How to Become a Medical Officer: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, After 12th, Colleges, Jobs, Scope, Salary

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Ahana Bhaduri

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Medical Officers are responsible for clinical operations and management of a hospital. They act as a mediator between the authority and the staff. To become a Medical Officer, candidates need to qualify for a state-level or a national-level UPSC exam. Candidates aspiring to become Medical Officers must have an MBBS degree along with some relevant years of experience. The average course fee for MBBS is 5 LPA and the best colleges for MBBS Degree are AIIMS, CMC Vellore, BHU, and KGMU Lucknow.

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Considering the various job securities and other associated perks that one is entitled to, becoming a medical Officer is one of the most in-demand jobs in India. Especially in the Indian Railways and the Indian Army, they are always in demand. Their starting salary is INR 6 LPA, which may gradually increase up to INR 13 LPA with experience. Read More: How to Become a Nurse

How to Become a Medical Officer: Quick Facts

Industry Medicine and Healthcare
Eligibility MBBS with Internship
Average Starting Salary INR 6 LPA – 8 LPA
Job Opportunity Government Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Medical Institutions, Nursing-Home, Pharmaceutical and Biotech Companies.

Types of Medical Officers

Medical Officers are further classified on the basis of their job profiles and the relevant years of experience gained. Listed below are the various types of Medical Officers for your reference.

Researcher 

Job Profile

Medical Officers can help in the research in esteemed institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research for finding out cures to rare diseases. They play pivotal roles in bringing new drugs that improve people’s lives. They also organise and administer clinical trials of new or current drugs to assess the benefits and risks of using them.

Their responsibility includes choosing trial participants, setting schedules and documenting each case and following strict protocols to meet legal and safety standards

Average Salary (INR) 8 LPA

Duty Medical Officer 

Job Profile They provide24*7 support to hospital staff and patients and cater to their needs. They supervise the medical wards and ensure facilities are provided to the patients. They also provide continuous support services to satisfy the needs of patients and other staff personnel in a hospital. The Duty Medical Officer or DMO is responsible to offer the medical care services to patients in casualty and Medical wards.
Average Salary (INR) 10 LPA

Camp Doctor 

Job Profile

Rural places have a concept of Medical camps where they are provided with medicines and free check ups. It is a highly demanding job. Camp Doctors are licensed health professionals who maintain and restore human health through the practice of medicine and drugs. They examine patients, review their medical history, diagnose illnesses or injuries, administer treatment, and counsel patients on their health and well being in a particular area.

Camp Doctors responsibilities include undertaking patient consultations and physical examinations, organising workloads, performing surgical procedures, monitoring and administering medication

Average Salary (INR) 8 LPA

Doctors in the Navy or Army 

Job Profile Becoming a Doctor in the Navy or Army is amongst the finest options available to a medical graduate. There is a professional environment for the doctor of an exceptional order blended with an adventurous life, camaraderie, dignity and self-esteem in this field. Selection for Doctor in this field is held once a year through a written exam on an all India basis followed by an Interview at Pune.
Average Salary (INR) 10 LPA

Chief Medical Officer 

Job Profile

Chief Medical Officer or CMO provides clinical guidance to medical team members. They often develop economic models and build relationships for clinical and financial partnerships. Keeping updated with the latest medical technologies. He or She is overall in charge of the general administration and discipline of the Medical Department. They are responsible for ensuring the smooth delivery of health care to the employees of the Trust and their families.

CMO have the primary responsibility of managing their health organization's doctors to provide safe, effective medical services to the public in a particular area.

Average Salary (INR) 7 LPA

Step to Become a Medical Officer

Tabulated below are some of the most crucial steps that must be followed to become a Medical Officer in India.

  • Step 1: Complete 10+2 – The first step towards becoming a medical officer is to complete class 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects. Along with that, candidates must also prepare for entrance exams such as NEET to get admission in one of the top reputed colleges in India.
  • Step 2: Pursue undergraduate degree – After successfully clearing the entrance exams candidates must take admission in top medical colleges. Candidates can choose to pursue any one course from various undergraduate courses such as MBBS, BHMS, and BAMS
  • Step 3: Obtain medical license – Candidates will be required to obtain a medical license with the state medical council. For this, the candidate will be required to pass an examination and undergo one year of training at one of the medical facilities recognized by the Indian Medical council.
  • Step 4: Gain relevant experience – Most of the hospitals and medical facilities prefer 2 years of experience. This experience will help in the development of essential clinical skills which will be helpful in handling the job in an effective way.
  • Step 5: Clear the examination – Medical officers are basically government employees. So for becoming a Medical officer, candidates will be required to pass the CSME exam i.e. Combined Medical Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

How to Become a Medical Officer in India?

