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    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Health Courses: Full Details, Eligibility & Latest Update

    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Health Courses: Full Details, Eligibility & Latest Update

    Manisha TiwariUpdated on 12 Mar 2026, 05:37 PM IST

    The National Commission for Allied Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has announced that the NEET will not be mandatory for admission to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) from the academic year 2026-27. Earlier, the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) had made NEET UG mandatory for admission to several allied and healthcare courses. Read the full article to know the details on ‘NEET 2026 mandatory for allied courses now.

    This Story also Contains

    1. NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Courses: Highlights
    2. NEET now mandatory for allied & healthcare UG courses: What does this mean?
    3. Allied and healthcare courses admission: Eligibility through NEET 2026
    4. NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Courses: How will the Admission Process Change?
    5. NEET 2026 for Allied Courses Admission: What Aspirants Need to do?
    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Health Courses: Full Details, Eligibility & Latest Update
    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Courses

    Admissions to different allied and healthcare courses in India followed state level entrance exams, university level tests or merit based admissions. The new rule by NCAHP related to BPT and BOT has made that NEET UG is not mandatory for admission to several undergraduate allied and healthcare courses. Read the full article to know why the rule has been introduced, what the eligibility criteria will be for allied courses now and other details.

    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Courses: Highlights

    • NCAHP has deferred the mandatory requirement of NEET UG for admission to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) from the academic year 2026-27.

    • Earlier, NCAHP discontinued direct admission to allied and healthcare courses from 2026 onwards.

    • Qualifying NEET UG 2026 is made mandatory for aspirants wishing to take admission in several allied and health care courses for academic session 2026-27.

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    NEET now mandatory for allied & healthcare UG courses: What does this mean?

    The NCAHP has made NEET exam mandatory for admission to various allied courses from next year onwards. This implies that students planning to pursue allied and healthcare courses can no longer rely on direct or merit-based admissions. Instead, they must appear for NEET UG and meet the eligibility criteria to be considered for seat allotments in allied and health care courses. However, for admission to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), there is no requirement of NEET exam from the academic year 2026-27.

    NEET UG Compulsory for Allied Courses: NCAHP Notifies 13 Curricula

    The authority has announced that it has notified 13 curricula so far for various allied and healthcare programmes at the UG and PG levels which are to be implemented from 2026-27 academic year. The authority will release curriculums for more allied and healthcare courses soon.

    NEET Compulsory for Allied Programs: Undergraduate Courses Curriculum Released by NCAHP

    The curriculums of undergraduate allied and healthcare courses released by NCAHP so far can be checked below.

    • Anesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology

    • Applied Psychology and Behavioural Health

    • Dialysis Therapy Technology & Dialysis Therapy

    • Health Information Management

    • Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology

    • Nutrition and Dietetics

    • Optometry

    • Physician Associates

    • Radiotherapy Technology

    • Emergency Medical Technologist (Paramedic), Burn Care Technologist and Advance Care Paramedic

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    Allied and healthcare courses admission: Eligibility through NEET 2026

    Even though it is mandatory to qualify for the NEET UG examination to secure admission to allied and health science courses, individual courses will still follow their own academic eligibility conditions. NEET eligibility criteria required for allied courses are mentioned below.

    • Students must have completed their class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology courses and must have obtained 50% marks (for general category candidates).

    • Minimum age required for allied courses admission will be 17 years of age.

    • Candidates will have to appear for the medical entrance examination and will have to secure minimum NEET cutoff marks.

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    NEET 2026 Mandatory for Allied Courses: How will the Admission Process Change?

    The compulsion of qualifying for the NEET examination to secure a seat in allied health science courses will lead to various changes in the admission process. Some of the expected changes in allied and healthcare courses admissions are:

    • According to latest notification, NEET is not mandatory for BPT and BOT admissions. Candidates will be shortlisted based on Class 12 marks.

    • Many states conduct their own examinations for admission to allied courses. These exams will now be discontinued and admissions will be offered through NEET.

    • Counselling for allied and health care courses may shift to a centralised process, including counselling conducted by the states. However, this will be clear once the instructions are released.

    NEET Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
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    NEET 2026 for Allied Courses Admission: What Aspirants Need to do?

    With NEET becoming a single entrance exam for allied and health science courses admission, candidates must align their preparation accordingly. These NEET preparation tips will help candidates for the upcoming examination.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Is NEET UG mandatory for all allied and healthcare courses?
    A:

    As per the NCAHP’s notice, the courses whose curriculums are released by the authority requires NEET. Such courses are listed above. NEET is not mandatory for BPT and BOT admissions from the academic year 2026-27. 

    Q: What will be the eligibility criteria for allied and healthcare courses now?
    A:

    NEET is a mandatory requirement. Apart from this, courses will follow their own academic requirements.

    Q: From which year NEET is compulsory for allied courses admission?
    A:

    Qualifying NEET is mandatory from 2026 onwards.

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    Questions related to NEET

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to NEET ?

    Hi Varsha,

    NEET exam is not necessary to join BSc . Anaesthesia. It is a paramedical course and so can be pursued directly after 10+2. Admissions are based on the merit marks secured in 10+2 exam. Click on the link below to know about the BSC anesthesia admission process.

    Link:

    Yes, You can get admission in BPT course without NEET. In a recent notice, the NCAHP has announced that NEET UG will not be mandatory for admission into BPT and BOT courses for 2026-27 session.

    Thanks,

    Yes, Hindi medium students can definitely perform well in NEET . The exam is available in Hindi, and many students from Hindi medium backgrounds crack NEET every year with good ranks. If you wish to give NEET exam in Hindi, you must select your preferred language while filling the NEET

    Leaving a private medical college in the middle of the course is not easy. You cannot simply give NEET again and use a duplicate marksheet to hide your current admission, as this is considered fraud and can lead to cancellation of your new admission or even legal action.

    Colleges usually