Allied health courses 2026

Allied health degrees train the professionals hospitals can't run without: physiotherapists, lab scientists, radiographers and optometrists. They're regulated by the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), set up under the NCAHP Act 2021, which is moving these courses to a common national curriculum from 2026-27.

NEET for BPT is not needed in 2026-27. NCAHP told the UGC on 2 March 2026 that the NEET requirement for BPT and BOT is deferred to 2027-28; this year admission is on Class 12 PCB marks (50%, or 40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL and PwBD) (NCAHP letter). Students aiming for 2027 should plan to take NEET UG.

BPT: Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists treat movement problems after injury, surgery, stroke and in sport.

• Duration: 5 years: 4 academic years plus a 1-year internship, under the NCAHP curriculum from 2026-27 (Tamil Nadu and Kerala notices).
• Regulator: National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP Act 2021); State Allied & Healthcare Councils (e.g., Kerala, Bihar). Physiotherapy is one of the recognised categories.
• Eligibility: 10+2 with PCB + English pass; min 50% in PCB (40% SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD); age 17 by 31 Dec of admission year.

How admission works:

• NEET UG – deferred: All BPT/BOT admissions nationally (source)
• State merit on 12th marks: Tamil Nadu (Selection Committee, DME), Kerala (LBS Centre) (source)
• State entrance: West Bengal JENPAS(UG)-2026 (WBJEEB), exam 7 June 2026 (source)

BMLT / B.MLS: Medical Laboratory Science

Lab scientists run the blood, pathology and microbiology tests behind most diagnoses. NCAHP-aligned prospectuses now call it B.MLS.

• Duration: 3 to 4 years depending on the institute: 4 years including internship at JIPMER, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and AIIMS Rishikesh/Nagpur; 3.5 years at AIIMS Bhubaneswar; 3 years at some AIIMS.
• Regulator: NCAHP (Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences category); renamed B.MLS in NCAHP-aligned prospectuses (Kerala, TN, WB, JIPMER).
• Eligibility: AIIMS: 10+2 PCB+English, 50% (45% SC/ST). Kerala B.MLS: pass in PCB. WB B.MLS: pass in PCB (no % listed).

How admission works:

• AIIMS B.Sc Allied & Health Care entrance: Participating AIIMS (source)
• NEET UG 2026: JIPMER (BMLS 37 seats) (source)
• State merit on 12th marks: Tamil Nadu, Kerala (source)
• JENPAS(UG): West Bengal (source)

B.Sc Radiology / B.MRIT: Medical Radiology and Imaging

Radiographers operate X-ray, CT and MRI equipment.

• Duration: Mostly 3 years plus a 1-year internship (AIIMS Delhi, Tamil Nadu, JIPMER); 4 years including internship in Kerala.
• Regulator: NCAHP (Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology category)
• Eligibility: AIIMS Delhi BMRIT: 10+2 English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology OR Maths, 50% (45% SC/ST). WB: upper age 35 for BMRIT.

How admission works:

• AIIMS allied entrance: AIIMS Delhi 11 seats, Bathinda 10, Bilaspur 5, etc. (source)
• NEET UG 2026: JIPMER (5 seats) (source)
• 12th merit (TN, Kerala) / JENPAS (WB): State seats (source)

B.Optom: Bachelor of Optometry

Optometrists test vision, prescribe glasses and lenses, and screen for eye disease.

• Duration: 4 to 5 years: 3 years plus a 1-year internship at AIIMS Rishikesh and JIPMER; 5 years including internship in Kerala under the NCAHP curriculum.
• Regulator: NCAHP (Ophthalmic Sciences category)
• Eligibility: Physics, Chemistry and Biology OR Maths: AIIMS 50% (45% SC/ST); Kerala 50% in PCB/M; TN 50% OC / 40% reserved; WB 50%/40% in PC+B/M.

How admission works:

• AIIMS allied entrance: AIIMS Bhopal (5), Rishikesh (source)
• NEET UG 2026: JIPMER (5) (source)
• 12th merit (TN, Kerala) / JENPAS (WB) (source)

Fees: official examples

Tamil Nadu (2026-27): ₹3,000 a year in government colleges and ₹50,000 a year in self-financing colleges for allied courses (TN prospectus). JIPMER's allied courses: ₹11,410 at admission (JIPMER).

Where to apply

AIIMS held its B.Sc Allied and Health Care entrance on 4 July 2026 for 725 seats (AIIMS prospectus (copy)); JIPMER admits on NEET UG; Tamil Nadu and Kerala admit on Class 12 marks (TN, Kerala); West Bengal uses JENPAS(UG) (WBJEEB). The full state list is on the B.Sc Nursing admission page.

Common questions