How to Become a Doctor After 12th: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Jobs, Salary, NEET 2025

Content Writer | Updated 3+ months ago

To become a doctor, aspiring candidates need to clear class 12 board exams with Physics, Chemistry and Biology from a recognised board. After class 12, they have to appear in the NEET exam to get selected for the MBBS course. MBBS is the most important course that students have to pursue to start working as Doctors in India. Apart from MBBS, there are many specialised courses that students can opt for after completing their MBBS degree. Some of the top courses include MD, MS, BDS, BHMS, BUMS, BAMS and MDS. Check: How to Become a Doctor Without NEET

Experience, expertise and designation are some of the factors that can affect the salaries of doctors in India. The average annual Salary of a Doctor in India is INR 5.4 LPA with the highest salary being INR 17 LPA. The estimated monthly earning of doctors in India is between INR 40,730 to INR 41,885. AIIMS, Apollo Hospital, Max Fortis and Manipal Hospital are some of the top recruiters of doctors in India. A doctor at AIIMS with an experience of 1 to 6 years is earning up to 22 Lakhs per year. Read: Types of Doctors

Table of Contents

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: Quick Facts
Eligibility to Become a Doctor after 12^th
Qualifications to Become a Doctor after 12^th
Steps to Become a Doctor after 12^th
Medical Courses after 12^th

5.1 Entrance Exams

Top Medical Colleges
Skills Required to Become a Doctor after 12^th
Benefits of Becoming a Doctor
Salary of a Doctor
How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: FAQs

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: Quick Facts

Eligibility	Class 12 with 50% marks in PCB/PCBM
Qualifications	MBBS
Starting Salary (INR)	3 LPA – 6 LPA
Average Salary (INR)	7.4 LPA
Highest Salary (INR)	20.3 LPA
Top Recruiters	Army Medical Corps, TATA Steel, Medanta, Indian Army, AIIMS, Apollo Hospitals

Eligibility to Become a Doctor after 12^th

The standard eligibility criteria to become a doctor in India after class 12 are explained in the following steps -

Students need to pass class 12 with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised board. It is important to have biology as one of the main subjects
Students have to appear in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam and qualify it to get admission to medical colleges for MBBS
The minimum age to appear for the MBBS program is 17 years
Students can start practising after MBBS, but they can also enrol for postgraduate courses for better career prospects. MD, MS. and MSc in Medicine are popular postgraduate courses
Students are required to undergo the compulsory one-year internship after MBBS to understand the basic working of the medical field and learn skills through hands-on procedures.

Qualifications to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Some of the general qualifications that are required for doctors include:

Education - Students need to have an MBBS degree to start practising medicine. They have to apply for Medical Practioner Number before opening a clinic or applying for jobs in hospitals.
Specialised PG Degree - After MBBS, students can apply for MD and MS courses to learn advanced practices in a particular medical speciality.
Certification/Diploma - Students can also opt for different certificate/diploma courses after MBBS in various specialities like paediatrics, gynaecology, surgery, etc learn skills.
PhD in Medicine - Students can go for a doctoral degree in medicine to specialise in research and academics. PhD programs generally last for three to five years.

Steps to Become a Doctor after 12^th

There are many steps that have to be followed to become a doctor in India after class 12th. The steps to becoming a doctor are explained in the following points:

Complete Class 12 - Students have to clear Class 12 with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognised board in order to be eligible to apply for medical entrance exams. They also need to have biology as one of their main subjects in the curriculum.
Apply for entrance Exams - After clearing class 12, students have to apply for entrance exams to get admission to medical colleges. NEET is the most common and popular entrance exam in India for admission into the MBBS course. Students can also appear in medical entrance exams conducted by colleges like JPIMER, AIIMS, Kasturba Medical College and Maulana Azad Medical College.
Complete MBBS Degree - Students have to complete the 5 years undergraduate course to become eligible to practice medicine in India. Upon completion of the MBBS, students can opt for speciality postgraduate courses.
Enrol in an Internship - Students are required to complete a mandatory 1-year internship program to receive their MBBS degree. Internship teaches the basic working of a medical institution to students as they develop skills by working with doctors.
Registering with Indian Medical Register - Students who do not wish to pursue PG courses and start practising after MBBS have to get registered themselves with the Indian Medica Register. They have to first get registered with their state medical council followed by the Indian Medical Register to become fully functioning doctors.
Apply for a Postgraduate Degree - Students who want to practice in a particular specification can continue their education after MBBS. They can enrol in master’s programs like MD, MS or MSc to get a specialised degree. Students also have an option of going for a PhD in medicine.

Medical Courses

MBBS is the major course that every aspiring student has to pursue and clear to become a doctor in India. Other medical courses available to students include MD, MS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, MDS, etc. Students can pursue these courses after their MBBS can go up to a PhD degree. The details for the most popular courses are mentioned in the following table.

