The NEET MDS 2025 eligibility criteria are the requirements that the candidate should fulfill to apply for the NEET MDS 2025 exam. Candidates who satisfy the NEET MDS eligibility criteria regarding nationality, academic qualification, etc., as specified by the exam conducting authority, will be eligible to apply for the NEET MDS 2025 examination.
NEET MDS Eligibility Criteria 2025
The detailed NEET MDS eligibility criteria are listed below. Candidates must check these criteria and ensure that they fulfill the eligibility before applying for the NEET MDS exam:
- Academic Qualifications: Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery or a provisional passing certificate in BDS from any Indian dental university or college that has been recognized by the Govt. of India as per the Dentist Act 1948, or else they must have an equivalent qualification approved by the DCI, i.e., the Dental Council of India.
- Nationality: Candidates must be an Indian citizen. An Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) is also eligible to apply for NEET MDS 2025.
- Internship/ Work Experience: All applicants should have completed or have been in the process of completing the one-year rotary internship or practical training on or before the exam. The internship/training accomplished in the respective dental college is approved or acknowledged by the Government of India.
NEET MDS 2025 Important Instructions
- The conditions applied by the NBE of a one-year compulsory internship shall not be held applicable to candidates who have passed their final year BDS exam on or before 1988 and possess a BDS degree awarded by any Indian-recognized University by the Indian Government under the Dentist Act 1948 or an equivalent academic qualification recognized by the DCI. Along with all this, candidates need to provisionally or permanently register with the SDC or DCI.
- Also, applicants will be granted no relief in one-year internship criteria unless the following requirements are fulfilled: Applicants must belong to the batch of the 2007-2008 academic session and should have passed a 4 1⁄2 year BDS degree and hold a minimum of 6 months rotary internship certificate.
- Applicants must be a graduate of the Rajah Muthiah Dental College, Annamalai University of 2the 006-2007 academic session and must have completed at least 5 years of BDS courses without an internship.
Candidates Not Eligible for the NEET MDS 2025
There are specific application limitations for the NEET MDS 2025 exam. Candidates must check the instructions below to know who is not eligible to participate in the entrance test:
- Candidates who have not completed their one-year rotary internship on or before March 31, 2024, will not be eligible to apply for the NEET MDS 2025 exam unless they belong to the exceptional category specified in the above section.
- As per the eligibility criteria for NEET MDS 2024, candidates who are neither provisionally nor permanently registered with SDC/DCI will not be considered eligible to appear for this entrance examination. In case any information provided by the applicant is found to be false or incorrect at any stage of the MDS admission process, the candidate's candidature will be withdrawn at that moment with immediate effect.
- The NEET MDS 2025 eligibility criteria says that those applicants who have passed their bachelor’s degree in the field of Dental Surgery from Andhra Pradesh (AP), Telangana and Jammu & Kashmir will not be eligible to apply for admission under All India Quota of 50%. Nevertheless, the candidates who were nominated by the Government of India to study BDS from colleges in AP, Telangana and J&K can apply for the All India Quota seats. Moreover, such candidates are required to sign an affidavit stating that the applicant was nominated by the Government of India in order to pursue BDS from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and J&K and mail it to the address mentioned below:
Deputy Director (Examinations),
National Board of Examination,
Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar,
Mahatma Gandhi Marg (Ring Road),
New Delhi - 110029
Candidates, along with their affidavit, also need to submit a printout of the NEET MDS 2025 application form. It is instructed that this condition is not applicable to the category of candidates that belong to the Armed Forces for ‘Grant of Short Service Commission in Army Dental Corps’ and want to apply for MDS in the Armed Forces Institutes in India.
- Aspirants who are currently pursuing a postgraduate level course might not be considered eligible for admission to any university or dental college for MDS, depending on the individual rules and regulations of the institute. However, a few institutions under the Indian Government have appointed certain rules against admitting candidates who are already pursuing a postgraduate degree. Hence, candidates must go through the rules and regulations of NEET MDS carefully before applying for the examination.
NEET MDS Eligibility Criteria 2025 for Foreign Nationals
Foreign residents can appear for the NEET MDS 2025. They do not require a DCI registration for applying to the exam. However, the candidate must be a registered medical practitioner in their home country.
NEET MDS 2025 Eligibility FAQs
What is the qualification for NEET MDS 2025?
To apply for the NEET MDS 2025 exam, candidates must possess a degree in Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from a DCI-recognised university.
How many attempts are allowed in NEET MDS?
There is no restriction on the number of times a candidate can attempt the NEET MDS exam.
Can I join MDS without NEET?
No, a candidate cannot take admission to MDS without the NEET MDS exam.
What is the difference between NEET PG and NEET MDS?
The NEET PG exam is held for admission to Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS), while the NEET MDS exam is held for admission to Master of Dental Surgery (MDS).
When is the NEET MDS 2025 exam?
The NEET MDS 2025 exam will be held in the fourth week of March 2025. Applications for the exam will begin in the fourth week of January 2025.
Can Foreign Nationals apply for NEET MDS 2025?
Yes, foreign nationals are eligible for the NEET MDS even without DCI registration.
What is the eligibility for NEET MDS 2025?
As per the NEET MDS eligibility criteria, candidates should have a BDS degree from a DCI-recognised university and be registered with the State Dental Council.
Is the NEET MDS exam tough?
NEET MDS is a challenging entrance examination. So, candidates must prepare well by following a good strategy.
Is work experience required for the NEET MDS 2025 exam?
As per the NEET MDS 025 eligibility, candidates should have completed or have been in the process of completing the one-year rotary internship or practical training on or before the exam.
How many years of MDS course?
The MDS has a course duration of 3 years.