Become a Nurse in India: ANM, GNM, B.Sc Nursing, NORCET and Jobs Abroad Roadmap

Overview

Become a Nurse

Class 10 to a nursing career

46 lakh registered nursing staffIndia

2.6 nurses per 1,000 people

What you need to know

1
India has about 46 lakh registered nursing staff, but only 2.6 nurses per 1,000 people, below the WHO benchmark of 3. Bihar has 0.15 and UP 0.96, so trained nurses are needed everywhere.
2
There are three main courses: ANM (2 years), GNM (3 years) and B.Sc Nursing (4 years). All need Class 12, and all lead to registration as a nurse.
3
Nursing offers secure jobs in government hospitals, a path to work abroad, and respect in every community.
4
Before paying, check the college is recognised by the Indian Nursing Council and your state nursing council: the INC has withdrawn recognition from dozens of colleges.

Official sources

thesouthfirst.comSouth First: India's nursing workforce by state (Jul 2026)↗

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

01Branch

Every year: the calendar

When things usually happen

What you need to know

1
NEET-UG (needed for Military Nursing and B.Sc Nursing in some states): form around February–March, exam in early May, result in June.
2
AIIMS B.Sc (Hons) Nursing: registration around March–April, exam in June, result by about July.
3
Military Nursing Service: the form usually opens around May–June for NEET candidates; the computer test and interview come later in the year.
4
State B.Sc Nursing tests and GNM/ANM admissions usually run between May and October, depending on the state: watch your state's bulletin from spring.
5
AIIMS NORCET (Nursing Officer jobs): usually held twice a year, one round around February–May and another around August–October.
6
Railway and state staff nurse posts have no fixed month: watch the official recruitment websites.
7
Exact dates change every year: always check the official website before you apply.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

02Branch

Which course?

ANM, GNM or B.Sc

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

02Which course?

ANM (2 years)

What you need to know

1
Auxiliary Nurse Midwife: village health work, mothers and babies, vaccination. Usually after Class 12 in any stream (reported; check your state's bulletin).
2
ANMs work at sub-centres and health and wellness centres.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

02Which course?

GNM (3 years)

What you need to know

1
General Nursing and Midwifery: Class 12 with English and at least 40% (any stream; science preferred), NIOS accepted, age 17 by 31 December.
2
GNM is still running. An old plan to end it was never carried out: ignore posts saying "GNM is closed", and check the INC website if in doubt.

Official sources

indiannursingcouncil.orgINC: eligibility for B.Sc, GNM and ANM↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

02Which course?

B.Sc Nursing (4 years)

What you need to know

1
The best long-term choice: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, 45% (40% for SC/ST/BC), age 17 by 31 December, no upper age limit, NIOS accepted.
2
Needed for most nursing officer jobs, M.Sc Nursing, teaching and many jobs abroad.

Official sources

knruhs.telangana.gov.inKNRUHS Telangana: B.Sc Nursing admissions (state example)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

02Which course?

After B.Sc

2-year Post Basic B.Sc Nursingcan upgrade through

What you need to know

1
M.Sc Nursing, Nurse Practitioner courses (critical care, midwifery), and PhD. GNM nurses can upgrade through a 2-year Post Basic B.Sc Nursing.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

03Branch

Getting admission

NEET, state tests, AIIMS, Army

Learn from these 7

Official
NEET-UG (NTA)Needed for Military Nursing and B.Sc Nursing in several states.
Free
Official
AIIMS exams: B.Sc (Hons) NursingAIIMS's own entrance, women only; each year's brochure and seats are posted here.
Free
Official
Join Indian Army: Military Nursing ServiceWomen only; NEET score, then test, interview and medical. The real site ends .nic.in.
Free
Official
MP ESB: Pre-Nursing Selection TestMadhya Pradesh B.Sc Nursing entrance; form around June.
Free
Official
ABVMU UP: Common Nursing Entrance TestUP's B.Sc and Post Basic B.Sc Nursing entrance.
Free
Official
BCECE BiharBihar's B.Sc Nursing exam and the ANM/GNM entrance.
Free
Official
PGIMER: National Institute of Nursing EducationB.Sc Nursing for women through PGIMER's own test.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

03Getting admission

State entrance tests

What you need to know

1
Each state decides. Andhra Pradesh and Haryana now use NEET; Telangana uses EAPCET; UP runs CNET (exam in June); Rajasthan its own test (reported); Kerala admits on Class 12 marks (reported).
2
If you want B.Sc Nursing, take NEET-UG anyway: more states use it every year, and it is needed for Military Nursing.

Official sources

medicine.careers360.comCareers360: nursing entrance tests merged into NEET (2026)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

03Getting admission

AIIMS B.Sc (Hons) Nursing

What you need to know

1
AIIMS runs its own exam (not NEET): well over 1,000 seats across about 19 AIIMS, exam usually in June. The course is for women only, as is PGIMER Chandigarh's.
2
Fees are tiny: about ₹600 a year at AIIMS Delhi (reported).

