In India, most people believe that NEET is the primary and only exam to make a good career in the field of medicine. But in reality, there are numerous medical courses offered by medical institutes, which can be pursued after 12th without NEET. A wide range of students every year fail to achieve success in the NEET exam due to the intense level of competition. Medical courses from pharmacy to nursing to veterinary doctor and forensic science offer a good exposure in the field of medicine, apart from NEET.
This blog is especially written for the students who want to build a career in the field of medicine after 12th without NEET. So, the blog offers you a detailed analysis of the various medical courses to pursue after 12th without the NEET exam.
Are There Medical Courses That Don’t Require NEET?
Yes, there are medical courses available for students to do which do not require NEET exam qualification. Students have a choice of a variety of courses which they can opt after 12th where NEET score is not an eligibility criterion for admission. If you cannot succeed in the NEET exam, you can take admission in medical courses like pharmaceuticals, nursing, paramedical, nutrition, and veterinary after the completion of class 12th. The role of these medical courses is important because only 10-15% medical students clear the NEET exam successfully on the first attempt, so students who do not clear this exam have to find some other reliable courses to pursue a career in it.
These courses are highly demanded with a high level of clinical exposure, familiarity with technology, practical skills, and interaction with patients. The healthcare education sector in India is growing at a rate of 17.5-22.5%, which clearly shows the value of numerous medical courses offered by medical institutes in India. These medical courses offer positive job opportunities at medical research labs, medical institutes, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostic centres.
Top Medical Courses after 12th without NEET
The medical courses in India without the NEET exam offer flexible admission criteria, easy educational curriculum, low fee structure, and high-level career opportunities, making them the most feasible and attractive options for medical students. These courses cover various job roles to assist medical doctors by providing excellent career paths in hospitals, laboratories, and other areas. A deep analysis of the medical course after 12th without NEET is as follows-
| Course Name | Duration | Course Overview | Career Opportunities |
| B.Sc Nursing | 4 years | Patient care, clinical training, nursing science | Hospitals, clinics, and nursing education |
| B. Pharma (Bachelor of Pharmacy) | 4 years | Drug formulation, pharmacology | Pharma companies, hospitals |
| B.V. Sc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) | 5.5 years | Animal healthcare and surgery | Veterinary hospitals, research |
| BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) | 4.5 years | Physical rehabilitation therapy | Hospitals, sports clinics |
| Diploma in Radiology Technician/Technologist | 2 years | Medical imaging techniques | Diagnostic centers |
| B. Sc in Medical Lab Technology (MLT) | 3 years (+1 year for Internship) | Laboratory diagnostics | Pathology labs |
| B.Sc in Nutrition & Dietetics | 3 years | Clinical and applied nutrition | Hospitals, wellness centres |
| B.Sc in Forensic Science | 3 years | Crime investigation and analysis | Forensic labs |
| B.Sc in Biotechnology | 3 years | Biological research and technology | Research labs, pharma |
| BOT (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy) | 4.5 years | Rehabilitation and daily life skills | Rehab centres |
B.Sc Nursing
Without the NEET exam, a Bachelor’s in Nursing (B.Sc) is one of the most highly demanded 4-year course programs in India. The course offers specialisation in the field of hospital training and clinical training related to professional nurses with a focus on patient care, health promotion, medical procedures, crisis management, and community health.
During this course, you will learn about the medical areas like Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmacology, Nutrition, and Pathology. You can appear in B.Sc Nursing after 12th class with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology subjects from a recognised board, along with qualifying entrance tests conducted by institutions or state authorities.
B.Sc Nursing is an affordable medical course with a general fee range of ₹50,000- ₹2,00,000, where a graduate from this course can become a nurse, nurse educators, clinical specialists, or healthcare administrators. The course also offers a good salary range, where a fresher may earn a package between ₹3,50,000-₹5,00,000 LPA+, while as an experienced nurse, you may get ₹7,00,000-₹10,00,000 LPA. A list of government and private medical colleges that offers high quality exposure for B.Sc Nursing course is as follows-
| Govt. Medical institutes for B.Sc Nursing | Private Medical institutes for B.Sc Nursing |
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) | Christian Medical College (CMC) |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) | Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal |
| Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) | SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre |
| Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) | St. Stephen’s Hospital College of Nursing |
B. Pharma (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
The Pharmacy sector in India is growing rapidly, with a growth rate of more than 10% in recent times, which clearly indicates good opportunities for medical students who adopted B. Pharma as a career. B. Pharma is a 4-year undergraduate program based on pharmaceutical sciences, drug development, pharmacology, drug formulation, medicinal chemistry, and medication management.
