On this page 14 sections
- Lady Cadet Course 2026 at a glance
- What is the Lady Cadet Course in Pakistan
- Lady Cadet Course 2026 rounds and current status in Pakistan
- Lady Cadet Course eligibility in Pakistan
- Corps and subjects
- Lady Cadet Course selection process in Pakistan
- Is the ISSB the same for lady cadets?
- Written test and syllabus
- Documents required
- Training at PMA Kakul
- Lady Cadet Course pay in Pakistan
- LCC, AFNS and DSSC compared
- Mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
Lady Cadet Course 2026 at a glance#
The Lady Cadet Course in Pakistan is closed for registration as of 10 November 2026. Two rounds ran in 2026, and the next round, LCC-30, is expected to be announced on 22 December 2026.
The Lady Cadet Course (LCC) is the female induction for Direct Short Service Commission in the Pakistan Army. Unmarried women with 16 years of education train for six months at PMA Kakul and are commissioned as Captain.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Course | Lady Cadet Course (LCC), female DSSC induction |
| Rank on commission | Captain |
| Qualification | 16 years of education (BS, BE, MA, MSc or MS) in the announced corps subjects |
| Minimum marks | CGPA 2.5 out of 4, or 62.5% marks |
| Age | Up to 28 years, as on the round’s cut-off date |
| Height | Minimum 5 feet (152.4 cm) |
| Marital status | Unmarried only |
| Training | 6 months at PMA Kakul, Abbottabad |
| Service bond | 7 years |
| Status, 10 November 2026 | Closed; LCC-30 expected 22 December 2026 |
The join Pak Army guide lists the Army entry routes, including the Lady Cadet Course for women. This guide covers the LCC in full: the 2026 rounds, eligibility, the corps and subjects, the tests and ISSB, training and pay.
What is the Lady Cadet Course in Pakistan#
The Lady Cadet Course is the female induction for Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) in the Pakistan Army. It is designed for women who have completed 16 years of education in professional fields.
LCC is for women only. Only unmarried female citizens of Pakistan are eligible, including domicile holders of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
LCC leads to a commission as Captain. On successful completion of six months of training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad, a lady cadet is commissioned as Captain and posted to her corps.
LCC is announced twice a year. The 2026 pattern is two courses: one in the December to January window and one in the June to July window.
LCC is a Short Service Commission with a 7-year service bond. Finally selected candidates sign a bond to serve the Army for a minimum period of 7 years, and the bond applies from the successful completion of basic training at PMA Kakul.
A Captain is a gazetted officer. The commission carries the gazetted-officer status that starts at BPS-16 in the civil table, and the rank-to-BPS equivalence for Captain is addressed in the pay section of this guide.
Lady Cadet Course 2026 rounds and current status in Pakistan#
Registration for the Lady Cadet Course is closed as of 10 November 2026. Two rounds ran in 2026, and the next round is expected in December 2026.
LCC-28, January 2026 round
LCC-28 is the January 2026 round, and it is closed. Registration ran from 22 December 2025 to 20 January 2026, and the preliminary tests ran from 26 January to 6 February 2026.
The advertisement was published in the Daily Jang. The age limit was up to 28 years as on 1 May 2026.
LCC-29, June 2026 round
LCC-29 is the June 2026 round, and it is closed. Registration ran from 19 June to 12 July 2026, and the initial tests ran from 13 to 21 July 2026.
The age limit was 28 years as on 1 November 2026.
LCC-30, next round
LCC-30 is the next round, and it is expected, not announced. The next round is expected to be announced on 22 December 2026, with registration expected to remain open till 20 January 2027 and initial tests expected in January to February 2027.
These dates are an expectation based on the official pattern, not an announced advertisement. The age for LCC-30 is expected to be calculated as on 1 December 2026.
No LCC round is open as of 10 November 2026. The next opportunity is the expected LCC-30 announcement in December 2026, and the reader is directed to joinpakarmy.gov.pk for the exact dates when the advertisement appears.
Lady Cadet Course eligibility in Pakistan#
Eligibility for the Lady Cadet Course has six parts: gender, marital status, nationality, age, qualification and height. Each part is set out below.
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female only |
| Marital status | Unmarried only |
| Nationality | Female citizen of Pakistan, including AJK and GB domicile holders |
| Age | Up to 28 years, as on the round’s cut-off date |
| Qualification | 16 years of education (BS, BE, MA, MSc or MS) in the announced corps subjects |
| Minimum marks | CGPA 2.5 out of 4, or 62.5% marks; no 3rd division; only one 2nd division allowed |
| Height | Minimum 5 feet (152.4 cm); weight as per BMI; vision as per PAO 11/82 |
Can I join the Lady Cadet Course after FSc?
