Isprieth AcademyPARAMEDICAL | ALLIED HEALTH | UG ADMISSIONS
Paramedical & Allied Health Courses: UG Programmes, Eligibility and Colleges in India
NCAHP rules, NEET status, entrance routes, colleges, fees, dates and careers, with a Tamil Nadu focus
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Paramedical courses prepare students for the technical and therapeutic jobs that support doctors and nurses: laboratory, imaging, physiotherapy, optometry, operation theatre and many more. The national regulator now calls these Allied and Healthcare Professions (AHPs) and no longer encourages the word “paramedical”. This guide explains the courses, the new national rules, the entrance routes (AIIMS, CMC Vellore and others), Tamil Nadu counselling, fees, dates and careers.
Rules are changing
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has set uniform admission criteria for 15 UG courses (January 2026): NEET UG for BPT and BOT, and Class 12 scores for most others. NEET for BPT was deferred to the 2027-28 session (NCAHP letter of March 2, 2026). The norms apply once states and universities adopt them, so always check the current state or institute notice. Information is current as of October 8, 2026.
In this guide
- 1Courses and ways in
- 2NCAHP rules and recognition
- 3AIIMS and other national routes
- 4Tamil Nadu
- 5Costs and careers
- 6Dates and calendar
- 7Choose, prepare and takeaways
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1
Courses and Ways In
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What Are Allied Health Courses?
The NCAHP Act, 2021 organises the workforce into 10 broad professional categories covering about 56 individual professions (the official site mentions 57), such as medical laboratory and life sciences, trauma, burn care and surgical or anaesthesia-related technologies, physiotherapy, and community care and behavioural health sciences. The commission has notified uniform competency-based curricula for 17 programmes covering 28 professions, implementable from the 2026-27 academic year.
UG Programmes with NCAHP Eligibility (15 Courses)
| Course | Class 12 eligibility | Admission path |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) | PCB; 50% aggregate (40% reserved); English pass | NEET UG score (deferred to 2027-28) |
| Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) | PCB; 50% aggregate; English pass | NEET UG score |
| Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom) | PCB or PCM; 50% aggregate | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology (BMRIT) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Radiotherapy Technology (BRTT) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Anaesthesia & Operation Theatre Technology (BAOTT) | PCB or PCM | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Emergency Medical Technologist (BEMT) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Dialysis Therapy Technology (BDTT) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Respiratory Technology (BRT) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Physician Associates (BPA) | PCB | Class 12 score |
| Bachelor of Nutrition & Dietetics (Hons) | PCB; 50% aggregate; English pass | Class 12 score |
| B.Sc Health Information Management (BSc HIM) | Any of Arts / Science / Commerce with English; 50% | University / institute test |
| Bachelor of Psychology (BPsy) | Arts / Science / Psychology; 50% | University / institute test |
| Bachelor of Medical & Psychiatric Social Work (BMPSW) | Any stream | University / institute test |
“PCB” means Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Mathematics is allowed in place of Biology for some courses). Duration is typically 3–4 years plus internship; BPT is reported as 4.5 years plus a 6-month internship and optometry as 4 years including internship, but exact durations are set by the institute and curriculum. These are NCAHP criteria sent to UGC; they apply when the state council and university adopt them.
Other Popular Allied Health Degrees
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Laboratory and imaging | B.Sc Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), Radiography and Imaging Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiotherapy Technology |
| Operation theatre and critical care | OT Technology, Anaesthesia Technology, Cardio-Pulmonary Perfusion Technology, Dialysis Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Neuro-monitoring |
| Therapy and rehabilitation | BPT (Physiotherapy), BOT (Occupational Therapy), BASLP (Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology) |
| Eye, dental and nutrition | Optometry, Dental Hygiene and Dental Operating Room Assistant, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Counselled alongside paramedical in Tamil Nadu | B.Sc Nursing (Indian Nursing Council) and B.Pharm (Pharmacy Council) have their own regulators |
Four Ways In
| Route | Exams / process | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Own entrance tests | AIIMS Paramedical entrance; CMC Vellore entrance + interview; JIPMER and PGIMER processes | AIIMS campuses, CMC Vellore, JIPMER, PGIMER |
| NEET UG | For BPT and BOT as NCAHP norms take effect (BPT deferred to 2027-28) | Central and state counselling where adopted |
| State merit counselling | Class 12 marks (Tamil Nadu DMER single-window counselling) | Government and self-financing colleges in the state |
| Direct / university admission | Class 12 marks, IPU CET, Jamia Hamdard test, institute tests | Private universities and colleges |
Best plan
Prepare for NEET UG (it keeps medical and BPT / BOT doors open), apply to AIIMS and CMC Vellore in the spring, and register for your state counselling (in Tamil Nadu, DMER counselling on Class 12 marks).
