Sreetama Datta
Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Updated on Jan 19, 2026 17:00 IST
Owing to the competition that exists in NEET and the pressure that a candidate is subjected to, during the exam's preparation, many resorts to alternate career options in the field of medicine. Such candidates can find here the list of medical courses they can opt for without NEET.

Owing to the competition that exists in NEET and the pressure that a candidate is subjected to during the exam's preparation, many resort to alternate career options in the field of medicine. Such candidates can find here the list of medical courses they can opt for without NEET.

medical-courses-without-neet

Students often get demotivated, thinking what if they will not be able to qualify NEET exam. There are many career options in medical field without NEET also. So don’t get dishearten if you don’t get course of your choice through. This article helps you to understand course options one can opt after 12th in case they don’t qualify NEET exam. From physiotherapy to nursing, pharmacy there are lots of avenues students can explore without NEET.

As NEET exam is one of the most competitive exam and around 20 to 22 lakh students appear every year, qualifying exam with top ranks may not be easy for each and every students. Considering this fact, students should explore options that may have after class 12th. Read to article to know more about medical courses without NEET. NEET 2026 exam will be held most likley on May 3, 2026.

Table of contents
  • NEET 2025 Cutoff
  • Some of Medical Courses without NEET
  • Medical Courses without NEET: Other Popular Courses
  • Medical Courses after 12th without NEET: Various Other Courses Related to the Field of Medicine

NEET 2025 Cutoff

NTA had reduced NEET cutoff for 2025-26 academic session. Students can check NEET cutoff 2025 scores and percentiles in table given below.

Category

NEET 2025 Cutoff percentile

NEET 2025 Cutoff score

UR/EWS

50th

686-144

OBC, SC, ST

40th

143-113

UR/EWS-PwD

45th

143-127

OBC/SC/St-PwD

40th

126-113

The highest score obtained in NEET 2025 is 686 out of 720. Hence, the NEET cutoff for admission is also likely to be reduced.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the minimum marks to be scored for qualifying in NEET?
A: 

Candidates belonging to the General category should secure 50 percentile. Those belonging to the PwD General category has to secure 45 percentile. The NEET cutoff percentile for the reserved category candidates is 40. The exact qualifying marks or cutoff scores will be announced by NTA along with the scorecards. This year, General category candidates had to score minimum 137 marks to qualify for the exam. 

Q:   What is the minimum score to qualify NEET?
A: 

The minimum qualifying percentile for NEET UG exam is shared below-

Category

NEET 2025 Cutoff percentile

UR/EWS

50th

OBC, SC, ST

40th

UR/EWS-PwD

45th

OBC/SC/St-PwD

40th

Q:   How many candidates appeared for NEET 2024?
A: 

According to the reports, this year saw the highest number of NEET applications and appearance for the exam. A total of 24,06,079  candidates applied for the exam, out of which 23,33,297 candidates appeared. The exam was originally conducted on May 5, 2024, in 571 cities across India and abroad. A re-test for 1,563 candidates who were awarded grace marks on May 5, was conducted on June 23, 2024. In this exam, 813 candidates had appeared.

Some of Medical Courses without NEET

Students can check list of some of top medical and paramedical courses where students don't require to qualify NEET exam with minimum cutoff score.

Nursing

Even though several BSc Nursing courses have been replaced with the NEET exam, there are still a number of institutes which conduct their own Nursing entrance exams to conduct admission for their BSc Nursing courses. Hence, if you are keen on pursuing a Nursing course after Class 12, you need not appear for NEET, but can do so by appearing in the institute's Nursing entrance tests. Some of the top Nursing entrance exams include AIIMS Nursing Entrance Exam, RUHS Nursing Entrance Exam, to name a few.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as core subjects

Duration of the course: 4 years

Popular Colleges: 

Physiotherapy

Students can join Bachelor of Physiotherapy. This course is much in demand. After completing this course, you will get the skills to cure illnesses or injuries that limit patients' day to day activities. A career related to Physiotherapy is available in various fields such as sports, military, education, research and insurance agencies.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as core subjects

Duration of the course: 4 years

Popular colleges:  

Fee Range: INR 2,000 to INR 6 lakh

Also Read: Physiotherapy Colleges in India

Veterinary Sciences

Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences (BVSc) is the study of prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of ailments or wounds in animals. BVSc also deals with the breeding, rearing and nutrition of animals. Apart from the clinical applications, BVSc has a very good scope in the field of research and education.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English as core subjects

Duration of the course: 5 years

Popular colleges:

Fee Range: INR 2.8 lakh to INR 6 lakh

Pharmacy

A graduate in Pharmacy has diversified career options. A BPharma graduate can choose to be a pharmacist, lecturer, researcher, salesperson, or counsellor. The course imparts knowledge about the production, usage, effects, safety and disposal of drugs. Combined with a Master’s degree, Pharmacy can be a very lucrative career option for those who wish to pursue a career in medicine.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Mathematics in a few institutes) as core subjects

Duration of the course: 4 years

Popular colleges:

Fee Range: INR 4 lakh to INR 14 lakh

Also Read: BPharma Colleges in India

 Psychology

As a career, Psychology can be chosen by candidates from different disciplines. Psychology, the study of mind and behaviour, is also a very interesting career option. Graduates in Psychology are trained to study the behaviour of individuals are communities. After completing the bachelor’s degree, candidates can opt for careers in various fields such as education, military, sports, forensics, legal and politics.  

Courses: BSc Psychology, BA Psychology

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent

Duration of the course: 3 years

Popular colleges:

Fee Range: INR 21,000 to INR 13 lakh

Also Read: Psychology Colleges in India

Nutritionist/Dietician

One can also make a career as a nutritionist. They suggest the correct diet to people according to their health and requirements. They are registered healthcare workers who can diagnose and treat nutritional problems in individuals.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent

Duration of the course: 3 years

Popular colleges:

CoursesBSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition

Fee Range: INR 3,000 to INR 7 lakh

Also Read: Dietetics/Nutrition Colleges in India

Occupation Therapy

Joining an occupational therapy course is a good option for those who want to join a medical course without appearing for NEET exam. The job includes helping a student in recovering from an injury or shock. Students can either pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and they can also choose a Diploma course.

Eligibility: Pass in Class 12 Board exam with a minimum aggregate of 50 per cent

Duration of the course: 4.5 years (BOTh)

Popular colleges:

Clinical Research

Clinical researchers are scientists who ensure that the medical equipment, drugs, treatments and any other devices used by humans are safe for them. They perform clinical trials for such devices or drugs.

Eligibility: A Bachelor's degree in Life Science, Pharmacy, Medicine or Biosciences

Duration of the course: 3 years

Fee Range: Up to INR 5 lakh

Also Read: Clinical Research Colleges in India

Medical Transcription

Medical Transcription courses have gained popularity over the past few years. A medical transcriber translates the treatment notes dictated by a medical practitioner, nurse, or any healthcare worker. The purpose of translating these voice-recorded medical reports is to create files for the treatment history of patients. Various institutions offer full-time/Certificate courses for medical transcription. The course can also be completed through distance learning.

Fee Range: INR 5,000 to INR 50,000

Also Read: Medical Transcription Colleges in India

Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences

Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yoga Science is covered under the AYUSH courses. Where most colleges accept students based on NEET scores, many still admit students on the basis of the marks obtained in Class 12 Board exam. Many colleges also provide 1-year Certificate Courses for Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences.

Popular Colleges:

College of Ayurved, Bharati Vidyapeeth

Vishwakarma University, Pune

Indian Institute of Professional Universities, Lucknow

Forensic Sciences

Forensic Science is a developing career prospect in India. The course deals with the collection, analysis, and preservation of evidence during an investigation. The course duration for BSc in Forensic Science is three years. Candidates often pursue a master’s degree for better options.

Fee Range: INR 11,000 to INR 8 lakh

Also Read: Forensic Sciences Colleges in India

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 Medical Courses without NEET: Other Popular Courses

Some of the course options a student can opt for have been enlisted below. It must be noted these courses are not entirely related to Medicine. But courses are designed specially for biology students.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are the regional language options available for NEET UG?
A: 

NEET UG question paper is available in 13 languages. Apart from Hindi and English candidates can choose from Tamil, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi and Telugu. Candidates have to enter their language preferences in the application form and will have to choose their exam centre preference accordingly. During the exam, candidates must ensure that they have received the NEET question paper in the language they have opted for, otherwise, they should report the same to the invigilators. During preparation, candidates must prepare in the particular language and solve previous year question papers and mock tests in the regional language.

Q:   What is the 80/20 rule in NEET?
A: 

The 80/20 rule in NEET is applible in case when candidates have limited time to study for the exam. The rule implies rather than covering the entire syllabus, candidates should focus on 20% of the high-value topics that are likely to form about 80% of the NEET question paper. 