To get admission in B. Pharma, you must complete 12th class from a recognised board with subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Maths with a minimum of 45-50% marks. You can take admission in this course without NEET by applying for various entrance exams like CUET, MHT-CET, TS EAMCET, and GPAT.
The average salary for B. Pharma ranges between ₹1,00,000- ₹8,00,000, depending on the specific college. You have various job opportunities, such as pharmaceutical organisations, research organisations, hospitals, and chemist shops after B. Pharma to build a career. In the initial days, the average salary of this course might be low, between ₹3-4 LPA, which can be gradually increased to ₹5-10 LPA.
A list of top medical institutes that offer high-level clinical exposure for the B Pharma course is as follows-
- Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai
- BITS Pilani
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)
- Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCPS)
- JSS College of Pharmacy
- Poona College of Pharmacy
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.)
The Bachelor of Veterinary Science is a 5.5-year course program (5 years for the main course + 6 months for compulsory internship). The course is a professional degree course related to animal health, disease prevention, surgery, and diagnosis. You can become a veterinary medical doctor after the successful completion of this course. Some medical institute offers admission in this course with the NEET exam, but many state universities and private institutions offer admissions without NEET. The mandatory eligibility criteria to get admission in B.V.Sc. are 12th class with PCB and 50% aggregate marks from a recognised board.
- Average course fee: ₹5,000 to ₹30,000 in government medical colleges and more than ₹5,00,000 in privatecolleges.
- Average salary package: ₹3,00,000 to ₹8,00,000, more than ₹20,00,000 for experienced professionals.
In the government sector, there are numerous opportunities available for this course, such as veterinary doctors, livestock officers, and animal nutritionists. Some of the top private and government medical institutes that offers B.V.Sc. program are as follows-
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar
- Bombay Veterinary College (BVC), Mumbai
- Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine (ACVM)
- Veterinary College and Research Institute (VCRI)
- Mahatma Gandhi Veterinary College (MGVC), Bharatpur
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
BPT is a highly demanding course with a duration of 4.5 years (6 months internship + 4-year full course program), which focuses on physical rehabilitation and movement therapy. They directly assist medical doctors by helping patients recover from medical surgery, injuries, and different types of neurological disorders. You can take admission in BPT after completion of 12th class with PCB as compulsory subjects, where you can directly take admission in your desired college.
The course provides comprehensive knowledge regarding biomechanics, physical exercise, rehabilitation, anatomy, and restoration of function. The average fee ranges between ₹1,00,00-₹5,00,00 lakhs per year, where the average salary package is around ₹2,50,000 – ₹4,00,000 for a fresher and ₹5,00,000- ₹8,00,000 for an experienced professional.
The primary career options for a physiotherapist are in fitness centres, hospitals, clinics, gyms, and private practice. The top medical institutes that offer advanced-level exposure for the BPT course are as follows-
- AIIMS
- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research
- King George’s Medical University (KGMU)
- Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma PGIMS
- St. John’s Bangalore
Diploma in Radiology Technician/Technologist
All other courses are full-year integrated programs, but this is a diploma course of a duration of 2 years. The course offers advanced-level technological knowledge on healthcare machines like X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and ultrasound. 12th class with PCB subjects are compulsory to get admission in this course, where you have a good opportunity to work in hospitals, diagnostic centres, and imaging labs as radiology technicians or imaging technologists.
The general fee for this program is between ₹60,000- ₹2,50,000, where in some colleges, the duration of this course is 3 years. You can get a good job after completing a diploma as a technician, where the average salary is ₹2,00,000- ₹4,00,000, and an experienced candidate will get better opportunities. The diploma courses are offered by a wide range of institutes, which have been as follows-
- AIIMS
- Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI)
- Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal
- St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore
- SDM College of Medical Sciences & Hospital, Sattur
B.Sc Medical Laboratory Technology
B.Sc in Medical Laboratory Technology is an undergraduate program of 3 years duration, which is related to laboratory diagnostics, pathology, and clinical testing. As with other courses, 12th class from a recognised board with PCB subjects is compulsory to pursue this course. The course trained you regarding medical tests of numerous body fluids, such as urine, blood and many more, by covering primary subjects like Biochemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, lab management, and Immunology.