Eligibility at a Glance
| Route | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| AIIMS B.Sc Paramedical | Class 12 with Biology (PCB / PCM for B.Optom and radiology); 50% aggregate (45% SC/ST); age 17+ on Dec 31 |
| CMC Vellore B.Sc allied health | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; entrance exam and interview |
| Tamil Nadu DMER counselling | Class 12 with PCB (Botany & Zoology); minimum marks per prospectus; nativity certificate; merit by Class 12 marks |
| BPT / BOT (NCAHP) | PCB with 50% (40% reserved) and English; NEET UG appearance as per NCAHP and state notice |
| Private universities | Class 12 science (PCB / PCM); commonly 45–50% |
Almost all allied health UG courses need Class 12 Science; Biology is mandatory for most. Only BSc HIM, BPsy and BMPSW accept other streams.
2
NCAHP Rules and Recognition
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What Is New
| Change | Details |
|---|---|
| New regulator | NCAHP (set up under the NCAHP Act, 2021, formally constituted in 2024) oversees about 56 allied health professions in 10 categories, and has asked institutions to stop using the word “paramedical” |
| Uniform admission criteria | In January 2026 NCAHP sent UGC criteria for 15 courses: NEET UG for BPT and BOT, university tests for BPsy and BMPSW, and Class 12 scores for the rest. Universities should follow them from 2026-27 |
| NEET for BPT deferred | NCAHP letter of March 2, 2026 deferred the NEET requirement for BPT to the 2027-28 session; some sources expect NEET to apply to other courses later, so check the current notice |
| Competency-based curricula | 17 curricula covering 28 professions notified; implementable from 2026-27 (NCAHP letter of April 8, 2026) |
| State Allied & Healthcare Councils | State councils run admissions and registration; Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have reportedly agreed to follow the common standards |
| Distance mode stopped | UGC has stopped admissions to allied and healthcare sciences in ODL / online mode |
Sources differ on the exact NEET timeline: some 2025 articles said NEET would be mandatory from 2026-27 for several courses, while later NCAHP letters deferred BPT to 2027-28 and the January 2026 criteria place most other courses on Class 12 scores. Read the latest NCAHP, state council and institute notices.
Recognition and Registration
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| State council and university approval | Confirm the college is approved by the state Allied & Healthcare Council or the relevant statutory body and affiliated to a recognised university |
| NCAHP registration | Graduates need registration to practise once the council process applies to their profession; provisional registration with a bridge course is planned for older courses that do not match the common curricula |
| Other regulators | B.Sc Nursing is regulated by the Indian Nursing Council, B.Pharm by the Pharmacy Council of India, and BASLP / clinical psychology by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) |
Beware of fake councils
Investigations have found unrecognised “councils” and diplomas running across states. Verify recognition on official portals before paying any fee, and avoid distance-mode allied health degrees.
3
AIIMS and Other National Routes
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3.1 AIIMS B.Sc Paramedical
AIIMS B.Sc (Hons) Paramedical Entrance Examination · AIIMS New Delhi | AIIMS · Govt of India
Courses
B.Sc (Hons) in Optometry, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Operation Theatre Technology, Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology, Radiography, Dental Hygiene, Dental Operating Room Assistant, Radiotherapy, Dialysis, Perfusion, Neuro-monitoring, Respiratory Therapy, Nuclear Medicine and more.
Eligibility
Class 12 with Biology (PCBE or PCME for B.Optom and radiology courses); 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST); age 17+ on December 31 of the admission year.
Where
AIIMS New Delhi and other AIIMS campuses offering these courses.
Exam format
Online entrance test; merit list followed by counselling. Application is a two-step process with basic registration and code generation.
