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Nidhi Gupta
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Updated on Oct 27, 2025 17:37 IST

Planning to pursue nursing after class 12, but opted for Arts or Commerce? Here are the details of the programmes in nursing that can be pursued after class 12 for those who opted for the Arts and Commerce streams.  

All About Nursing after Class 12

All About Nursing after Class 12

After completing Class 12, candidates belonging to a science background either opt for the medical or engineering profession. The medical domain aspirants generally wish to pursue MBBS. However, those who do not want to pursue MBBS can pursue nursing courses to advance their career. Nursing as a professional stream is available to everyone in the current scenario. Infact, candidates belonging to other streams such as Commerce and Arts/humanities can also pursue nursing after Class 12. This might sound new to some non-science aspirants, but the truth in the present scenario makes nursing a popular and available stream for aspirants from unrelated backgrounds. In this article, students hailing from the business and arts streams can explore how to venture into nursing as a profession. The Medical Council has opened a gateway for entry to this profession. Read the eligibility requirements and find out how to be a part of the medical industry here.  

Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing Midwife (GNM) diploma programmes are available for students who have completed their class 12 examinations with Arts and Commerce streams. After completing the diploma, including an internship, and registration with the relevant state nursing council as a registered ANM or Registered Nurse Registered Midwife (RNRM), you can work as a nurse in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

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Read this article to know about the courses, fees, eligibility criteria, and other details of the top Nursing courses in 2024 after 12th for Arts and Commerce students.  

Table of content
  • Highlights of Nursing Courses After 12th in 2025
  • Nursing Course Fees After 12th for Arts and Commerce Students
  • Nursing Course Eligibility After 12th for Arts and Commerce Aspirants
  • FAQs on Nursing Courses After 12th for Arts and Commerce Aspirants

Highlights of Nursing Courses After 12th in 2025

Find out all the programmes available for the Arts/Humanities stream candidates to pursue their career in the nursing domain: 

Course Level

Diploma

ANM and GNM Full Form

Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM)

Course Duration

ANM: Two-year diploma course with a six-month mandatory internship

GNM: Three and a half years (Inclusive of a six-month mandatory internship)

Session Type

Semester System or Year-wise (Depends on Governing Institute/University/Conducting Body)

Eligibility

Class 12 with a minimum 40 to 50 percent in aggregate with Arts, Commerce, and Science streams

Admission Process

Based on the performance in the entrance exam and based on Merit

Course Fee

ANM: Fee ranges from INR 2,500 to INR 60,000 per annum

GNM: Fee ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 1.5 Lakh per annum

Average Starting Salary

ANM: INR 8,000 to INR 12,000 per month

GNM: INR 15,000 to 18,000 per month

Q:   How to apply for WB ANM GNM exam?
A:

The WB ANM registration process will be conducted entirely online. This year WB ANM application form is expected to begin from March 2025. Applicants need to visit official website of WBJEEB, wbjeeb.nic.in. Create an account by registering using personal details, Complete and submit the application form, Scan and upload a copy of your picture and signature followed by paying application fee in online mode.

Q:   Can I apply for the WB ANM GNM exam offline?
A:

No. There is no provision for the candidates to apply for the WB ANM GNM entrance exam offline. The WB ANM GNM application form was available only in online mode. WBJEEB provided the application form at the official website, wbjeeb.nic.in/anm-gnm/ from September 4 to September 15, 2025.

Also Read: ANM Vs GNM Vs BSc Nursing: Which Course is the Best after Class 12?

Nursing Course Fees After 12th for Arts and Commerce Students

Join the ANM and GNM courses in the popular colleges listed below. The ANM & GNM Nursing Course fees will be the same for the applicants who complete their 12th standard exams from either the Art or Commerce streams. The institute-wise course fees of ANM and GNM are mentioned in the table below:  

Institute Name Average Course Fees
Institute of Nursing Education, Bambolim INR 500 approx
School of Nursing, General Hospital, Bharuch (Gujarat) INR 500 approx
Mata Sahib Kaur College of Nursing (Delhi) ANM course INR  50000 approx

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (Bangalore)

INR 30000 approx

Government College of Nursing, Thrissur (Kerala)

INR 20000 approx

Government ANM Training School, Community Health Centre (Arunachal Pradesh)

INR 50000 approx

Students can check the GNM Nursing Course after 12th Arts fees from the table mentioned above, and accordingly, they can plan their strategy to appear and apply for the exam.

Nursing Course Eligibility After 12th for Arts and Commerce Aspirants

After finishing class 12, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has established certain qualifying requirements that allow candidates to attend ANM and GNM nursing courses. The Indian Nursing Council is an autonomous body of the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, that was established in 1947 under the umbrella of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947. It is the regulating authority for nurses and nursing education in India. The INC has established qualifying requirements for ANM and GNM Nursing diploma programmes. Students who have passed from an Arts and Commerce background can check the eligibility details for Nursing courses, ANM, and GNM after class 12th as mentioned below. 

