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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

• Students must study from the NCERT textbooks by following the NEET syllabus.

• Practicing the NEET mock test on a regular basis will be helpful.

• Focus on NEET high-weightage topics for good results.

• Solve previous year’s NEET question paper to get an idea of what is asked in the examination.