2027 cycle (tentative)
Registration: expected Mar – Apr 2027 (2026: Mar 25 – Apr 24)
Exam: expected June – July 2027 (2026: Jul 4; result Jul 10)
Official site
Scope
Technologists and therapists in tertiary-care hospitals, labs, imaging centres and research.
Good to know
- 2026 reference: notification Mar 25, registration to Apr 24, correction window Apr 29 – May 3, admit card Jun 27, exam Jul 4, result about Jul 10.
- AIIMS fees are among the lowest in India (registration ₹25 and tuition of a few hundred rupees a year per one listing); budget for hostel and other costs.
- Dates and course lists differ between guides; confirm on aiimsexams.ac.in.
3.2 Other National and Institute Routes
| Institution / route | Details |
|---|---|
| CMC Vellore (Tamil Nadu) | B.Sc programmes in allied health (MLT, Radiology & Imaging Technology, Radiotherapy, Optometry) and BASLP; admission by CMC entrance exam plus interview; Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; very low fees in listings |
| JIPMER Puducherry / Karaikal | B.Sc Allied Health Sciences and Nursing; admission per the JIPMER notice (earlier guides link it to NEET UG percentile); fees about ₹12,000 a year in listings |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | B.Sc Paramedical and Nursing through its own entrance test; PCB and 50% |
| IMS BHU, AFMC Pune and other government medical colleges | Allied health and paramedical B.Sc programmes with low fees |
| IPU CET, Jamia Hamdard test | University-level tests for allied health and paramedical UG courses |
| Private universities | Direct admission on Class 12 marks (SRM, Saveetha, SRIHER, Amity and others) |
JIPMER and PGIMER dates are the same as in the Medical & Health Sciences guide: applications around May – July. Confirm on each institute site.
4
Tamil Nadu
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4.1 Tamil Nadu Paramedical Counselling (DMER)
Tamil Nadu Selection Committee · Directorate of Medical Education and Research | Government of Tamil Nadu
Courses
B.Sc Nursing, B.Pharm, BPT, BOT, BASLP, B.Sc Radiography & Imaging Technology, Radiotherapy Technology, Cardio-Pulmonary Perfusion Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology and other allied health science degrees (19 courses in 2026).
Eligibility
Class 12 (Higher Secondary) with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany & Zoology) or Mathematics for some courses; minimum marks as per the prospectus (about 40% aggregate for most categories in an earlier prospectus); nativity certificate.
Where
Tamil Nadu government medical colleges and government seats in self-financing colleges and institutions affiliated to The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai.
Selection
Merit list on Class 12 marks with reservation and tie-breaking rules; no entrance exam; online choice filling and allotment in rounds.
2026 cycle (reference)
Registration: Jun 21 – Jul 12, 2026 · Rank list: Aug 10, 2026
Round 2: registration from Sep 11, choice filling Sep 13–15, allotment Sep 21, 2026
Official site
Scope
Government and private hospitals, diagnostic labs, clinics and rehabilitation centres across Tamil Nadu.
Good to know
- The 2025-26 prospectus is on tnmedicalselection.org; the new portal is tnmedicalselection.net.
- Indicative government seats reported in 2026 listings: B.Sc Nursing about 350, BOT about 40, BPT about 80, plus many self-financing quota seats (for example 649 BPT quota seats in an earlier listing). Seat matrices change yearly.
- Because NCAHP has proposed NEET for BPT and BOT, check the 2027 prospectus for any change; the Tamil Nadu council reportedly agreed to follow common standards.
4.2 Institutions in Tamil Nadu
| Institution | Allied health programmes | Admission / fee notes |
|---|---|---|
| CMC Vellore | B.Sc MLT, Radiology & Imaging, Radiotherapy, Optometry, BASLP | Own entrance + interview; very low listed fees |
| Madras Medical College and other government medical colleges | B.Sc allied health, BPT, BOT, nursing, B.Pharm | Government seats through DMER counselling |
| Sri Ramachandra (SRIHER), Chennai | B.Sc allied health, BPT, nursing, B.Pharm, Pharm.D | Institute process; private fees |
| Saveetha Medical College / SIMATS, Chennai | Allied health, BPT, nursing | Institute process; private fees |
| SRM Institute of Science & Technology | Allied health, BPT, nursing, optometry | University process; private fees |
| Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Coimbatore | Paramedical degree programmes | College process (listed as AICTE / PCI approved) |
| SCSVMV and other universities | Allied health sciences | University process |
Private B.Sc Nursing totals in 2026 listings range from about ₹2.75 L to over ₹7 L across Tamil Nadu institutions; allied health degrees vary by college. Verify that the course and college are recognised by the state council and the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.