ANM Nursing Diploma Eligibility Criteria

  • The aspirant should have attained minimum educational requirements and have passed class 12 with Arts, Commerce, or Science streams (Mathematics, Physics, C/hemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Economics, Political Science, History, Geography, Business Studies, Accountancy, Home Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy) along with English Core/English Elective or Science or Health care Science - Vocational stream from a recognized Board
  • Aspirants who have passed class 12 with Arts, Commerce, or Science stream conducted by the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) are also eligible to pursue ANM and GNM diploma courses
  • The aspirant should not be less than 17 years of age as of December 31 of the year in which admission is sought
  • The aspirant’s age should not exceed 35 years in the year he/she apply
  • The candidate should be medically fit and admitted once a year

For GNM Nursing Diploma Eligibility Criteria

  • Aspirants should have passed class 12 in English and must have secured a minimum of 40 percent in aggregate and English individually from any recognized board. Aspirants from State Open Schools recognized by the State Government and the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) recognized by the Central Government are also eligible. However, Science is preferable.
  • Students should have passed class 12 in English, securing 40 percent in aggregate in vocational ANM courses from any institute recognized by the Indian Nursing Council
  • Aspirants should have passed class 12 with English having 40 percent in aggregate in Vocational Stream-Healthcare Science from a recognized CBSE board/Centre.
  • Candidates should be registered ANM with a pass mark

The ANM is the first and most practical choice for nursing aspirants who have completed the class 12 exam from a non-science or science stream and are committed to studying nursing. Diploma graduates can register as nurses and pursue the GNM diploma programme after completing the ANM programme and the internship as well. They will be eligible for the BSc Nursing and BSc (Post-Basic) Nursing programmes as a result of the procedure.

ANM vs GNM Eligibility: Key Differences

Find out the key differences between ANM and GNM eligibility criteria:

Feature ANM Diploma GNM Diploma
Educational Stream Accepts Arts, Commerce, Science, and Vocational Healthcare Prefers Science stream; also accepts vocational ANM/healthcare
Minimum Marks 40%–50% aggregate (varies by state/institute) Minimum 40% aggregate and 40% in English individually
Additional Eligibility No prior nursing experience required Registered ANMs and vocational stream students are eligible
Gender Preference Traditionally female, now open to all Open to all genders
Course Duration 2 years 3 years + 6 months internship

Read More:

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FAQs on Nursing Courses After 12th for Arts and Commerce Aspirants

Q. Can a Commerce student do nursing after 12th?

A. Yes, a commerce student can do Nursing after the 12th standard of the exam. There are various Ug & PG Nursing exams are conducted at the national and state levels. To qualify for the exam applicants need to check the eligibility criteria for these exams and after qualifying the exams students need to learn Nursing at a basic & advanced level. After that candidates will be able to pursue their careers in Nursing. 

Q. What are some of the top Nursing courses after 12?

A. Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) are two programmes that applicants can do to pursue their career in Nursing. These exams are conducted by various state government authorities to enable students to pursue a career in Nursing.  

Q. Which Nursing course is best after the 12th without the NEET exam?

A. BSc Nursing courses are one of the popular exams to pursue a career in Nursing. To gain admission into a Nursing course, it is not mandatory to appear for the NEET exam. Many institutes conduct their entrance exam for admission to BSc Nursing courses offered by them.

Applicants are advised to appear for the exam conducted by these institutions and ensure they qualify for the exam. 

Q. What is the fees of Nursing course after 12th?

A. The course varies for both Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) programmes. The average fees for the ANM course range from INR 10,000 to INR 60,000 per annum

While for GNM the fee ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 1.5 Lakh per annum. 

This fee range is not absolute and it can vary depending on the courses offered by various state government institutions. 

 

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Answered a month ago

WBJEEB, the official exam conducting body, has released a list of official test center zones where the West Bengal ANM GNM 2025 exam will be conducted on October 19, 2025. At the time of filling out the West Bengal ANM GNM application form, candidates will have to choose the preferred test center z

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Aishwarya Pathak

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

No. There is no provision for the candidates to apply for the WB ANM GNM entrance exam offline. The WB ANM GNM application form was available only in online mode. WBJEEB provided the application form at the official website, wbjeeb.nic.in/anm-gnm/ from September 4 to September 15, 2025.

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Nidhi Gupta

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

No. There is no provision for the candidates to pay the WB ANM GNM application fee offline. The WB ANM GNM application fee payment mode is online only. Make use of Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card only to pay the application fee.

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Nishtha Nishtha

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

In the WB ANM GNM application form, information pertaining to the Candidate's Name, father's name, mother's name, domicile and date of birth cannot be changed. The application correction period is September 17 to September 18, 2025.

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Shailja Shrivastava

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

In the WB ANM GNM application, candidates can change the personal details other than the Candidate's Name, father's name, mother's name, domicile, and date of birth. He/she can also change the centre preference.  The application correction timeline is September 17 to September 18, 2025.

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Nishtha Kumar

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

Yes, the exam conducting body provides WB ANM GNM application correction facility to the applicants to make necessary changes in the application form. Candidates can re-upload the scanned documents or can upload all the documents if any are missing. Candidates can avail this facility from September

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Saumya Bhandari

Beginner-Level 5