NEET NOT Mandatory for Physiotherapy, occupational therapy admissions this year, requirement deferred to 2027-28

New Delhi: The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has announced that appearing in the National Eligibility-Entrance Test (NEET UG) will not be mandatory for admission to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) undergraduate programmes for the academic year 2026-27.

In a letter issued to the University Grants Commission (UGC) on March 2nd, the Commission stated that the earlier decision to conduct admissions to these courses through NEET has been deferred to the next academic year 2027–28.

Earlier, the Commission had proposed that admissions to BPT and BOT courses, which fall under the schedule of the NCAHP Act, 2021, should be conducted through NEET.

Medical Dialogues in 2024 reported that NEET was made a mandatory entry requirement for admission to Undergraduate-level Physiotherapy courses. Releasing the draft curriculum of Physiotherapy, the Interim Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (ICAHP) had mentioned that the students entering the Physiotherapy program, "must have appeared in National eligibility entrance test (NEET)."

However, the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that the NEET-UG 2026 examination is already in an advanced stage of preparation. Including BPT and BOT courses in NEET this year could lead to a sudden increase in the number of candidates and create logistical challenges in conducting the exam.

Considering the logistical issues, NCAHP decided to postpone the mandatory NEET requirement for these courses for one year.

"Further, vide Ref (1) above, it was informed that, the admission in Physiotherapy Under-Graduate (UG) programmes i.e. Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B.PT) and Occupational Therapy Under-Graduate (UG) programmes i.e. Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B. OT) listed in Categories 3 and 6 respectively of the Schedule of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 shall be through National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

In this regard, vide Ref (2) & (3), the National Testing Agency (NTA) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have informed that the NEET (UG)-2026 is at its advance stage and inclusion of Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B.PT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B. OT) may lead to an unexpected increase in the number of candidates, potentially creating logistical challenges in the conduct of the examination.

Considering the logistic issues, as intimated vide letter Ref (2) & (3) of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) respectively, the Commission hereby notifies that the admission process for Bachelor of Physiotherapy (B.PT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B. OT) Under-Graduate programme’s mandatory requirement of appearance in NEET (UG)-2026 examination, be deferred till next academic year 2027-28," mentioned the letter. 

However, the admission to these programmes will be conducted based on the marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) in the Class 12 examination, as per the eligibility criteria already notified earlier.

As per the criteria, candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (or Botany and Zoology) along with English. Students from the General and EWS categories must secure at least 50% aggregate marks in PCB, while SC, ST and OBC (NCL) candidates require a minimum of 40% marks. The minimum marks for PwD candidates are also 40% in the qualifying examination.

The Commission clarified that all other eligibility conditions for admission to these programmes will remain the same, except the requirement of appearing in NEET for the academic year 2026–27.

"The admission in these programmes shall be in accordance with the basic eligibility criteria and other common criteria, as notified earlier vide Ref (1) above, for the Academic Year 2026-27, except the mandatory requirement of appearance in NEET (UG) examination. Accordingly, the merit list to be prepared on the basis of aggregate marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) in 12th standard examination, with minimum 50% marks i.e. “Candidate must have passed Senior Secondary (10+2) or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry & Biology (or Botany & Zoology) with 50% aggregate with English pass. However, in respect of the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Classes (NCL), the minimum marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology are taken together in the qualifying examination shall be 40% marks instead of 50% marks for Unreserved and General-EWS Candidates. In respect of PwBD/PwD candidates the minimum marks in the qualifying examination in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (or Botany & Zoology) taken together shall be 40% instead of 50%. English pass required for all categories," added the letter. 

To view the official letter, click on the link below: 

Also read- NEET mandatory for Bachelor in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy courses in Karnataka