How to Become Ayurvedic Doctor After 12th: Complete Career Roadmap

If you have just completed your 12th (or are about to), and the thought of walking into the meaningful world of Ayurveda stirs your heart, then this message is for you. I recall the mix of excitement and fear which I had felt when I was at the same place as you are today: wondering how to become an ayurvedic doctor after 12th, wondering if I have chosen the right path and whether I could truly make a difference. So today I will guide you as a caring mentor who will answer some of the common questions asked by most of the aspirants during the journey.

What is AYUSH Course?

When you hear about “AYUSH”, you are hearing about India's traditional systems of medicine. But what is AYUSH course? AYUSH stands for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. The thing is: when you are thinking about how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th, then you are looking at pursuing a programme under the AYUSH stream.

• Types of courses under AYUSH are Bachelor of Ayurvedic medicine and Surgery(BAMS), BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, and many others.
• It is not just about a single system- AYUSH means a holistic approach to health, healing and wellness.

What is BAMS Course?

In case you have decided that you would like to become an Ayurvedic doctor in the future, then your target course will be BAMS. But let's first know what is BAMS course?

BAMS is an abbreviation that means Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery. It normally takes a total of 5 1/2 years with a mandatory 1 year internship.

What you will study: such as Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology and even Ayurvedic courses such as Dravyaguna, Rasa Shastra, Panchakarma. So when you are asking how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th, you should clear 12th with required marks, fulfill the eligibility, clear entrance, enroll in BAMS, complete internship and become a licensed Ayurvedic doctor.

What is NEET Exam?

Before you begin your journey towards becoming an ayurvedic doctor, let’s first have an idea of what is NEET exam. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) is the national level entrance exam for admission into undergraduate medical courses.

For many years NEET has been required for admission in MBBS/BDS-and now it is also required for many AYUSH courses such as BAMS. You have to be serious with NEET, in case you are serious on how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th.

BAMS Eligibility Criteria

• The candidate must pass class 12 with PCB from a recognized board
• The candidate should ensure all the academic requirements for getting admission in BAMS is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects from a recognised board.
• The qualifying percentage is 40% for SC/ST/OBC candidates.
• Candidates must have qualified NEET exam minimum qualifying cut-off percentile to get admission in BAMS course.

Is NEET Required for BAMS?

In case you are wondering “Is NEET required for BAMS?” Then it’s a yes, qualifying NEET UG qualification is mandatory for most BAMS colleges. You will not be able to get into the good government-run BAMS colleges without clearing NEET (or at least getting the required percentile). The number of private colleges that might attempt to admit students without NEET is very low and they are associated with significant risks (increased costs, lack of recognition). So, in case you are serious about your dream of becoming an ayurvedic doctor after 12th, prepare for NEET from day one.

How Many Marks are Required in NEET for BAMS?

Let me give you a real picture about how many marks are required in NEET for BAMS. For BAMS admission, the cut-offs are different every year, for every state and every college. Based on recent statistics: general category applicants aiming for government BAMS seats generally require a NEET score of about 144-155 marks (50th percentile) as a minimum. For the best colleges, you need to target higher. In the case of private colleges the cut-offs can be lower and the fees higher.

Let’s get a detailed cutoff idea for each category:

BAMS Without NEET

You might ask: "Is it possible to skip NEET and get admission into BAMS? I would like to speak frankly. Although there are numerous sources which mention that some colleges might admit students without NEET under management or NRI quota, the majority of colleges require qualifying NEET for admission to BAMS. According to many specialist portals, admission into BAMS without appearing for NEET is not possible for top BAMS colleges. My suggestion: Do not plan on BAMS without NEET as your main route when you do not have thorough information about the college, recognition and fees. It will be better and more secure if you prepare for NEET and follow the full standard path to how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th.

Factors Affecting BAMS Cut-off

There are several factors that affect the BAMS cut-off:

• Number of students appearing for NEET in that year
• Total number of seats in BAMS colleges (government and private)
• Difficulty level of the NEET Exam paper
• Category of the student (General, SC, ST, OBC, PH, etc.)
• State-wise and College-wise quotas

Conclusion:

To all the aspirants out there, whenever the doubt creeps in—“Am I doing the right thing?”, “Will I be able to do this?”—pause, breathe, and remember: you can do it. The journey of how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th is not easy, but it is rewarding..

I believe in you. I know you have the capability, the heart, and the dedication. Focus on your journey with passion, put your 100% effort, and when you walk into that BAMS college, when you wear that stethoscope, you’ll know: you chose wisely.

Keep learning, keep dreaming, keep caring.

Wishing you strength, clarity, and success on your beautiful journey.

FAQs:

1.How much time is required to prepare for NEET?

There’s no one-size-fits all answer. But, if you begin seriously just after 11th, one year of focused study (depending on how strong your 11th science foundation is)is enough. If you start earlier (end of 10th or during 9th), you can have sufficient time to build all your basics. Consistent daily study of 4-6 hours (or more) plus regular revision and mock tests is generally recommended.

2.How to prepare for NEET after 12th?

Immediately revise your basic Physics, Chemistry, Biology topics from 12th. Get a NEET-specific study plan: schedule topics, set goals, include daily revision and weekly mock tests. Focus on your weak areas: identify topics you struggle with and spend extra time on them. Practice previous years’ NEET papers and timed full mocks to build confidence and speed. Maintain good health, sleep well, and keep your mind calm—they matter as much as textbooks.

3.Who can give NEET exam?

A candidate who has completed (or appearing in) 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English from a recognized board is eligible.

• Age limits, any specific state-criteria depend on year and category; you should check the official NEET brochure for your year.
• If you plan how to become ayurvedic doctor after 12th, check your state’s AYUSH eligibility alongside NEET.