NEET admissions, exit tests, registration: NCAHP chief on allied and healthcare sciences’ future

The allied health sciences sector is transforming. A new regulatory framework is in place and it will replace all existing policies. New syllabi for 10 paramedical courses* - NCAHP has adopted the term "allied and healthcare" - have already been framed and more are in the pipeline.

In due course, allied and healthcare professionals will be registered at the state and central levels; there will be uniform paramedical admission, exit or licensing processes; frameworks for assessing and accrediting institutes will be developed and those not approved will lose recognition.

After years without any regulatory oversight, the union government, in 2021, enacted the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act to control and standardise education – programmes popularly known as “paramedical courses” – and professional practices in 56 allied health sciences across 10 broad categories. However, NCAHP, the new apex regulator, became fully functional only last year.

In this interaction with Careers360, the commission chairperson Yagna Unmesh Shukla talks about how the new structure will work, the challenges in regulating a vast and diverse sector, growing career opportunities, admissions via the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and more. Edited excerpts:

Can you shed some light on NCAHP's mandate and its significance?

The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), established under the NCAHP Act, 2021, holds a pivotal mandate to regulate and maintain the standards of education and services provided by allied and healthcare professionals across India.

Its responsibilities include formulating policies, setting minimum standards for education and professional services, regulating professional conduct and ethics, and maintaining live central and state registers of qualified professionals.

The commission also defines the scope of practice for each profession, facilitates task shifting, ensures quality control, and promotes research and innovation in the sector.

By providing a structured and unified regulatory framework, NCAHP is expected to enhance transparency, accountability, and consistency in the training and deployment of this crucial segment of the health workforce.

This standardisation will help address the growing healthcare needs of the country and ensure the availability of competent professionals.

What steps has NCAHP taken since inception towards these goals?

Provisionally, the ministry of health had constituted ‘ICHP’ to draft competency-based curriculum, registration norms and other provisional documents and uploaded on the official website for public opinion and later the professional boards were constituted to design institutional norms and other individual regulations.

NCAHP has undertaken several critical steps to formalise and standardise allied and healthcare professions and education in alignment with the Act.

The commission was formally constituted in 2024 and is now fully operational, with its chairperson and secretary already appointed; 25 of 36 states and union Territories have successfully established their respective State Allied and Healthcare Councils.

Also read Is your paramedical course legit? Fake ‘councils’ flood allied health sciences

The Commission has further cemented its operational readiness by notifying 23 members, launching its dedicated website, and introducing enrolment portals for both professionals and institutions.

In a move to elevate professional standards, NCAHP has also launched 10 competency-based curricula and established professional councils for 10 broad categories. These councils are tasked with setting and upholding standards for education and practice within their designated professions. The commission is currently in the process of developing regulations and curricula for the remaining professional categories outlined in the NCAHP Act.

To enhance transparency and standardisation, the commission is developing a central register of allied and healthcare professionals, which will serve as an authoritative, real- time and publicly-accessible database of qualified practitioners across the country.

What have been your priorities since assuming charge at the commission?

A key focus has been institutionalising regulatory frameworks to ensure effective implementation of standards. Efforts have been directed toward the establishment and operationalisation of state councils, professional councils, and other statutory bodies, which are crucial for uniform and transparent regulation.

Standardisation remains central, particularly through the promotion of uniform admission, exit, and licensing examinations, and the recognition of courses and institutions to uphold quality benchmarks.

Given the vast expanse of the sector, what strategy has NCAHP adopted to regularise it?

The NCAHP has established a robust regulatory framework that defines minimum standards for education, facilities, staff qualifications, assessment, and research, thereby creating a standardised legal and operational environment. To facilitate localised regulation and expert guidance, NCAHP has mandated the formation of state councils and professional advisory boards.

Additionally, the sector’s formalisation is supported by the recognition and accreditation of qualifications, along with the creation of registers.

The NCAHP also advocates for uniform examinations and licensing procedures, standardising the qualification and competency assessments for practitioners nationwide.

Furthermore, it is working towards the regulation of professional conduct, ethics, and ongoing professional development to uphold high standards of practice.

Also read Allied health sciences have millions of jobs but ‘go unnoticed’ in craze for MBBS

This strategic approach involves legal authority, structured regulation, standardised assessments, and centralised data management.

To what extent does NCAHP plan to control the courses and institutes? How much of the regulatory power would be delegated to state councils?

NCAHP has been established as the apex regulatory body to ensure uniform standards across India. These councils will hold the authority to assess and accredit institutions, grant or refuse approval to educational programmes, maintain state registries, and enforce ethical and professional standards within their jurisdiction.