The primary institutes that offer B.Sc Medical Laboratory Technology in India are as follows-
- AIIMS
- University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), Delhi
- NIMS University, Jaipur
- GMCH Chandigarh (Government Medical College & Hospital)
- MGM Medical College & Hospital, Indore
The average program fee for this course is between ₹1,00,000 – ₹4,00,000, where a graduate from this course may earn ₹2,50,000- ₹5,00,000 as a fresher, which can be gradually increased to ₹6,00,000-₹12,00,000. You can apply for job roles like lab technologist, lab manager, and pathology assistant after graduating from this course.
B.Sc in Nutrition & Dietetics
B.Sc in Nutrition & Dietetics is an emerging course in the field of modern medicine, which is designed to cover nutrition planning, public health, and diet planning. The course is a 3-year fully integrated program that offers extensive knowledge on food science, food safety, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and therapeutic diets. The course covers diversified job opportunities such as clinical dietician, wellbeing coach, food technologist, community nutritionist and many more.
The average course fee is around ₹50,000 to ₹2,50,000 Lakhs, where government medical colleges generally offer an affordable fee structure. You can work as a professional dietician and nutritionist in medical hospitals, fitness centres, and private practices, with the average annual offering of ₹2,50,000- ₹5,00,000, which directly depends on the individual experience. Some of the medical institutes that provide advanced-level education for B.Sc in Nutrition & Dietetics course are as follows-
- Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
- AIIMS
- All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata
- Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
- Amity University, Noida
- Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab
B.Sc in Forensic Science
A Bachelor’s in Forensic Science is an advanced-level scientific course program that combines two important factors: modern science and criminal investigation. Generally, the course is a 3-year program, which is based on curriculum factors like forensic biology, toxicology, fingerprint analysis, and cyber forensics. The average course fee of this course is between ₹50,000- ₹3,00,000, which ultimately depends on the reputation of the medical college.
The eligibility criteria for this course are 12th class with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics with a minimum mark of 50-60%. Through this course, you can get good opportunities in government departments like the legal institutions, forensic labs, and enforcement agencies, where the career opportunities are forensic consultant, forensic expert, forensic analyst, and crime scene investigator. Average salary starts at ₹3,00,000–₹8,00,000, with a high-level potential in government forensic departments. The top medical institutes that offer specialisation in this course across India are as follows-
- Institute of Forensic Science (IFS), Mumbai
- Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU), Gandhinagar
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
- National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Delhi
- Amity University, Noida
- Christ University, Bangalore
B.Sc in Biotechnology
B.Sc in Biotechnology is a fully integrated interdisciplinary program of 3 years duration. The course introduces students to the living organisms system with Biology, Chemistry, and Technology subjects. The student must pass the 12th class with PCB subjects with 50-60% minimum marks, where you can also get admission in this course with the CUET entrance exam.
The course books are designed for studying bioinformatics, genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, and industrial biotechnology. The general course fee is ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 per year, where the primary job opportunities are in pharmaceutical and biotech organisations, research labs, and healthcare startups. The average starting salary ranges from ₹2,50,000– ₹7,00,000, with strong growth after higher studies. The top medical institute that offers this course with a high level of expertise is as follows-
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore
- Savitribai Phule Pune University & University of Hyderabad
- Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
- St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai & Kolkata)
- Christ University, Bangalore
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)
The BOT is a 4-year integrated medical course with a mandatory internship program of 6 months. The course makes you an expert in treating mental, physical, and cognitive disabilities, where you can help patients in regaining independence in daily life by adapting activities, environments, and teaching skills for a better quality of life. PCB with 12th class is necessary with 50% aggregate marks to get admission to this course, where some medical institutes also offer admission with Mathematics.