No. A candidate cannot join the Lady Cadet Course after FSc. LCC needs 16 years of education (a 4-year BS, BE, MA, MSc or MS degree) in the announced corps subjects, and an FSc holder has 12 years of education.
An FSc holder has two routes instead. Complete a 4-year BS or BE degree in a relevant field and then apply for LCC, or apply for AFNS BSc Nursing, which takes FSc Pre-Medical with 50% marks and commissions as Lieutenant after 4 years of training. The AFNS route is the direct Army route for a woman after FSc.
The AFNS guide explains the two nursing routes in full, including the BSc Nursing route for FSc Pre-Medical holders.
The PMA Long Course is not an alternative for women. It is the male Intermediate entry (FA/FSc 60%, age 17 to 22, 2 years at PMA Kakul, Second Lieutenant).
Qualification and marks
The minimum qualification is 16 years of education (BS, BE, MA, MSc or MS, or an equivalent 4-year degree) in the relevant field, from an HEC or PEC-recognised university, as a regular student.
Candidates who have not completed a 4-year degree in the specified disciplines are ineligible, and private candidates are not eligible. Distance-learning candidates are not eligible.
The minimum marks are CGPA 2.5 out of 4.0 in the semester system, or 62.5% marks in the annual system. No 3rd division or Grade D is allowed in the entire academic career, and only one 2nd division or Grade C is allowed throughout the academic record.
Candidates with an MPhil or MS degree in the relevant field are given preference. Degrees must be verified by HEC/PEC before submission.
Age, height and nationality
The age limit is up to 28 years, counted as on the date stated in the advertisement for that round. LCC-28 age was as on 1 May 2026, LCC-29 age was as on 1 November 2026, and LCC-30 age is expected as on 1 December 2026.
The advertisements state only the upper limit. No lower age limit appears in the advert text. The live join Pak Army guide shows the LCC band as 17 to 28 in its entry-routes table.
The minimum height is 5 feet (152.4 cm). Weight is as per Body Mass Index (BMI), and vision is as per Pakistan Army Order 11/82.
The candidate must be a female citizen of Pakistan, including domicile holders of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. On final selection, candidates with dual nationality surrender nationalities other than Pakistani.
Married women cannot apply for LCC. Married women are directed to the AFNS trained-nurse route if they meet its criteria.
Corps and subjects#
The corps and the subjects announced depend on the Army’s requirements for that batch. The list below is the LCC-28 list, from the LCC-28 advertisement.
| Corps | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Corps of Engineers | BE in Geo-Informatics Engineering |
| Corps of Signals | BE in Electrical (Telecom), preferably MSEE Telecom |
| Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) | BE in Bio-Medical Engineering |
| Aviation Fleet Management (AFM, EME) | BE in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering; BE in Avionic or Electrical Engineering |
| Corps of Ordnance | BE or BS in Textile Engineering |
| Army Education Corps (AEC) | MA or BS in English (16 years); MSc or BS in Mathematics (16 years) |
| Corps of Signals / Corps of EME / ICTO | BE or BS in Software Engineering, preferably MS in Computer Science; BE in Information Security or Cyber Security, preferably MS in Information Security |
Categories change with every course. The LCC-30 list will be confirmed in its own advertisement. The LCC-28 list below is the example to follow.
No verified LCC-29 category list is available. The list sometimes shown for LCC-29 comes from a recycled LCC-23 template, so this guide does not treat it as the verified LCC-29 list.
Lady Cadet Course selection process in Pakistan#
Selection for the Lady Cadet Course runs in eight stages, in order. The stages are online registration, initial tests, initial medical, physical test, initial interview, ISSB, final medical, and the GHQ Selection Board interview.
- Online registration: register at joinpakarmy.gov.pk, or report at the nearest Army Selection and Recruitment Centre (AS&RC) for registration and allotment of a roll number. The date and time of the test are intimated on the internet, and the candidate reports on the exact date and time given on the computerised roll number slip. The date once given is not changed.
- Initial tests at the AS&RC: written and intelligence tests (verbal intelligence, non-verbal intelligence, and an academic test of MCQs from the candidate’s own degree subject), held on computers. The candidate must have a working knowledge of computers, because registration and tests are conducted on computers.
- Initial medical test at the AS&RC: the candidate undergoes an initial medical test at the centre.
- Physical test: female candidates qualify by running 1.6 km in 14 minutes. The minimum height of 5 feet is checked here.