Qualifications from institutions not approved by the state body lose recognition.

In essence, NCAHP sets the broad framework, credentials, and norms, while state councils are responsible for ground-level administration and enforcement, assessments, state registries, and local governance.

What will be the role of existing national and state bodies, such as the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), that have so far been looking after various allied disciplines?

NCAHP has been created with the intent of filling regulatory gaps. These professions were previously not covered by existing regulatory bodies, like the National Medical Commission, the Dental Council of India, the Indian Nursing Council, and the Pharmacy Council of India.

It excludes allied disciplines already under national regulators, such as the RCI. Professions such as audiology and speech pathology (BASLP), orthotics and prosthetics, clinical psychology which are under the RCI, remain within RCI's existing purview.

Thus, the NMC, DCI, INC, RCI and similar councils continue their regulatory functions without overlap or interference.

What has been the progress on setting up national and state-level councils?

Twenty-five states and UTs have constituted their councils. These are at various stages of capacity-building and institutional strengthening. While many are still in the process of becoming fully operational, their formation marks a critical step towards decentralised implementation.

The commission is actively following up with the remaining states.

What is the progress on registering allied healthcare professionals?

NCAHP has developed a central enrolment portal which serves as a centralised database for enrolling professionals covered under the schedule of the NCAHP Act. This portal is specifically meant for the central registration of allied and healthcare professionals and is a key step towards creating a transparent and unified national register.

Enrolling in the portal is compulsory for the purpose of verification before registration. This central register aims to ensure that only qualified and officially-recognised professionals are allowed to practise.

Also read ‘Don’t know how NMC permitted’: New medical colleges started without faculty or equipment, say students

Professionals will be required to also register with their respective State Allied and Healthcare Councils to practice within a particular state. The integration between central and state systems should improve progressively.

What specific measures has NCAHP taken to regularise the programmes and institutes?

One major step is the introduction of competency-based, standardised curricula for 10 allied and healthcare courses. These curricula include physiotherapy, applied psychology and behavioral health, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, dialysis therapy technology & dialysis therapy, radiotherapy technology, medical radiology and imaging technology, anesthesia and operation theatre technology, and health information management.

The updated curricula directly address evolving healthcare needs and are to be implemented from 2026–27. This ensures a uniform educational framework aligned with global standards, emphasising practical skills, ethics, and lifelong learning.

NCAHP has mandated the formation of professional councils for each recognised allied healthcare profession. These oversee the development of educational standards, define scopes of practice, and monitor compliance with regulations. Additionally, any new institution or course must obtain prior approval from the respective state council.

The commission also empowers state councils to conduct regular assessments and accredit institutions based on faculty qualifications, infrastructure, and training quality. This assessment regime ensures that only institutions meeting prescribed standards can operate.

Uniform entry and exit examinations have been introduced for admissions and licensing, respectively.

To uphold these standards, the Act prescribes penalties for institutions and individuals violating regulations, including fines and imprisonment.

The Commission is focused on drafting registration and other regulations.

What challenges have you faced in your work so far?

The NCAHP has encountered several significant challenges since its establishment. Managing the diversity of allied and healthcare professions under a single regulatory body in itself is a big task demanding huge responsibility, dedication, and a profound understanding of each specialised field. It is akin to orchestrating a complex symphony, where each instrument, though unique, must play in harmony to create a cohesive and effective healthcare system.

This involves navigating the varied educational pathways, distinct scopes of practice, and differing ethical considerations inherent to each profession.

The regulatory body must ensure equitable standards, facilitate seamless collaboration, and foster continuous professional development across this vast landscape, all while prioritising patient safety and quality of care.

Another challenge has been navigating regulatory overlaps.

Before NCAHP, many allied and healthcare professions were either unregulated or governed by separate authorities. Integrating these varied systems into a cohesive framework required resolving jurisdictional conflicts and ensuring clear authority for the new commission without disrupting existing governance structures.

Coordinating between the central Commission and state councils is steadily improving integration across the system.

While some educational institutions currently face infrastructure and capacity constraints, this presents a significant opportunity for strategic investment and development.

Many institutions, particularly in rural areas, are actively working to enhance their facilities and attract qualified faculty to meet the Commission's prescribed standards.

Additionally, awareness about NCAHP’s role and regulations remains limited among educational institutions, professionals, and the public. There is a significant opportunity to enhance awareness. Increasing understanding will undoubtedly accelerate the acceptance of and adherence to new standards.

