As the holder of an MBBS degree, you can practice at a traditional clinic and possibly switch to conventional practices and choose from the numerous career options after MBBS. Although, having a higher qualification gives a better chance in the job market. While overseas and non-practice options give those thinking about other options more flexibility. So, choosing the right career option after MBBS is all about properly channeling your passion and skills to get to the right place where you can make a difference.
Clearing NEET and joining an MBBS program is not easy, and if you have made it or are planning to pursue it – so hats off to you!
The course duration is close to five years and as you move closer to completing your degree, a big question starts popping up: What are the career options after MBBS?
And that’s perfectly okay; many students (qualified and aspiring) go through this.
The question in itself is not wrong, rather it’s a very intelligent and sound question because you need to fully understand what the future holds for you in terms of career after MBBS.
Today’s MBBS graduate has the world out there waiting for him.
Students can choose to remain academically active (post-graduation or specialization) or consider unique job opportunities in other areas which are more than plenty.
In this blog, we’ll discuss such opportunities in detail and help you clearly understand your career options after NEET.
9 Amazing Career Options After NEET for You to Choose From
1. Clinical Practice: The Conventional Route
This must be one of the first choices that you could think of when you think about your career options after an MBBS degree. Practicing as a doctor is a tested and reputable profession that one could ever wish to attain.
You can do so by being in general practice, or by choosing a specific branch of medicine like cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, etc.
This particular stream has an additional benefit and that’s a clinic where you can establish your private practice or a job in a hospital gives you direct contact with patients—which every physician knows is very fulfilling.
Also, if you want to distinguish yourself or become a specialized doctor then you can opt for a Postgraduate (PG) degree like MD or MS is really a great approach. You can choose to focus on a specific area of interest and provide an entry to well-compensated and stable careers.
2. Hospital Administration and Management
Not everybody wants to remain in scrubs for the rest of their lives, and that’s fine!
Because doing blood work isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. So, if this is something that sounds familiar to you then another best career option after MBBS for you could be in administration.
Administrative jobs require organizational skills, problem-solving ability, and the capability to work in a team; hospital administration might be a career path for you.
Just think about it, being the go-to person responsible for making a hospital as efficient as possible. You’ll be responsible for managing staff, and services provided to patients, down to controlling the hospital’s budget.
The best part?
You will remain in the healthcare industry while enjoying less clinical practice than if you were working as a doctor. It is a cocktail of medical science and administration.
3. Research and Academics
Are you the analytical type who enjoys going over-analysis about problems? If yes, research and academics may be for you. Here, you can work with some of the most prestigious research institutes and help make incredible medical research.
Prefer teaching? It is very rewarding to become a lecturer or professor at a medical college. You can help shape young minds to be the kind of doctors that people want to be while keeping yourself updated with new technologies.
Besides, such careers can be less time-consuming and allow you to have more free time, so if you consider work-life balance to be important – these might be one of the best career options after MBBS for you.
4. Public Health Services
Have you ever wondered about making a big change that will improve society from ground zero?
If yes, then public health services provide you the rare opportunity to do just that.
You could be employed with the government’s health department, non-governmental organizations (NGO), or international organizations such as W.H.O.
Your work may entail skills in developing policies, overseeing health-related crusades, or modeling information that enhances the provision of healthcare.
To follow this path, getting an MPH- Master of Public Health is an ideal thing to do. They prepare you for the world and give you the means necessary knowledge needed on the international level.
5. Medical Writing and Journalism
Do you consider yourself good at being able to break down information into easily understandable barriers?
If so, then either working as a medical writer or being a health journalist can be quite appealing.
Option of working as a writer for medical journals, a health blogger, or as a content developer for educational pharmaceutical journals. It allows for remaining at some correlation with the medical ecosystem and, at the same time, starting from scratch when it comes to creativity.
And guess what?
You will also narrow the gap between the medical world and the public hence enhancing dissemination of health information to the public.
6. Careers in Healthcare Technology
Every process in the world is now in the process of being enhanced by technology and the healthcare industry is not left out.
And, if you’re an enthusiast of technology and all things new, you might as well join the profession using your skills in medicine.
You can work with health tech startup companies to build apps, devices or software that assist healthcare.
7. Opportunities Abroad
Have you ever considered changing your location either for work or education?
As an MBBS graduate, you can and should look for job opportunities outside the country and there are several good ones.
To work in countries like the US, UK, or Australia, you will have to write exams like the USMLE or the PLAB, respectively. However, the compensation – in terms of career progression and/or financial remuneration – could well justify the endeavours.
Moreover, you can consider some opportunities for global health restraining jobs or research fellowships which can provide you with the opportunity to work on an overseas health-related project.
8. Non-Clinical Careers
If the sound of clinical practice does not interest you then do not despair because there are several career options after MBBS.
- Pharmaceutical Industry: You can work as a medical advisor, clinical trial manager, drug safety officer, or any other research officer involved in the medical industry.
- Medico-Legal Advisor: You can use your knowledge of medicine together with law in order to offer consultation services in legal matters.
- Entrepreneurship: Instead of getting a job why not create some and start a new healthcare business such as a wellness center or a health technology company?
There are some of the best alternative career options after MBBS that you can choose from.
9. Pursue a PG Degree
It’s important that we have to mention postgraduate studies one more time before concluding this list. MBBS is a prestigious degree and so a PG degree be it an MD, MS, or even a super specialty like DM or MCh is considered amongst the best career options after MBBS.
The ultimate benefit is that it is a great way to advance one’s knowledge of the profession, increase one’s salary potential, and become a specialist in the field. Besides, it sharpens you with the latest medical knowledge that you need in today’s world, where competition is the order of the day.
Final Thoughts: Your Path, Your Choice
Your MBBS degree is the starting point of a great journey. And there are many career options after MBBS for you to choose from.
It spans clinical practice, research, and even health informatics and technology.
Whether you want to stick to traditional roles or explore alternative career options after MBBS, the key is to follow your passion and strengths.
Whatever you choose, choose wisely, and good luck!
FAQ
- How many career options after MBBS are there?
- Clinical practice
- Hospital administration
- Research
- Public health services
- Medical writing
- Healthcare technology,
- Non-clinical roles
- What is the best career option after MBBS?
Decisions regarding the best career option after MBBS depend on your interests. Higher education and clinical preparation will appeal to those with a genuine interest in a more patient-centred speciality. Other opportunities that are not related to direct care will appeal to those who are interested in more administrative-type positions such as hospital administration and technology.
- Why should I do a PG degree after my MBBS?
A PG degree provides the opportunity to have a special area of interest in a particular medical stream. As a result, you will improve both the opportunities to make a career and the pay scale will also be higher. Also, it’s a typical route for any MBBS graduate, especially anyone who wants to be successful in their field.
- Is it possible to get a non-clinical job after MBBS in India?
- Yes, they include; Hospital management, Medical writing, Healthcare startups, Public health, and the pharmaceutical industries. These roles put together your medical knowledge base with other skill sets.
- How to choose the best career options after MBBS?
Think about what you like, what you are good at, and where you want to see yourself in the future. Consider all possible factors as it will help you make a well-informed decision.