New Delhi - The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has announced that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be a mandatory eligibility criterion for admission to a wide range of undergraduate allied and healthcare programmes from the 2026-27 academic year.
In an official communication dated November 19, 2025, addressed to the Department of Higher Education, state education authorities, and school-boards, NCAHP directed that students aspiring to join allied and healthcare courses after class 12 must appear for NEET, in addition to satisfying other course-specific criteria.
As of December 2025, the commission has notified 13 undergraduate and postgraduate curricula under its regulatory framework for allied and healthcare professions. NCAHP has notified 13 curricula so far, and admissions under these curricula will follow the new NEET-based eligibility guidelines starting 2026–27.
According to NCAHP’s notified curricula and coverage by education-news outlets, core undergraduate programmes now requiring NEET qualification include:
Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)
B.Sc. Optometry
B.Sc. Nutrition and Dietetics
B.Sc. Dialysis Technology (Dialysis Therapy)
B.Sc. Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences / Medical Laboratory Technology
B.Sc. Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology (Radiology & Imaging)
Additional therapy- and technology-oriented programmes under the Allied & Healthcare umbrella include:
Operation theatre technology
Anesthesia/OT technology
Emergency care paramedics
Health information management
Physician associate programmes
Other specialised technology-based courses
Education-news sources note that the list above may expand as more curricula get notified by NCAHP.
The decision to mandate NEET aims at standardising admissions across the allied and healthcare education sector. NCAHP and allied-sector stakeholders expect this to enhance transparency and ensure that entrants have a solid foundation in sciences.
Under the new framework, prior modes of direct admission, merit-based entry or various institution-level/state-level entrance tests for many of these courses will be discontinued.
NCAHP advises the relevant educational boards and institutions to inform students early — so that those completing class 12 or equivalent exams may plan to take NEET in time for allied and healthcare admissions beginning 2026–27.
Appearing for NEET-UG will now be mandatory for admission into the allied & healthcare courses covered under notified NCAHP curricula. However, fulfilling NEET alone may not be enough; students must also meet other academic eligibility criteria, such as completing class 12 with required science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) as specified for each course.
The requirement applies only to allied and healthcare courses whose curricula have been officially notified. More courses may be added in future as NCAHP expands its regulated programmes.
Institutions and states may still apply additional admission norms (such as counselling, reservation, domicile policies). NEET has become the national-level entry gateway for the majority of allied and healthcare undergraduate programmes under NCAHP regulation.
The decision by NCAHP to make NEET-UG a mandatory eligibility criterion for admission to a broad set of allied and healthcare courses from 2026–27 represents a major shift in the admission landscape for paramedical and allied health education in India. This move aims to bring greater uniformity, regulate standards, and ensure quality of candidates entering supportive roles in the healthcare system. Aspiring students should begin planning their Class 12 subject choices and NEET preparation timelines accordingly.
(Rh/MSM)