- Initial interview at the AS&RC: medically fit candidates give a brief panel interview at the centre, assessing confidence and suitability. Candidates who pass receive the ISSB form.
- ISSB tests: shortlisted candidates receive intimation for ISSB tests through the website and through call-up letters. The ISSB runs 4 to 5 days at Kohat, Gujranwala, Malir or Quetta.
- Final medical at a CMH: a detailed medical examination of ISSB-recommended candidates is carried out at a nearby Combined Military Hospital.
- Final interview and selection: ISSB-recommended candidates are called for interview by the General Headquarters (GHQ) Selection Board at Rawalpindi. Final selection is made at GHQ on the basis of the candidate’s overall performance, and a final merit list is prepared after ISSB and medical clearance.
AS&RCs are at Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Gilgit, Hyderabad, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Khuzdar, Pano Aqil and D.I. Khan.
The army initial test guide explains the initial-test stage in full, including the verbal and non-verbal intelligence tests.
Is the ISSB the same for lady cadets?#
Yes. The ISSB is the same board and the same process for lady cadets as for male candidates. The difference is in the physical tasks, which are slightly less demanding for women, while the leadership and psychological standards are the same.
ISSB is compulsory for LCC. Only candidates who clear the initial tests at the AS&RC are called for ISSB.
The ISSB runs 4 to 5 days. The ISSB process runs over 4 days: Day 1 arrival, documents and chest numbers; Day 2 intelligence tests, screening and psychology tests; Day 3 indoor tasks, outdoor group tasks and interviews.
A 5-day structure is also described. Day 1 is reporting and documents verification. Day 2 is screening (verbal and non-verbal MCQs, Mechanical Aptitude Test) and psychological tests (Word Association Test, picture and pointer story writing, incomplete sentences in Urdu and English).
Day 3 is GTO tasks phase I (group discussion, lecturette, group planning exercise indoors; progressive group task and half group task outdoors) with the initial GTO interview. Day 4 is GTO tasks phase II (individual obstacles, command task, final group task) with Deputy President interviews.
Day 5 is the final interview and departure, with re-interviews for specific candidates. The ISSB screening includes a Mechanical Aptitude Test (MAT) alongside the verbal and non-verbal MCQs.
ISSB attempts are limited to a maximum of 2 attempts. A candidate rejected twice by ISSB is ineligible. A candidate who appeared for ISSB within four months (120 days) of a previous appearance is ineligible for that round.
Written test and syllabus#
The initial test has three parts: verbal intelligence, non-verbal intelligence, and an academic test. The academic test is MCQs from the candidate’s own degree or subject, for example Computer Science questions for a Computer Science graduate.
No official MCQ count is published, and the counts differ. One set gives verbal 88 MCQs in 30 minutes, non-verbal 68 MCQs in 30 minutes and academic 50 MCQs in 30 minutes; another gives verbal intelligence 80 to 90 MCQs, non-verbal intelligence 80 to 90 MCQs and academic test 50 MCQs.
Other counts in circulation are intelligence tests of 75 questions in 30 minutes, and an intelligence test of 150 MCQs in 60 minutes. The test has three parts, and no fixed marks or duration are published.
No official LCC syllabus document is published. The test has the three parts above and a subject-based academic test, and no fixed marks or duration are published.
Documents required#
The candidate brings originals plus attested photocopies to the Army Selection and Recruitment Centre. The documents are:
- Original certificates: original educational certificates and detailed mark sheets, with two attested photocopies of each degree or diploma.
- NOC: an NOC from the department, for candidates serving in government institutions.
- Domicile: an attested photocopy of domicile.
- CNIC: photocopies of the computerised CNIC (the old National Identity Card is not accepted).
- Photographs: six recent coloured photographs, attested on the front and back.
- Verified degrees: degrees duly verified by HEC/PEC.
- Endorsement Application Forms: with all information endorsed in the respective paragraphs and columns.
- Postal order: a crossed postal order of Rs 100 in favour of the Director General Personnel Administration (DGPA), General Headquarters (GHQ) Rawalpindi.
The Rs 100 postal order is the fee stated in the LCC-28 advertisement.
The full documents list for government jobs is in the documents required for government jobs guide.
Training at PMA Kakul#
Training is 6 months at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad. The training covers physical training, military discipline, firing and leadership development.
On successful completion, the lady cadet is commissioned as Captain and posted to her corps.
The advertisement gives no training stipend figure. The figure in circulation is approximately Rs 61,000 a month.
Women are not required to cut their hair like male cadets. Hair is kept properly tied as per Army SOPs during training, and hijab is allowed as per Army SOPs for those who wish to wear it.