Your Tamil Nadu pathway
Register for DMER counselling in June–July using your Class 12 marks, keep CMC Vellore and AIIMS entrance tests as high-value options, and add a private university as a backup. If you want BPT or BOT, watch for any NEET requirement in the 2027 notification.
5
Costs and Careers
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What Does It Cost?
| Route | Approx. cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS B.Sc Paramedical | A few thousand ₹ a year | Nominal tuition; hostel extra |
| JIPMER | About ₹12,000 a year | Listing figure |
| CMC Vellore | Tens of thousands in total | Listings show ₹4,000–50,000 a year by course |
| Government colleges (BHU, state colleges) | ₹10,000 – ₹50,000 total | Per listings |
| Private colleges and universities | ₹2 – ₹4 L total for many B.Sc allied health degrees | Higher in deemed universities |
| Private B.Sc Nursing | ₹2.75 – ₹7 L total | Tamil Nadu 2026 listings |
Fees are approximate and from listing sites; check the prospectus, including hostel, uniforms and internship charges.
Where Can It Take You?
| Roles | Where you work |
|---|---|
| Medical laboratory technologist Radiographer / imaging technologist Physiotherapist and occupational therapist Optometrist Operation theatre and anaesthesia technician Dialysis, perfusion and respiratory technologist Emergency medical technologist Dietitian, physician associate, health information manager |
Government and private hospitals Diagnostic and imaging centres Rehabilitation and sports clinics Eye hospitals and optical chains Dialysis and critical-care units Pharma, research and public health organisations Overseas hospitals (with qualification recognition) |
Listing sites quote ₹25,000 to ₹45,000 a month for AIIMS-trained graduates, but typical fresher pay in private hospitals is lower and varies widely by course, city and employer. Further study options include M.Sc, M.P.T and specialised PG programmes.
6
Dates and Calendar
| Process | Window | Status | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG 2027 | Registration Feb – Mar 2027; exam about May 2027 (computer-based) | Tentative | neet.nta.nic.in |
| AIIMS B.Sc Paramedical | Registration Mar – Apr; exam June – July | Tentative (2026 pattern) | aiimsexams.ac.in |
| CMC Vellore allied health | Applications in the spring; entrance and interview before counselling | Check site | cmch-vellore.edu |
| JIPMER / PGIMER | May – July 2027 | Tentative | jipmer.edu.in · pgimer.edu.in |
| Tamil Nadu DMER counselling | Registration June – July; rank list August; rounds Aug – Sep | Tentative (2026 pattern) | tnmedicalselection.net |
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What Is Coming Up (as of Oct 8, 2026)
| When | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Now – Dec | Strengthen Class 12 Biology, Physics and Chemistry; watch NCAHP and state notices | No national deadline this month |
| Feb – Mar 2027 | NEET UG registration | Expected |
| Mar – Apr 2027 | AIIMS paramedical applications | 2026 pattern |
| May 2027 | NEET UG exam | Tentative |
| Jun – Jul 2027 | AIIMS exam; TN DMER registration; JIPMER and PGIMER | Tentative |
| Aug – Sep 2027 | Rank list and counselling rounds | 2026 pattern |
Heads-up
Round 2 of Tamil Nadu paramedical counselling for the current session ran in September 2026, so no allied health application window is open for fresh 2027 admissions yet. All 2027 dates are tentative until official notices appear.
