Key Takeaways
- Registration for PMA Long Course 159 opens on September 14, 2026.
- Candidates must meet specific age and educational requirements.
- Preliminary tests will commence on October 5, 2026.
The Pakistan Army has initiated the registration process for PMA Long Course 159, aimed at recruiting commissioned officers. Applications are open from September 14 to October 23, 2026, providing candidates ample time to prepare and submit their applications.
Interested individuals can register either through the Pakistan Army’s official website or by visiting their nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre. The course is designed for candidates with varying educational backgrounds, including those with Intermediate or equivalent qualifications, two-year graduates, and four-year graduates.
For those with Intermediate or equivalent qualifications, the age limit is between 17 and 22 years, with a three-month relaxation at both ends. Two-year graduates and serving Pakistan Navy or Pakistan Air Force personnel must be between 17 and 23 years, also with a three-month relaxation. Four-year graduates must be between 17 and 24 years, with no age relaxation allowed. Serving Army personnel must be between 17 and 25 years, again with no age relaxation.
Educational qualifications are also crucial, with candidates needing at least 60% marks in FA, FSc, or an equivalent qualification. Those with at least 60% marks in BA, BSc, BA/BSc Honours, BBA, or BPA can apply with 50% marks in FA/FSc. Serving Army soldiers need at least 50% marks in FA/FSc or an equivalent qualification.
Candidates from specified areas can apply with 55% marks in FA/FSc, provided they hold the relevant domicile and have studied in the same area. These areas include Balochistan, FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan, Neelum district in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir and Balakot tehsil, including Kaghan and Naran, in Mansehra district, Tharparkar and Umerkot tehsil in Sindh, along with Rajanpur district and the listed Cholistan areas of Drawar Fort, Salamsar, Mojgarh, and Dingarh in Punjab.
A-Level candidates need an IBCC equivalence showing at least 60% aggregate marks. The course instructions specifically require an equivalence certificate from candidates who completed A-Level or equivalent examinations abroad, or passed in Pakistan with results below three Cs. Candidates awaiting the issuance of certificates, or holding duplicate or revised Matric, Intermediate, BA, or BSc documents, must obtain a verification certificate. The relevant board or university’s secretary or controller of examinations must sign it.
The course is open to male Pakistani citizens and domicile holders of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Applicants must be unmarried. However, married serving armed forces personnel over 20 years of age can apply.
Preliminary tests will begin on October 5, 2026, and continue until December 15, 2026. Repeater candidates will have an additional opportunity to take the tests from October 12 to 23, 2026. The training period for the course is two years, with the final date for calculating age set for May 1, 2027.
The Pakistan Army is committed to ensuring a fair and transparent recruitment process, with clear guidelines for age, education, and other eligibility criteria. Candidates are encouraged to review the official advertisement and the Army’s recruitment portal for detailed information.
