Introduction
The medical field is one of the most prestigious and well-paying fields in the world. Many job opportunities in this sector will help you to excel in your career. Medical courses are available in different specializations such as medical, paramedical sciences, pharmacy, health, nursing, etc. Due to numerous options, students often get confused about medical courses after 12th.
If you also find the answer to this question, you have landed at the right place. This post tells you everything about the medical courses after the 12th, top medical colleges, and much more.
Let’s begin!
What is MBBS?
MBBS is one of the country’s most popular and opted courses taken by medical students. It is a five years six months degree program in medicine. After obtaining the degree, the students can become doctors or medical practitioners. According to Glassdoor, an MBBS doctor’s salary is INR 58,633.
For admissions in the MBBS courses, candidates must take the NEET examination to be admitted into various medical colleges/universities.
Here are some important details regarding this course:
| MBBS Full Form | Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Eligibility | 10+2 (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) |
| Duration | 5 years 6 months average |
| Average annual salary of an MBBS doctor | INR 6 – 12 LPA |
| Examination for admission into Medical Colleges | NEET
(https://neet.nta.nic.in/) |
MBBS Syllabus
The NMC or the National Medical Commission develops the curriculum of the MBBS course. Here is the detailed syllabus.
Note: There are a total of 19 subjects in the MBBS course.
The MBBS syllabus is divided into three categories:
- Pre-clinical (First 2 semesters)
- Para-Clinical (3rd to 5th semester)
- Clinical (6th to 9th semester)
First Year Subjects
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
Second Year Subjects
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
- Community Medicine
- Microbiology
- Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Third Year Subjects
- Community Medicine
- ENT
- Ophthalmology
Fourth Year Subjects (Final Year)
- Psychiatry
- Paediatrics
- Dermatology & Venereology
- Anaesthesiology
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Orthopaedics
Note: There is a compulsory internship of one year for all the students.
MBBS Internship
According to the NMC, all MBBS students must take a compulsory rotating medical internship or CRMI for 12 to order to obtain the MBBS degree. The National Medical Commission instructs the students to take internship training in:
- Ayurveda
- Unanimous Siddha
- Yoga
- Homeopathy
- Sowa Rigpa
During the internship, all the students have to work as general practitioners and are trained to become professionals in the future. It provides them with exposure and grants them experience working in this field.
How to get into MBBS?
Students must appear for the NEET examination. NEET, or National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam, is a national-level medical examination for all students who wish to be admitted into top medical institutions in the country.
The syllabus covers the subjects of both 11th and 12th classes: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
NEET Highlights
| Title | Details |
| Name | NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) |
| Level | Undergraduate (UG) |
| Exam Frequency | Once |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper based) |
| Courses through NEET | MBBS, BAMS, BDS, BVSC, & AH |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Total Subjects and Marks | Physics (180 marks) + Chemistry (180 marks) + Biology (360 marks) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 – correct answer
-1 – incorrect answer |
| NEET official website | www.neet.nic.in |
10 Top Medical Courses
There are many medical courses after 12 for students to take admissions into. Here we are mentioning the top medical courses after 12th:
- Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery: MBBS
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery: BDS
- Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery: BAMS
- Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery: BHMS
- Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery: BUMS
- Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery: BSMS
- Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences: B.V.Sc
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy: BPT
- Bachelor of Pharmacy: B.Pharm
- BSc Nursing
1. Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery: MBBS
Bachelor of medicine bachelor of surgery is the most common medical course in India. Lakhs of students take this course every year. There are pre-clinical, paraclinical, and clinical subjects in the MBBS course. Moreover, students who had PCB in 12th standard are eligible to take the MBBS course.
See Also: Courses After 12th PCB
Every candidate must take the NEET exam for admission to top medical colleges in India. The National Testing Agency is the conducting authority of the NEET exam. It is a pen-paper-based test held annually.