What, according to you, are the key changes and features of the revised curricula?

The new curricula incorporate several key changes and features aimed at enhancing the quality and consistency of allied healthcare education across India.

A major shift is the adoption of a competency-based approach, emphasising practical skills and hands-on training rather than solely theoretical knowledge. This change ensures that graduates are better prepared to meet real-world healthcare challenges with the necessary clinical expertise and problem-solving abilities.

The revised curricula also aim for greater standardisation across professions. By setting uniform standards, NCAHP ensures consistent quality and comparability of qualifications nationwide, facilitating mobility and recognition of professionals.

Beyond clinical skills, the curricula integrate modules on communication, ethical practice, teamwork, and lifelong learning, reflecting a holistic approach to professional development. This broad skill set is crucial for effective healthcare delivery in multidisciplinary and community settings.

Alignment with national health priorities, such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), is another notable feature. The curricula are designed to produce a workforce capable of supporting key healthcare goals.

Finally, digital accessibility of these curricula promotes widespread adoption and ongoing capacity building. Overall, NCAHP’s revised model curricula modernise allied healthcare education to meet global standards and India’s evolving healthcare needs effectively.

When and how does the commission plan to enforce these standards?

The NCAHP plans to enforce the revised educational standards through a multi-pronged regulatory framework:

• Mandatory Approvals and Accreditation: Institutions must obtain prior approval from the relevant state councils before starting new courses or increasing intake. Regular assessments and accreditation processes will ensure compliance with standards.
• Uniform Examinations and Licensing: NCAHP mandates uniform entry-level and exit-level examinations to standardise assessment across all allied healthcare programmes. Only those who pass licensing exams will be eligible for professional registration and practice.
• Central and State Registers: The Commission maintains an updated online central register of qualified professionals. Registration will be conditional on meeting education and examination standards, helping prevent unqualified practice.
• Professional Councils Oversight: Separate Professional Councils will monitor adherence to standards, address grievances, and recommend disciplinary action when necessary.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: The NCAHP Act prescribes penalties, including fines, suspension of recognition, or even imprisonment for institutions or individuals violating regulations.
• Continuous Monitoring and Updates: The Commission will periodically review curricula, institutional compliance, and professional conduct to keep standards relevant and rigorous.

Through these mechanisms, NCAHP aims to maintain high-quality education and practice standards.

What will be the process and timeline of the approval and accreditation?

The commission is committed to establishing a robust, transparent, and uniform framework for recognition and regulation. This initiative aims at ensuring high standards in education, infrastructure, faculty quality, and clinical training.

The recognition process will be guided by clearly-defined, standardised criteria covering infrastructure norms, curriculum alignment, faculty qualifications, and student– faculty ratios.

The new syllabi propose that admissions be done through NEET. What's the objective of this suggestion?

A merit-based admission system is known for its ability to standardise a particular educational stream and help in producing a quality workforce. This approach ensures that students are selected based on their academic achievements, demonstrated aptitude, and potential for success, rather than other factors. By prioritising merit, institutions can establish a baseline of academic excellence, which in turn fosters a more competitive and rigorous learning environment.

This standardisation not only elevates the overall quality of education within that stream but also directly contributes to the development of a high-caliber workforce. Graduates from such systems are typically well-prepared, possessing a strong foundational knowledge and the critical thinking skills. This benefits employers by providing them with more reliable and competent candidates, ultimately enhancing productivity and innovation.

The proposal to route admissions through NEET specifically aims at standardising entry-level competencies and enhancing the academic caliber of incoming students.

Adopting a national merit-based platform, the move seeks to minimize variability in selection criteria across institutions and regions.

This integration is expected to further elevate the status of these courses Ultimately, the main objective lies in attracting the motivated and capable students with a strong science background, thereby contributing to improved patient outcomes.

It was recently reported that bringing nursing programmes under NEET's ambit resulted in medical aspirants for whom nursing wasn't a priority joining the discipline as a last-resort option, much to the detriment of these courses. Do you think allied healthcare courses might face a similar situation?

As per the Act, there will be criteria of entry in each professional programme. The eligibility criteria may vary according to each category of professions under NCAHP. For example, in physiotherapy, entry criteria is 10+2 from a recognised board with science stream and having 50% aggregate marks with physics, chemistry and biology subjects and NEET appearance. The focus remains on safe-guarding the integrity, intent, and long-term sustainability of each distinct professional stream.