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

03Getting admission

Military Nursing Service

What you need to know

1
About 220 free seats in 6 Army, Navy and Air Force colleges, through NEET-UG plus a computer test, interview and medical. Women only (unmarried, divorced, separated or widowed without children), age about 17–25.
2
Free training, food and housing plus a stipend; then you become an officer in the Military Nursing Service. A service bond applies (reported as 5 years).

Official sources

joinindianarmy.nic.inJoin Indian Army: Military Nursing Service (B.Sc Nursing)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

04Branch

Fees and scholarships

What it costs

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

04Fees and scholarships

Fees and help

What you need to know

1
Government colleges are far cheaper than private ones. Example: UP GNM counselling has asked about ₹500 registration and ₹10,000 seat confirmation, adjusted in fees.
2
Post-matric scholarships cover ANM, GNM and B.Sc Nursing for SC, ST, OBC and minority students (family income limits apply). See the Scholarships roadmap.
3
Military Nursing and AIIMS are the lowest-cost routes.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

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Study well for free

Books, videos, courses

Learn from these 7

Book
NCERT textbooks (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)Every nursing entrance is built on NCERT; Hindi medium too.
Free
App
ePathshala (NCERT)NCERT books offline in Hindi and English.
Free
Video
Nursing LectureFree anatomy, physiology and obstetrics lectures in Hindi and English.
Free
Video
NURSING 2 NORCETNCERT-based classes for nursing entrance exams.
Free
Video
Indian Nursing Council (official YouTube)The regulator's webinars and skill sessions.
Free
Course
OpenWHO: free WHO health coursesFree certificates, e.g. infection prevention; some in Hindi.
Free
Official
NIOS: Class 12 with scienceLow-fee route back to Class 12 for girls who left school; accepted for nursing.
Paid

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

05Study well for free

Free study

What you need to know

1
For entrance tests: NCERT Biology, Chemistry and Physics of Class 11–12.
2
During the course: free government courses on SWAYAM and WHO, and nursing lecture channels on YouTube.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

06Branch

Jobs and pay

Government and private

Learn from these 7

Official
AIIMS NORCET: nursing officer recruitmentOne exam for nursing officer posts at AIIMS and other central hospitals.
Free
Official
ESIC recruitmentsESIC's own notices; nursing officers also come through NORCET.
Free
Official
NHM Uttar Pradesh: opportunities (CHO example)Community Health Officer jobs; other states post on their own NHM sites.
Free
Official
National Career ServiceFree job portal with hospital listings.
Free
Video
Utkarsh Nursing ClassesNORCET, NHM and staff nurse prep in Hindi; free videos, paid courses optional.
Free
Video
Nursing Wallah (PW)NORCET, RRB, ESIC and CHO prep; free videos, paid courses optional.
Free
Video
Adda247 NursingDaily practice questions in Hindi.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

06Jobs and pay

Central government jobs

What you need to know

1
AIIMS NORCET: the big exam for Nursing Officer jobs at AIIMS and other central hospitals. It is usually held twice a year, and each round has a few thousand posts (about 2,000–3,000 in recent rounds); ESIC also hires through it.
2
Pay Level 7 (₹44,900 basic under the 7th Pay Commission) plus allowances; age 18–35. Eligibility: B.Sc Nursing, or GNM plus 2 years' experience in a 50+ bed hospital.
3
Railways hire Nursing Superintendents from time to time (a few hundred posts in a round, Level 7).

Official sources

aiimsexams.ac.inAIIMS exams portal (NORCET and B.Sc Nursing notices)↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

06Jobs and pay

State and NHM jobs

What you need to know

1
States recruit staff nurses (e.g. Gujarat: about ₹40,800 fixed for the first 5 years, current rate).
2
Community Health Officer (National Health Mission): B.Sc Nursing or GNM with a bridge course; about ₹20,000–25,000 plus performance pay (reported, varies by state).

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

06Jobs and pay

Private hospitals

₹12,000–25,000 a monthFreshers

What you need to know

1
Freshers often get only ₹12,000–25,000 a month (reported). A Supreme Court committee suggested at least ₹20,000, but not all hospitals follow it.
2
Experience in a good hospital raises pay and opens jobs abroad.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

07Branch

Working abroad

Safely and legally

Learn from these 7

Official
eMigrate: check registered recruiting agentsSee the list of active agents and blacklisted ones before paying anyone.
Free
Official
MEA: complaints against recruiting agentsOfficial advice and the legal limit on agent charges.
Free
Official
UK NMC: if you trained outside the UKThe official UK route: computer test, then practical exam.
Free
Official
NCLEX (USA and Canada)Official licence exam site; the exam itself has a fee.
Free
Official
OET: free preparationEnglish test for health workers, accepted in the UK and Australia.
Free
Official
Triple Win (Germany) for KeralaGovernment-to-government route to German nursing jobs.
Free
Official
NORKA Roots: recruitmentKerala government agency for nurse jobs abroad.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

07Working abroad

Main routes

What you need to know

1
UK: English test (IELTS 7 or OET grade B), a computer test, then a practical exam in the UK. India is still the biggest source of overseas nurses, though numbers fell in 2025-26.
2
Gulf (UAE, Saudi, Qatar): a licensing exam (Prometric); UAE rules now let some fresh graduates apply without 2 years' experience (reported).
3
Germany: government programmes like NORKA's Triple Win give free German training; you need German at B1–B2 level.