After clearing this exam, a student becomes eligible for admission to medical institutions. MBBS course fees vary from institution to institution. However, the fees are much lesser in government institutions than in private ones.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | MBBS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 6 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
2. Bachelor of Dental Surgery: BDS
BDS or Bachelor of dental surgery is another popular medical course. It is a five-year course inclusive of a year-long rotating internship.
The eligibility for BDS is the same as that of MBBS. You must have studied physics, chemistry, and biology in the 12th standard. Moreover, the minimum age must be 17 years.
According to the NIRF ranking, the best institute for BDS courses is Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BDS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
3. Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery: BAMS
BAMS, or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, iyear-longear-long course. The graduates of this course can work as Ayurvedic doctors or physicians. AYUSH admission central counseling committee conducts the admission process of the BAMS course. The students must clear the NEET exam for further admission to the top medical colleges in India.
Furthermore, if a student is interested in further studies, they can opt for a Master of surgery M.S and Doctor of medicine or M.D in Ayurveda.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BAMS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 5 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET/ OJEE/ KEAM |
4. Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery: BHMS
BHMS or Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery is a 5.5-year long medical degree. An individual can work as a homeopathic doctor in India after the completion of this degree.
On the basis of NEET marks, AACCC provides admission to eligible candidates.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BHMS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 6 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
5. Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery: BUMS
BUMS or Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery is an undergraduate course of 5.5 years. The conducting body of BUMS courses is AACCC.
It guides and teaches the students different Unani methods of medical treatment.
The minimum eligibility criteria for this course is 50% marks in class 12th. Along with that, a candidate must clear the NEET entrance exam.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BUMS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 5 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
6. Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery: BSMS
BSMS or bachelor of Siddha medicine and surgery is a 5.5-year-long course for medical students. The students can work as doctors after obtaining this degree.
The qualifying criteria of this course are the same as others, that is, qualifying for the NEET exam. In addition, the students must obtain 50% marks in class 12th to get admission into top medical colleges offering BSMS courses.
AACCC is the conducting authority of BSMS courses in India.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BSMS |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 5 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
7. Bachelor in Veterinary Science: B.V.Sc
Bachelor in veterinary science is a popular course taken by individuals interested in studying veterinary medicine. This 5.5-year-long course helps the students understand the diagnosis and treatment of various animal ailments.
The veterinary Council of India is the conducting authority that offers admissions into B.V.Sc courses.
After attaining the degree, students can join as government veterinary doctors or even open their own clinics. These doctors are also known as vets.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | B.V.Sc |
| Time Duration | 5 Years 5 Months |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | NEET |
8. Bachelor of Physiotherapy: BPT
BPT or Bachelor of Physiotherapy is for students interested in pursuing physiotherapy as their career. The time duration of this course is 4.5 years with a compulsory six-month internship.
The minimum eligibility criteria are completing class 12th in physics, chemistry, and biology. Moreover, candidates must clear the NEET exam. In addition, this is a promising career as the demand for physiotherapy is increasing daily.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BPT |
| Time Duration | 4 Years |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | CET/ JIPMER/ IPU CET BPT |
9. Bachelor of Pharmacy: B. Pharm
Pharm or Bachelor of Pharmacy is a four-year course for students interested in the pharmaceutical field. After obtaining this degree a student can work in a pharmaceutical company or open their own firm or work as a pharmacist.
To take admission into this course students can take entrance exams. Some of the most common ones are:
- AP EAMCET
- BITSAT
- UPCET
- MHT CET
- KCET, etc.
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BPharm |
| Time Duration | 4 Years |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | AP EAMCET/ GUCET/ TS EAMCET BITSAT |
10. Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing or B.Sc Nursing is a 4-year long course. After obtaining the degree an individual can work as a nurse in government or private hospitals.
The eligibility criteria is 50% in 12th standard with a minimum 17 years of age. Furthermore, interested candidates can take admission into this course via state-level entrance exams.
