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New Delhi, April 26, 2025 – Physiotherapy education in India is entering a transformative phase with the introduction of sweeping new regulations aimed at standardizing the field and other allied health sciences. Key changes include making the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET UG) mandatory for admissions and extending the Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) program to five years, incorporating a compulsory one-year internship.
The reforms, announced as part of a new competency-based curriculum released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), represent a significant step towards uniformity in a sector previously marked by varying standards, course durations, and clinical training protocols. The changes are set to take effect from the 2026-27 academic year.
Under the new guidelines, BPT graduates will be permitted to use the prefix ‘Dr’, provided it is followed by ‘(PT)’ to clearly indicate their specialization. The revised five-year BPT course replaces the previous four-and-a-half-year structure and shifts from a semester-based system to an annual evaluation model. The total course credits have also increased from 288 to 334.
These changes are part of a broader effort impacting ten allied health science courses, including Optometry, Dialysis Therapy, Radiology, and Nutrition. Prasad VG, a member of NCAHP, highlighted the need for national standards, stating, “Currently, there are no national standards of curricula, faculty and infrastructure… there are variations.”
The new curriculum emphasizes nine core learning outcomes, ranging from clinical care and communication to ethics and lifelong learning. A key feature is the focus on early and integrated clinical exposure, synchronizing theoretical learning with practical application from the first year. Assessment methods are also being updated to include tools like Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE), although experts note further clarity is needed on their implementation.
Institutions offering physiotherapy will face stricter requirements, including minimum land (10 acres for standalone colleges) and built-up area (35,000 sq ft), mandatory affiliations with medical institutions or hospitals for clinical training, a 1:10 teacher-student ratio, and continuous faculty development programs.
Regarding admissions, NEET UG scores will now be the basis for entry into BPT, Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom), Nutrition and Dietetics, and Dialysis Therapy programs. While state-level or university tests might continue for some courses like Dialysis Technology, new national entrance exams are anticipated for fields such as Physician Associate and Medical Radiology. Other allied courses may continue admissions based on Class XII results.
The reforms also bring previously less regulated areas like Physician Associate and Applied Psychology under the NCAHP’s purview, which governs 56 allied health professions across ten domains.
While the changes have been welcomed as “forward-looking” by experts like Dr. Avinash Supe, Professor Emeritus at Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of detail on aligning new assessment tools with course content and the absence of a clear competency progression model.
NCAHP has clarified that due to the timing, with many institutions having started 2025-26 admissions, the new norms will apply from the 2026-27 academic year. Additionally, a temporary freeze has been placed on approving new allied health programs or college expansions until the regulatory licensing framework is fully established.
Looking ahead, the NCAHP is advocating for the placement of five physiotherapists in every government primary health centre, particularly in rural areas, to improve early intervention and awareness for various health conditions.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided regarding recent changes to physiotherapy and allied health science education regulations in India as of April 26, 2025. Details may evolve, and readers are advised to consult official sources like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) for the most current and comprehensive guidelines.
