: 60% aggregate, with IBCC equivalence. An IBCC equivalence certificate is mandatory if you passed A-Level abroad, or in Pakistan with fewer than three Cs.
- Duplicate or revised certificates: if you hold a duplicate or revised mark sheet, or have not yet been issued a certificate (Matric, Intermediate, BA/BSc), you need a verification certificate signed by the board’s or university’s secretary or controller of examinations.
How to Apply for the PMA Long Course
- Register on www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk. Registration is online only.
- Wait for your computerized roll number slip. The advertisement says this normally takes 5 to 7 working days.
- Pay the registration and examination fee at the NBP GHQ Branch. The source gives the title as “Registration and Examination Fee Personnel Administration Directorate” and the IBAN as PK46NBPA0330004256466227. The fee amount is not stated, so confirm it and the IBAN on the official website before paying.
- Report on the exact date and time printed on your slip. Dates will not be changed once given.
- Bring your original documents and the fee deposit proof on test day.
Registration and tests are computer-based, so basic computer skills are needed.
Fresh and repeater candidates. Anyone applying for the PMA Long Course for the first time is a fresh candidate, even if they appeared before the Pakistan Navy or PAF ISSB. TCC candidates applying for the PMA Long Course are treated as repeaters. Repeater candidates must report to their Army Selection and Recruitment Centre (AS&RC) from October 12 to 23, 2026.
Preliminary Selection and Physical Test
The preliminary selection is module-based and has four parts:
- Written/intelligence test, including an English and an Urdu essay
- Medical examination
- Physical test
- Interview by a board headed by the Selection and Recruitment Officer (S&RO)
Physical test: a 1 km run in 8 minutes, while push-ups and sit-ups are qualifying events (no number is specified).
Interview: candidates who clear the written, medical and physical tests are interviewed by the S&RO and a psychologist. Before the interview, each candidate writes a 10-line essay in English and Urdu. The interview is marked out of 20, and below 10 is a fail, meaning no ISSB form is issued. Panels look at expression and confidence in English and Urdu, current affairs, geography and Pakistan Studies, overall outlook, and sports and hobbies. Interviews are recorded on CCTV.
After a successful preliminary test you receive Form “D”. It must be submitted with a character certificate verified by a gazetted officer and your principal, within 5 working days at your AS&RC. The S&RO signs Form “D” in your presence.
Documents Required
- Original certificate or detailed marks sheet of Matric, FA/FSc or equivalent
- Computerized CNIC (18 and above), or computerized Form “B” with a parent’s CNIC (under 18). Old CNIC and Form “B” are not accepted.
- One set of attested photocopies
- 3 coloured passport-size photographs, attested front and back by the principal or a Class-1 gazetted officer
- Repeaters: the original and one photocopy of the ISSB “Not Recommended” letter
- Fee deposit proof
Ineligibility Conditions
You cannot apply if you fall under any of the following:
- Rejected twice by ISSB, or tested within 120 days of a previous ISSB appearance (unless the competent authority grants a waiver)
- Failed the initial intelligence/academic tests three times
- Dismissed, removed or debarred from government service, including the armed forces
- Convicted of a heinous offence
- Declared permanently unfit by the Appeal Medical Board, or medically unfit at an armed forces hospital without AMB clearance
- Declared unfit due to Hepatitis B or C (no appeal to the AMB is allowed)
- Withdrawn, discharged or resigned from an armed forces academy or training institution, or withdrawn from a bonded institution on disciplinary grounds
- Positive drug test
- Forgery, tampering or concealment in academic certificates (permanent ineligibility for all armed forces commissions)
The advertisement also says ISSB coaching harms selection chances, and candidates found to have trained at a private coaching centre are considered ineligible for all types of commission.
Pakistanis Living Abroad
Eligible candidates abroad are exempt from the preliminary selection, but Defence Attachés assess their suitability. They should collect application forms from the Pakistani Embassy and submit them with documents by December 26, 2026, including a Pakistani postal address. No travelling allowance is admissible.
What Happens After the Preliminary Test
The Personnel Administration Directorate nominates candidates for ISSB on merit. ISSB-recommended candidates have a detailed medical at a nearby Combined Military Hospital, and final selection is made at GHQ. Selected candidates beyond the required induction may be considered for the next PMA Long Course entry, subject to eligibility and merit.
Final Reminder
Check your age, marks and documents against the criteria above before registering, and complete registration before October 23, 2026. Apply only through www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk, and confirm fee details on the official website. Prepare for the run, push-ups, sit-ups, essays and interview, and if you have already applied, keep your roll number slip and documents ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can married candidates apply for the PMA Long Course?
Only unmarried candidates, except married serving armed forces personnel over 20 years of age.
What is the minimum height? 5’4″ (162.5 cm).
What is the last date to register? October 23, 2026.
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