- PGIMER Nursing Exam
- AIIMS Nursing Exam
- JIPMER Nursing Exam
- RUHS Nursing Exam
| Title | Details |
| Course Name | BSc Nursing |
| Time Duration | 4 Years |
| Eligibility | 50% aggregate in 12th (17 years age) |
| Entrance Exam | AIIMS Nursing Exam, KGMU Nursing Exam, PPMET, Indian Army Nursing Exam. |
15 Diploma Medical Courses After 12th
Many institutes offer students various diploma medical courses after 12th. Not every student wishes to pursue five years long courses. Therefore, there is an option of diploma medical courses with short durations.
These courses help individuals to enter the medical field and serve different sectors such as diagnosis of diseases, medicine, research, treatment of existing diseases, etc.
We are presenting the information in a tabular form below with the details.
| Course Name | Time Duration | Top Colleges |
| Diploma in physiotherapy | 3 Years | KGMU Lucknow – King George’s Medical University
Medical College, Kolkata Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna |
| Diploma in medical radio diagnosis | 2 Years | Guntur Medical College, Guntur
Government Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada
Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. |
| Diploma in x-ray technology | 2 Years | Academy Allied Health Sciences, Kolkata
NIMS University, Jaipur Hind Institute Of Medical sciences, Lucknow |
| Diploma in clinical pathology | 2 Years | Indian Institute of Health Education and Research, Patna
Government Medical College, Kozhikode
JNMC Raipur – Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College |
| Diploma in Nursing | 2 Years | Apollo Gleneagles Nursing College, Kolkata
Kohinoor Technical Institute, Mumbai
MGM New Bombay College of Nursing, Navi Mumbai |
| Diploma in operation theatre techniques | 2 Years | AIIMS Delhi
JIPMER Puducherry KGMU Lucknow |
| Diploma in dialysis techniques | 2 Years | CMC Vellore
BHU, Varanasi Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai |
| Diploma in radiology therapy | 1 Year | Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Karnataka
Driems Group of Institutions, Cuttack The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai |
| Diploma in occupational therapy | 3 Years | HIMSR New Delhi
AIIPMR Mumbai IMS BHU |
| Diploma in medical radio diagnosis | 2 Years | Raja Rajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore
St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur |
| Diploma in Otorhinolaryngology | 2 Years | CMC Vellore
KMC Mangalore AIIMS Delhi |
| Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology | 2 Years | PGIMS Rohtak, Rohtak
Rabindranath Tagore University, Bhopal IMS Kolkata, Kolkata |
| Diploma in Medical Transcriptionist | 3 Months – 1 Year | The campus of Open Learning, University of Delhi
Global Institute of Health Sciences Academy of Medical Transcription |
| Diploma in Medical Imaging Technology | 2 Years | Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur
St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore Raja Rajeshwari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore |
| Diploma in First Aid Medical Care and Emergency | 6 Months | Delhi Paramedical and Management Institute
School of Health Sciences (IGNOU) First Aid Industrial Training & Health |
List of 10 Highest Paying Medical Jobs
After completing a medical course, there are a wide array of opportunities for candidates in the medical field. Some of the highest paying medical jobs in the healthcare industry are given below, along with their pay scale.
1. Physician and Surgeon
- Highest Annual Salary of a Physician: INR 20 LPA
- Highest Annual Salary of a Surgeon: INR 36.4 LPA
The job of a physician and surgeon is the most paid job in the healthcare industry. This justifies the fact that most individuals wish to become either physicians or surgeons.
Core Responsibilities of a Physician
The core work of a physician is to carry out diagnoses of injuries or medical ailments. After understanding the illness, the physician guides the patient and orders a test, if necessary. The lab technicians do testing. After getting the results, the physician again guides the patient with the medicines.
Physicians mostly have these 2 degrees:
- M.D. (Medical Doctor)
- D.O (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
Core Responsibilities of a Surgeon
On the other hand, surgeons are the doctors who perform surgeries on patients. All the surgeons are trained to diligently work with the instruments used in surgeries as it is critical. They repair physical deformities, injuries, and diseases, perform cosmetic surgeries, and more.
