Who can be Medical Faculty: NMC Draft on TEQ rules lay down different criteria for old, new PG, SS courses
New Delhi: Mandating the basic requirements for doctors to become medical teachers in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has comprehensively laid down the norms for faculty appointment and promotion in its recently released Teachers Eligibility and Minimum Qualifications in Medical Institutions Regulations 2021.
These TEQ rules, while aiming at standardising recruitment of teachers in all medical institutions across the country, specify the number of patterns starting with who can be classified as a medical teacher, while also specifying a number of courses that doctors will now have to clear to be eligible for various faculty posts.
These regulations include norms for appointing faculty in medical institutions, rules to determine the equivalent qualification of DNB with MD/MS and DM/MCh, eligibility required to be designated as a postgraduate guide, norms for appointing faculty and their promotions, for determining teaching designations for Consultants/ Specialists for constituting a medical college or commencing a postgraduate course, for determining the teaching designations for Consultants/Specialists in Medical Institutions of Defence Services, and rules for appointing visiting faculties.
Besides, the subject of Faculty appointment and promotion has been separately addressed in the Regulations as NMC has mentioned the norms for Faculty appointment and promotion in Broad Specialties (MD/MS) which are in existence for more than 10 years, which were established by erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) and are functional for less than ten years, and also the new Broad Specialty courses proposed to be instituted by NMC in separate tables.
One of the major elements of this draft TEQ regulations is that the NMC has clearly specified norms for old courses whether in super-specialisation or PG medical courses that are already in existence for more than 10 years and separately for new courses that are going to come or have been in existence for less than 10 years.
Further, the norms for appointing faculty and their promotion in Super Specialties (DM/MCh) for where the course was established by erstwhile MCI and is functional for more or less than ten years, and new courses proposed to be initiated by the NMC have also been mentioned in the Regulations. These Regulations also have specified the Appointment of Faculty during the transition period.
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion
As per the draft NMC TEQ Rules 2021, the norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion shall be as follows:
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion in Broad Specialties (MD/MS) which are in existence for more than 10 years.
Posts | Academic Qualifications | Teaching and Research Experience |
Professor 8-year post PG experience | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject. | 1 .Associate Professor in the subject for 3 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical college/institution. 2. Should have at least four Research publications (at least two as Associate Professor) (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by NMC. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Associate Professor 5 years post PG experience | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject. | 1. As Assistant Professor in the subject for 4 years in a permitted /approved /recognized medical college/ institution. 2. Should have at least two Research publications (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by NMC. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Assistant Professor | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject. | One year as Senior Resident in the concerned subject in a recognized/approved/permitted medical college after acquiring MD/MS Degree. |
Senior Resident (Broad Specialties) |
| Senior Resident is one who is doing his residency in the concerned post graduate subject after obtaining PG degree (MD/MS/DNB). The post of senior resident is a tenured position not exceeding 3 years. The graduate must be below 45 years of age at the time of initial appointment. The existing posts of Tutors/Demonstrators/Registrars in all the Departments shall be re-designated as Senior Residents. Henceforth all the Departments in Broad Specialties including Pre–Clinical and Para–Clinical Departments will have the designation of Senior Resident. All other designations like Tutor/Demonstrator/Registrar or any other designation practiced earlier stand deleted. In the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, graduates with M.Sc. (Medical) qualifications in these subjects can also be appointed for the post of Senior Resident. |
Index of Broad Specialties in which Persons with non-Medical Qualifications may be appointed as Faculty (Assistant Professor and beyond)
S. No. | Name of the Specialty | Academic Qualification |
1. | Anatomy | M.Sc. (Medical Anatomy) with Ph.D. in Medical Anatomy |
2. | Biochemistry | M.Sc. (Medical Biochemistry) with Ph.D. in Medical Biochemistry |
3. | Physiology | Physiology |
4. | Statistics | M.Sc. (Statistics) with Ph.D. (Statistics) |
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion in Broad Specialties (MD/MS) wherein the Broad Specialty Course was established by erstwhile MCI and is functional for less than Ten years and also for new Broad Specialty courses proposed to be instituted by National Medical Commission.
