NEET MDS 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Qualification, Internship Requirement & Cutoff Date

Candidates who want to apply for the NEET MDS 2026 exam must know the eligibility conditions. The NEET MDS eligibility criteria involve age limit, educational qualification, internship and marks requirements. Not fulfilling the small details in the NEET MDS exam eligibility can lead to rejection of candidature. Go through the eligibility criteria shared below before filling out the NEET MDS form 2026.

NEET MDS 2026 Eligibility Criteria & Internship Date

The eligibility criteria for NEET MDS 2026 will be displayed on the exam notification and information bulletin. The NEET MDS 2026 exam is likely to be held in April. The NEET MDS is a single entrance exam for admission to the post-graduate course under the Dentists Act, 1948. There is no other exam at the state or institution level to get entry to the Masters in Dental Surgery (MDS) course. To appear for this eligibility-cum-ranking exam, candidates need to fulfil the prescribed NEET MDS eligibility 2026.

There are around 7,000 MDS seats available in over 200 dental colleges in India. A candidate must possess Bachelor in Dental Surgery (BDS) degree and should have completed a year of compulsory rotatory internship to be eligible for the MDS examination. The NEET MDS internship cutoff date 2026 will be mentioned in the information bulletin. Candidates must go through the NEET MDS 2026 eligibility criteria before filling the applications.

Also Read: NEET MDS Previous Year Question Papers with Answers

NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2025

Knowing the eligibility conditions for NEET MDS answers the common queries, such as who can apply for the exam, what is the internship cutoff date, what is the age limit, and what marks are required to appear for the exam. Go through the detailed NEET-MDS exam eligibility below.

Age Limit

There is no age limit for the candidates who want to apply for NEET MDS 2026.

Attempt Limit

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences- NBEMS has not put a limit on the number of attempts for the NEET MDS exam. A candidate can appear for the exam as many times as required to get admission to the desired MDS college.

NEET MDS Educational Qualification

• To be eligible for NEET MDS, a candidate must have obtained the BDS degree awarded by a university or institute in India.
• Candidate must be registered with the State Dental Council and should have obtained provisional or permanent registration
• One must have undergone compulsory rotatory internship of a year in a recognised dental college before the prescribed cut off date.

Also Read: NEET MDS Exam Date 2026

NEET MDS Eligibility 2026 for All India 50% Quota Seats

The eligibility for NEET MDS exam for All India 50% quota seats is the same as stated above. In addition to the conditions shared above, candidates who got BDS degree from Jammu & Kashmir are also eligible to apply for the MDS exam 2026. Such candidates can also participate in the ‘Grant of Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps’ and for MDS admissions in Armed Forces Institutes.

NEET MDS 2026 Eligibility for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals need to fulfil the given criteria to be eligible for the MDS examination-

• Candidates must possess a foreign dental degree equivalent to BDS and should be recognised by the Dental Council of India (DCI).
• Foreign nationals need to obtain the security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India before applying for NEET MDS 2026.
• After the candidate makes payment of the registration fee, the DCI may grant temporary registration for the MDS course duration of the respective dental college/institution to which he/she is admitted. However, such candidates should be duly registered with an appropriate registering authority in their countries from where they obtained the Basic Dental qualification. Candidates also need the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the dental council of that country to allow them to pursue Post-Graduation in India.

Also Read: NEET MDS Syllabus 2026

NEET MDS Internship Requirement 2026

Candidates who underwent or are undergoing a 12-month Compulsory Rotatory Resident Internship or practical training and will complete the same before the cut off date can fill out the NEET MDS application form 2026.

The details submitted by candidates regarding the NEET MDS internship completion date and starting date will be considered final. Applicants need to submit the original internship completion certificate at the time of NEET MDS counselling 2026.

Also Read: NEET MDS Mock Test

Qualifying Criteria for NEET MDS Counselling 2026

Candidates who will appear for the NEET MDS 2026 exam and will clear it by obtaining the qualifying percentile and scores will be qualified for the MDS Counselling 2026. The NEET MDS Cut-Off for the counselling process is shared below-

NEET MDS Counselling

The NBEMS conducts the NEET MDS exam for admission of candidates to dental colleges and institutes for this post-graduate course. The NEET MDS Counselling seeks to fill the given seats in India-

• All India 50% quota seats for all States/ UTs
• State quota seats for all States/ UTs
• MDS Courses at all Private Dental Colleges, Institutions and Universities
• MDS Courses at Armed Forces Medical Services Institutions
• Screening exam for dental surgeons (BDS & MDS) for Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps

Read More:

• NEET MDS Results

• NEET MDS Counselling 2026
• NEET MDS Exam Pattern 2026
• NEET MDS 2026 Admit Card