Lady Cadet Course pay in Pakistan#
The Pakistan Army never publishes a fixed salary figure in the LCC advertisement. The salary is paid as per the Army pay scale for commissioned officers. No official LCC Captain salary figure is published.
The Captain rank’s BPS equivalence is not settled. The live Pak Army ranks and salary guide maps Captain to BPS-18 on the commonly used equivalence table, and this guide follows the live guide.
The derived core gross on the BPS-18 equivalence is Rs 109,053 a month. The arithmetic is shown below, and the figure is labelled as derived, not official.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic pay, BPS-18 minimum 2026 | Rs 68,330 |
| ARA-2023 | Rs 17,064 (30% of the BPS-2022 minimum Rs 56,880) |
| ARA-2024 | Rs 11,376 (20% of the BPS-2022 minimum Rs 56,880) |
| ARA-2026 | Rs 4,783 (7% of running basic Rs 68,330) |
| Conveyance allowance, BPS 16 and above | Rs 7,500 |
| Derived core gross | Rs 109,053 a month |
Take-home on the same basis is about Rs 98,900 a month, following the live BPS-18 worked example on joblo.pk, before house rent allowance or free accommodation and before any other posting-based allowances.
The derived core gross of Rs 109,053 matches the live BPS-18 worked examples exactly. The BPS-18 salary guide and the ASF Deputy Director guide on joblo.pk give the same core gross on the same figures.
The figure is a derived core gross on the BPS-18 equivalence. It is not an official Army pay figure, and the advertisement gives no pay figure. The actual pay depends on posting, city and allowances.
On a BPS-17 equivalence the derived core gross would be Rs 87,965. This guide does not present that figure, because the live ranks guide maps Captain to BPS-18.
The medical allowance of Rs 1,500 a month applies to BPS 1 to 16 only. BPS-17 and above get reimbursement, so no medical allowance is added in the table above.
No house rent allowance rate for Army officers is published. Benefits for Lady Cadet Course officers are free medical treatment for self, parents and family, house rent allowance or free official accommodation, 50% concession on Pakistan Railway and PIA air travel, pension and other retirement benefits, and sponsored higher studies and courses in Pakistan and abroad.
LCC, AFNS and DSSC compared#
Three female officer routes are often confused. LCC, AFNS and male DSSC are separate entries with different qualifications, ages, training and outcomes.
| Route | Who it is for | Minimum qualification | Age | Training | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Cadet Course (LCC) | Unmarried women | 16 years of education (BS/BE/MA/MSc/MS) in the announced corps subjects; CGPA 2.5/4 or 62.5% | Up to 28, as on the round’s cut-off date | 6 months at PMA Kakul | Commissioned as Captain; 7-year bond |
| AFNS, BSc Nursing | Unmarried/widow/separated/divorcee women | Matric Science 60%+, FSc Pre-Medical 50%+ | 17 to 25 as of 1 November 2026 | 4 years | Commissioned as Lieutenant, BPS-17; 10-year bond |
| AFNS, Trained Nurse as Lieutenant | Women, married or unmarried | Nursing Diploma and Midwifery, or BSc Generic Nursing, or Post (RN) BSc Nursing; PNC registration required | 18 to 28 as of 1 June 2026 | 4-week basic military training | Commissioned as Lieutenant, BPS-17 |
| DSSC, male (AEC category, for comparison) | Graduate professional men | MA/MSc/BS (4 years), 16 years of education, in Math, CS, English, History or Islamic Studies; 62.5% or 2.5 CGPA | Up to 28 | 6 months at PMA Kakul | Commissioned as Captain |
LCC is the female DSSC induction. The Direct Short Service Commission is the commission type, the Lady Cadet Course is the women’s entry into it, and the male DSSC is the men’s entry into the same commission type. LCC and male DSSC share the 6-month PMA training and the Captain rank.
AFNS is different from LCC in three ways. AFNS is nursing only, it commissions as Lieutenant rather than Captain, and its selection runs through GHQ Selection Board interviews with no ISSB stage. LCC covers engineering, signals, EME, ordnance, AEC and ICT corps, commissions as Captain, and requires ISSB.
GDMO (female doctors, MBBS) is a separate female DSSC route that also leads to Captain. It is not part of LCC, and this guide mentions it only in passing.
Mistakes to avoid#
The mistakes below cost candidates their application. Each one is avoidable with a careful read of the notice.
- Applying after FSc: LCC needs 16 years of education. An FSc holder has 12 years of education, so the application is ineligible. Complete a 4-year degree first, or apply for AFNS BSc Nursing.