Many Allied and healthcare professions require more than just academic excellence. They call for a genuine interest, strong commitment, and specific aptitude aligned with the demands of each discipline. The commission is determined to ensure that admission reforms uphold the integrity of allied and healthcare professions and do not relegate them to fallback options.

The Commission will focus on key principles such as preserving the clarity of career intent, so that students enter the fields by informed choice rather than default. It also aims to strengthen professional identity, engage in broad stakeholder consultations, and incorporate aptitude-based screening to ensure candidates are genuinely suited to their chosen disciplines.

The Commission is well aware of the challenges that arose from bringing nursing programmes under NEET, especially the decline in student motivation and course quality. Given this context, any proposal to introduce a common entrance mechanism (as NEET) for allied healthcare courses is being approached with utmost caution. The focus remains on safeguarding the integrity, intent, and long-term sustainability of each distinct professional stream.

Another key change was extending the duration of the undergraduate physiotherapy programme to five years and giving 'Dr' title to physiotherapists. Why was this done?

The proposed reforms are driven by a commitment to harmonise with international standards and strengthen clinical accountability. The aim of the five year degree programme (including one year of internship) is to enable the development of the physiotherapist as an independent healthcare practitioner as well as a key member of the multidisciplinary team and to enable them to execute advanced diagnosis, preparation, planning, delivery and prescription of physiotherapy treatment as well as quality assurance.

The ultimate aim is to align physiotherapy education in India with global benchmarks observed in countries like the UK, Australia, USA and Canada. This training duration will equip students with enhanced clinical exposure, a strong foundation, well-structured clinical rotations, and introductory research skills — all critical for developing multidisciplinary competence.

The entire purpose of increasing the duration of the programmes is to equip the allied and healthcare professionals to meet the challenges before them in decision-making in treatment protocol and execution skill during treatment of patients. The programme is focused on professionals identifying critical areas of various conditions and making necessary modifications in the treatment protocol in consultation with the appropriate experts wherever required. The learning skills are more focused on advancing finer aspects of treatment methodologies and skills.

With regard to the recommendation to prefix “Dr” title and suffix respective professional identity (Short abbreviation like “PT” or “OT” etc) is for the public to identify the practicing professional and confidently approach the healthcare experts for direct access treatment.

This direct access practice and independent practice is permitted for a few allied and healthcare professionals as per provisions in the Act. The use of the title “Dr” with specific suffixes will help the public gain confidence in approaching professionals without any hesitation. The suffix is emphasised to distinguish the professional identity. Necessary measures and monitoring will be taken to curtail quackery and misconception.

Many of the allied healthcare institutes have dubious credentials, while a number of official-sounding unrecognized 'councils' have been operating. How can NCAHP put curbs on them?

Prior to 2021, India's allied and healthcare professions – a vast and diverse group – lacked a cohesive regulatory framework.

Some professions might have had voluntary associations, state-level guidelines, or even no formal oversight, all leading to varying standards and fragmented regulation. The NCAHP Act was specifically designed to address this void.

For these professions, the NCAHP's decisions, regulations, and guidelines are now supreme and binding. This directly supersedes any informal bodies, ad- hoc committees, or non-statutory state-level “councils" that might have previously attempted to govern these professions.

To put an end to institutes with dubious credentials, a multi-pronged strategy will be used.

• A centralised registry of all the recognised institutions and courses will be available in the public domain. The centralised registry will be updated regularly.
• The commission will establish and enforce strict accreditation protocols, with periodic audits. Institutions flouting such protocols shall be fined and legally prosecuted.
• The commission will also collaborate with various state governments and law enforcement agencies to identify and penalise fraudulent institutions and other self-styled councils. This may include issuing public advisories, publishing blacklists and initiating legal proceedings using relevant local laws.
• Nationwide mass awareness campaigns will be launched to educate students, employers and parents about the commission, asking them not to fall prey to fraud, leveraging social media and other digital platforms.
• The commission shall eventually establish digital verification systems such as QR coded registries and certificates to prevent credential frauds.

What are the employment trends in the allied healthcare sector?

The future of allied and healthcare professionals (AHP) and those who are aspiring to be AHPs is indeed bright. AHPs form a very important pillar of the healthcare infrastructure of the nation and thus I cannot understate their importance.

It has been estimated by the WHO that there will be a shortfall of over 11 million globally in the health workforce by 2030. A big proportion of this will be among allied and healthcare workforce. This shortfall, with the increased emphasis on preventive measures over curative measures, increases the scope for the expansion of the AHP cadre, thus creating more jobs in the sector.

