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Top Medical Careers After 12th

If you belong to the PCB stream, then a medical career is likely on the cards for you. The medical field is as old as time itself, and when you ask a PCB student what they plan to do after class 12th, the most common answer is, “I want to Be a Doctor.” Of course, who doesn’t want to help humankind? But what if you don’t achieve your goal of becoming a doctor? What’s next in line? Are you prepared for the worst-case scenario?
With NEET results now out, while many students have taken the first step towards securing a seat in Top-Ranked Medical Colleges across India, there’s still a large number of medical aspirants left wondering what to do next. If you are one of those who didn’t secure a seat, don’t worry.
Today, we bring you top Medical Career Options after Class 12th that can help you fulfil your dream of serving humankind, without necessarily becoming a doctor. So, without further ado, let’s explore your alternative career paths in the medical field.
Top 5 Medical Careers After 12th
Doesn’t matter what your NEET results are, if you have decided to help the humankind then there’s nothing that can stop you. Here we are shedding light on Top 5 Career in Medical after 12th for you.
1. MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
Every kid once in their life has said that they want to be a doctor when they grow up. As many divert their dreams from this path after finding something better, there are still some who wish to be a doctor even now. If you are one of those people who have cleared their NEET exam then your first Medical Career after 12th is to be a doctor.
MBBS is a 5.5-year course where 4.5 years are of dedicated studies and last 1 year is for internship at local hospital or clinic to gain medical training. Subjects that you will study in your MBBS degree includes anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical practice. MBBS is one of the most popular fields that students go for after 12th because it has high earning potential. With global opportunities, great respect, and diverse career opportunities, MBBS is one of the most sought-after medical fields.
2. BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)
The second most popular Medical Career in India after MBBS is BDS. Focused on oral health and dental care, this is a 5-year programme including 4 years of academic learning and 1 year of internship. In comparison to the MBBS field, BDS is of shorter duration and isn’t affected by the NEET results. Subjects you will be studying while pursuing BDS includes dental anatomy, prosthodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery.
After completing your graduation and getting a license to practice dentistry, you have several working options. You can either open your own clinic, work in a hospital, or as a researcher. By pursuing BDS you can become a dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeon, or cosmetic dentist. No matter what you decide to do, you will always get a chance to work globally. Furthermore, if you are looking for specialisation with more work-life balance, then BDS is a promising field for you.
3. B.Sc. Nursing
Another great field that will allow you to help the humankind is nursing. With this 4-year course, you can be just as important in the medical field as any other healthcare worker. The nursing curriculum includes medical-surgical nursing, paediatric care, mental health nursing, and community health. As a nurse, you will be playing a crucial role in patient care, working in hospitals, clinics, emergency services, and homes. The job might require you to be on your toes at all times, but the opportunity to care for patients can offer the same level of job satisfaction as any other role in the medical field.
Due to a high demand of nurses globally, you can start your journey in India and can reach abroad by fulfilling the requirements. You can either be a staff nurse, critical care nurse, or midwife. The nursing job overall provides excellent job stability, decent salary, and opportunities to pursue further studies abroad.
4. B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
Another great medical career after 12th for you is B.Pharm. This field of medical is all about medicines. This degree is of 4 years that trains you in the preparation, dispensing, and proper utilisation of medicines. It covers subjects like pharmacology, medical chemistry, pharmaceutical engineering, and drug formulation. By pursuing B.Pharm, you can become a pharmacist, clinical researcher, drug inspector, or medical representative.
The best part about pursuing a medical career after 12th in pharmacy is that it doesn’t require NEET score. Even if you are from a PCM background, you can still pursue B.Pharm and open doors to both healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. There are also opportunities in pharmaceutical marketing, regulatory affairs, clinical trials, and quality control. After graduation, you can also pursue M.Pharm or MBA in pharmacutical management for career advancement.
5. BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy)3>
If you are someone who is interested in bone alignment and massages, then this medical career after 12th is just for you. BPT or Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a 4.5-year course designed for students’ who find physical rehabilitation and therapy interesting. This course covers subjects like anatomy, biomechanics, exercise therapy, and neurophysiology, along with six months of clinical internship. As you have already heard of physiotherapists help patients recover from injuries, surgeries, or neurological conditions through guided movement and physical exercises.
Talking about career opportunities, you can work in hospitals, sports clinics, rehab centres, or you can even set up your own private practice. With rising awareness about fitness, post-surgical care, and injury prevention, the demand of physiotherapists is growing. To study BPT, you don’t need to clear NEET and you can have a career you really are passionate about.
How to Choose the Best Medical Career Path?
Now that you have seen the top 5 medical career after 12th, it is time for you to know which one of them is the best suited for you. With a NEET result in hand and confusion in mind, let the career counselling experts ease your tension. Here is how you can find the best medical career path after 12th with the help of career counselling.
Step 1: Self-assessment
Start your journey of finding what’s best for you with the help of a psychometric test. Till the time you won’t analyse what you are good at, you might not find the perfect field that you are passionate about. Hence, it is crucial for you to take a psychometric test to analyse what are your strengths, interests, and personality traits. The psychometric test results will also show whether you are good at clinical role or non-clinical roles. The best part? You don’t even have to study to take this test.
Step 2: Talk to Experts
Once you’ve completed the psychometric test, review the results and consult a career counselling expert as soon as possible. It’s only with the help of a professional that you can truly identify the best career path for yourself.
Now that you’ve explored the various medical career options after class 12th, you might feel unsure about what to do next. With the guidance of a qualified career counsellor, you’ll gain clarity on your strengths and the paths best suited to your potential. They’ll help you shortlist the most fitting medical fields based on your true capabilities.
Step 3: Explore Every Option
Suppose you aspire to become a doctor, but your NEET score isn’t high enough to secure a seat in India. You might feel like your dream has come to an end, but that’s not necessarily the case. With the guidance of career counselling experts, you can explore all your available options and make an informed decision about your future. Whether it’s considering a shift in career path or exploring study abroad opportunities, a counsellor can help you evaluate every possibility before settling on the right one.
Step 4: Long-term Career Planning
To choose the best medical career after class 12th, you must ensure that the path you select is one you’ll still be passionate about even 50 years down the line. No matter which field you enter, a career in medicine demands your full attention, every moment spent on your toes, ready to deliver the best possible care to humankind.
That’s why career counselling is essential. It helps you identify which path is truly sustainable for you, based on your interests, strengths, and long-term goals.
Find Your Medical Career Path with MetaApply Career Counselling
Now that the NEET results are out and you’re unsure about your next step, don’t rush into decisions. Instead of blindly following any path, consider taking professional career counselling.
From identifying your strengths to exploring career options both in India and abroad, expert career counsellors provide valuable industry insights at every stage. Whether you’re thinking of changing your stream, taking a gap year, or planning your higher education overseas; MetaApply Career Counselling has the answers you need.
Once you take the MetaApply Psychometric Test, you’ll gain clarity on which medical field suits you best. Based on your results, our expert counsellors will help you craft a long-term career plan, complete with achievable short-term goals.
Don’t hang by a thread of confusion, get clarity today with MetaApply IE!
Frequently Asked Questions
MBBS is considered as the best medical career after 12th for those who aim to become doctors. This degree offers high paying earning options, global ooppotunties, and career stability along with constant growth and respect.
MBBS followed by a specialisation in field like cardiology, neurology, or surgery offers high paying salaries. Medical professionals with super-specialisations often earn significantly more than the general practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
Some of the popular medical fields that you can pursue without NEET includes B.Sc. Nursing, BPT, B.Pharm, and B.Sc. MLT. These fields offer strong career growth opportunities, stable income, work-life balance, and work opportunities in both India and abroad across various healthcare fields.