Medical Officer being a very popular profession requires perseverance and hard work. To become such a professional, candidates need to go through the below given processes.

  • School Level Preparation: There is a specific subject combination that is mandatory at school level which is Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology with English. Candidates should try to achieve a minimum 60% aggregate to enrol in a good Medical College. Most of the candidates start preparing with the Highschool Boards and enrol themselves to Coaching Institutes.

How to become a Medical Officer After 12th?

Undergraduate Preparations:. Some of the important steps that must be taken by the candidates in order to become a Medical Officer are, 

  • Post the completion of class 12th in physics, chemistry and biology, candidates will be required to appear for entrance exams such as NEET.
  • To prepare for NEET, it is advisable to take classes from top coaching institutes so that candidates are well versed with the paper pattern, syllabus etc.
  • After clearing the entrance exam, candidates need to take admission in one of the top medical colleges in India.
  • Candidates can pursue courses depending upon their merit list in NEET such as MBBS, BAMS, BHMS or BDS. 
  • Candidates must also prepare for competitive exams CSME to become a medical officer.

Post-Graduation Preparation: 

  • Candidatesnust have scored a minimum of 60% or above in graduation .
  • Candidates can prepare to pursue post graduation programs by appearing in the entrance exams such as NEET PG.
  • After clearing the entrance exam, candidates can take courses such as MD or MS.
  • Candidates can also pursue short term courses such as diploma courses that would be beneficial for the candidates in enrolling themselves in state medical council.

Medical Courses

Tabulated below are some of the courses which the candidates can pursue in order to become a Medical Officer,

Parameters MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medical and Surgery) BHMS (Bachelor in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery)
Duration 5 years 6 months of training 5.5 years 5.5 years
Eligibility Candidates must have completed class 12th in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Candidates must have cleared NEET exam.
Candidates must have completed class 12th in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Candidates must have cleared NEET exam.
Candidates must have completed class 12th in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Candidates must have cleared NEET exam.
Top Colleges AIIMS
PGIMER
National Institute of Medical Health & Neuro Sciences
King George’s Medical University
Banaras Hindu University
IMS Varanasi
KLE UNiversity
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University
National Institute of Homeopathy
Dr D Y Patil Homeopathic Medical College
Anuradha Homeopathic medical college
Entrance Exams NEET NEET NEET
KEAM
PUCET
IPU CET
Average course fees INR 5000 - 10,00,000 INR 20,000 - 3,00,000 INR 12,000 - 2,00,000
Average Salary INR 6 LPA – 8 LPA INR 4 LPA – 7 LPA INR 2.50 LPA – 6 LPA

Entrance Exams

Some of the top entrance exams with important dates are tabulated below for your reference,

Entrance exam Registration Dates Exam date
IPU CET February 1, 2024 – March 31, 2024 April 27 – May 14, 2024
NEET February 9, 2024 – March 9, 2024 May 5, 2024
SUAT To be Announced To be Announced
RPVT To be Announced To be Announced
KEAM 2nd week of March 2024 – 1st week of April 2024 (Tentative) 2nd week of May 2024 (Tentative)

Skills Required to Become a Medical Officer

Every profession requires certain skill sets that must be inculcated for a better grasp and understanding of the job. Tabulated below are some of the essential skills that are required to become a Medical Officer. 

