How to Become a Doctor Without MBBS? Explained by EducationVibes

Naina Randhawa
2 days ago
4 min read

The Indian students often wonder how to become a doctor without MBBS, and the answer is simple - pursuing alternative careers in the medical field like BAMS, BDS, and much more. Being an MBBS graduate is considered eligible in holding the title of “doctor”, but this is not the real case. In India, it is the general perception that only MBBS graduates are “doctors”, but there are alternative healthcare careers to pursue in Indian, which also makes a student be considered as a “doctor”. There are different routes to enter the medical field and become a specialized medical professional, and we will discuss each of them.

Alternative Medical Careers Without MBBS in India

There are alternative paths to gain a recognition as a doctor without pursuing an MBBS. Paramedical courses for Indian students are also career paths in the medical field, but they are not eligible for giving a title of “Dr.”, so the list below does not focus on those.

BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery)

The students asking how to become a doctor without MBBS have ayurveda as an option. Ayurveda is India’s ancient medical science and now globally recognised, too. The graduates of BAMS can independently practice their profession and are considered a “doctor”.

Career Opportunities	Ayurvedic practitioner Panchkarma therapist Research and development Hospital administration
Duration	5.5 Years (including internship)

BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery)

Homeopathy is another alternative medical field that is recognised by the Indian government. It is one of the medical courses without MBBS that earns a student the title of “Dr”.

Career Opportunities	Homeopathic doctor Teaching Pharmaceuticals Research Clinics
Duration	5.5 Years (including internship)

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)

Want to know how to become a doctor without MBBS? Pursue BDS, which is focused on dentistry, the clinical profession concerned with dental care. The profession is a respected one all over the world and BDS graduates are legally considered doctors for their patients.

Career Opportunities	Dental surgeon Cosmetic dentist Orthodentist (postgrad specialisation) Dental research
Duration	5 Years (including internship)

BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery)

Rooted in Greek-Arabic traditions, BUMS is one of the non-MBBS medical degrees recognised by the Indian government. A BUMS graduate can practice Unani medicine independently using the prefix “Dr.”.

Career Opportunities	Unani practitioner Herbal products Government AYUSH practitioner Clinical research
Duration	5.5 Years (including internship)

BNYS (Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences)

Naturopathy and yogic sciences is the clinical practice of wellness and natural healing. The students who want to know how to become a doctor without MBBS can graduate from BNYS as they are considered doctors in naturopathy and wellness centers.

Career Opportunities	Naturopathic doctor Yoga therapist Wellness consultant Health resort and spas
Duration	5.5 Years (including internship)

Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy)

The graduates of Pharma.D are not physicians but they treat patients with medicational intervention and have expertise in pharmacology, making them eligible to call doctors.

Career Opportunities	Clinical pharmacist Hospital pharmacy administration Drug safety associate Pharmaceutical companies
Duration	6 Years (including internship)

Veterinary Science (BVSc & AH)

Students who wonder how to become a doctor without MBBS should pursue veterinary medicine. The doctors for animals are a significant part of our society, treating not only animals but also contributing to public health in hindsight, and have a high demand in India.

Career Opportunities	Veterinary surgeon Animal husbandry departments Zoos and wildlife sanctuaries Veterinary pharmaceutical companies
Duration	5.5 Years (including internship)

Eligibility Criteria to Pursue Non-MBBS Medical Degrees for Indian Students

How to pursue medical field without MBBS? The common eligibility criteria are as follows:

Minimum 50% in 10+2 with PCB
NEET-qualified (a few exceptions)
Interview/entrance test (if applicable)

Summary

Students who are looking for an answer for how to become a doctor without MBBS should look at the alternative medical careers in India. While an MBBS is a well-known pathway that requires patience, resilience, and hard work to be a successful medical professional, so do the alternative career pathways like BDS, BAMS, BVSc and more. If any medical aspirant has an interest in medical fields, such as dentistry, ayurveda, pharmacy, natural healing, animal health or any other non-MBBS medical field can pursue the career pathways approved by the government and be legally recognised as a “doctor” in India.