Posts | Academic Qualifications | Teaching and Research Experience |
Professor | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject. OR During Transition period of Ten Years MD/MS/DNB in Broad specialty as provided in Table 11.A with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service in that specialty. | 1. Associate Professor in the subject as mentioned in Table 11.A with experience of 3 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical college/institution. 2. Should have at least four Research publications (at least two as Associate Professor) (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the NMC recognized Basic course in Medical Education Technology. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Associate Professor | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject. OR During Transition of Ten Years period MD/MS/DNB in Broad specialty as provided in Table 11.A with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service | 1. As Assistant Professor in the subject as mentioned in Table 11.A for 4 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical college/institution 2. Should have at least two Research publications (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, Pubmed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered. The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by MCI. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Assistant Professor | MD/MS/DNB in the concerned subject and as per these Regulations. OR During Transition of Ten Years period MD/MS/DNB in Broad specialty as provided in Table 11.A with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service |
|
Senior Resident (Broad Specialties) |
| MD/MS/DNB qualified graduates in that specialty The post of Senior Resident is a tenured position not exceeding 3 years. The graduate must be below 45 years of age at the time of initial appointment |
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion in the Department of Dentistry in a Medical College
Posts | Academic Qualifications | Teaching and Research Experience |
Professor | M.D.S. | 1. Associate Professor in the subject for 3 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical/dental college/institution. 2. Should have at least four Research publications (at least two as Associate Professor) (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by NMC. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Associate Professor | M.D.S. | 1. As Assistant Professor in the subject for 4 years in a permitted/approved/recognized medical/dental college/institution. 2. Should have at least two Research publications (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by NMC. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Assistant Professor | M.D.S. | One year as Senior Resident/Registrar/Tutor in the concerned subject in a recognized/Permitted medical/dental college after acquiring MDS Degree. |
Senior Resident (Broad Specialties) | M.D.S. | Senior Resident is one who is doing his residency in Dentistry after obtaining MDS degree. The post of senior resident is a tenured position not exceeding 3 years. The graduate must be below 45 years of age at the time of initial appointment |
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion in Super Specialties (DM/M.Ch) wherein the Super Specialty Course is established by erstwhile MCI and is functioning for more than Ten years.
Posts | Academic Qualifications | Teaching and Research Experience |
Professor | DM/M.Ch./Super-speciality DNB in the concerned subject | 1. Associate Professor in the subject for 3 years in a permitted/approved/recognized medical college/institution. 2. Should have at least four Research publications (at least two as Associate Professor) (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the NMC recognized Basic course in Medical Education Technology. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Associate Professor | DM/M.Ch./Super-speciality DNB in the concerned subject | 1. As Assistant Professor in the subject for 2 years in a permitted/approved/recognized medical college/institution. 2. Should have at least two Research publications (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by MCI. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Assistant Professor | DM/M.Ch./Super-speciality DNB in the concerned subject | One year as Senior Resident/Registrar/Tutor in the concerned subject in a recognized/Permitted medical/dental college after acquiring MDS Degree. |
Senior Resident (Broad Specialties) | Registered to pursue DM/MCh/ in the concerned subject. | |
Norms for Faculty Appointment and Promotion in Super Specialties (DM/M.Ch) wherein the Super Specialty Course is established by erstwhile MCI and is functional for less than Ten years and also for new courses proposed to be started by National Medical Commission.
Posts | Academic Qualifications | Teaching and Research Experience |
Professor | DM/M.Ch./Super-speciality DNB in the concerned subject OR During Transition period of Ten Years MD/MS/DNB in concerned Broad specialty subject as provided in Table 11.B with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service | 1. Associate Professor in the subject as mentioned in Table 11.C for 3 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical college/institution. 2. Should have at least four Research publications (at least two as Associate Professor) (only original papers, meta[1]analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the NMC recognized Basic course in Medical Education Technology. 4. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Associate Professor (or Reader) | DM/M.Ch./Super[1]speciality DNB in the concerned subject OR During Transition of Ten Years period MD/MS/DNB in concerned Broad specialty subject as provided in Table 11.B with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service | 1. As Assistant Professor in the subject as mentioned in Table 11.C for 2 years in a permitted/approved/ recognized medical college/institution 2.Should have at least two Research publications (only original papers, meta-analysis, systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included in Medline, PubMed Central, Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open Access Journals (DoAJ) will be considered). The teacher must be either one among the first three authors or the corresponding author. 3. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education Technology from Institution(s) designated by MCI. 4.Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research from Institution(s) designated by NMC. |
Assistant Professor | DM/M.Ch./Super[1]speciality DNB in the concerned subject OR During Transition of Ten Years period MD/MS/DNB in concerned Broad specialty subject as provided in Table 11.B with three years Special Training in respective Broad specialty department in a teaching Institution/Centre of Excellence conferred by GOI/High volume Centers with dedicated service | One year as Senior Resident/Registrar/Tutor in the concerned subject in a recognized/Permitted medical/dental college after acquiring MDS Degree. |
Senior Resident (Broad Specialties) | Registered to pursue DM/M.Ch in the concerned subject. OR MD/MS/DNB qualified graduates in the concerned broad specialty and this post of senior resident is a tenured position not exceeding 3 years. The graduate must be below 45 years of age at the time of initial appointment. | |
Appointment of Faculty during the transition period.
The academic qualification for any new broad speciality or super speciality shall be the one shown at the time of notifying the new speciality. Persons appointed on the basis of the entry-level qualification shall be eligible for promotion to the higher posts.
Persons appointed as teaching faculty during the transition period shall be eligible for promotion to the post of Associate Professor/ Professor even after the transition period of ten years are over. Such person shall also be entitled to hold the teaching position held by him until the age of 70 years in the same or any other recognized Medical Institution.
