Kerala Invites Applications for Post Basic Diploma in Speciality Nursing, check complete details

Admissions to the courses are regulated based on merit as assessed by their marks in the entrance examination and skill test. The selection of candidates under the service quota will be strictly based on their eligibility and seniority as of the last date for submission of the application form.

In this regard, the Government of Kerala has released a prospectus detailing the Courses, Institutions and Seats, Fees, eligibility criteria, Duration of the Course, Fee concession and other scholarships, etc. Below are the details-

ELIGIBILITY

Applicant should have passed the +2 or equivalent examination with physics, chemistry and biology as optional subjects. They should have also passed a basic qualifying course, such as the General Nursing and Midwifery Course/BSc Nursing Degree (Regular Course) / Post Basic BSc Nursing (Regular Course) from an institution recognised by the Indian Nursing Council and concerned State Nursing Councils with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. No rounding off of the percentage of marks to the nearest whole number is permitted.

The applicant should have obtained registration from the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council or any state nursing council if they studied outside Kerala. Selected candidates should produce their registration certificate obtained from the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council in original at the time of admission.

Only Indian citizens of Kerala origin are eligible for admission. Those who have been residents of Kerala for at least 5 years will also be treated at par with candidates of Kerala origin for the limited purpose of admissions.

AGE

The upper age limit for General Merit candidates will be 45 years and for Service candidates, 49 years as of the date of notification of application.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications can be submitted online by September 8, 2025. The application fee is Rs 1000/- (Rs 500/- for SC / ST candidates) to be paid online or at a branch of Federal Bank using the challan that can be generated online while submitting the application. However, the candidates should have acquired the eligibility conditions on or before the last date for submission of the application.

DOCUMENTS

Certificates/Documents to be uploaded along with the application-

1 Scanned copy of the S.S.L.C / Birth Certificate/Passport to prove the date of birth.

2 Scanned copy of the mark lists of Higher Secondary or Equivalent Examination.

3 Scanned copy of Pass Certificate and all the mark lists of Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery/ B.Sc Nursing/ Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing.

4 Scanned copy of registration certificate issued by the Kerala Nurses and Midwives Council (Renewal) or, in case of candidates with registration outside Kerala, self self-attested copy of the registration certificate of the concerned State Council.

5 Scanned copy of Non-Creamy Layer Certificate for State Education Purpose.

6 Scanned copy of any one of the certificates to prove Nativity.

7 Scanned copy of Income certificate and Community certificates as applicable in the prescribed format.

8 Scanned copy of Inter-Caste marriage certificate, if applicable

FEES

The annual tuition fee is Rs 11,580/-. Other fees include i Miscellaneous Fee Rs 1160/-, ii Van fee Rs 2320/- and iii Caution Deposit Rs 2320/- (one-time refundable). Admitted candidates will be eligible for a stipend of Rs 7000/- per month.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection will be based on an entrance examination and skill test. The date and time of the OMR sheet-based entrance examination will be notified by the LBS Centre in due course. All candidates, including service candidates, have to appear for the entrance examination. It will have one paper of 90 minutes' duration and will consist of 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions, each carrying 3 marks, with a maximum of 300 marks. The examination shall be of the standard of the Basic Nursing Programme and will contain questions on all the subjects covered in the syllabus of the Indian Nursing Council. Details of the test are given in the prospectus. Each correct response will be awarded three marks.

There will be no negative marks. Those securing 40% marks (120 out of 300) in the entrance examination [35% marks (105 out of 300) for SC/ST categories] will qualify for the skill test. Service candidates need to score a minimum of 40% marks (120 out of 300) to qualify for the entrance examination. Those qualifying for the skill test will be considered for ranking. However, the candidates will not be given any separate/additional weightage for the skill test (except for the resolution of ties for all candidates).

NUMBER OF SEATS

The Post Basic Diploma Courses in Speciality Nursing program is of 12 months’ duration. The program aims to improve the efficiency of nursing officers working in speciality departments and update their knowledge and skills so as to provide cost-effective quality care to patients in speciality areas in the present era of scientific & technological advancement, specialisation and super specialisation.

The Post Basic Diploma Courses are being offered in the Govt. Colleges of Nursing at Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. Meanwhile, the specialities in which the program is offered are (i) Cardiothoracic Nursing, (ii) Critical Care Nursing, (iii) Emergency and Disaster Nursing, (iv) Neonatal Nursing and (v) Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery. Cardiothoracic Nursing is offered at Kannur (15 seats), and all the others are at Thiruvananthapuram (10 seats each). In addition, all specialities have general merit seats as well as service quota seats (DME, DIHS and IMS Quota). Of the total of 55 seats, 36 are general merit seats and 19 are service quota seats.