Nursing Course Details: Eligibility, Subjects, Duration, Colleges & Salary in India

Did you know India has only 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people, while the WHO recommends at least 2.5? This gap means not only a healthcare crisis but also a huge break for students who’re looking for career options right after 12th or are planning your next move, here’s your complete roadmap of nursing courses in India from diplomas to Ph.D., so you can choose the right path, build a stable career, and even explore high-paying opportunities abroad. You can check out the report by the MInistry of Family and Health Care, Government of India.

Nursing Courses in India: Duration, Eligibility & Top Colleges

There is a wide range of nursing courses in India, which covers from 2 years nursing course-Diploma , ANM, GNM, B.Sc. Nursing Course, M.Sc Nursing Course, PhD in Nursing and some specialized courses and certificates. Let’s discuss them one by one:

1. ANM (Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery)
   This is a 2-year diploma course open to students who have completed 10+2 in any stream with at least 50% marks. It focuses on providing basic nursing care, midwifery(nursing related to pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care,etc), and community health training. Popular institutes include Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing (Delhi) and CMC Vellore. This course can be the stepping stone for further nursing courses, and some may prefer to work as a government health worker in rural areas.
2. GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery)
   A 3-year diploma course designed for students who have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology at the 10+2 level. This course is designed for general patient care and for women’s and children’s care. The scope of GNM is for staff nurse roles in hospitals and community health centers. Renowned colleges offering GNM include Armed Forces Medical College (Pune) and Apollo College of Nursing (Chennai).
3. B.Sc. Nursing (Basic)
   This is one of the most sought-after nursing programs, lasting 4 years. Eligibility requires 10+2 with PCB + English, with at least 45–50% marks. It provides a strong academic and clinical foundation for students with subjects like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and community health. With the completion of the course, you can be a Clinical Nurse, Healthcare Provider, Researcher or Educator in the Nursing School/College. Top institutes include AIIMS (New Delhi), Manipal College of Nursing, and CMC Vellore.
4. Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing (P.B.B.Sc. Nursing)
   A 2-year undergraduate program designed for diploma-holding GNM nurses who are already registered. It helps upgrade their knowledge and opens up leadership or teaching roles. So this course is basically to upgrade yourself when you’re registered as a GNM and want to have other roles in the field of nursing.Top colleges offering this include PGIMER (Chandigarh) and Sri Ramachandra Institute (Chennai).
5. M.Sc. Nursing
   This 2-year postgraduate program is open to graduates of B.Sc. Nursing or P.B.B.Sc. Nursing. It offers specializations like Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pediatrics, and Psychiatric Nursing. Some of the best colleges include AIIMS (New Delhi), Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), and CMC Vellore.
6. Ph.D. in Nursing
   Doctoral programs usually have a duration of  3–5 years and are meant for those who wish to go into research, teaching, or high-level administrative positions. Leading institutions include the National Institute of Nursing Education (Chandigarh) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
7. Specialized Diploma & Certificate Courses
   For those who want to specialise in For nurses looking to specialize in areas such as Critical Care Nursing, Neonatal Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, and more, there are 1–2 year diploma Courses for Nursing. Well-known institutions like Apollo College of Nursing and NIMHANS (Bangalore) provide these specialized programs.

Here’s the tabular representation for quick reference for different nursing courses, you can pick yours as per your requirement if you prefer short term 1-2 nursing courses. The certification course for specialization will be suitable and for higher studies and becoming an academician in the field of nursing the doctoral program would be the best bet.

Nursing Courses Details in India: Duration, Eligibility & Top Colleges

Often, people are confused about pursuing the right diploma course ANM or GNM so here’s a quick comparison between the two courses to decide which one suits you better.

ANM Vs GNM

What are the four fields of Nursing?

The fields of nursing could be many, but they are broadly categorised into adult nursing, paediatric nursing, mental health nursing and learning disability nursing and in a hospital setting in India,  you generally find the following classification:

1. Clinical Nursing – Patient care in hospitals and clinics.
2. Community Health Nursing – Working in rural and urban community health programs.
3. Nursing Education & Research – Teaching and academic roles in nursing colleges.
4. Nursing Administration – Supervisory and administrative positions in hospitals.