Parameters	MBBS	MD	BDS
Eligibility	Class 12 with Biology	MBBS	Class 12 with Biology
Entrance Exams	NEET	NEET PG, JIPMER, AIIMS PG, PGIMER	NEET
Top Colleges	AIIMS, PGIMER, CMC Vellore	DMCH, IMS Varanasi, Assam Medical College	BHU, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science, King George’s Medical University
Course Fees	Govt: INR1628 - 20000 Private: INR 3,00,000 - 56,00,000	INR 10 L - 12 L	INR 50,000 - INR 12 Lakhs
Average Salary (INR)	6 LPA	INR 6 - 8 LPA	3 LPA
Top Recruiters	AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, KIMS Hospital, Self Practice	Apollo Hospitals, Medanta, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital	Straumann, ACE Surgical, MegaGen

Entrance Exams

There are many medical entrance exams that a student can appear for in India. NEET being the most important one, other exams include AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, CMC Vellore MBBS Examination and AIPVT. The details for some of the top medical exams are mentioned in the following table.

Entrance Exam	Application Deadlines	Exam Dates	Result Declaration
NEET	February 07 – March 07, 2025	May 4, 2025	June 14, 2025

Top Medical Colleges

India has some of the best medical colleges for students to pursue an education in medicine and related fields. AIIMS New Delhi, CMC Vellore, BHU, KMC Manipal, JIPMER, King George’s Medical University, etc are some of the top colleges for medical studies in India.

The details for top medical colleges are mentioned n the table below.

Name of the Colleges	Location	Average Fees (INR)
AIIMS New Delhi	New Delhi	1,628
CMC Vellore	Vellore	52,830
BHU	Varanasi	13,410
KMC Manipal	Manipal	17,80,000
JIPMER	Pondicherry	14,920
King George’s Medical University	Lucknow	54,900
St. John’s Medical College	Bangalore	7,37,930
AMU	Aligarh	45,690
Maulana Azad Medical College	New Delhi	4,445
Jamia Hamdard University	New Delhi	18,30,000

Skills Required to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Becoming a doctor after class 12 requires dedication, hard work and a wide range of skills. While academic excellence is essential, there are several skills that are crucial to becoming a successful doctor. Some of the top skills that a doctor should have are mentioned in the table below.

Strong Communication	Empathy and Compassion	Problem-solving skill
Attention to detail	Teamwork	Leadership qualities
Emotional Intelligence	Analytical Thinking	Time Management

Benefits of Becoming a Doctor after 12^th

The profession of a doctor can be challenging and demanding, but it also comes with a wide range of advantages. Some of the benefits of becoming a doctor include

High earning potential: Doctor is one of the highest earning professions in the world. With experience and expertise, the earning can increase more with time.
Opportunity to make a difference: Doctors make a positive impact on patient's lives by treating them and helping them lead healthier and happy lives.
Professional fulfilment: The ability to make people’s lives healthier can provide a sense of purpose and satisfaction. A doctor is also one of the most respected professions in the world.
Lifelong learning: Medicine is a constantly evolving field, and doctors have to keep themselves updated with all of the latest advancements and trends in the field of medicine.
Diverse career options: Medicine offers a wide range of career paths, from general practice to specialised fields, from private clinics to hospitals and from private institutions to government bodies, doctors are required everywhere.
Job security: The demand for qualified well-trained doctors is always high and the job outlook is very positive making it a stable and secure career.

Salary of a Doctor after 12^th

The average annual salary of a doctor in India is 5.4 LPA. A gradual increase in salary is seen as professionals gain more experience and expertise. The average starting salary of a doctor in India is INR 3.60 LPA with the highest salary being INR 17 LPA.

The salaries for doctors according to different specialisations are mentioned in the following table.

Designations	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Neurologist	12 L
Gynaecologist	10 L
General Physician	7.2 L
Cardiologist	13.2 L
Pediatrician	12 L
Oncologist	28.3 L
ENT Specialist	11 L
Obstetrician	12 L
Ophthalmologist	10 L

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: FAQs

Ques. What are the industries that are paying the most to Doctors in India?

Ans. Government, Education and Training, Healthcare, Internet and Analytics and KPO are top-paying industries for Doctors in India,

Ques. Which cities in India are offering the best pay to Doctors?

Ans. New Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune are the best-paying cities for doctors in India.

Ques. What are the career options in the medical field if someone does not want to pursue a medical degree?

Ans. Students can look for a career in physiotherapy, biotechnology, nursing, pharmacy, biomedical engineering, etc if they do not wish to pursue a medical degree but want to work in the medical field.

Ques. What are the top companies that recruit Doctors in India?

