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 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 after 12th
5.1 Entrance Exams
How to Become a Doctor after 12th: 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 12th
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 12th
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 12th
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 9 – March 9, 2024 | May 5, 2024 | June 14, 2024 |
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 12th
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 12th
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 12th
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 12th: 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.
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