ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing: Which is the Best Course for You?

ANM and GNM are both diploma degrees in the field of Nursing, while BSc Nursing is a UG course. All three of them cater to different requirements and needs for patient care and nursing assistance. The ANM or Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery course mainly focuses on training students about the basic healthcare and nursing facilities that are offered to patients. In contrast, a GNM or General Nursing Midwifery diploma is skill-based and trains students to assist doctors and medical surgeons in post-surgical patient care and other comprehensive healthcare requirements. BSc Nursing , on the other hand, offers an in-depth knowledge about the various aspects of Nursing, in addition to patient care and community medicine.

The admission process to all three of these courses is fairly similar; however, only female students can apply for GNM admissions. In terms of career prospects, students pursuing a GNM Nursing course have a higher chance at securing high-end nursing job roles at established government and private hospitals when compared to those of ANM Nursing course graduates. Similarly, private healthcare facilities and nursing schools always recruit ANM graduates in high demand, to cater to the nursing care of their patients. BSc Nursing graduates can opt for higher Nursing degrees and work as Nursing supervisors. To understand which course is best suited for your interests, you must know the course structure and related details in-depth, as provided below,w to help make your decision.

Also Read: Top Nursing Colleges in India

Which is Better in ANM vs GNM?

Which is the best nursing course for you after Class 12th? To understand this question, take a quick look at the detailed course structures and comparison mentioned below between ANM and GNM for easy reference:

Also Read: Government Jobs After Nursing Course

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Admission Process for ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing

The admission process to enroll in ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing has been laid down below in detail for your easy reference:

Course Fee of ANM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing

The detailed course fee structure of the AHM vs GNM vs BSc Nursing has been provided below for all interested students to refer to. The following offers an idea of the average fee range in government and private nursing colleges in India.

Eligibility Criteria for ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing

Whether you are planning on pursuing an ANM, GNM or BSc Nursing course after the 12th, you should know that the eligibility criteria are different for each of them.

ANM Nursing Eligibility Criteria

To enroll for an ANM course, aspirants will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The age of the student must be between 17 and 35 years

• As per the guidelines of the Indian Nursing Council (INC), the student must have passed (10+2) in Arts (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biotechnology, Biology, Political Science, Economics, Geography, History, Accountancy, Business Studies, Sociology, Home Science, Philosophy, and Psychology) and Elective English/Core English or Science or Healthcare Science – Vocational from a recognized Board.

• The student must have qualified in 12th Grade with Arts/Science subjects from the National Institute of Open School

• The student must be physically fit

GNM Nursing Eligibility Criteria

The minimum eligibility criteria for admission to the GNM course are as follows:

• The student must be between 17 and 35 years of age

• The aspirant must have passed (10+2) with English and must have secured at least 40% aggregate marks in the qualifying test and English separately from any recognized Board.

• Students passing from any State Open School recognized by the State Govt. and any National Institute of Open School recognized by the Central Govt., preferably with Science, are also eligible for the course.

• The applicant must have qualified in (10+2) with English, having secured 40% aggregate marks in the Vocational ANM course from a school recognized by the Indian Nursing Council.

• The student must have passed (10+2) with English, having secured 40% aggregate marks in the Vocational Healthcare Science recognized by the CBSE Board.

• The student must be registered in ANM with a pass mark

BSc Nursing Eligibility Criteria

The following are the parameters that a student must fulfill in order to pursue BSc Nursing:

• The minimum age of the applicant should be 17 years as of December 31, 2022

• The applicant must have passed 12th Grade (10+2) with Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) and English/Elective English with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate from a recognized Board under HSCE/SSCE/ICSE/CBSE/AISSCE or any other equivalent Board. For students belonging to ST/SC/OBC Category, the required aggregate is 45% in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English combined.

• Students taking the 12th Grade (10+2) exams in Science under the National Institute of Open School must score 50% aggregate marks

• Applicants can apply for admission only once a year

• The applicant must be medically fit and healthy

ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing Syllabus

The course curriculum of GNM is broader and comprises a detailed study of nursing equipment, hospital-based and clinical nursing care facilities when compared to the ANM syllabus. However, the course curriculum of BSc Nursing is all-inclusive, with related topics to the field of Nursing and medical assistance. A detailed insight into the important subjects in each of these course curricula has been mentioned below for you to analyze and understand:

Career Prospects of ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing

The career opportunities after pursuing each of these courses are widespread in the field of Nursing. Graduates in ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing are always on demand due to the high requirement of trained professionals in the healthcare industry. To understand the career opportunities in the field of nursing, refer to the detailed information about the list of hiring companies, salary structures, and other related data for easy convenience.

Areas of Employment for ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing

Since all three courses are quite similar, the areas of employment of all three are similar too. However, BSc in Nursing graduates can expect to get into better organizations and can demand higher salaries than GNM and ANM graduates. Some of the places that hire ANM, GNM and BSc in Nursing students are:

• Community Health Centres
• Aanganwadi Programs
• Government and Private hospitals
• Dispensaries
• Private clinics
• Nursing homes
• Government jobs
• Educational institutes/industries
• The Armed Forces
• Nursing Schools & Associations
• Indian Nursing Council and other State Nursing Councils
• The Indian Red Cross Society

Hiring Places for BSc, ANM & GNM Graduates

Some of the top employment areas for the ANM & GNM graduates are listed below

• Armed forces of the country
• Dispensaries
• Private Clinics
• Government Agencies
• Private and Public Hospitals
• Central and State Nursing Council
• Indian Red Cross Society
• Educational Institutions

Starting Salary in ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing

Although the initial pay scale for ANM and GNM nursing salaries is low compared to BSc Nursing salary, there are plenty of scopes to grow once you have gained experience as a nurse. A lot also depends on the specialization and profession you choose. For instance, on average, a Nursing Superintendent earns a whopping INR 7.5Lakhs per annum. This means one can earn up to INR 60,000 per month going up the career ladder. Nevertheless, here is what the starting salary would look like:

Top ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing Colleges in India

Some of the top GNM, ANM, and BSc Nursing colleges in India are listed below:

ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing: Which One to Choose?

If you've completed your 12th Grade in a non-science field, pursuing an ANM program is your sole pathway to enter the nursing profession. Upon completing the ANM program and obtaining nursing registration, students have the opportunity to undertake a GNM course, which will grant them eligibility for enrollment in a BSc (N) Post Basic program. GNM graduates can subsequently opt for either a BSc (N) Basic or BSc (N) Post Basic program.

For science stream students desiring to complete their studies before entering the workforce, a BSc in Nursing program should be seriously considered, as it offers opportunities to pursue an MSc program. Following the completion of an MSc program, students can then explore further educational opportunities, such as a Ph.D. or seek employment opportunities.

Also Read: List of Nursing Entrance Exams in India 2025

For the students who completed class 12 in a non-science stream, the ANM program is the best entry point into nursing. After obtaining the ANM diploma and registering as a nurse, graduates can pursue a GNM diploma, which then allows them to enroll in BSc Nursing or BSc (Post-Basic) Nursing programs. For students with a science background, especially in Biology, starting with the GNM diploma is ideal. GNM graduates can progress to a BSc in Nursing or BSc (Post-Basic) Nursing. Those with two years of experience can also opt for BSc Nursing Distance programs. However, each student must select the specific nursing courses based on their interest and career choices.

If you have any doubts or queries regarding which of the three courses would be the best for you, call us at 1800-572-877 or fill out our QnA form. Our education experts will provide you with all the relevant information and help you find the right college.

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