Introduction
Anyone interested in becoming a doctor after the 12th standard must know about the NEET exam. It is a highly competitive exam that allows you to study in India’s leading medical colleges. For aspirating medical students, NEET is a major hurdle.
In 2023, out of 20,87,462 students who took the NEET exam, only 11,45,976 passed. Is it the end of your medical career aspiration when you can’t clear the NEET exam? Is the only option available to waste another year or two trying to do better at NEET? Certainly not! Read this blog to discover high-salary career options in medical without NEET.
Best Options for Medical Career without NEET
Beyond MBBS or BDS, there are different career options for working in the medical field without the NEET exam. Due to the evolving health sector, many rewarding and lucrative career options are available for those who scored low marks in the NEET exam.
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Nursing
The need for qualified nurses is on the rise in India and abroad. The nursing courses don’t require NEET. A bachelor’s degree in nursing is crucial to enter the medical field as a registered nurse. Alternatively, you can join some of the short-term nursing courses to get nursing registration. Depending on the course and your registration, you can work at various levels in different hospitals in India and abroad.
You can apply for nursing courses in top institutions like AIIMS, Christian Medical College, Chandigarh University, etc. The average salary for nurses is around Rs. 2.4 lakh in India. As you gain experience, you can earn more by becoming an OR or ER nurse.
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Clinical Research
If you wish to work in the medical industry but are passionate about real-world applications of medical science, pursuing a career in clinical research is a good fit for you. There are bachelors and diploma courses in clinical research, from which you can work as a quality assurance officer, consultant, biostatistician, etc.
You can study these courses at Indus University, ICRI Dehradun, St Xavier’s College, etc. Clinical research assistants in India can earn Rs.3,00,000 to Rs. 7,00,000 annually.
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Biotechnology
The diverse biotechnology field gives you plenty of opportunities to work in emerging areas like genetic engineering, industrial microbiology, environmental technology, bioinformatics, and molecular and cellular engineering.
To improve patient care, you can work with living organisms and their products to create meaningful equipment, devices, and drugs. This can be your career path if you complete a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, microbiology, or other related field.
Another option is to study for a B.Tech in microbiology to become a biomedical engineer. You can work as a lab technician, research associate, or in the sales sector based on your passion. In India, individuals with a degree in biotechnology can earn Rs. 1.8 lakh to Rs. 3.6 lakh annually.
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Pharmaceuticals
The booming pharmaceutical sector in India also provides immense opportunities for those who prefer to learn medicine from a different perspective. You need not appear for the NEET exam if you are studying for a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceuticals. It is possible to work with pharmaceutical companies to diagnose and treat diseases.
You can specialize in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacognosy, or pharmacology. If alternate medicine is your choice, you can also pursue a career in the Ayurveda and homeopathic fields. An integrated MBA later as a postgraduate course will improve your chances of succeeding in your career. The compensation for pharmaceutical employees in India ranges from Rs. 2.4 lakh to Rs. 3.6 lakh per year.
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Paramedical Science
Working in the healthcare industry doesn’t always have to deal with diagnosis and drugs. The industry needs individuals specialising in designing, building, and using diagnostic tools like ultrasounds, X-rays, and other clinical lab tests.
Without any mandatory requirement for the NEET exam, several institutions offer bachelor’s and diploma degrees in various fields like radiation technology, physiotherapy, dialysis therapy, optometry, X-ray technology, operation theatre technology, medical imaging technology, and anesthesia technology. Working in one of the paramedical industries will allow you to earn Rs. 2.4 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh based on your proficiency and experience.
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Hospital and Healthcare Management
You could be working in the healthcare industry without dealing with patients directly. In an office setting, you can work on the management side, orchestrating the workings of a healthcare institution. While you don’t diagnose or treat patients directly, hospital management dramatically improves pa
tient care. A master’s program in healthcare management or hospital management will prepare you for this role. Large organisations and hospitals consistently require management staff to coordinate different types of diagnosis, surgical, and research processes. You can earn Rs. 5,00,000 to Rs. 25,00,000 in this area based on the location of the hospital and your experience.
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Forensic Science and Criminology
One of the intriguing high-salary career options in medical without NEET is a forensics and criminal sciences bachelor’s degree. While you still have to use your medical knowledge, you don’t diagnose or treat patients in this field. You work with law enforcement officers as consultants and crime scene investigators to solve crimes.
Institutions like the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, the University of Mumbai, and Amity University offer varied courses in this field. Forensic experts in India could earn Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 6,00,000 per year.
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Medical Data Scientist
Medical data scientist is one of the new age trending jobs that require professionals to have AI and ML skills apart from the basics of healthcare. Medical data scientists use AI and ML technologies to advance medical research or improve patient care.
To pursue this career, you will need a masters or Ph.D in data science, bioinformatics, medical informatics or other relevant fields. Proficiency in programming skills such as Python is required.
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Robotic Surgery
Robotic surgery is an exciting field of medicine where robots perform precise surgeries. Without NEET, you can pursue a medical career by acquiring skills for working with robots. You can get an opportunity to successfully integrate robots into surgical environments. Depending on your passion, you can work with hardware or software.
Conclusion
India’s booming medical and healthcare industry offers many high-salary career options in medical without NEET. All these job roles require skilled professionals in different specialty areas. You can enjoy rewarding career paths in these fields if you acquire the necessary skills. These lucrative fields expect you to have a medical academic background, whereas NEET is not mandatory.
Worried about your NEET score? Do you dream of working in medicine and making a difference in people’s lives? Consult with Mindler experts to learn more about high-salary medical career options without NEET.