The average course fee of this course is ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000 per year, with an opportunity to earn ₹2,50,000-₹6,50,000 in a year. The primary job opportunities available for this course are consultant, OT therapist, paediatrician, mental health, geriatrician, and rehabilitation specialist. Some of the top medical colleges that offer the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy course are as follows-
- Government Medical College, Nagpur
- Topiwala National Medical College (TNMC), Mumbai
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)
- NIMS University, Jaipur
- Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences & Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur
- KMCH College of Occupational Therapy, Coimbatore
General Eligibility Criteria for Medical Courses Without NEET
The medical courses apart from NEET in India generally demand completion of 12th class from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. The minimum marks to get admission in these courses are generally between 45% to 60%, where overall eligibility is simpler and more accessible compared to NEET-based courses. In some courses, you can take direct admission, while in other courses, it is mandatory to get admission through entrance exams. The minimum age is generally 17 years at the time of admission for most of the courses.
Other Medical Courses after 12th without NEET
The healthcare sector is rapidly growing with various medical courses, expanded to allied health sciences and specialised clinical support roles. Medical students have various medical courses to pursue, where some of the most popular medical courses after 12th without NEET are as follows-
| Course Name | Course Overview | Duration | Average Package |
| Bachelor of Optometry | Eye care and vision testing | 4 years | Fresher: ₹2.5–4 LPAExperienced: ₹4 – ₹8 LPA |
| B.Sc Cardiovascular Technology | Heart diagnostic procedures | 3 years | Fresher: ₹2.5–4 LPAExperienced: ₹6.5 LPA or more |
| B.Sc Anaesthesia Technology | Anaesthesia support services | 4 years (3-year degree program+ 1 year internship) | Fresher: ₹2.5–4 LPAExperienced: ₹6-10 Lakhs+ |
| B.Sc Dialysis Technology | Renal care and dialysis | 4 years (3-year academics+ 1 year internship) | Fresher: ₹2–4 LPAExperienced: ₹3–7 LPA |
| B.Sc Radiotherapy | Cancer treatment support | 4 years (3-year academics + 1-year internship) | Fresher: ₹2.5- 4 LPAExperienced: ₹7-10 LPA |
| B.Sc Perfusion Technology | Cardiac surgery support | 3 years (some universities offers 4 year program) | Fresher: ₹2.5– 4LPAExperienced: ₹5-10 LPA |
Conclusion
In India, the NEET is not the only exam to build a successful career in the field of medicine. Courses like B.Sc Nursing, Physiotherapy, and B.V.Sc can offer you practical knowledge and rewarding career options. These courses are generally related to veterinary, technician roles, lab management, pharmaceutical experts, patient care, clinical nutrition, crime investigation, and physical rehabilitation. All of these courses have lower-level competition in comparison with NEET, with strong job opportunities in India and abroad.
FAQs on Medical Courses after 12th without NEET
Can I make a good career in the medical field if I cannot clear the NEET exam?
Yes, there are numerous courses available in India apart from the NEET exam. The primary medical courses are diversified from nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy, veterinary doctor, lab management, dietitian, paramedical, and forensic expert. All of these courses are more affordable in comparison with the NEET exam by offering good salaries and growth prospects.
What are some of the best medical courses to pursue after 12th without the NEET exam?
It clearly depends on your area of interest, but you can choose a suitable course from a wide range of options like B. Pharma, B.Sc in Nursing, B.V.Sc, Forensic Science, Laboratory Technology, Nutrition & Dietetics, and Occupational Therapy. All of these courses offer diverse healthcare career paths in the field of medicine.
Are the eligibility criteria the same to appear in NEET and other medical courses?
Most of the medical courses’ eligibility criteria ensure that students must study 12th class with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics with a minimum mark of 45%-60%. The minimum age criterion is 17 years for most of the courses, where some courses allow direct admission, while other colleges take admission with entrance exams.
Are medical courses without NEET affordable compared to MBBS?
Yes, medical courses apart from the MBBS are with lower fees, where the average range is between ₹50,000 to ₹4,00,000 per year.
What is the average expected salary after completing medical courses without NEET?
The medical courses, apart from NEET offers good salaries and an annual package, where the average range for freshers is ₹2.5–5 LPA and ₹8–12 LPA after gaining expertise or pursuing higher studies.
Can I get government and foreign job opportunities with medical courses without NEET?
Yes, there are numerous job opportunities available in government hospitals, diagnostic labs, research institutes, and healthcare organisations in India and abroad. Some of the most common medical areas that offer good opportunities are nursing, pharmacy, veterinary, and allied health sciences.
