In brief
- Starting with the second-semester 2026 session, the written test of the specialist exam for physicians, dentists and pharmacists is given with a single set of subjects nationwide, for each specialty.
- The composition of the exam committees and of the national committee that drafts the subjects changes, and subjects and marking schemes are now transmitted to university centres electronically, through a secure channel.
- It concerns resident physicians, dentists and pharmacists taking the specialist exam from the second 2026 session onward.
Published: Official Gazette of Romania (Monitorul Oficial) No. 649 of 6 August 2026
In force from: 6 August 2026
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Research have amended the methodology for the specialist exam for physicians, dentists and pharmacists, introducing a single nationwide set of subjects for the written test, starting with the second-semester 2026 session. Joint Order No. 966/4.592/2026, published in the Official Gazette of Romania No. 649 of 6 August 2026, amends the annex to Order No. 3.393/6.495/2023 and changes both how the subjects are drafted and the composition of the exam and appeal committees in university centres.
The standardisation of training for health professionals continues at entry level too: the new curriculum for the nurse responsible for general care qualification aligns the school hours with the minimum threshold required by European law.
The central novelty is the creation of a National Committee for drafting the written test subjects, made up of residency coordinators from the relevant specialty in every university centre where training takes place. The committee’s chair is chosen by drawing lots on the morning of the exam, and the subjects themselves are drawn from a list of topics three hours before the written test, at the venue provided by the university of medicine and pharmacy.
What it changes in practice
For candidates, the main change is that, regardless of the university centre where they sit the exam, everyone taking the written test in the same specialty receives exactly the same subjects, drawn by lot from the approved syllabus. The written test remains eliminatory, lasts 3 hours, and the minimum passing grade stays 7.00, but now with a guarantee of nationwide uniformity of the subjects.
For university centres, the order introduces stricter security rules: subjects and marking schemes are transmitted exclusively electronically, through a secure channel, from the National Committee to the exam committees, and committee members sign a confidentiality declaration before the written test. Marking must be completed within a maximum of 3 working days, and the marking scheme must be posted at the exam committee’s premises within one hour of the test ending.
What has changed compared with the previous situation
- Single subjects nationwide: previously, each university centre could have its own written-test subjects; now the National Committee drafts a single set of subjects per specialty, valid in every centre.
- A new National Committee: a National Committee for drafting the subjects is created, with a chair chosen by lot on exam day, separate from the local exam and appeals committees.
- Secure electronic transmission: subjects and marking schemes circulate through a secure electronic channel, not through the methods used before, and committee members sign confidentiality declarations.
- Clarified deadlines: marking within a maximum of 3 working days, the marking scheme posted within one hour, and appeal responses communicated within one working day of the filing deadline.
Advantages and disadvantages
What it improves
- Identical subjects for all candidates in the same specialty eliminate differences in difficulty between university centres, a frequent source of complaints in the past.
- Secure electronic transmission and confidentiality declarations reduce the risk of subjects leaking before the exam.
- Clear deadlines for marking and posting the marking scheme shorten the period of uncertainty for candidates after the test.
What remains a problem
- Coordinating a national committee made up of representatives from every university centre, chosen by lot on the very morning of the exam, may add extra logistical pressure.
- The order does not specify what happens in the event of a technical failure of the secure electronic channel right before the written test.
- Setting the exact date and place of the written test remains at the discretion of the Ministry of Health, keeping candidates uncertain until the final lists are posted.
Practical advice
- If you are taking the specialist exam for physicians, dentists or pharmacists in the second-semester 2026 session or later, prepare across the whole approved syllabus for your specialty, not just the sample subjects previously used at your university centre.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time for the written test, as indicated on the Ministry of Health’s website together with the candidate lists.
- You are not allowed to have written materials, phones or other electronic devices with you during the written test; any breach is punished with disqualification from the exam.
- If you appeal your result, the appeals committee’s response is communicated within one working day of the filing deadline, and that response is the final result for that test.
Frequently asked questions
Who does this order concern?
What does “single subjects nationwide” mean?
Who sets the exam subjects?
How long does the written test last and what is the minimum passing grade?
How quickly are appeal results communicated?
Original text of the legal act
The text below is reproduced in Romanian, the official form of publication.
The full text, as published in the Official Gazette of Romania
Official Gazette of Romania no. 649 of 6 August 2026 16 pages PDF, 131 KB
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific situations, consult a licensed attorney or tax advisor.