Surgeons can go for different specializations such as:
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Reconstructive surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Neurological surgery
See Also: Highest Paying Jobs in India
2. Dentist
Highest Annual Salary: INR 6 LPA
Dentist is another medical job preferred by many individuals.
Core Responsibilities of a Dentist:
The job of a dentist is to diagnose and handle the problems related to teeth and gums. They must understand how to use dental care instruments such as scalpels, forceps, drills, brushes, and x-ray machines.
In addition, they help the patients mend the damaged teeth, remove the decay, or perform surgeries if needed. Before beginning any critical procedure, a dentist gives anesthesia to the patient.
They also guide the patients with steps to take care of their teeth.
3. Podiatrist
Podiatrists help patients in case of any injuries caused to the feet, ankles, or lower legs.
Core Responsibilities of a Podiatrist
These doctors specialize in performing surgeries related to the feet and ankles. Moreover, they also handle all kinds of deformities associated with these body parts.
Podiatrists treat put elements such as heel spurs, ingrown toenails, arthritis, etc.
4. Pharmacist
Highest Annual Salary: INR 3.5 LPA
The job of a pharmacist is a popular job across the country. It provides a good work-life balance. There are some designated work hours for pharmacists.
Core Responsibilities of a Pharmacist
A pharmacist must go with the prescription given by a doctor to the patient. Moreover, they must provide medications by checking the instructions and expiry date. Pharmacists also guide the patient about how and when to take the medicines. Patience can also consult you to know more about which medicine to take in case of a health condition.
Pharmacist work in different areas such as:
- Hospitals
- Grocery stores
- General pharmacist stores
5. Optometrist
Highest Annual Salary: INR 4.2 LPA
Optometrists are specialized in treating the eyes of a patient. They help the patients with the diagnosis and treat other related disorders.
Core Responsibilities of an Optometrist
Optometrists treat injuries to the eyes of a patient. They specialize in understanding the diseases and conditions of the eyes. Based on that, they prescribe medication. Moreover, they are also trained to perform surgeries if needed.
6. Nurse
Highest Annual Salary: INR 5 LPA
Nurse practitioners are professionals in taking specialized care of patients. They primarily help the doctors in treating a patient.
Core Responsibilities of a Nurse
Nurses must understand the medical history of the patient and the illnesses currently. If the patients are admitted to the hospital, they take care of their medicines, create treatment plans, and order tests, if necessary.
Nurses are also trained to operate and monitor medical equipment. Therefore, in the absence of a doctor, nurses can care for the patients.
7. Physician Assistant
Highest Annual Salary: INR 6.3 LPA
A physical assistant works with doctors, surgeons, and other professionals. They can diagnose the condition and provide medications to treat a patient’s illness.
Core Responsibilities of a Physician Assistant
Physical assistants play a major role in the emergency rooms and the ICUs. They offer a helping hand to surgeons and doctors performing any kind of surgery and treatment.
8. Veterinarian
Highest Annual Salary: INR 9.9 LPA
Veterinarians are responsible for treating diseases and ailments in different kinds of animals.
Core Responsibilities of a Veterinarian
They diagnose the animals and prescribe medications accordingly. In case of any injury, the veterinarian dresses the moon and guides it for further treatment.
In addition, they also perform surgical procedures, if required.
9. General Practitioner
Highest Annual Salary: INR 18 LPA
A general practitioner of and treats physical and mental health concerns.
Core Responsibilities of a Veterinarian
They play an important role in the healthcare system overall. They are also known as internists. Moreover, they are available to treat medical conditions and perform routine tests.
Therefore, they take care of a patient’s overall physical and mental health.
10. Pediatrician
Highest Annual Salary: INR 25.5 LPA
A pediatrician’s core Responsibilities: A pediatrician takes care of children’s overall health from birth till the age of 18. They are professionals and handle the physical, mental, and behavioral aspects of a child’s growth.
