The full form of BDS is Bachelor of Dental Surgery. BDS is the second most popular course among medical students after MBBS. Candidates who desire to work as dentists in private or public hospitals must take this course.
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Candidates with a combination of PCB subjects in 10+2 are eligible to pursue a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. After completing the course, a licenced dentist can work in the private and public sectors.
This article will provide you with everything you need to know about the BDS Course in 2024.
BDS Course Details 2024
Bachelor of Dental Surgery, commonly abbreviated as BDS is a 5-year undergraduate degree course after 12th grade for dental education in India. The Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree is regulated by the Dental Council of India (DCI) and is the only approved professional dental course in India.
The 5-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery includes 4 years of classroom education and a 1-year compulsory rotating internship, where candidates are provided training on dental sciences and surgeries.
In the classroom programme, candidates are taught subjects like dental histology, oral surgery, and oral pathology with practicals.
BDS Admission Process 2024
After completing 10+2 (PCB), candidates must appear and qualify for the NEET entrance exam.
The counselling is organised by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) for admission to all central quota seats in institutions like AIIMS, JIPMER, AFMC, etc.
NEET counselling is also organised by every state or UT for admission to their 85% state quota seats. Candidates must fill out a counselling registration form, which is usually released after a few weeks of the NEET result.
BDS Eligibility Criteria 2024
For admission to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program one has to fulfil the eligibility criteria given below:
- Candidates must have passed 10+2 with PCB subjects from a recognised board.
- Candidates must have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks.
- The candidates must qualify for the NEET entrance exam for admission to private or government dental colleges.
BDS Entrance Exams 2024
In India, admission to medical courses like BDS and MBBS is based on the NEET UG entrance exam.
The NEET-UG exam is conducted by the NTA every year for admission to all state and central MBBS and BDS seats across the country. Below, we have mentioned some highlights of the NEET exam:
- NEET is a national-level exam mandatory for admission to BDS, MBBS, BAMS, and BUMS courses.
- NEET is conducted by the NTA every year, and the application forms are accepted online in December every year.
- The NEET exam is held in May, though in pen-and-paper-based mode.
BDS Top Colleges in 2024
Some of the prestigious colleges for studying Bachelor of Dental Surgery programs are:
- Faculty of Dental Sciences, IMS BHU
- Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George’s Medical University
- Government Dental College and Hospital
- Government Dental College and Research Institute
- Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Science
BDS Course Fees 2024
More than 200 colleges offer Bachelor of Dental Surgery courses; out of these, there are 15 government colleges and 119 private colleges. BDS course fees vary from college to college.
BDS fees in government colleges start at 46,400 and can reach up to 16 lahks, while the fees in private colleges are between 4 lakhs and 32 lahks.
BDS Scope & Job Profile in 2024
BDS is one of the highly in-demand professional degree courses, and it’s at the top of the list of high-salary courses after the 12th.
After completing the course successfully, one can work as a dentist in government or private hospitals. You can also find employment at PSUs as a dental officer.
You can even practice on your own in your clinic. Candidates can even practice their skills in countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada to increase their income and gain international exposure to the most recent dental education.
To practice in the USA, students must qualify for the NBDE and NDEB for Canada.
After completing the BDS course one can work as the following job profiles:
- Dentist
- Lecturer
- Dental Officer
- Researcher
- Dentist Officer in Defence, Railways & PSU’s
Salary After BDS in 2024
Fresh graduates in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery can expect an initial salary somewhere around 4-5 LPA. After 4-5 years of practice and having a PG degree, one can expect a salary of 8–13 LPA.
For dentists who practice independently, there are no limits on the salary, as it depends on the experience and expertise of a dental professional.
What After BDS?
If you are not interested in doing the job, you can definitely go for higher studies, which is always a great option.
Candidates can pursue the MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery). This will enhance their knowledge of the dentistry field and provide better career opportunities in the future.
Candidates can also pursue other PG programmes after completing BDS. Some of the PG courses are listed below:
- MBA in Healthcare Management
- Master of Public Health
- Master in Health Administration
- MBA in Hospital Management
BDS Course 2024 FAQ’s
Both of them hold equal importance in the medical field. Even though MBBS is the most sought-after medical course, BDS is equally challenging and offers a bright career.
The candidates must qualify for the NEET entrance exam for admission to private or government dental colleges across the country.
No, just like in almost every medical course, a candidate must have a biology subject in his or her 12th grade to be eligible to apply for the course.
The Indian BDS degree is valid in many countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, America, etc.