NEET UG Mandatory for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy from 2027-28: Check 2026-27 Admission Criteria

A big change has been announced for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy courses in India. From the academic year 2027-28, NEET UG will be mandatory for admission to these courses. So, students who dream of BPT (Bachelor of Physiotherapy) or BOT (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy) will also have to write NEET, just like MBBS and BDS aspirants. NEET UG Mandatory for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy from 2027-28.

This new rule will not start at once for all years. For 2026-27, the admission rules will be a little different. Therefore, students in Classes 10, 11 and 12 should clearly understand what applies to their batch.

NEET UG Now Compulsory for BPT, BOT from 2027-28: What the Notice Says

First, let us see what has changed. As per the latest official decision for allied health courses, NEET UG will be the common entrance exam for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy from the 2027-28 session.

This means that from that batch onwards:

• Students must appear for NEET UG after Class 12.
• Colleges must use NEET UG score / rank for BPT and BOT admissions.
• Separate college tests for these courses may stop in many places.

Year-wise Rule in Simple Form

Students should still follow official notices from their state and college for final rules each year.

Read more: Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) Course in India

NEET UG and Allied Health: Which Courses Are Affected?

NEET UG is already the main exam for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS and many other medical courses. Now, it is being extended to allied health fields like Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

So, from 2027-28, NEET UG will cover:

• MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS / BSc Nursing (existing)
• BPT – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (newly added)
• BOT – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (newly added)

This step will make one common entrance route for most health and medical courses in India. As a result, students will not have to write many different entrance tests for each type of college.

2026-27 Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Admission: What Will Happen?

Now, many students in Class 12 or Class 11 want to know about 2026-27. This is an important point because the new NEET rule is for 2027-28, not for 2026-27.

For the 2026-27 academic year:

• Colleges and states may continue with current admission rules for BPT and BOT.
• Some may use state-level CETs, some may use college entrance tests, and some may use Class 12 marks merit lists.
• NEET UG will not be fully compulsory yet for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.

2026-27 Admission Criteria (Likely Pattern)

Therefore, students who wish to join BPT or BOT in 2026-27 should:

• Watch their state health or university websites.
• Check for state CET notices or college prospectus.
• Use Class 12 marks plus any entrance exam that their state or institute demands.

Why NEET UG Is Being Made Mandatory for These Courses

Many parents and students are asking, “Why bring NEET into Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy also?” There are several reasons behind this step.

Some key aims are:

• To have one common standard for entry to most health courses.
• To reduce the number of entrance tests for students.
• To make the system more fair across states and colleges.
• To allow colleges to compare students easily from different boards.

Because NEET is already held in many languages and across many centres, it becomes a single national gate for all major health courses.

What This Change Means for Current School Students

This rule will affect different batches in different ways. So, it is helpful to see how it looks for Classes 10, 11 and 12 today.

• Students now in Class 12 (2024-25 batch):
  • They will likely enter BPT / BOT in 2025-26 or 2026-27.
  • For them, NEET is not yet compulsory for BPT / BOT.
  • However, they may still write NEET if they also aim for MBBS or BAMS.
• Students now in Class 11 (2025 passing 12th):
  • They may enter BPT / BOT in 2026-27.
  • So, they will likely use current rules (state CET / college tests / 12th marks).
  • Still, NEET practice can help if they also want MBBS / BDS.
• Students now in Class 9 or 10:
  • They may apply for BPT / BOT in 2027-28 or later.
  • For them, NEET UG will be compulsory for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy.
  • So, they should plan to treat NEET like a main target exam.

NEET UG Basics for Future Physiotherapy and OT Aspirants

Since NEET will soon decide BPT / BOT seats, students should know its basic pattern. NEET UG tests Physics, Chemistry and Biology from Classes 11 and 12.

NEET UG – Simple Exam Overview

Because of this, even students aiming only for Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy will now need:

• Strong base in Biology.
• Good understanding of Physics and Chemistry.
• Regular NEET‑style practice.

NEET UG Mandatory for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy from 2027-28.

How Students Can Prepare for the New NEET Rule

This new rule may look scary at first, but early planning can make it easy.

Some simple steps:

• Start focusing on Science (PCB) from Classes 9 and 10 itself.
• In Classes 11 and 12, study NCERT books for Physics, Chemistry and Biology very well.
• Solve NEET sample papers and previous year’s questions.
• Take mock tests to get used to the time and negative marking.
• If needed, join a coaching class or online course, but study self‑notes carefully too.

Final Word: Watch 2026-27 Rules, Prepare for 2027-28 NEET

To sum up, NEET UG Mandatory for Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy from 2027-28. For 2026-27, however, most colleges will still follow the current admission criteria like state CETs or 12th marks.

Therefore, students must do two things:

• For near‑term admission (2026-27), keep track of state and college notices.
• For long‑term plans (2027-28 and beyond), treat NEET UG as the main entrance exam for both medical and many allied health courses, including BPT and BOT.

With clear information and early preparation, students can use this change as a chance to strengthen their science base and aim for better careers in the health sector.