The pandemic has also increased the perceived value of AHPs and as the Government of India is now emphasising digital health, telemedicine and biotechnology, AHP graduates will have broader career paths in the years to come.

The allied and healthcare sector is also expected to grow due to aging populations, chronic lifestyle diseases and flexible staffing models. Thus, demand is rising in allied and health roles, across the board. AHP graduates with updated certifications and new age skills (AI, tele-health, informatics) and specialised training will have excellent career prospects in this domain.

It is expected that strict implementation of NCAHP Act, 2021 would create not only new job opportunities but the registration and standardisation would increase career prospects in the private sector too.

To be specific, the job scope and participation of AHPs in the following fields is bound to increase.

• Ergonomics in IT professionals
• Disaster management team members for early care
• Women’s health
• Sports injury management
• Fitness areas
• Fertility labs
• Advanced imaging skills
• Critical test areas
• Early detection in school children
• Rural preventive care enters
• Preventive cardiac care
• Preventive disability care
• Diabetic care programme
• Community-based rehabilitation
• Antenatal and post-natal care

Most of the aspirants continue to chase MBBS, while neglecting allied healthcare courses. What can be done to reorient them?

The widespread obsession with MBBS among many aspirants often overshadows the immense potential of AHPs. The narrow point of view stems from lack of awareness, societal perceptions equating doctors with prestige and limited career counseling. A multi-pronged approach is needed to reorient aspirants towards the various allied healthcare courses. The following is the need of the hour.

• Awareness campaigns: The government will be requested to handhold NCAHP, educational institutions and media to launch sustained awareness campaigns, showcasing the vital role of AHPs in modern healthcare ecosystems. Highlighting success stories and career progression will help shift the perception people have towards AHP professionals.
• Career counseling at school level: Allied healthcare courses should get integrated at the level of schools. Students and parents should be made aware of the diverse career paths, competitive salaries, overseas opportunities and growing demand of AHPs.
• Industry linkages and placements: Educational institutes offering allied healthcare courses should form forward linkages with the industry, offering internships, placements and industry mentorship. Demonstrating employability will lead to a significant boost in interest.
• Scholarships and other incentives: Government-sponsored scholarships, paid internships and fast-tracked recruitment processes will ignite the interest of students, parents and the private sector.
• Reframing public perception towards the profession: Both the public and private sectors should work together with media influencers to reframe the perception of allied and healthcare among masses.

A cultural shift driven by education and policy is central towards changing the perception of people towards AHPs. ‘Inter-dependency’ should be emphasised, rather than “independence”.

In the light of recent cases of corruption in apex regulatory bodies, how will NCAHP ensure transparency and integrity in its activities?

In the wake of the recent corruption scandal, which has shaken the healthcare fraternity, ensuring transparency and integrity has become a cornerstone for the credibility and effectiveness of any independent regulatory body.

The commission will look into the following methods to plug various gaps, leading to corruption.

• Increase in digitisation and e-governance: The Government of India has proven that one of the best means of countering corruption is digitisation. NCAHP plans to eventually move towards a fully-online process for registration, accreditation, assessment and grievance redress. Our platform will offer real-time tracking, automated workflows and audit trails to minimise human discretion and possibilities for corruption.
• Independent oversight and audit: Regular third-party audits, social audits and internal vigilance mechanisms will help monitor the commission’s operations. Independent and empowered complaint cells will also be established to look into the various complaints, which will lead to more accountability in the system.
• Transparency in decision making: All policy decisions, guidelines, accreditation criteria will be made available on the commission’s website. This will ensure greater scrutiny and reduce backdoor dealings.
• Stakeholder engagement: Regular consultations with industry experts, institutions and civil society will be taken up, which will, in turn, help in maintaining checks and balances. The commission will also ensure whistle-blower protection.
• Capacity building with a focus on integrity of officials: Officials and staff of the commission will be encouraged to undergo regular training on ethics, public service values and anti-corruption practices and measures which will in turn help them in building a strong character, free from the shackles of corruption.

Beyond all precautions to curtail such scams, we are planning to insist on video recording during inspections. This recording will be correlated with the inspection report for a justified conclusion.

*Note and clarification: The NCAHP no longer allows the use of the term "paramedical" to describe professions or education in this sector and has asked for it to be replaced with "allied and healthcare" in names of institutes". However, that change came only in early July. The terms "paramedical courses", "paramedical admission" and others like it are still very widely used, even by institutions such as AIIMS Delhi. While Careers360 is aware of and has covered the change, those terms have still been retained in some places in this interview to lend clarity and ensure that the last reader understands which professions and courses are being referred to.