What Comes After MBBS? Full Career Roadmap, PG Courses & Alternative Options
Completed yourMBBS admission through NEET counseling, management quota, or a deemed university? Congratulations! 🎉 Now comes the real question — what to do after MBBS?
This page explains the career options after MBBS in India and abroad, covering everything from PG medical courses (MD/MS/DNB) to government jobs, clinical practice, and PG abroad options like PLAB or USMLE.
🔹 Step-by-Step Career Plan After MBBS
1. Complete MBBS (5.5 Years)
- 4.5 years academic + 1 year internship (CRRI)
- Degree must be from NMC-recognized college
Advice: Begin PG preparation by 3rd year — especially if aiming for high-demand branches.
2. NEXT Exam (Replaces NEET PG from 2026)
The NEXT (National Exit Test) will become the common exam for:
- MBBS licensing in India
- PG medical admissions (MD/MS/DNB)
Note: Until 2026, NEET PG remains the gateway to PG seats.
🔹 PG Medical Courses After MBBS
➡️ MD – Doctor of Medicine (3 Years)
Focus: Non-surgical specializations
- General Medicine
- Paediatrics
- Dermatology
- Psychiatry
- Radiodiagnosis
➡️ MS – Master of Surgery (3 Years)
Focus: Surgical specialties
- General Surgery
- ENT
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Gynaecology & Obstetrics
➡️ DNB – Diplomate of National Board
- Equivalent to MD/MS
- Offered in private/corporate hospitals
- Requires NEET PG/NEXT qualification
➡️ Diploma Courses – 2 Years
Now being phased out, but some still exist:
- DCH, DGO, DMRD, etc.
➡️ DM / MCh – Super-Specialty Courses
- Requires MD/MS
- NEET SS exam is mandatory
- Popular fields: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurosurgery, Urology
🔹 PG Admission Through Management & NRI Quota
If you're aiming for high-demand branches but your NEXT/NEET PG rank is low, you can still get seats through management quota PG admission in deemed universities and private colleges.
We also assist in NRI quota PG admissions for MD/MS/DNB seats.
🔹 Alternative Career Paths After MBBS
| Career Path | Description |
|---|---|
| Hospital Practice | RMO, junior doctor, medical officer in clinics/hospitals |
| UPSC CMS | Join central government services through Combined Medical Services exam |
| MBBS PG Abroad | Take PLAB (UK), USMLE (USA), AMC (Australia) for international PG pathways |
| Research / PhD | Join clinical research, pharmacology or pursue doctoral studies |
| Healthcare Management | Go for MBA in Hospital Admin, MPH, MHA etc. |
| Medical Content & EdTech | Join online learning or health-tech platforms as doctor educator or analyst |
Want to explore MBBS vs BDS vs BAMS career outcomes? Read our comparison blog.
🔹 NEET PG 2024 Cutoff Trends (General Category)
| Branch | Cutoff (Score Range) |
|---|---|
| Radio Diagnosis | 580+ |
| Dermatology | 560+ |
| General Medicine | 530+ |
| Pediatrics | 500+ |
| General Surgery | 470+ |
| Orthopedics | 460+ |
| Psychiatry | 380+ |
| DNB Specialties | 350–450 |
For detailed rank-wise prediction, check our tool: NEET PG Marks vs Rank Calculator.
🎯 TheCollegeXpert: Your Guide from MBBS to PG
- Expert counseling for PG (NEET PG, NEXT, NRI Quota)
- College shortlisting & seat confirmation assistance
- Support forPG Abroad (PLAB/USMLE)
- Career mapping from 1st year of MBBS
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