How to Choose the Right Paramedical Specialisation After Class 12th?

Cyril Titus Zachariah

Updated On: May 28, 2025 06:53 PM

Confused between different paramedical courses in India? Here are some tips and tricks to help you choose the right paramedical specialisation after class 12th. You can check out the list of paramedical specialisations available in India and the best methods of shortlisting the courses.

Choosing The Right Paramedical Specialisation

Choosing the right course has always been one of the difficult choices that you, as a fresh school pass-out, will be required to make. While it may seem a tedious task to do so, making the right decision would be far easier than it seems. Among the thousands of courses to choose from, in innumerable disciplines available in India, lies the stream of Paramedical. In this article, we will talk about the things you must keep in while choosing the right paramedical specialization after 12.

In any country, the paramedical industry has been known to be the backbone of the medical and healthcare industry in general. With their expertise in different specialized medical fields, the paramedical staff is key to ensuring a successful medical operation or procedure. With numerous options available, aspirants will be able to choose a lucrative career path irrespective of the option they choose. Let’s check out some factors one should consider while choosing an appropriate paramedical specialization after the 12th for themselves. This is the right time to explore one's options and get to know about how to choose the right paramedical specialization after class 12th as most of the major board exam results like CBSE class 12 result , ISC class 12 result 2020 , and others have been announced.

1. Learn About Available Paramedical Options in India

In order to choose an option, learning about the available options would make it easier for you, as an aspirant, to choose the course for yourself. Given below are some of the paramedical specializations offered after class 12 in India.

If you are interested in checking out the other paramedical specializations that are available in India, then check out our article on the list of top paramedical courses in India .

2. Check out the Syllabus of the Paramedical Course of Your Choice

It is very common to be doubtful about which Paramedical course to choose after the 12th. In order to get a clear picture of the same, it is recommended to check out the subjects and topics that are covered under the syllabus of various courses. The subjects and topics covered would allow you to gauge the difficulty of the course to a certain extent. Along with understanding the difficulty, you will also be able to understand what the course is about and the area of specialization in which you shall be trained and qualified in after graduation.

For instance, in B.Sc Ophthalmic Technology, students are taught the fundamentals and principles of the eye, its diseases, and the possible different solutions to treat those diseases and illnesses. Meanwhile, Bachelor of Physiotherapy offers training to students in treating various muscle-related injuries and illnesses. While both are paramedical specializations and are 4-4.5 year courses, graduates of either of the courses will not be able to assist in medical procedures pertaining to the other course. In other words, these are specialized courses, designed to train the students specifically in that area of specialization alone.

3. Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the most important factors in deciding the course of choice is to select one as on one’s strengths and weaknesses. Here, the strengths and weaknesses refer to your strengths and weaknesses regarding certain areas of study. This is one of the areas why the point previous to this one comes in handy, as the students will be able to gauge if there are subjects and topics which they are not comfortable with.

Now, one cannot decide on a course just on the basis of the strengths, every course will consist of subjects, and topics and would require the students to undertake activities that might be difficult for them. Therefore, when deciding on the course, your strengths in the course should be more than your weaknesses in the course.

4. Follow Your Interests

As cliche as it may sound, your interests and passion for a course or subject will affect your career in the long run. Keep in mind, following one’s interests and following one’s passion are two different aspects here. While interests can allow you to decide between different courses, passion is something that would keep you happy in the long run.

However, it is always advisable to follow one’s passion if one wishes to keep themselves happy while pursuing a career in the field of their choice. Therefore, before choosing a paramedical specialization, you must ask yourself whether a career in the respective field would keep you interested in the long run.

5. Check Career Prospects

The major motivation behind choosing a technical or professional course is the career prospects of the course. At the end of the day, every youth will be required to live independently after some point in time, which would require them to earn and make a living, in order to live without much hassle. Therefore, doing proper research about various career prospects is a recommended method of shortlisting the programmes.

Here, career prospects do not mean the placement opportunities after graduating but the possibilities of career and personal growth through the field. While paramedical courses may present similar career prospects, each course will differ in its own manner.

6. Shortlist the College of Choice

There are thousands of paramedical colleges across India that offer a wide range of paramedical courses. It is important that you select the college as per your preference. One way to shortlist the college is to check the placement trends at the college and check out the type of companies and organizations that have recruited students from the institute. It will help you gauge the reputation of the institute among the top players in the industry as well as the quality of education imparted at the institute.

7. Check Placement Trends and Opportunities

Aiding the point above, aspirants must research and check the scope of the placement trends and opportunities of different courses. The placement facilities and opportunities depend on a lot of determining factors, such as the reputation of the educational institute, the level of the degree, and so on. It is recommended to check the placement trends of the course in general as well as at the desired institute.

The points that have been made above are some of the major parameters that one should keep in mind prior to finalizing a course for themselves. However, it should be noted that various other factors that are personal to you, as an aspirant can also affect your choice. For instance, for personal reasons, you may not be able to leave your city or town, and the course of your choice is not offered at any of the colleges in your city. In this case, you may be required to select another course that is similar to the one you previously chose.

9. Check the Eligibility Criteria

It is important for the students to know about the eligibility criteria before taking admission to any paramedical courses in India. Here, the list-wise eligibility requirements for various degree levels are given for your reference:

  • Certificate course in Paramedical Sciences - The minimum qualification required for enrolling in any of the certification courses of paramedical science includes a high school degree certificate from a recognized institution or board. The minimum age limit is around 17 years. Apart from these, it is a mandatory requirement that applicants for this degree course must have studied the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.

  • Diploma in Paramedical Science - To take admission to this course, students have to be at least 17 years of age and have completed their high school education with at least 50% marks. Core subjects during the 10+2 level must be Physics, Chemistry, Math, and Biology.