Q:   What is the passing marks for NEET exam?
A: 

Candidates need to obtain the NEET exam pass marks to clear the exam. The minimum NEET cutoff percentile that candidates must obtain is shared below-

Category

NEET Cut off percentile

UR/EWS

50th

OBC, SC, ST

40th

UR/EWS-PwD

45th

OBC/SC/St-PwD

40th

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Medical Courses after 12th without NEET: Various Other Courses Related to the Field of Medicine

Check the list of medical courses without NEET, such as non-MBBS or paramedical courses, one can opt for if they want to pursue higher studies in the Medicine domain.

  1. Bachelor’s in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Technology
  2. Bachelor’s in Audiometric Technology
  3. Bachelor’s in Optometry and Ophthalmic Technologies
  4. Bachelor’s in Public Health
  5. Bachelors in Audiology Speech-Language Therapy
  6. Bachelor's in Physician Assistantship Training
  7. Bachelors in Prosthetics and Orthotics
  8. Bachelor's in Rehabilitation Therapy
  9. BSc Anatomy
  10. BSc Blood Banking Technology
  11. BSc Blood Transfusion Technology
  12. BSc Cardiac Technology
  13. BSc Cardiovascular Technologies
  14. BSc Dialysis Technologies
  15. BSc Emergency and Critical Care Technologies
  16. BSc Endoscopy and Gastrointestinal Imaging Technologies
  17. BSc in Genetics
  18. BSc in Medical Imaging Technology
  19. BSc in Orthopedic Technology
  20. BSc Medical Laboratory Technology
  21. BSc Medical Microbiology
  22. BSc Medical Records Science and Health Information Management
  23. BSc Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy Technologies
  24. BSc Operation Theatre and Anaesthesia Technologies
  25. BSc Paramedical Technology
  26. BSc Perfusion Technology
  27. BSc Physiology
  28. BSc Radiology and Imaging Technology
  29. BSc Radiotherapy Technology
  30. BSc Respiratory Care Technology

Read More:

Different options to go with if NEET score is low

If Not MBBS then What Else?

List of Courses Offered Through NEET

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About the Author
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Sreetama Datta Roy
Manager Content
Sreetama Datta Roy is a journalist working in the Education beat, with over 15 years of work experience. A postgraduate in English Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. At Shiksha, s
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Answered 6 hours ago

Aspirants need to pass NEET score equal to or above the cutoff to get admission in BHMS at Baroda Homoeopathic Medical College. The seats are allotted to aspirants in BHMS based on their NEET scores via Gujarat State Government Counselling.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 6 hours ago

Baroda Homoeopathic Medical College accepts admissions of candidates in BHMS programme based on their NEET scores. The NEET percentile for Open category is 119 marks (50 percentile). The marks requirement for OBC/ SC/ ST category aspirants is 96 marks (40 percentile). 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered Yesterday

Yes, Indian students must qualify NEET to study MBBS abroad and to practice in India later. It is mandatory as per NMC guidelines. Other than this, you need fulfill other eligibility.

A

Aayushi Dhawan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 5 days ago

Candidates can get the NEET 2025 question paper in Tamil medium on this page - NEET Tamil Medium Question Papers. Download the NEET Tamil PYQs for free to practice for the exam.

P

Piyush Bhandari

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 6 days ago

Yes, of course. NEET UG is compulsory for admission to all BDS courses in India (government and private). No alternate way or management admission is available without a valid NEET score. The rule was drawn up so that admission to all dental institutions will be transparent and merit based. Similarl

...Read more

T

Tasbiya Khan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

No, NEET is not mentioned as a requirement for forensic Science colleges in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. But, aspirants must have studied Science in Class 12 with a PCB combination. 

S

Syed Aquib Ur Rahman

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Yes, you can get the BHMS course with a rank of 300 if you belong to the OBC AI category. This category had the overall cutoff range between 93201 and 74967. Hence, getting a seat for this course with a rank of 300 can be achievable. Students who want admission to the Nehru Homoeopathic Medical Coll

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The required marks in NEET would depend entirely on the category you belong to. For the General AI category, the needed rank was 46875. Please remember that the cutoff for other categories will vary. 

To know the required rank for other categories, see the table below.

Category

Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital cutoff 2025

General46875
OBC74967
SC230221
ST288873
EWS66693

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The marks required in NEET to qualify for the AYUSH counselling process depend on the category the student belongs to. For the General AI category, students need to secure a rank of at least 46875 to be eligible for a seat. Different categories will have different cutoffs. To know the Nehru Homoeopa

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

NEET is not mandatory for CG BSc Nursing. Admisison to the BSc Nursing courses in Chhattisgarh is based on the CG Nursing entrance test conducted by CG Vyapam.

V

Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Contributor-Level 10