NEET to be mandatory for physiotherapy courses?
Ahmedabad : 18.02.2026
A wave of uncertainty has hit thousands of Class 12 science students in Gujarat as the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) weigh a major shift in admission criteria.
Starting this academic year, bachelor of physiotherapy (BPT) and bachelor of occupational therapy (BOT) courses may be brought under the umbrella of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). While NEET is already mandatory for MBBS, dental, ayurveda, and homeopathy, BPT and BOT admissions in Gujarat have traditionally been granted based on Class 12 merit.
The proposed change would make it compulsory for aspirants to qualify for the entrance test regardless of their board results. Critics argue that Gujarat already struggles with a high number of vacant seats in allied health sciences each year. A final decision from the NTA and the Union health ministry is expected within the next week. Until then, the state’s admission committees remain on standby to see if the merit-based system will be scrapped in favor of the national standard. TNN