In the case of Broad Specialty / Super Specialty courses which were newly instituted, relaxation of qualification and experience for appointment as Faculty may be granted by the National Medical Commission for ten years from the date of start of the course by erstwhile MCI or proposed to be started by National Medical Commission. This relaxation ceases to exist to all the existing Broad Specialty / Super Specialty courses which have completed ten years from the date on which they were started by erstwhile Medical Council of India or proposed to be started by National Medical Commission.
General Norms for Appointment of Faculty in Medical Institutions:
Every appointing authority before making an appointment to a teaching post in a medical college or institution shall observe the following norms:
1. All Medical Teachers must possess a basic University or equivalent qualification included in any one of the Schedules to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) and National Medical Commission Act, 2019. They must also be registered in a State Medical Register or National Medical Register, except in the case of teachers with non-medical qualifications.
2. The maximum age limit up to which a person can be appointed or granted extension or re-employed in service against the posts of Teachers or Deans or Principal or Director, as the case may be, which are required to be filled up as per the norms of the National Medical Commission in any Medical College or Teaching Institutions for imparting Graduate and Post-Graduate medical education shall be 70 years.
3. In the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, non-medical graduates having M.Sc. (Medical) granted by the University of Health Sciences or Medical Colleges as full time regular on campus course with Ph.D. qualification in the concerned medical subject from a recognized University, in the subject concerned, can be appointed as Assistant Professors. The proportion of non-medical teachers can be up to 15% of the total number of faculty posts in that Department. In the Department of Community Medicine, Assistant Professor in Statistics shall possess M.Sc. with Ph.D. qualification from a recognized University. A non-medical person cannot be appointed as Dean or Director or Principal or Medical Superintendent or Head of the Department. Provided that non-medical graduates appointed as Assistant Professor in the subjects of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Microbiology on the basis of M.Sc. degree prior to the coming into force of Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institution Regulations, 1998 on 05.12.1998, shall be eligible to be considered as Assistant Professor. However, Ph.D. degree in concerned medical subject is essential for promotion to higher teaching position. Such persons shall also be eligible after their retirement to serve as faculty on the same position from which they had retired until the permissible age for serving in a Medical College.
4. The appointing authority may consider holders of equivalent postgraduate qualifications, which may be approved by the National Medical Commission from time to time, to be the requisite recognized qualification in the subject concerned.
5. In cases where candidates with requisite experience are not available, a reference may be made by the appointing authority to the National Medical Commission for consideration on merits.
6. The position of Dean/Director/Principal of Medical Institution should be held by a person possessing recognized postgraduate medical degree from a recognized institution with a minimum of ten years teaching experience as Professor/Associate Professor in a Medical College/ Institution, out of which at least five years should be as Professor in the Department. Appointment to these posts shall be made on seniority cum merit basis. The post of Dean/Director/Principal of Medical Institution is a full time administrative post and they shall not hold any unit/post of HOD. But he may render clinical services and will be considered as Professor in the Department.
7. The Medical Superintendent of the affiliated teaching hospital shall possess a recognized postgraduate medical degree from a recognized Institution with a minimum of ten years teaching experience as Professor /Associate Professor in clinical department, out of which at least five years should be as Professor. Appointment to these posts shall be made on seniority cum merit basis. Medical Superintendent shall not occupy the position of the Head of the Department. However, he can head second or subsequent unit.
8. The position of Director of Standalone Postgraduate Broad Specialty Institution shall be held by a person possessing recognized postgraduate Degree from a recognized Institution with minimum of ten years teaching experience as Professor/Associate Professor, out of which, at least five years should be as Professor.
9. The position of Director of Standalone Postgraduate Super Specialty Institution shall be held by a person possessing recognized postgraduate Degree from a recognized institution with a minimum of ten years teaching experience as Professor/Associate Professor, out of which, at least five years should be as Professor. However, during transition period of ten years from the time of gazette notification of the super specialty course by the erstwhile MCI/NMC, if no eligible candidates with recognized Super Specialty degree qualification are available, then the post of Director in such standalone Postgraduate Super Specialty Institution be filled up by interested faculty with recognized broad specialty qualification, provided they fulfill the experience as prescribed in table 11 B.
10. Appointments to these administrative posts in Government Institutions including the in charge arrangements, amongst eligible candidates, shall be based on Inter se vertical seniority based on date of entry into the Institution/Service.
11. The post of Head of the Department in Medical Colleges/Institutions shall be on rotational basis for a period of three years amongst Professors.
12. Period spent by the teaching faculty towards acquisition of higher degree (Broad Specialty/Super Specialty) on concurrent duties/deputation shall not be counted as teaching experience for fulfilling eligibility criteria for promotion.
13. For holders of MD - Ph.D. in Medical Subjects, the period spent during Ph.D. shall be considered equivalent to Senior Resident period and they are eligible for direct appointment as Assistant Professors in the concerned subject.
14. The Statistician with MSc and PHD qualification, who has been appointed as Assistant Professor in the department of Community Medicine, may be given career progression. But, he cannot be the Head of the Department of Community Medicine.