7
Choose, Prepare and Key Takeaways
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Which Course Fits You?
| If you like… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Labs and diagnostics | B.Sc MLT / BMLS |
| Scans and imaging | Radiography and Imaging Technology (BMRIT); Radiotherapy Technology |
| Movement, sports and rehabilitation | BPT or BOT |
| Eyes and vision care | B.Optom |
| Surgery and critical care | OT / Anaesthesia Technology, Perfusion, Dialysis, Emergency Medical Technology |
| Nutrition and health information | Nutrition & Dietetics; BSc HIM |
Prepare Smart
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Protect Class 12 marks | Tamil Nadu counselling and many private colleges rank on Class 12 marks |
| Study Biology well | Biology is mandatory for most courses and is tested in AIIMS and CMC entrance exams |
| Keep NEET open | BPT and BOT may need NEET; it also keeps MBBS, BDS and nursing options open |
| Apply to a mix | AIIMS, CMC Vellore, state counselling and one or two private colleges |
| Verify recognition | Check the state council, university affiliation and NCAHP status before paying fees |
| Keep documents ready | Class 10 and 12 marksheets, nativity and community certificates |
Red Flags
- Colleges with no state council, university or regulator approval, or approval from an unknown “council”
- Distance or online-mode allied health degrees (UGC has stopped these)
- “Guaranteed placement” or pressure to pay for a seat immediately
- No clinical or hospital training, or unclear internship arrangements
Key Takeaways
- “Paramedical” is now “Allied and Healthcare”: NCAHP oversees about 56 professions in 10 categories and has set uniform criteria for 15 UG courses.
- NEET UG applies to BPT and BOT as the norms take effect (BPT deferred to 2027-28); most other courses use Class 12 scores.
- Top routes: AIIMS paramedical (low fees, apply Mar – Apr), CMC Vellore, JIPMER, and Tamil Nadu DMER counselling on Class 12 marks.
- Verify recognition, especially in the private sector: fake councils and unrecognised courses exist.
Before you apply
Confirm rules, seats, fees and dates on the official portals (NCAHP, tnmedicalselection.net, AIIMS and each institute). They change every year.
A–Z
Abbreviations and Their Expanded Forms
- BPTBachelor of Physiotherapy
- BOTBachelor of Occupational Therapy
- B.OptomBachelor of Optometry
- BMLSBachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
- BMRITBachelor of Medical Radiology & Imaging Technology
- BRTTBachelor of Radiotherapy Technology
- BAOTTBachelor of Anaesthesia & Operation Theatre Technology
- BEMTBachelor of Emergency Medical Technologist
- BDTTBachelor of Dialysis Therapy Technology
- BRTBachelor of Respiratory Technology
- BPABachelor of Physician Associates
- BSc HIMB.Sc Health Information Management
- BPsyBachelor of Psychology
- BMPSWBachelor of Medical & Psychiatric Social Work
- BASLPBachelor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- MLTMedical Laboratory Technology
- OTOperation Theatre
- HonsHonours
- B.Sc / M.ScBachelor / Master of Science
- B.PharmBachelor of Pharmacy
- Pharm.DDoctor of Pharmacy
- M.P.TMaster of Physiotherapy
- MBBSBachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- BDSBachelor of Dental Surgery
- UG / PGUndergraduate / Postgraduate
- NCAHPNational Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions
- AHPsAllied and Healthcare Professions
- UGCUniversity Grants Commission
- RCIRehabilitation Council of India
- INC / PCIIndian Nursing Council / Pharmacy Council of India
- AICTEAll India Council for Technical Education
- NEET UGNational Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)
- NTANational Testing Agency
- IPU CETIndraprastha University Common Entrance Test
- DMERDirectorate of Medical Education and Research (Tamil Nadu)
- ODLOpen and Distance Learning
- AIIMSAll India Institute of Medical Sciences
- CMCChristian Medical College (Vellore)
- JIPMERJawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
- PGIMERPostgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
- IMS BHUInstitute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University
- AFMCArmed Forces Medical College
- SRIHERSri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research
- SIMATSSaveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
- SCSVMVSri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya
- TN Dr. M.G.R.Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University
- SRMSRM Institute of Science and Technology
- PCB / PCMPhysics, Chemistry, Biology / Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
- PCBE / PCMEPhysics, Chemistry, Biology (or Maths), English
- SC / ST / OBCScheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes / Other Backward Classes
- EWS / GenEconomically Weaker Section / General
- GovtGovernment
- L / ₹Lakh (₹1,00,000) / Indian rupee
- TNTamil Nadu
- No abbreviation matches that search.
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