Regular Commissioned Officer (PMA 159 Long Course)

About This Job

The Pakistan Army has opened registration for its Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) 159 Long Course, the standing entry route for Regular Commissioned Officers, with the registration window open from 14 September through 23 October 2026. This is a permanent, gazetted commission that leads to training at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul before commissioning as an officer in the Army's Regular cadre, one of the most prestigious and stable career paths in Pakistan's armed forces; the exact intake for this course has not been published, with selection made purely on merit through the Army's standard multi-stage testing process. The opportunity is open nationwide to citizens of Pakistan as well as domicile holders of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and candidates holding dual nationality, a Green Card, Iqama or other residence permit will be required to surrender all nationalities besides Pakistani upon final selection.

Eligibility depends on the candidate's academic qualification. Intermediate (FA/FSc)-qualified candidates must be 17 to 22 years old as on 1 May 2027 with at least 60% marks (55% for candidates domiciled in a list of specified underdeveloped districts across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan), while 2-year graduates and serving Pakistan Navy or Air Force personnel may apply up to age 23, holders of a 4-year degree programme (BS/BA-Hons/BBA/BPA) up to age 24, and serving Army soldiers up to age 25, each against the marks threshold specified for their category; A-Level candidates need an aggregate of 60% marks, with an IBCC equivalence certificate required in some cases. Candidates must be male and unmarried, though married Armed Forces personnel over 20 years of age remain eligible, and must stand at least 5 feet 4 inches tall with weight within the standard Body Mass Index range.

Candidates can register only online at www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk between 14 September and 23 October 2026; repeater candidates, including TCC candidates reapplying for the PMA Long Course, must additionally report at their Army Selection & Recruitment Centre between 12 and 23 October 2026. The registration and examination fee is payable at any NBP GHQ Branch (IBAN PK46NBPA0330004256466227), with the deposit slip required on the day of testing, though the exact fee amount is not listed on the recruitment portal. Preliminary tests, comprising a written English/Urdu essay, medical examination, physical test and an interview, run from 5 October to 15 December 2026, after which successful candidates proceed to the Inter Services Selection Board. Pakistan nationals residing abroad are exempt from preliminary testing but must apply through their nearest Pakistani Embassy or Defence Attache by 26 December 2026. Interested and eligible candidates should complete their online registration well before the 23 October 2026 deadline.

Job Information

Commission / Board

Army

Place of posting

Anywhere in All Pakistan

Domicile

All Pakistan

Age (Male)

17–25 years

Age (Female)

17–25 years

Age note

Age limits vary by qualification, all calculated as on 01 May 2027: 17-22 years for Intermediate-qualified candidates (relaxable by three months either way); 17-23 years for 2-year graduates and serving Pakistan Navy/PAF personnel (relaxable by three months either way); 17-24 years for candidates with a 4-year degree programme (BS/BA-Hons/BBA/BPA), no relaxation; 17-25 years for serving Army soldiers, no relaxation.

Fee note

Fee is payable by bank deposit at NBP GHQ Branch, IBAN PK46NBPA0330004256466227 (title: 'Registration and Examination Fee Personnel Administration Directorate'); exact amount is not listed on the recruitment portal.

Last date

23 October 2026

Qualification Required

• Qualification: Intermediate (FA/FSc) or equivalent with minimum 60% marks (55% for candidates domiciled in specified areas of Balochistan, the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, District Neelum (AJK), District Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Tehsil Balakot of Mansehra, Tharparkar and Tehsil Umerkot in Sindh, and specified areas of Punjab); OR a 2-year graduate degree (BA/BSc) with minimum 60% marks and 50% in FA/FSc; OR a 4-year degree programme (BS/BA-Hons/BBA/BPA) with minimum 60% marks and 50% in FA/FSc; serving Army soldiers require minimum 50% marks in FA/FSc or equivalent. A-Level candidates need an aggregate of 60% marks, with an IBCC equivalence certificate required for candidates who studied abroad or scored below three Cs. Minimum height 5'4" (162.5 cm); weight as per Body Mass Index; candidate must be unmarried (married serving Armed Forces personnel over 20 years of age are eligible).

Test / Selection Process

Written English/Urdu Essay + Medical Examination + Physical Test + Interview, followed by Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB)

How to Apply

1. Register online only at www.joinpakarmy.gov.pk between 14 September and 23 October 2026 (registration open daily, including Saturdays and Sundays).
2. Deposit the registration and examination fee at any NBP GHQ Branch (IBAN: PK46NBPA0330004256466227, titled 'Registration and Examination Fee Personnel Administration Directorate') and bring the deposit slip on the day of the test along with required documents.
3. Report for the Preliminary Test on the exact date and time given on your computerized roll-number slip, issued 5-7 working days after registration; testing runs from 5 October to 15 December 2026 (except Saturdays, Sundays and closed holidays), and covers a Written English/Urdu Essay, Medical Examination, Physical Test, and an Interview by the Selection & Recruitment Officer. Repeater candidates (including TCC candidates applying for PMA Long Course) must additionally report at their Army Selection & Recruitment Centre (AS&RC) between 12 and 23 October 2026.
4. After the preliminary test, download the character certificate form, get it verified by a gazetted officer and your institution's principal, and submit it within 5 working days at your AS&RC along with Form D.
5. Candidates clearing the preliminary tests proceed to the Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB) for final selection. Pakistan nationals residing abroad are exempt from preliminary testing but must apply through their nearest Pakistani Embassy/Defence Attache by 26 December 2026.

Additional Details

Repeater Note

TCC candidates applying for the PMA Long Course are treated as repeaters; a candidate applying for PMA L/C for the first time is treated as fresh even if previously appeared before a Pakistan Navy or PAF ISSB.

Interview Format

Before the interview, each candidate writes a 10-line essay in English and Urdu; interview marks are out of 20, judged on expression and confidence in English/Urdu, knowledge of current affairs, Geography and Pakistan Studies, overall outlook, and extracurricular activities. A candidate scoring below 10 is not issued an ISSB form.

Dual Nationality Note

Selected candidates holding dual nationality, a Green Card, Iqama or other residence permit must surrender all nationalities other than Pakistani upon final selection.

Abroad Applicants Note

Pakistani nationals residing abroad are exempt from preliminary selection but must apply through the nearest Pakistani Embassy/Defence Attache by 26 December 2026, and no travelling allowance is admissible.

Physical Test Standards

1 km run in 8 minutes; Push-ups – qualify; Sit-ups – qualify.

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