No Mandatory One-Year Senior Residency in Medical College Required
New Delhi: In a major clarification, the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) under the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that doctors with two years of post-PG experience in any 220-bedded government hospital will now be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professors in medical colleges.
These doctors will not be required to complete one year of senior residency in a medical college to qualify for the post.
Clarification Issued Through FAQs on Faculty Qualification Rules
The clarification was issued through Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) released by NMC concerning the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025.
The FAQs address queries raised by stakeholders after the final regulations were notified on June 30, 2025.
The rules specify the eligibility criteria for faculty positions in medical institutions and outline various experience pathways for doctors aspiring to join academia.
What the 2025 Regulations Originally Stated
As per Note 3(c) of Sl. No. 3, Table E (Page 39) of the Faculty Regulations 2025,
“A non-teaching Consultant, Specialist, or Medical Officer possessing a postgraduate medical degree with at least two years of experience in a government hospital having at least 220 beds shall be eligible to become an Assistant Professor in that specialty, without the requirement of experience as a Senior Resident, and shall complete the Basic Course in Biomedical Research within two years of appointment.”
This clause had initially caused confusion regarding whether such experience needed to be obtained specifically in teaching institutions.
NMC Clarifies Eligibility in FAQs
Addressing the ambiguity, the NMC stated in its FAQs that:
“Any registered medical practitioner — including Non-teaching Consultants, Specialists, Medical Officers, or Senior Residents — with an NMC/MCI-recognised postgraduate degree and two years of cumulative work experience in any government hospital with at least 220 beds, obtained after completion of PG degree, shall be eligible for appointment as Assistant Professor in the same specialty.”
This means doctors working in district or peripheral government hospitals can now directly qualify for Assistant Professor posts, provided they meet the bed-capacity and duration criteria.
FORDA Welcomes the Move
The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) hailed the clarification as a “major relief” for doctors serving outside large tertiary centres.
In a post on X, the association said,
“FORDA’s consistent advocacy brings results! NMC now recognises 2 years of senior residency in government hospitals with 220–500 beds for Assistant Professor eligibility. A big relief for residents serving in peripheral institutions.”
A Step Towards Equity and Opportunity
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr. Meet Ghonia, National General Secretary of FORDA, said,
“FORDA’s continuous efforts and representations to NMC have finally borne fruit. This inclusion brings equity and acknowledges the contribution of doctors working in smaller government hospitals.”
He added that the decision will broaden opportunities for thousands of doctors and bridge disparities between urban and rural healthcare professionals.
Background: Longstanding Demand from Medical Community
Earlier this year, FORDA had submitted detailed representations to NMC while reviewing the Draft TEQ 2024 Regulations, urging clarity on the minimum bed requirement for hospitals where DNB or MD/MS graduates could serve to qualify for faculty recruitment.
This latest clarification by NMC fulfills that long-pending demand, ensuring fair recognition for doctors serving in peripheral and semi-urban institutions.