Knowledge of latest developments in Medical Science Knowledge of Human Anatomy Managerial skills
Extensive Knowledge of medical recordkeeping Excellent interpersonal skills Leadership skills

Benefits of Becoming a Medical Officer

Being a medical officer is considered to be one of the most prestigious jobs in the country. Apart from being a reputable job their are several other benefits of being a medical officer, 

  • Varied Career Options: There are numerous specializations and avenues for jobs in healthcare. It is very simple for candidates to determine what they want to do with their life and pursue the career that is right for them when there are so many alternatives available. Just a few of the career paths that a Medical Officer can choose from after entering the healthcare industry are listed below, 
    • Disease Prevention and Control
    • Personal Healthcare
    • Maternity and Child Care
    • Mental Healthcare
    • Nutrition
    • Dental Health care
  • Multitude of Areas of Specializations: Medical Officers should be aware of their significant advantage in terms of specialization. They can pick from a wide range of specializations in the healthcare system. The list includes everything from urology to allergy and immunology. Some of the most popular healthcare specializations are listed here,
    • Anesthesiology
    • Dermatology
    • Family Medicine
    • Internal Medicine
    • Neurology
    • Pathology
    • Pediatrics
    • Surgery
  • In-demand Jobs: Job security and high demand are two of the main factors that attract people to careers in healthcare. The healthcare industry offers countless work opportunities and competitive pay in a variety of fields, including patient care, medical laboratories, administration, and more. More than any other professional group, the healthcare sector is anticipated to grow more quickly. A growing older population will boost demand for healthcare services, which will account for the majority of this anticipated expansion.
  • High Job Satisfaction: High job satisfaction is frequently cited as one of the most crucial reasons people enter the healthcare business. Healthcare professionals view their employment as incredibly gratifying since it allows them to pursue their passions while also assisting others.
  • Competitive Salaries: Different educational backgrounds qualify candidates for various roles, each of which pays a different salary. However, it is anticipated that between 2020 and 2030, the healthcare sector would add 2.6 million new jobs, making it the industry with the highest salary competition.
  • Travel Opportunities: Even those who enjoy traveling will find the healthcare industry rewarding. Candidates can combine their two passions for helping those in need and traveling by working in the healthcare industry as a travel nurse, travel medical scribe, or even travel therapist.
  • Stimulating Work Environment: Not even a day is the same as the last one in the healthcare profession. Everyone is kept on their toes and prevented from leading a monotonous lifestyle by the constant changes in their work settings in the healthcare industry. For healthcare workers, all of this expertise is extremely motivating and enables them to give their utmost in every circumstance.

Salary of Medical Officer in India

The Medical Officers have a salary according to their hierarchy(experience level) and the employment area like Clinics, Hospitals, Medical College, Indian Army and Navy.

Experience Levels Average Annual Salary (INR)
Entry Level 6.50 L
Mid Level 8.50 L
Experienced or Senior Level 11 L

How to Become a Medical Officer: FAQs

Ques. What is the minimum requirement of a Medical Officer?

Ans: MBBS Degree with not less than three years of experience as Junior Doctor .

Ques. What is the entrance exam for becoming a Medical Officer ?

Ans. The entrance exams are UPSC Combined Medical Service for Government Organisation and National Entrance cum Eligibility Test.

Ques. What is the educational qualification requirement for a Medical Officer ?

Ans. Bachelor (MBBS) with 60% and above and Masters[MD/MS] (Preferably) with 55 % is the minimum aggregate required .

Ques. What are the employment sectors for a Medical Officer ?

Ans. The employment areas are Indian Defence Service, Government Hospitals ,Medical Institute, Medical Colleges etc.

Ques. What are some of the best colleges to study MBBS for becoming a Medical Officer ?

Ans: Army College of Medical Science, AIIMS, Calcutta National Medical College are some of the best medical colleges in India

Ques.What is the average annual fee of Medical Colleges?

Ans. The average annual fee of Medical College in India is 1,50,000 INR

Ques. Name the categories of Medical Officers in India.

Ans. The types of Medical Officer are Duty Medical Officer, Camp Doctor, Researcher, Professor, Medical Officer in Army and Navy, Chief Medical Officer.

Ques. What is the average annual salary of a Medical Officer?

Ans. The average annual salary at entry level is INR 6,50,000 Per Annum.

Ques. Is work experience mandatory to become a Medical Officer?

Ans. It is mandatory to have some experience beforehand like an Internship with real time practise in the Medical Department primarily as a Physician then in a managerial position for a few years.

Ques. What are the things an aspirant must be aware of before sitting for the exam?

Ans. Being a Medical Officer it is expected to have a continuous check on the medical operations of a hospital ,finance, policies and management. There is no particular time frame as it is very demanding to the rising population and limited medical infrastructure.

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