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

07Working abroad

Avoid fake agents

What you need to know

1
Use only recruiting agents registered with the Ministry of External Affairs on eMigrate. Fake agents often take ₹2–5 lakh and leave nurses stranded.
2
Never hand over your passport or certificates without a written, verified job offer.

Official sources

news.careers360.comCareers360: MEA warns about fake job offers abroad↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

08Branch

For women nurses

Safety and support

Learn from these 4

Official
National Commission for Women: online complaintFile in Hindi or English.
Free
Official
SHe-Box: workplace harassment complaintsFor women in government or private jobs; track your complaint.
Free
Official
PIB: Code on Social Security (maternity benefit)26 weeks' paid maternity leave and crèche rules, since November 2025.
Free
Article
WHO: State of the World's Nursing 2025Global data on nurses and where they are needed.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

08For women nurses

Safety and rights

What you need to know

1
Most nurses are women (85% worldwide). Night shifts are normal, so choose hospitals with safe transport and hostels.
2
There is no single central law on violence against health workers, but 26 states and UTs have their own. Report harassment to the hospital's internal committee or the National Commission for Women.
3
Men can also become nurses: most B.Sc colleges admit men, though Military Nursing, AIIMS, PGIMER and some other colleges are women-only.

Official sources

theprint.inThePrint: no central law to protect health workers↗

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

09Branch

Quick-start health jobs

Earn while you plan

Learn from these 3

Official
Healthcare Sector Skill Council: approved coursesGeneral Duty Assistant and Home Health Aide: 900-hour job courses.
Free
Course
Skill India: General Duty Assistant intro (Hindi)Short free online intro; not the full job qualification.
Free
Official
Skill India Digital HubFind skill centres and free courses near you.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

09Quick-start health jobs

Short courses

What you need to know

1
General Duty Assistant or Home Health Aide: 3–6 month courses, often free under Skill India (PMKVY, DDU-GKY), after Class 10 (reported).
2
These are not nursing qualifications, but they give hospital experience and income while you prepare for nursing.

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

10Branch

The nursing regulator

INC today, a new commission later

Learn from these 6

Official
Indian Nursing CouncilThe national nursing regulator, in charge until the new nursing commission is set up.
Free
Official
INC: search recognised institutions by statePick your state and see every recognised college and course.
Free
Official
INC: eligibility for B.Sc, GNM and ANMOfficial minimum marks and age; NIOS accepted.
Free
Official
INC: B.Sc Nursing syllabus (PDF, large)About 7 MB: download on Wi-Fi.
Free
Official
NRTS: Nurse Unique ID (NUID) registrationWhere nurses enrol for a lifetime NUID.
Free
Official
MP Nurses Registration Council (state example)Every state has its own council for registration after you pass.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

10The nursing regulator

Who controls nursing

What you need to know

1
The Indian Nursing Council (INC) still runs nursing education. A new National Nursing and Midwifery Commission was created by law in 2023 but had still not been set up in 2026; in August 2026 the Delhi High Court asked the government to decide. Check the INC website for the latest.
2
Until the government announces the commission's official website, treat any site claiming to be it as fake. The INC has warned that nnmc.in is fake.
3
After your course you register with your state nursing council and get a national Nurse Unique ID (NUID).

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

11Branch

Avoid wrong colleges

Check before you pay

Learn from these 6

Official
INC: colleges whose recognition was withdrawn (PDF)Don't take admission in any college on this list.
Free
Official
INC notice: nnmc.in is fake (PDF)No official nursing commission website exists yet.
Free
Official
UGC: list of fake universitiesDegrees from these are not valid.
Free
Official
Skill council: blacklisted training centres (PDF)Check a 'free government course' centre here first.
Free
Official
PIB Fact CheckCheck any 'government job' message.
Free
Official
Cyber crime portal (helpline 1930)Report fraud fast.
Free

Inside this branch

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.

11Avoid wrong colleges

Red flags

What you need to know

1
In 2026 the INC withdrew recognition from 24 Kerala colleges; earlier, 32 in Assam and Bihar and 42 in Gujarat and J&K lost recognition. Their students face problems registering outside the state.
2
Check the college on the INC list and with your state nursing council. Ask how many seats it is allowed: the INC warns against colleges admitting extra students.
3
"Diploma without attending" and "direct admission, no test" offers are usually fake, and so is any website calling itself the new nursing commission (nnmc.in).

Official sources

Rules change every year: check the official website before you apply.