Last updated: 10 November 2026
Quick answer: The Lady Cadet Course (LCC) lets women with a 4-year professional degree join the Pakistan Army and be commissioned as Captain after about six months of training at PMA Kakul. The last course, LCC-28, took registrations from 22 December 2025 to 20 January 2026. The next one (expected to be LCC-29) has not been announced yet, but the winter intake has opened in the second half of December two years running (LCC-26 on 16 December 2024, LCC-28 on 22 December 2025). If you have a relevant degree, get ready now.
We hear from a lot of female engineers and IT graduates who didn’t even know this entry existed until the registration window had closed. It runs for only about four weeks, the list of eligible degrees changes every time, and preliminary tests start soon after. This guide puts everything in one place so you’re ready the day it opens.
LCC at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Unmarried female Pakistani graduates (4-year degree) |
| Rank on commission | Captain |
| Training | About 6 months at PMA Kakul, Abbottabad |
| Age | Up to 28 years (LCC-28 cut-off: 1 May 2026) |
| Height | Minimum 5 ft (152.4 cm), weight per BMI |
| Last course | LCC-28: 22 Dec 2025 to 20 Jan 2026 |
| Next course | LCC-29, expected around late December 2026 (not yet announced) |
| Apply at | joinpakarmy.gov.pk |
Recent LCC intakes
| Course | Registration window |
|---|---|
| LCC-26 | 16 December 2024 to January 2025 |
| LCC-27 | 23 June to 22 July 2025 |
| LCC-28 | 22 December 2025 to 20 January 2026 |
| LCC-29 | Not announced yet |
Eligible degrees: they change every course
The Army only opens LCC for the corps that need officers in that cycle, so the list of degrees is different each time. Here is what the last three courses asked for. If your degree appears more than once, you have a good chance it comes back.
| Corps | LCC-26 | LCC-27 | LCC-28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers | BS Geology, BS Architecture, BS Civil Engineering | BS Architecture | BE/BS Geo-Informatics |
| Signals / IT | BE Electrical (Telecom), Software Engineering, Information Security | Computer Science, Software Engineering, IT Security | Software Engg, AI, Data Science, Computer Science, Computer Engg, Systems Engg, Information/Cyber Security |
| EME | BE Mechatronics, Biomedical | Mechatronics, Biomedical | Biomedical, Mechanical |
| Ordnance | Textile or Chemical Engineering | Textile Engineering | Chemical Engineering |
| Army Education Corps | Education or Geography (16 years) | Geography (16 years) | Geography (MS/BS, 16 years) |
| Others | Aviation/AFM engineering degrees | DVM (Remount, Veterinary & Farms) | None |
Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Biomedical Engineering and Geography come up in almost every course. If you’re studying one of these, LCC is a serious option.
Other eligibility conditions
- Gender and status: female Pakistani citizen, unmarried.
- Age: not more than 28 years on the cut-off date in the advert. For LCC-28 it was 1 May 2026. Check your own age on a likely cut-off with an online age calculator.
- Degree: 4-year degree from an HEC/PEC-recognised university, earned as a regular student. Recent adverts have asked for at least 2.5 CGPA (or 62.5%). Some disciplines ask for more.
- Height and weight: at least 5 feet, with weight in proportion to height (BMI).
- Eyesight: must meet Army medical standards.
Selection process step by step
- Online registration at joinpakarmy.gov.pk and download your test slip.
- Initial written and intelligence test at your chosen Army Selection and Recruitment Centre (AS&RC).
- Physical test: for LCC-28 this was a 1.6 km run in 14 minutes. That’s a brisk jog, but if you have never run, start training now.
- Initial medical and interview at the AS&RC.
- ISSB, the four-day assessment of psychological tests, group tasks and interview. Read our ISSB complete guide.
- Final medical at a Combined Military Hospital.
- GHQ Selection Board interview in Rawalpindi, where your professional knowledge is also checked.
- Final selection and joining instructions for PMA Kakul.
Training, pay and service
Selected cadets train for about six months at the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, covering drill, weapon handling, physical training and military studies. A stipend is paid during training. After passing out you’re commissioned as a Captain and posted to your corps (Signals, EME, Engineers, AEC, Ordnance and so on) to work in your own field. Expect a long service commitment; recent adverts mention a minimum of 17 years. Ask about this at the interview so you know exactly what you’re signing up for.
What to do before LCC-29 opens
- Get your degree transcript, HEC/PEC attestation and CNIC in order.
- Start running three or four times a week so 1.6 km in under 12 minutes feels easy.
- Practise intelligence tests (verbal and non-verbal) on a timer.
- Revise core subjects of your degree. The GHQ board asks professional questions.
- Bookmark this page. We update it the day the Army announces the next course.
Not eligible for LCC? Women can also join the Armed Forces Nursing Service, Army Medical Corps (through medical degrees), and PAF and Navy short service entries. For the men in your family, see PMA Long Course and soldier recruitment.
Note: LCC dates and eligible degrees above are from past adverts. The next advert will set its own list. Always check joinpakarmy.gov.pk before applying.
Frequently asked questions
When will Lady Cadet Course LCC-29 registration open?
It has not been announced. LCC-26 opened on 16 December 2024 and LCC-28 on 22 December 2025, so the next winter intake is expected around late December 2026.
What is the age limit for Lady Cadet Course?
Up to 28 years on the cut-off date given in the advert. For LCC-28 it was 1 May 2026.
What rank do LCC graduates get?
Captain, after about six months of training at PMA Kakul.
Which degrees are eligible for LCC?
It changes every course. Recent courses took Computer Science, Software Engineering, AI, Data Science, Cyber Security, Biomedical, Mechanical, Chemical, Textile, Geo-Informatics, Architecture and Geography graduates.
What is the minimum height for Lady Cadet Course?
5 feet (152.4 cm), with weight according to BMI.
Can married women apply for LCC?
No, candidates must be unmarried.