6 Career Options in Medical Other Than MBBS

Have you always dreamt about taking care of people or healing their illnesses? Did this dream ever fade into the background because the idea of pursuing an MBBS didn’t exactly appeal to you? If yes, know that your dream to become a doctor and help people can still come true!

While MBBS seems to be the obvious choice for those pursuing medicine, there is more than just one approach to healing. If the mainstream choice of MBBS isn’t your cup of tea, here’s a list top medical courses to guide you in the right direction:

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1. Dental Sciences

From cavities to extracting wisdom teeth, there is a lot that needs to be taken care of when it comes to dental health. If you’re interested in helping people take care of their teeth, you can take up Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS), a four-year course from colleges like Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi), Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Manipal), etc.

Eligibility: You need at least 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as your subjects. Apart from this, dental colleges allot seats based on the result of entrance exams like National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK), etc.

Average Salary: ₹26k per month

2. Veterinary Sciences

If you are an animal lover, consider a career in Veterinary Science. As a vet, you would work on healing sick or injured animals. Enrol for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), a three-to-five-year medical course from colleges like Veterinary College (Bengaluru), College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (Kerala), etc.

Eligibility: To pursue a Bachelor’s in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry you need to opt for Physics, Chemistry and Biology in Class 12. Most veterinary colleges have their own entrance exams, of which the popular ones are the Andhra Pradesh Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test (AP EAMCET), Kerala Engineering Agricultural Medical Entrance Examination (KEAM), and Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET), amongst others.

Average Salary: ₹61k per month

3. Pharmacy

Healing people involves prescribing medicine. But where does this medicine come from? The pharmacist, of course! If you are interested in what goes into making medicines opt for a career in pharmacy. With emerging fields in medicinal manufacturing and clinical research, pharmacists are in huge demand on the global healthcare front. Pursue a Bachelor’s in Pharmacy (BPharm), a four-year course from colleges like Institute of Chemical Technology (Mumbai), Government College of Pharmacy (Bengaluru) etc., to get into this field.

Eligibility: To pursue medical courses like BPharm, you need at least 50% in Class 12 with Biology or Biotechnology as one of your subjects. Admissions are provided on the basis of merit.

Average Salary: ₹18.5 per month

4. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps individuals who are physically, emotionally or mentally challenged to lead independent lives. As an occupational therapist, you will recommend changes in an individual’s daily life or environment to suit their needs. Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy can last for three to five years depending on the college you select. You can pursue it through colleges like Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences (Manipal), Christian Medical College (Vellore), etc.

Eligibility: You need at least 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics as your subjects. Apart from this, some colleges have their own entrance tests, like the Manipal University Bachelor of Occupational Therapy Entrance Exam, CMC Vellore Entrance Exam, etc., and a round of counselling to shortlist students.

Average Salary: ₹22k per month

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5. Physiotherapy

This field deals with helping patients recover after an injury, especially post-surgery.  Physiotherapists help patients strengthen their body movements through exercising. They work at fitness centres, clinics, hospitals and places where people are recovering from an illness or injury. The Bachelor of Physiotherapy course is a four-year course with a compulsory six-month internship. Pursue it from colleges like Christian Medical College (Vellore), Sri Ramachandra University (Chennai), etc.

Eligibility: You need at least 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as your subjects. Post that, apply to different physiotherapy colleges and clear their individual entrance tests like the CMC Vellore Entrance Exam and rounds of counselling to enrol for the course.

Average Salary: ₹25k per month

6. Alternative Healing

If you wish to steer away from mainstream medicine courses, you can pursue courses in alternative healing. These fields call for the use of unconventional methods of healing like therapeutic massages, special diets and exercises, natural remedies, etc. These courses range from three to five years. Here are some fields you can pursue:

Homoeopathy

This system was developed 200 years ago in Germany. It is said to be devoid of the aggressive side effects we see in allopathy. To pursue medical courses like the Bachelor in Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS), you need to secure at least 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics as your subjects. You will also need to clear the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Average Salary: ₹26k per month

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a medicinal system deeply rooted in ancient India. With time, this discipline has spread on a global scale. To pursue medical courses like the Bachelor’s in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), you need at least 50% marks in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as your subjects. You also need to clear an entrance test as required by your desired college. Pre Medical Test (PMT) is one such entrance exam.

Average Salary: ₹30.5k per month

Unani Medicine

Unani is a Perso-Arabic medicine system developed in South and present-day Central Asia. It is based on the teachings of Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen. A Bachelor’s in Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) requires at least 50% in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as your subjects. You also have to clear entrance tests like Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM), Combined Pre Medical Entrance Examination (CPMEE), etc.

Average Salary: ₹25k per month

Naturopathy and Yogic Science

This system believes that illnesses can be cured naturally through diets, exercising and massages. To pursue medical courses like the Bachelor’s of Naturopathy and Yoga Sciences (BNYS), you need at least 50% in Class 12. Admissions are granted on the basis of merit.

Average Salary: ₹12k per month

There are several fields you can get into if you’re passionate about helping people. However, you must make sure that the field you choose matches your interests, skills and personality, to ensure that you excel at what you do. Therefore, before you dive in, give enough thought to which field of alternative medicine would best suit you. If you are confused or need advice, reach out to us! We’d be happy to help you.

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