Working With Scalpels and Needles: How To Become a Doctor in India
“Life is short and the craft takes so long to learn”-Hippocrates, this quote is relatable to only one profession.
Yes, you guessed it right, it is a doctor.
Amidst this pandemic, they are considered as gods for their selfless work towards treating patients and helping with the outbreak of COVID-19.
But how can you become a doctor?
If this is a question that is in your mind then we have all the steps right here for you on how to become a doctor:
Eligibility Criteria
You must devote a significant amount of time and effort to research to become a doctor.
A considerable amount of formal education is required of medical doctors.
So, before deciding on this career path, make sure you have the minimum educational requirements for pursuing a medical degree.
You cannot become a doctor without going through a rigorous amount of study.
You must be at least 17 years old before you start your MBBS.
You must also be under the age of 25 to be admitted to M.B.B.S. in India.
The subject combination required in 10+2 is Physics, Chemistry, and Biology which are mandatory, and any additional subjects from options like Mathematics, Psychology, Physical Education, etc.
For your under graduation (M.B.B.S), candidates must pass 12th boards with a minimum of 60 percent from a recognized board of education.
You also must have an M.B.B.S degree from an institution accredited by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to pursue postgraduate studies (M.D., M.S., or M.Sc. in Medicine).
If you wish to go for the doctoral program (Ph.D.) then you must have a master's degree. However, in some fields, completing an M.Phil. is required before beginning a Ph.D. program.
Entrances in India that you need to appear for
If you wish to become a doctor you cannot directly get into a medical college.
You need to pass certain entrance exams.
The most common entrance exams for under graduation are NEET-UG, AIIMS Medical Entrance Exam, and some state-wise Medical CET exams like in Karnataka, Delhi University etc.
Some private Universities like Manipal, Vellore, Amrita also conduct their Pre-Medical test for under graduation.
It is based on the marks that you obtained in NEET that you will know which medical college you can get into.
For post-graduation, NEET PG and state-wise CETs are used as a selection criterion along with the eligibility requirements.
It is mandatory to appear and pass relevant medical entrance tests such as NEET, AIIMS, JIPMER, state-wide entrance tests, and institute-wide entrance tests to get admission to a good medical institute.
Where you get admission to become a doctor depends on your NEET, AIIMS marks.
But, What Is NEET?
If you are unsure about what NEET is, then don’t worry, we got that covered to.
This exam is compulsory to become a doctor.
NEET is divided into three sections: physics, chemistry, and biology, with NCERT being the ideal book to start with.
There are 180 objective type questions (90 in Biology, 45 in Physics, 45 in Chemistry) (90 in Biology, 45 in Physics, 45 in Chemistry).
You will get four marks are given for each correct answer.
But you will also get a mark deducted for every wrong answer.
After clearing NEET, you will get college based on your ranking.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science (MBBS)
It is a five-and-a-half-year course in which they can learn about anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and other topics.
Four years of study and an additional year of mandatory internship are included in the five-and-a-half-year programme.
You can choose to pursue a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of Surgery (MS) after completing their MBBS, which will enable you to specialise in any area of medicine.
If they do not wish to pursue further education, you can work as a general physician after completing your MBBS.
Master of Surgery
A master’s in surgery is a three-year post-graduate programme divided into six semesters.
You can pursue M.S. after finishing five and half years of MBBS.
You must score at least 50 per cent in your entrances.
Doctor of Medicine
This is a post-graduation course that you can do after the completion of your MBBS.
If you wish to get a better understanding of a particular specialisation then MD is a great course to go for in your journey to becoming a doctor.
The MD programme comprises passing an exam that examines knowledge in both theoretical and practical areas over three years.
You can only apply if they have completed M.B.B.S from a university approved by the Medical Council of India.
Become a doctor in India after studying abroad
There are numerous doctors in India practising in India after studying medicine abroad.
The pay here is far more attractive.
There are about 500 international institutions approved by the Medical Council of India.
In any case, if you choose to enrol in an undergraduate medical programme at a foreign medical college, you must first obtain an Eligibility Certificate from the Medical Council of India.
However, to take international medical courses, you would need to pass the NEET exam first.
This has been made mandatory since 2019.
As a foreign-trained medical graduate returning to India, you must pass the Medical Council of India (MCI) Exam, also known as the "Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE)."
FMGE is required to be eligible to practice in India.
Fees Required in Colleges
An annual fee of INR 25000-30000 is generally charged for admission in government colleges, in which scholarship is also provided.
If you are looking to get admission in a private college to become a doctor, then you will have to pay a much higher fee.
In private colleges, an annual fee of INR 16-25 lakh is charged.
So, if you think you have patience, compassion, concentration, emotional strength, quick thinking, and attention to detail, this can be the right profession for you. It is very well paid and respectable.
You can get the chance to bring happiness to other people’s lives.
If you think you are always up for emergency situations and you want to help the humanity, then you are all ready to become a great doctor.
