Allied health sciences are the health courses and careers where trained technicians, technologists and therapists support doctors and nurses in diagnosing and treating patients. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 describes an allied health professional in the same way: an associate, technician or technologist trained to perform technical and practical tasks that support diagnosis and treatment.
This guide explains what the term covers, which body regulates it, which courses fall under each category, how long they take and what careers follow. It is written for students who have finished or are finishing Class 12 and for parents who want a clear picture before choosing a course.
What Allied Health Sciences Means
The Act defines an allied health professional as someone with a diploma or degree of at least 2,000 hours, spread over two to four years in semesters. Their work supports the treatment plan that a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional recommends. A lab technologist runs the tests, a radiology technologist takes the scans and a physiotherapist guides recovery.
You will often hear these courses called paramedical courses. Paramedical is the common name, while the Act uses the words allied and healthcare. Our guide to paramedical courses after 12th lists them with eligibility.
Who Regulates Allied Health Courses
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) was set up under Act No. 14 of 2021. The Act has a Schedule that lists the recognised categories of allied and healthcare professions, and the professions that sit under each. You can read the Commission’s own notices on the NCAHP website.
Allied Health Sciences Courses by Category
The table below follows the Schedule of the Act. It shows the categories that map to courses at the Academy, with the durations given in the UGC notification of 27 August 2026.
| Category in the Act | Professions named in the Schedule | Course | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Laboratory and Life Sciences | Medical Laboratory Sciences Professional; Life Science Professional | Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (B.MLS) | 4 years |
| Trauma, Burn Care and Surgical/Anesthesia related technology | Trauma and Burn Care Professional; Surgical and Anaesthesia-related Technology Professional | Bachelor of Anaesthesia and Operation Theatre Technology (B.AOTT) | 4 years |
| Physiotherapy Professional | Physiotherapist | Bachelor of Physiotherapy | 5 years |
| Nutrition Science Professional | Dietician; Nutritionist | Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) | 4 years (programme page) |
| Ophthalmic Sciences Professional | Optometrist; Ophthalmic Assistant; Vision Technician | Bachelor of Optometry | 5 years |
| Occupational Therapy Professional | Occupational Therapist | Not offered at the Academy | 5 years (B.OT) |
| Medical Radiology, Imaging and Therapeutic Technology Professional | Radiology and Imaging Technologist; Nuclear Medicine Technologist; Radiotherapy Technologist; Medical Physicist; Dosimetrist | Bachelor of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT) | 4 years |
The Schedule has more categories than the table shows. The Academy also offers programmes in physician associates, dialysis therapy, respiratory therapy, emergency medical technology, critical care, cardiovascular technology, biomedical science and nuclear medicine technology. The programmes page lists all of them.
Some universities use BSc Allied Health Sciences as the name of a group of courses. At the Academy each programme carries the name of its profession, such as B.MLS or B.MRIT, so you know exactly which career you are preparing for.
Allied Health Course Duration and Eligibility
The UGC notification lists these degrees as courses you join after 10+2. The durations in the table are four years for B.MLS, B.AOTT and B.MRIT, and five years for B.PT, B.OT and B.Optom. A master’s takes two years after the bachelor’s.
Subject requirements differ by course, so read the programme page before you apply. For example, the B.MRIT programme asks for 10+2 with Science.
Is NEET Needed for Allied Health Sciences?
The NCAHP letter to UGC of 9 January 2026 names NEET only for B.PT and B.OT. A later NCAHP letter of 2 March 2026 defers NEET to 2027-28. If you plan to join the 2027 batch (2027-28) or later, read the admission notice of the university you choose before you apply. Our guide to medical courses without NEET explains the options in more detail.
Careers and Scope in Allied Health Sciences
Each profession has its own roles, so scope depends on the course you choose. Lab science graduates work in hospital and diagnostic laboratories. Radiology and imaging graduates run scanners. Physiotherapists work in hospitals and rehabilitation. Optometrists work in eye care. Anaesthesia and operation theatre technologists work alongside surgical teams.
If you want to go further, a master’s takes two years after the bachelor’s, and some graduates move into teaching or research. We give students job and placement support. It helps you prepare and connect with employers, but it does not guarantee a job.
Allied Health Sciences at Apollo Healthcare Academy
The Academy offers allied health degree programmes with hospital training, and our partner universities award the degree. The partner hospitals page lists where students train. Fees differ by programme. Please confirm the current fee with each institution once before you decide.
How to Choose the Right Allied Health Course
- Start with the work you want to do each day: running tests, taking scans, helping patients recover, or supporting surgery.
- Check the subject requirements and the duration on the programme page.
- Read the NEET position for your batch in the admission notice.
- Look at where the hospital training takes place.
- Confirm the fee with the institution.
Plan Your Next Step
If you are planning for the 2027 batch (2027-28), browse the programmes page and follow the steps on the admissions page.
FAQs
What Are Allied Health Sciences?
Allied health sciences are the health courses and careers where trained technicians, technologists and therapists support doctors and nurses in diagnosing and treating patients. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 defines an allied health professional on the same basis.
What Is the Difference Between Allied Health Sciences and Paramedical Courses?
Paramedical is the common name for many of these courses, while the Act uses the words allied and healthcare. Our guide to paramedical courses after 12th gives the list and eligibility.
Which Courses Come Under Allied Health Sciences?
The Schedule of the Act groups them into categories such as medical laboratory and life sciences, trauma, burn care and surgical or anaesthesia-related technology, physiotherapy, nutrition science, ophthalmic sciences, occupational therapy, and medical radiology, imaging and therapeutic technology. The programmes page lists the courses offered at the Academy.
How Many Years Is an Allied Health Science Course?
The UGC notification of 27 August 2026 lists four years for B.MLS, B.AOTT and B.MRIT, and five years for B.PT, B.OT and B.Optom. A master’s takes two years.
Who Can Study Allied Health Sciences After 12th?
The UGC lists these bachelor’s degrees as courses you join after 10+2. Subject requirements differ by course, so read the programme page. The B.MRIT programme, for example, asks for 10+2 with Science.
Is NEET Required for Allied Health Sciences?
The NCAHP letter to UGC of 9 January 2026 names NEET only for B.PT and B.OT, and a letter of 2 March 2026 defers NEET to 2027-28. If you plan to join the 2027 batch (2027-28) or later, check the admission notice of the university before you apply. See our guide to medical courses without NEET.
Are Allied Health Professionals Doctors?
No. Allied health professionals are technicians, technologists and therapists who support the treatment plan that a doctor or another healthcare professional recommends. They do not train as doctors.
Which Body Regulates Allied Health Courses in India?
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, set up under Act No. 14 of 2021. The Act’s Schedule lists the recognised categories.
Is BSc Allied Health Sciences a Good Career?
That depends on the profession you choose, because scope, work settings and further study differ for each one. Look at the daily work of the profession, the duration of the course and the hospital training before you decide.
What Allied Health Courses Does Apollo Healthcare Academy Offer?
The Academy offers bachelor’s programmes in medical laboratory science, anaesthesia and operation theatre technology, physiotherapy, optometry, nutrition and dietetics, radiology and imaging technology, nuclear medicine technology, physician associates, dialysis therapy, respiratory therapy, emergency medical technology, critical care technology, cardiovascular technology and biomedical science. Our partner universities award the degree. See the programmes page and the admissions page for the 2027 batch (2027-28).
Does Apollo Healthcare Academy Guarantee a Job After an Allied Health Course?
No. We give students job and placement support. It helps you prepare and connect with employers, but it does not guarantee a job.
