NEET 2020 examination is around the corner. This is the right time when a NEET aspirant should decide a career path they want to pursue. NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) is a national-level entrance examination for admission in undergraduate medical courses and dental courses in government or private medical colleges. While MBBS and BDS degrees are the most popular among NEET aspirants, clearly NEET opens the gate to many medical fields apart from these two. However, different career paths in the medical profession have different eligibility criteria and admission requirements that applicants need to be aware of.
Following are some of the medical career paths that one can opt for as per their NEET scores:
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery): The most chosen undergraduate programme by medical aspirants is MBBS. An MBBS degree is an undergraduate course that fulfils a candidate’s dream of becoming a doctor. Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is a professional degree in medical science which is compulsory to become a certified medical practitioner. As per the Medical Council of India, a regulatory body for medical education in India, a total of 41,388 government medical seats are available in 272 MBBS colleges as per NEET 2020 score. There is a centralized admission process for getting into medical colleges in India.
BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery): The field of dentistry is the second most chosen courses by medical aspirants in India since the NEET cutoff for dental colleges are usually lower compared to MBBS courses. The BDS degree course will make you an authorized dental surgeon.
B.H.M.S (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery): Regulated by National Institute of Homeopathy, B.H.M.S. is a bachelor degree in Homeopathic Education in India. Homoeopathic medicine is preferred by many for curing many chronic disorders. There is a huge scope of BHMS degree in India seeing the number of patients turning to homoeopathic treatment as it is said to have zero side effects.
B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery): Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) is a great career opportunity among medical aspirants. It is a graduation degree awarded by quite a few eminent institutes such as Banaras Hindu University, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, etc. Students can be a certified Ayurvedic doctor after the study of five and a half years duration, including a one-year internship.
The course includes the study of physiology, modern anatomy, principles of medicine, pathology and diagnostic procedures, preventive and social medicine, forensic medicine, pharmacology, toxicology, ENT, principles of surgery, etc. Along with these studies, B.A.M.S. also includes Ayurvedic subjects such as Rachana Sharira, Dravyuaguna, Svasthavritta, Kriya Sharira and Yoga etc. The significance of Ayurvedic sciences is immensely growing and this qualification holds great value in India. With people from around the globe accepting Ayurveda because of its immense benefits, the career scope of an individual is vast. In recent times, Ayurveda has witnessed a quantum jump in terms of advancement and research. NEET aspirants can work as an authorized Ayurvedic doctor.
Paramedical Courses: A Lucrative Career Choice for Medical Aspirants
Students must not get disheartened if they do not qualify for admission in MBBS courses. NEET scores are accepted by a number of institutes for admission to various courses apart from MBBS and BDS. For those who are not planning to opt for regular MBBS or BDS courses or could not clear the high NEET cutoff set for MBBS in premier medical colleges, there are plenty of other opportunities available in the medical science and healthcare industry.
Healthcare industries are undergoing fast changes and there is a rising demand for paramedical personnel. There are many paramedical courses that a medical candidate can choose. In fact, NEET is not a mandatory exam for such courses as most institutes or states conduct their own examination. However, some institutes offer admission as per the marks scored in national or state-level entrance exams. Following are the paramedical courses available for PCB (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) students after 12th:
Bachelor of Radiation Technology
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
B.Sc. Nursing
B.Sc. in Dialysis Therapy
B.Sc. Medical Lab Technology
B.Sc. in Optometry
B.Sc. in X-Ray Technology
B.Sc. in Nuclear Medicine Technology
B.Sc. in Operation Theatre Technology
B.Sc. in Medical Record Technology
B.Sc. in Medical Imaging Technology
B.Sc. in Anesthesia Technology
These paramedical courses train a student to be a competent healthcare professional who can deal with critical situations. If you are passionate about taking care of people, particularly in trauma and accident care, paramedics may be the right course for you.
B.Pharma (Bachelor of Pharmacy): Another Promising Career Path for NEET Aspirants
A Bachelor of Pharmacy, also known as B.Pharma, is an undergraduate academic degree in the field of pharmacy. B.Pharma is the mandatory degree course to practice as a pharmacist in many countries. The study of this course allows one to have a deep understanding of the properties and impacts of medicines and develops the skills required to counsel patients about their use. B.Pharma is a 4-year long undergraduate degree course in India. This course is mainly pursued by students who want to open their own pharmacy store or join the industry for research purposes. B Pharmacy course focuses on the study of aspects of medicines, drugs, their chemical structure and formulation, etc. Some of the top colleges in India offering Bachelor of Pharmacy include Jamia Hamdard (New Delhi) that accepts NEET score and Panjab University (Chandigarh) which takes admission through PU CET.
Most of the prestigious colleges take admission in their various medical courses through NEET exam. Hence, NEET is an important exam for students who want to pursue careers that are closely related to the field of medicine and healthcare. Students should come out of the mindset that only an MBBS degree can give a secured career in the field of medical science. Medical and Healthcare industry is changing dynamically and there are many newer subjects coming up with the advancement in technology and medical procedures. Any medical profession is great whether it is physiotherapy, nursing or Homeopathy and Ayurveda as long as one gives their 100% to their duty. A medical professional has a rewarding career as long as he/she is genuinely passionate about providing quality healthcare services.