- Applying with a private or distance degree: the degree must be from an HEC or PEC-recognised university as a regular student. Private candidates and distance-learning candidates are not eligible.
- Applying with a 3rd division: no 3rd division or Grade D is allowed in the entire academic career. Only one 2nd division or Grade C is allowed throughout the academic record.
- Applying while married: the advertisement states unmarried only. Married women cannot apply for LCC, and are directed to the AFNS trained-nurse route.
- Waiting for an open round: no LCC round is open as of 10 November 2026. The next round, LCC-30, is expected on 22 December 2026, and the exact dates appear in its own advertisement.
- Using the wrong age cut-off: the age limit is up to 28 years as on the round’s own cut-off date. LCC-28 used 1 May 2026, LCC-29 used 1 November 2026, and LCC-30 is expected to use 1 December 2026.
- Counting on the BPS-17 pay figure: Captain is sometimes given as BPS-17. The live Pak Army ranks guide maps Captain to BPS-18, and the derived pay figure in this guide uses BPS-18.
- Expecting no ISSB stage: ISSB is compulsory for LCC, and it runs 4 to 5 days. A candidate rejected twice by ISSB is ineligible, and a candidate who appeared within 120 days of a previous appearance is ineligible for that round.
- Assuming the stipend is confirmed: the Rs 61,000 monthly training stipend is not an official figure.
- Using a recycled category list: the corps and subjects change with every course. The LCC-29 list sometimes shown comes from a recycled LCC-23 template, and the LCC-30 list will be confirmed in its own advertisement.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the Lady Cadet Course?
The Lady Cadet Course is the female induction for Direct Short Service Commission in the Pakistan Army. Unmarried women with 16 years of education train for six months at PMA Kakul and are commissioned as Captain.
Is LCC 2026 registration open?
No. Registration for the Lady Cadet Course is closed as of 10 November 2026. Two rounds ran in 2026, LCC-28 in January and LCC-29 in June, and the next round, LCC-30, is expected to be announced on 22 December 2026.
When is LCC-30 expected?
LCC-30 is expected to be announced on 22 December 2026, with registration expected to remain open till 20 January 2027 and initial tests expected in January to February 2027. These dates are an expectation based on the official pattern, not an announced advertisement.
What is the age limit for the Lady Cadet Course?
The age limit is up to 28 years, counted as on the date stated in the advertisement for that round. LCC-28 used 1 May 2026, LCC-29 used 1 November 2026, and LCC-30 is expected to use 1 December 2026.
What qualification is needed for LCC?
A minimum of 16 years of education is needed (BS, BE, MA, MSc or MS, or an equivalent 4-year degree) in the announced corps subjects, from an HEC or PEC-recognised university as a regular student. The minimum marks are CGPA 2.5 out of 4, or 62.5% marks, with no 3rd division and only one 2nd division allowed.
Can I join the Lady Cadet Course after FSc?
No. LCC needs 16 years of education, and an FSc holder has 12 years of education. Complete a 4-year BS or BE degree in a relevant field and then apply for LCC, or apply for AFNS BSc Nursing, which takes FSc Pre-Medical with 50% marks.
Can married women apply for LCC?
No. The advertisement states unmarried only. Married women cannot apply for LCC, and are directed to the AFNS trained-nurse route if they meet its criteria.
Is the ISSB the same for lady cadets?
Yes. The ISSB is the same board and the same process for lady cadets as for male candidates. The physical tasks are slightly less demanding for women, while the leadership and psychological standards are the same.
How long is the LCC training?
Training is 6 months at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul, Abbottabad. The training covers physical training, military discipline, firing and leadership development, and the lady cadet is commissioned as Captain on successful completion.
What is the salary after the Lady Cadet Course?
The advertisement states no pay figure, so no official LCC Captain salary is published. On the BPS-18 equivalence, the derived core gross is Rs 109,053 a month, with take-home of about Rs 98,900 a month. The figure is derived, not an official Army pay figure.
What is the difference between LCC and AFNS?
LCC is the female DSSC induction for engineering, signals, EME, ordnance, AEC and ICT corps, commissions as Captain, and requires ISSB. AFNS is nursing only, commissions as Lieutenant, and its selection runs through GHQ Selection Board interviews with no ISSB stage.
What is the difference between LCC and DSSC?
LCC is the women’s entry into Direct Short Service Commission, and male DSSC is the men’s entry into the same commission type. Both share the 6-month PMA training and the Captain rank, and both need 16 years of education with CGPA 2.5 or 62.5% marks.
