NEET Made Mandatory for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy UG Admissions

Admissions to Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy UG Programmes Through NEET Only: Major Change for Allied Health Education

In a significant shift for allied health education, authorities have mandated that admissions to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) programmes will be conducted exclusively through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) starting from the 2026–27 academic year.

The directive comes after the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) officially communicated the updated eligibility criteria to the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, prompting the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council (KSAHC) to issue formal instructions.

Key changes in the admission process include:

• From the 2026–27 session onward, NEET-UG scores will be mandatory for candidates seeking admission into BPT and BOT courses.
• All universities — including public, private, and deemed institutions — have been directed to implement this change and ensure compliance.
• Previously, admissions to these allied health programmes were often based on state entrance tests, merit in Class 12 (PUC) marks, or institution-level examinations, but those routes will now be replaced by a uniform NEET-based system.

According to the KSAHC circular issued by Prof. U. T. Iftikhar Ali Fareed, Chairman of the council, the move is aimed at standardising the eligibility criteria for physiotherapy and occupational therapy courses across the state and aligning them with national norms.

KSAHC officials have clarified that while appearing for NEET is compulsory, there is no specified minimum NEET score or cut-off requirement set for admissions to these courses.

What This Means for Students

Students planning to pursue careers in physiotherapy or occupational therapy will now need to register for and appear in NEET-UG 2026 to be eligible for undergraduate seats in these programmes. This requirement follows broader reforms by the NCAHP to unify admission standards in allied and healthcare education, a move that also brings several other allied health disciplines under revised eligibility frameworks.

The change is expected to increase the number of NEET registrations as students seeking BPT and BOT will now have added incentive to take the exam.

Background and Regulatory Context

The decision aligns with the NCAHP Act, 2021, which mandates uniform standards for allied and healthcare professions. Earlier reforms by the commission also included revised curricula for courses such as physiotherapy, nutrition and dietetics, optometry, and radiology, with a greater emphasis on competency-based education and standardised entry requirements.

With these changes, physiotherapy and occupational therapy aspirants across Karnataka and the rest of India will now be part of a single national admission framework, replacing disparate state-wise or institution-specific procedures.