Moreover, they are responsible for diagnosing and treating various childhood illnesses. They do physical examinations, recommend medicines, provide information about the child’s nutrition and fitness, and more.
7 Best Medical Courses without NEET
If you are unable to qualify NEET exam or do not wish to take it, don’t worry! There are plenty of other options. This table shows the best medical courses without NEET that can help you enter the medical field.
| Course Name | Time Duration | Job Opportunities |
| BSc Nursing | 4 Years | Nurse |
| BSc Nutrition and Dietetics/Human Nutrition/Food Technology | 3-4 Years | Nutritionist, Research |
| BSc Biotechnology | 3-4 Years | Biotechnologist |
| BSc Cyber Forensics | 3-4 Years | Scientist (Forensics) |
| BSc Animal Husbandry and Dairying | 3-4 Years | Agricultural Scientist |
| BSc Cardiovascular Technology | 4 Years | Technician (Cardiac) |
| BSc Agricultural Science | 4 Years | Agricultural scientist |
10 Top Medical Colleges in India
There are several top medical institutions in India where students wish to take admissions. According to NIRF, National Institutional Ranking Framework, we are mentioning the top medical colleges in India below:
| College | Location | Rank |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi | New Delhi | 1 |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research | Chandigarh | 2 |
| Christian Medical College | Vellore | 3 |
| National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences | Bangalore | 4 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | 5 |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research | Puducherry | 6 |
| Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences | Lucknow | 7 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | Coimbatore | 8 |
| Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology | Thiruvananthapuram | 9 |
| Kasturba Medical College | Manipal | 10 |
AIIMS Colleges In India
10 top AIIMS colleges in India are mentioned below:
- AIIMS, Delhi
- AIIMS, Jodhpur
- AIIMS, Bhopal
- AIIMS, Bhuwaneshwar
- AIIMS, Patna
- AIIMS, Raipur
- AIIMS, Rishikesh
- AIIMS, Nagpur
- AIIMS, Raebareli
- AIIMS, Mangalgiri
10 Top Medical Colleges in the World
If you wish to pursue a medical degree from abroad, here is the list of the top medical colleges in the world according to Ceoworld.
| College Name | Location | Score | Ranking |
| Harvard Medical School | Boston, MA | 99.06 | AAA |
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | Baltimore, Maryland | 98.13 | AAA |
| NYU Grossman School of Medicine | New York City, New York | 96.75 | AAA |
| Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 96.53 | AAA |
| Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons | New York City, New York | 96.15 | AAA |
| Stanford University School of Medicine | Stanford, California | 94.4 | AAA |
| David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (DGSOM) | Los Angeles, CA | 93.69 | AAA |
| Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine | Rochester, Minnesota | 92.08 | AAA |
| Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis | St. Louis, MO | 92.26 | AAA |
| UCSF School of Medicine | San Francisco, California | 91.26 | AAA |
Conclusion
Medical courses after 12th are a great opportunity to gain expertise and enter the medical sector. This is a highly promising career and offers well-paying jobs. Moreover, the highest paying medical jobs are the most in-demand too. You have the option to either join a government or private hospital or open your own clinic.
As there are many medical courses after 12th, we hope that the medical courses list helps you with the information you’re looking for! In case of any queries, do comment below!
Good luck!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Which medical course is best after 12th?
Answer: There are many courses after 12th. However, MBBS is the most popular and opted course amongst all.
Question: Can I do medical without NEET?
Answer: Yes. There are many medical courses to pursue without NEET. We have mentioned a detailed list in the article. Please go through them.
Question: What are the best medical courses without NEET?
Answer: Some of the best medical courses without NEET are:
- BSc Nursing
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics/Human Nutrition/Food Technology
- BSc Biotechnology
Please go through the article for further information.
Question: Which paramedical course has the highest salary?
Answer: BSc Operation Theater Technology has the highest salary. The salary ranges between 2LPA – 10LPA.