Ans. Indian Medical Corps, Indian Army, Medanta, Apollo, AIIMS, Manipal Hospital, etc are some of the top recruiters of Doctors in India.

Ques. What is the time duration of the MBBS course?

Ans. MBBS is a 5 years long course. If the one-year mandatory internship is considered, the full MBBS degree takes a total of 6 years to complete.

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] : 118 answered questions

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Ques. Do students of AIIMS Delhi get opportunity to go to US UK during MBBS?

● Top Answer By Yogesh Choudhary on 30 Apr 26

Ans. yes, AIIMS Delhi students do get opportunities to go to US/UK during MBBS — but the reality is a bit more complicated than it sounds. ICMR research grants: if you do solid research and get it approved by ICMR, the trip is fully funded. this is the best route. but you need actual research output, not just applying randomly Self-funded electives: Oxford, Hopkins, Harvard all have elective programs open to AIIMS students. most students who go this route pay out of pocket. AIIMS administration actually discourages it since it means missing classes, but students manage it during vacations or by getting internship extended later Formal exchange programs: AIIMS has MoUs with Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale, Oxford. spots are limited and selection is competitive — academic performance and research experience matter a lot real talk — most AIIMS students are genuinely too busy during MBBS to go abroad. the ones who do are usually research-oriented or from very well-off families who can self-fund. if you're planning post-MBBS though, AIIMS is a great launchpad for USMLE (US medical licensing) and UK PLAB prep — the brand carries serious weight internationally.Read more

5 Answer

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Ques. Which is better for an MBBS course, KMC Manipal or Mangalore?

● Top Answer By Anjana Yadav on 30 Apr 26

Ans. both KMC Manipal and KMC Mangalore are part of the same Manipal group, but they're different campuses with real differences worth knowing: KMC Manipal (Kasturba Medical College, Manipal): older and more established (est. 1953), stronger brand recognition nationally and internationally large campus, Manipal town has a full student ecosystem with multiple colleges more competitive cutoff — general category NEET cutoff ~600+ better research infrastructure, more publications and funded projects KMC Mangalore (Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore): also a strong college, affiliated to Manipal Academy of Higher Education city location in Mangalore — excellent hospital (AJ Institute + Wenlock govt hospital nearby), good clinical variety slightly lower cutoff than KMC Manipal — more accessible option smaller campus feel compared to Manipal, but genuine advantages of a city location for pure brand and research, KMC Manipal wins. for clinical exposure in a city setting with slightly easier admission, KMC Mangalore is a very respectable choice. if you're getting KMC Manipal — take it. if you're choosing between KMC Mangalore and other unknown private colleges, go Mangalore without second thought.Read more

2 Answer

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Ques. How much marks should I score in the AIIMS entrance exam to secure an MBBS seat in AIIMS Delhi??

● Top Answer By Amala Samuel on 30 Apr 26

Ans. AIIMS Delhi no longer has a separate entrance exam — it joined the NEET system in 2020. so admission to AIIMS Delhi is through NEET UG marks only . to get AIIMS Delhi (MBBS), you need to be among the top ~50-100 NEET rankers nationally (general category). in practice that means: NEET score: 715-720 out of 720 (general category, recent trends) NEET rank: approximately AIR 1-100 for general category AIIMS Delhi closing rank for general typically falls between rank 1-50 this is the most competitive MBBS seat in India. getting even 700 in NEET would not guarantee AIIMS Delhi for general category. for the newer AIIMS institutions (AIIMS Bhopal, Patna, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Bhubaneswar, etc.): NEET rank ~100-1000 for general category gets you into one of these these are also excellent government medical colleges, world-class in terms of government funding focus on maximizing your NEET score. 700+ keeps your options open for all AIIMS campuses.Read more

4 Answer

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Ques. Are only Christians allowed in CMC Vellore for MBBS?

● Top Answer By Hema Pilli on 28 Apr 26

Ans. No, Christians are not the only ones allowed at CMC Vellore for MBBS. This is one of the most common misconceptions about the college. CMC Vellore does have a unique admission system, but it's not exclusively for Christians: Christian sponsored seats: ~53-55% of MBBS seats are reserved for Christian candidates sponsored by registered church bodies/Christian organisations. These candidates need a church sponsorship letter. Open/All India seats: The remaining ~45-47% seats are open to candidates of all religions via NEET merit. These are highly competitive — CMC open category NEET cutoff is typically 650+ marks. so there are TWO different tracks at CMC: Christian track — lower NEET cutoff (since competition is within Christians only), requires church sponsorship Open track — very high NEET cutoff, no religion requirement CMC Vellore is a Christian minority institution (run by the Christian Medical College & Hospital Society) so the Christian seat reservation is legally protected. but they have never been exclusively for Christians. some of India's finest doctors from all backgrounds have graduated from CMC. if you score 650+ NEET, you can apply for the open merit seats regardless of religion.Read more

4 Answer

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Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at CMC Vellore?