Nursing Course Details: Subjects

Though subjects may differ by course and year, here’s a general subject list which are offered in the Nursing Course:

• First Year: Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Psychology, Nursing Foundation, Nutrition & Biochemistry- Aims to build core medical knowledge.
• Second Year: Medical-Surgical Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Pathology, Pharmacology-To understand real-word care.
• Third Year: Mental Health Nursing, Obstetric & Gynecological Nursing, Sociology, Research & Statistics-Understanding for specialised care.
• Fourth Year (B.Sc. Nursing): Nursing Management, Advanced Clinical Training, Research Projects- For supervisory roles, research, and teaching in the Nursing field.

You are required to undergo an Internship and hospital postings to ensure clinical readiness for these courses in nursing.

Career Scope in Nursing

Before we dive in to find out the scope of nursing we can have a look at this thought by Florence Nightingale “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painter’s or sculptor’s work.” 

There are various opportunities for Nurses in the following areas:

• Hospitals & Clinics (government & private)
• Community Health Centers
• Nursing Colleges & Universities
• Military & Armed Forces
• NGOs & International Health Agencies
• Abroad Opportunities – UK, USA, Canada, Middle East countries have high demand for Indian nurses.

 The love and respect that nurses get is beyond words, as it can only be experienced once you become one. So someone has rightly put it, “Save one life, you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives, you’re a nurse.” 

 Now, let’s also have a look at the remuneration for beginners and the intermediate salary structure after doing a particular course in the industry.

Salary After Nursing Courses

Highest Salary: Nurses with an M.Sc. Nursing or specialization in Critical Care, Anesthesiology, or International Nursing Jobs can earn ₹20–25 LPA abroad.

FAQs on Nursing Course Details

1. Is NEET required for Nursing courses in India?
   No, NEET is not required for most nursing courses like ANM, GNM, and B.Sc. Nursing. Admission is usually based on 10+2 marks or university-level entrance exams.
2. Which is better: GNM or B.Sc. Nursing?
   B.Sc. Nursing is better for long-term career growth, international opportunities, and higher studies. GNM is shorter but offers a limited scope compared to B.Sc. Nursing.
3. Can I do Nursing after 12th Arts or Commerce?
   Yes, you can pursue ANM or GNM after 12th in Arts/Commerce. After completion of the internship, you can get registered with the Nursing Council as a Registered Nurse and work in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
4. Which is the highest-paying field in Nursing?
   Specialized positions like Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Critical Care Nursing, Nurse Practitioners, and International Nursing jobs offer the highest salaries.
5. Can male students pursue nursing in India?
   Yes, nursing is open to both male and female students in India. Many colleges accept male candidates for all nursing courses.
6. What is the scope of Nursing abroad?
   Countries like the UK, USA, Canada, and Gulf countries have a shortage of nurses. With an Indian nursing degree and passing licensing exams (like NCLEX, IELTS, OET), you can earn very high salaries abroad.
7. What skills are important to become a successful nurse?
   Apart from medical knowledge, a good nurse must have communication skills, empathy, patience, leadership, and quick decision-making ability.
8. Which is the shortest nursing course?

The shortest nursing course is for upgrading your nursing program and not for entry level, which is: Specialised critical care program or diploma for a period of 1-2 years.

Conclusion

 As stated at the beginning of the article, there is a dearth of nurses in our country, and with the increasing influx of foreign patients, the demand is growing higher. So, pursuing this career will keep you not only employed but also in demand. 

Nursing is not just a career but a lifelong commitment to serving people. With a variety of courses ranging from a diploma to a Ph.D., nursing offers career stability, international opportunities, and financial growth. Whether you want to work in hospitals, research, teaching, or administration, there’s a path for you.

So, for a stable career and if you’re passionate about healthcare and helping others, pursuing a nursing course in India is one of the most rewarding career decisions you can make. Click to know “How to become a doctor without MBBS”.