  • Bachelor's Degree in Paramedical Science - It is mandatory to score at least 50% (for general candidates) and 45% (for reserved category candidates) at the high school level. Also, only students who have studied Science with core subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics as core subjects, can apply.

  • Master's Degree in Paramedical Science - To apply for a postgraduate degree in Paramedical Science, it is necessary to complete a Bachelor's degree in Paramedical Science or any other relevant subjects. Students have to score at least 50% aggregate marks during their graduation.

  • PhD in Paramedical Science - Many colleges grant admission to their PhD in Paramedical Science candidates purely on a merit basis. The minimum marks that is required for applying to this research degree are 50%.

    Top Paramedical Colleges in India

    With the constant rise in the demand for admission to Paramedical Science degree programs, many colleges have introduced them into their curriculum. Some of the popular Paramedical Science colleges in India are listed below:

Popular Paramedical Specialisations After 12th

Check out the popular paramedical specializations after 12th from the table below:

Course Name

Duration

Course Fees

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

3 to 5 years

INR 4,00,000

Bachelor of Physical or Physiotherapy

3 to 5 years

INR 1,00,000 – INR 5,00,000

Bachelor in Naturopathy and Yogic Science

5 years

INR 30,000 – INR 11,00,000

BSc Radiography

3 years

INR 2,00,000 – INR 10,00,000

BSc Audiology and Speech Therapy

3 years

INR 10,000 – INR 5,00,000

BSc Nuclear Medicine

3 years

INR 4,00,000 – INR 5,00,000

BSc Ophthalmic Therapy

3 years

INR 2,00,000 – INR 6,00,000

BSc Medical Lab Technology

3 years

INR 3,00,000 – INR 4,00,000

BSc Radio Therapy

3 years

INR 5,00,000 – INR 6,00,000

BSc Operation Theatre Technology

3 years

INR 3,50,000 – INR 5,50,000

BSc Respiratory Therapy Technology

3 years

INR 2,00,000 – INR 4,00,000

BSc Dialysis Therapy

3 years

INR 20,000 – INR 3,00,000

BSc Nursing

4 years

INR 1,00,000 – INR 2,00,000

BSc Critical Care Technology

3 years

INR 1,25,000 – INR 3,50,000

Diploma in Dialysis Technology

2 years

INR 85,000

Diploma in Anaesthesia

2 years

INR 1,00,000 - INR 1,50,000

Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology

3 years

INR 75,000

Diploma in Medical Imaging Technology

2 years

INR 50,000

Diploma in OT Technician

2 years

INR 50,000

Diploma in Rural Health Care

2 years

INR 50,000

Diploma in Nursing Care Assistant

2 years

INR 1,00,000

Diploma in Hearing, Language, and Speech

2 years

INR 50,000

Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology

2 years

INR 1,00,000

Diploma in X-Ray technology

2 years

INR 50,000

Diploma in Dental Hygienist

2 years

INR 70,000

Diploma in Medical Record Technology

2 years

INR 50,000

Master in Physiotherapy – Sports Physiotherapy

2 years

INR 40,000 – INR 2,00,000

Master of Physiotherapy (Neurology)

2 years

INR 30,000 – INR 5,00,000

Master of Physiotherapy (MPT)

2 years

INR 2,00,000 – INR 7,00,000

MD in Pathology

3 years

INR 5,00,000 – INR 25,00,000

MD in Radiodiagnosis

3 years

INR 10,000 – INR 2,00,000

PG Diploma in Anesthesiology

2 years

INR 10,000 – INR 1,00,000

PG Diploma in Child Health

2 years

INR 2,00,000 – INR 6,00,000

PG Diploma in Medical Radio-diagnosis (DMRD)

2 years

INR 30,000 – INR 5,00,000

MSc Community Health Nursing

3 years

INR 90,000 – INR 4,30,000

There are more than 32 courses that students can enroll in after the 12th in PCMB. Paramedical programs can be seen with a lot of variety, allowing students to have some good career options. Courses are readily available in diploma and degree formats. The students can enroll in Physiotherapy courses through NEET, AIIMS BSc Paramedical Exam, CMMC Vellore, etc. Top colleges are AIIMS Delhi, CMC Vellore, JIPMER Pondicherry, etc. A few of the high-salary paying paramedical courses are Radiology, Radiotherapy Technologist, Physiotherapist, etc. The average salary ranges from INR 4 LPA to INR 12 LPA for freshers.


If you are interested in taking admission to any one of the paramedical colleges mentioned above, please fill out our Common Application Form , our education experts can help you find the right paramedical specialization after class 12, and with all that information you need to make it easier for you!

Related Articles

Want to know more about the Paramedical course, click on the links given below:

Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?

Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!

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FAQs

Which option is better after the 12th, paramedical or dental?

 

As per the analysis, Paramedical is a better career option and returns on investment than Dental at the undergraduate level. A Dentist will earn less than what a Paramedical graduate can earn with just an undergraduate degree. 

 

Which paramedical courses are considered best after 12th?

 

BSc Radiology, BSc Optometry, and BSc Medical Laboratory Technology (BSc MLT) are some of the courses that are gradually becoming one of the best paramedical degrees in India. 

 

What are the basic eligibility criteria to pursue a paramedical course after 12th?

 

To pursue BSc Paramedical Courses from AIIMS, the candidates are required to pass the class 12 exam in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with 55% marks. 

 

What is the GNM course?

 

General Nursing and Midwifery, or GNM, is a 3.5-year diploma course designed for those who wish to pursue a career in nursing. 

 

What are the three types of paramedical courses after 12th?

The three types of paramedical courses after 12th are: 

  • Bachelor course
  • Diploma course
  • Certification course

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