For aspiring medical students, the journey to get into a reputed institute is not easy and requires thorough research and planning. In order to pursue your dream of becoming a doctor, you will have to take a series of entrance tests. One such test is the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). If you are looking forward to studying medicine in the U.S., this article will help you understand if NEET is necessary for MBBS in USA? Read on to know more about it.
What is NEET?
NEET stands for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. It is a single common entrance test conducted by the NTA (National Testing Agency) to provide admission to MBBS, BDS and Ayurvedic colleges across the country. The test aims to make admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses more inclusive by introducing a common examination for students hailing from all states. The eligibility and exam pattern are the same across the country and is conducted in two languages- English and Hindi. The NEET Exam is a Computer Based Test which is held once a year in the month of May. The candidates who want to pursue medical studies in any of the countries where NEET Exam is mandatory can only appear for the exam. Students applying to study medicine in the U.S., Australia, Canada and New Zealand will require NEET scores.
Why is NEET Necessary for MBBS in USA?
If you want to study MBBS in the U.S., you are required to take the NEET exam. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) and Indian Association of Foreign Medical Colleges (IAFMC) have entered into an agreement for a single entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical programmes in India and in the US. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the same body that conducts the IIT-JEE exam. Candidates who wish to pursue admission in the U.S., Canada and Australia are also required to take the NEET exam. However, candidates who wish to pursue MBBS in countries other than U.S. should check if they require NEET or not. And if they do, they should start preparing well in advance.
Who requires NEET to pursue MBBS in USA?
If you wish to study MBBS in the U.S. or any of the other countries where NEET Exam is mandatory, then you must take the exam. NEET is mandatory for admission to all undergraduate medical courses in the U.S. as well as in certain one-year disciplines in the U.K. and Canada. For admission to undergraduate medical courses in the U.K., all candidates are required to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) administered by the British Council. The following candidates will be required to take the NEET exam for MBBS in the U.S. – Students who wish to pursue admission to the U.S. with a foreign degree must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for English proficiency. For students who wish to pursue admission to the U.S. with a degree from an Indian university, the U.S. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will be the authority.
Is there an alternative to NEET for studying Medicine in USA?
If you are not comfortable with the idea of taking the NEET exam and are looking out for an alternative, you can explore the option of studying in the U.K. The U.K. has a very similar medical education system to that of the U.S. and offers a degree equivalent to the U.S.-MD programme. You can take the BMAT exam administered by the British Council. The exam is held once a year in the month of October. Your score on the BMAT will be considered by all medical universities in the UK that accept the BMAT score for admission. If you wish to study in Canada, you can take the Canadian Medical School Admission Test (CMAT) exam offered by the Canadian Coalition for Health Education and Research (CCHER). The exam is held once a year in the month of October.
Reasons why you do not need to take the NEET Exam
There are certain instances when you can avoid taking the NEET exam. Candidates who have completed their undergraduate education with a degree in medicine and have completed the mandatory one-year Post Graduation Degree in General Practice are exempted from the NEET exam. Candidates who are in their final year of undergraduate education (two years of study after high school) with a degree in any other subject may apply for admission to a Post Graduate Degree in General Practice. You will have to first finish your undergraduate education before you can apply to the Post Graduate Degree in General Practice. Candidates who complete their undergraduate education before the exam date are also exempted from the exam.
How to check if you are eligible for NEET?
Log on to the NEET website- neet.nic.in. You will have to enter your name and date of birth to access your NEET Eligibility Status.
How to apply for MBBS in USA via NEET?
You will first have to make the application to one of the universities that accept the NEET scores. Usually, the universities make their applications available in September. You can apply as early as possible to make sure that you get the admissions before the deadlines. The application will be online and will require you to enter your personal details, academic performance, etc. Make sure that you are completing the application forms without any mistakes. The universities will then issue you an admit card indicating the date of the exam and the test centre where you will have to appear for the exam. Make sure that you are appearing for the exam on the correct date and at the correct test centre.
Conclusion
The NEET exam is a common entrance test that is used to admit students to undergraduate medical and dental courses across the country. The test is conducted by the NTA once a year in the month of May. The test is mandatory for admission to undergraduate medical courses in the U.S. and in certain one-year disciplines in the U.K. and Canada. Students who wish to pursue admission to any of these countries should take the NEET exam. If you are looking forward to studying medicine in the U.S., NEET is necessary for MBBS in USA.