● Top Answer By Mathew raj kamal on 07 Nov 24

Ans. The students in their internship will get around 35000 per month excluding their mess fees, they have the option to opt out of the mess. And once they finish their internship they had to do two years bond in places where the colleges allot them and the salary for those two years will be decided by the place the person goes and itll be definitely more than what they get during internship.Read more

11 Answer

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Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. CMC Vellore?

● Top Answer By Mathew raj kamal on 07 Nov 24

Ans. I chose this college because this is one of the best colleges in the world and this college got the second ranking in the NIRF ranking in India . And my parents wanted me to join a college which brings out the best of me and it sure does.Read more

22 Answer

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Ques. What is the fees for M.B.B.S. in CMC Vellore?

● Top Answer By Mathew raj kamal on 07 Nov 24

Ans. The tuition fee including travels and others will be around 30000 to 50000 depends on the clinical year the person gets into. The college provides scholarship for certain applicable students and the amount will be around 60000 per year which will cober the hostel fee tooRead more

22 Answer

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Ques. How is the course curriculum of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] in CMC Vellore?

● Top Answer By Mathew raj kamal on 07 Nov 24

Ans. The curriculum is well planned for every year students , there wont be any clash in the academics between senior batches and the fresher batches. Everything is scheduled properly. And the patients we see here in the hospital is very high in number , which helps us to learn a lot than other colleges where where even a normal cases in CMC would be a rarer casesRead more

23 Answer

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Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at JIPMER?

● Top Answer By Tayyab Aman on 15 Nov 21

Ans. Several students get placed in JIPMER itself after their MD specialisations. MBBS is a basic qualification for a doctor. So a major portion of students go for post graduation. After that job offers are more.Read more

3 Answer

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Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. JIPMER?

● Top Answer By Anonymous on 28 Dec 24

Ans. Because the teaching is very good. And the practical gain of knowledge is very much in this institute. And the faculties are well experienced ones and the knowledge gaining from them is very helpful for our careerRead more

28 Answer

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How to Become a Doctor after 12th: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Skills, Salary

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: Quick Facts

Eligibility to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Qualifications to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Steps to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Medical Courses

Entrance Exams

Top Medical Colleges

Skills Required to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Benefits of Becoming a Doctor after 12^th

Salary of a Doctor after 12^th

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: FAQs

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] : 118 answered questions

Ques. Do students of AIIMS Delhi get opportunity to go to US UK during MBBS?

Ques. Which is better for an MBBS course, KMC Manipal or Mangalore?

Ques. How much marks should I score in the AIIMS entrance exam to secure an MBBS seat in AIIMS Delhi??

Ques. Are only Christians allowed in CMC Vellore for MBBS?

Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at CMC Vellore?

Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. CMC Vellore?

Ques. What is the fees for M.B.B.S. in CMC Vellore?

Ques. How is the course curriculum of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] in CMC Vellore?

Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at JIPMER?

Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. JIPMER?

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How to Become a Doctor after 12th: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Skills, Salary

How to Become a Doctor after 12th: Quick Facts

Eligibility to Become a Doctor after 12th

Qualifications to Become a Doctor after 12th

Steps to Become a Doctor after 12th

Medical Courses

Entrance Exams

Top Medical Colleges

Skills Required to Become a Doctor after 12th

Benefits of Becoming a Doctor after 12th

Salary of a Doctor after 12th

How to Become a Doctor after 12th: FAQs

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] : 118 answered questions

Ques. Do students of AIIMS Delhi get opportunity to go to US UK during MBBS?

Ques. Which is better for an MBBS course, KMC Manipal or Mangalore?

Ques. How much marks should I score in the AIIMS entrance exam to secure an MBBS seat in AIIMS Delhi??

Ques. Are only Christians allowed in CMC Vellore for MBBS?

Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at CMC Vellore?

Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. CMC Vellore?

Ques. What is the fees for M.B.B.S. in CMC Vellore?

Ques. How is the course curriculum of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] in CMC Vellore?

Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MBBS] at JIPMER?

Ques. What is the admission process at M.B.B.S. JIPMER?

Comments

Bachelor of Business Administration [BBA]

Master of Business Administration [MBA]

Master of Science [M.Sc] (Nursing)

Master of Business Administration [MBA] (Banking and Finance)

Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] (Optometry)

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS LETTER

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: Quick Facts

Eligibility to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Qualifications to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Steps to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Skills Required to Become a Doctor after 12^th

Benefits of Becoming a Doctor after 12^th

Salary of a Doctor after 12^th

How to Become a Doctor after 12^th: FAQs