Ahana Bhaduri Senior Content Specialist
Senior Content Specialist
The post graduate degree of DNB or Diplomate of National Board is awarded to the students by the National Board of Examinations under the Union Ministry of Health, India. The candidates who pursue DNB degree courses are trained at private hospitals, while the candidates pursuing MD/MS are trained at the Medical Colleges or Universities.
A candidate studying MD/MS at a government college will have to deal with a huge patient load with the equipment that is available. This leaves a very little time for studies, presentation and research. As a result, the candidates will have to work hard and learn the job. At the end of the MD/MS course, the student will have to be well prepared and be confident enough to start a practice.
The private colleges and universities on the other hand have lesser load of patients and they give more stress on academics. In this situation, the candidates will have a good balance of theory and practical experience. However, extra training will be needed before starting my own practice.
Studying DNB degree programs at the private institutions is very helpful as one gets exposure to the latest medical equipment. They can also understand the working style in the corporate hospitals. The institutions vary based on the load of the patients as well as on the different specialties in an institution. Academics part will be average as there is less time for the studies.
DNB, MD and MS: Admission Process
Nowadays, it is really hard to get admission in a college/university and even harder to get into a DNB, MD and MS college/university. But if you are prepared and confident enough you can get into any preferable institution. To get admission in a good DNB, MD and MS college a few points must be kept in the mind:
DNB Admission
- A candidate must have passed MBBS and also must have completed a one-year internship and passed the Common Eligibility Test (CET).
- The candidates must fill the admission application form thoroughly and carefully.
- The candidates must be prepared for the entrance and the counseling session.
- A candidate must have a decent merit score.
- A candidate must be very confident and should have incredible abilities to communicate.
- The candidates need to have a relational ability and a scientific mind.
Major entrance exams carried out by the colleges and universities are listed below:
MD/MS Admission
- Admission to the MD/MS course is based on the NEET-PG entrance examination, which is held to grant admission in almost all PG medical courses in India.
- NEET-PG exam is required for MD/MS Admission 2022 will be based on counseling sessions conducted by the respective body across India.
- Students will be asked to choose a course and a college/university where they would like to study it.
- Candidates will be assigned to MD/MS colleges/universities and courses based on the NEET PG merit list and the number of vacancies available in the respective course and college.
- Many Institutes conduct their own entrance exams. The final section in the MD/MS course is done on the basis of performance in the entrance exam and its subsequent rounds.
Major entrance exams carried out by the colleges and universities are listed below:
DNB and MD/MS: Eligibility Criteria
The common DNB, MD and MS eligibility criteria that the applicants need to fulfill to get admission to these courses are as listed below:
Eligibility for DNB
- Applicants must hold a MBBS degree from a recognized university.
- The candidates need to complete a one-year internship after the completion of MBBS.
- The candidates are also required to pass the Common Eligibility Test (CET).
- The applicants must clear the entrance exam conducted by the National Board of Education (NBE)
Read More: DNB Colleges
Eligibility for MD/MS
- Applicants must hold a valid MBBS degree from one of India's or abroad recognised medical colleges or universities.
- Admission to all medical courses in India is based on the results of the NEET entrance examination and because MD/MS is a postgraduate degree program, candidates must have a NEET-PG score/rank in order to be admitted to one of the MD/MS specializations in India.
- The minimum aggregate score requirement in the qualifying examination varies from one college to another college; therefore, all candidates should review the eligibility criteria outlined by the college/university of their choice.
Read More: MD Colleges
DNB and MD/MS: Career Prospect
The government colleges and universities consider DNB. Some medical colleges and universities even want the students to have some prior work experience to consider candidates with DNB. However, there is no major difference in securing a job. In private practice, they might face difficulty in the initial stages due to the perception of the general public.
Career prospects for DNB
| Job Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Geriatricians | Geriatricians usually do treatment and diagnosis of diseases to treat disability in old-aged people | INR 15,00,000 |
| Cardiologists | A cardiologist is responsible to treat and diagnose cardiovascular diseases and promote awareness regarding heart health. | INR 17,80,000 |
| Ophthalmologist | Diagnoses all eye diseases and treats them accordingly, performs surgery on various eye operations, prescribes and fits eyeglasses and lenses to better vision problems. | INR 10,90,000 |
| Pediatrics | A Pediatrician usually treats and diagnoses disabilities, diseases related to children and infants. | INR 28,00,000 |
| Anesthesiologists | The job of an anesthesiologist is to monitor and manage the correct amount of anesthesia after understanding the patient’s history during operations. | INR 12,50,000 |
Career prospects for MD/MS
| Job Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioners | General practitioners are responsible for managing the types of illness that present in an undifferentiated way at an early stage of development, which may require urgent intervention. | INR 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 |
| Bacteriologist | A bacteriologist is responsible for studying the various kinds of bacteria, which are constantly changing and evolving. They typically do their research in a laboratory, mostly for the government or pharmaceutical agencies. | INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 |
| Anesthesiologists | The job of an Anesthesiologist is to monitor and manage the correct amount of anesthesia after understanding the patient’s history during operations. | INR 12,50,000 |
| Obstetricians | Obstetricians deliver babies and perform other birth-related duties as needed, such as inducing labor, performing Cesarean section births and performing emergency surgery when needed. | INR 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 |
| Chiropodist | A chiropodist is a foot doctor who is responsible for assisting patients with caring for their feet and eradicating persistent and painful conditions which can occur on the foot. | INR 3,82,800 |
DNB or MD/MS: Advantages and Disadvantages
Here we have listed some advantages and disadvantages of opting for DNB over MD/MS.
Advantages of DNB and MD/MS
- Easier entry: This is the most common reason for a student to choose DNB. Most top rankers in NEET PG entrance exam will choose MD/MS. So, admission in the same stream in DNB will be a little easier than the MD/MS course.
- Inexpensive: Only the yearly stipulated fee is to be paid by the students. Compared to the fees charged by the private medical colleges and universities it is a very small amount.
- Management as per guidelines: In many large private hospitals, the management of the case is on par with the international standards.
- Some of the latest procedures: surgical techniques, medical advances, expensive investigations are more commonly done at the private hospitals.
- Recognition abroad: Some countries have started recognizing DNB from India more than the MD/MS course. So, if you aim to work abroad, go for a DNB degree program.
Disadvantages of DNB and MD/MS
- Low pass rate: The final exam is considered tough and the pass rate generally lies between 15% to 20%.
- Less surgical exposure: In some hospitals and institutes DNB residents are not given enough exposure and independence while working. Especially in the surgical branches.
- Problems in private practice: There is less recognition among the general people about DNB degrees. So, a doctor might face some difficulty early on if he/she starts their own private clinic. However, this is changing very fast.
- Teaching job in medical college: Some medical colleges and universities demand work experience from DNB degree holders to start teaching while MD/MS holders have no such condition.
Difference between DNB and MD/MS: FAQs
Ques. What is the average annual salary package for a DNB degree holder?
Ans. The average annual salary package that a DNB degree holder gets usually ranges between INR 10,00,000 to 35,00,000.
Ques. What kind of doctor is an MD?
Ans. The most common type of physician is a medical doctor (MD). They like D.O.s, they are trained over several years of coursework and clinical practice. According to Dr. Jaggers, both M.D.s and D.O.s are licensed to practice in all the 50 states.
Ques. Can I do MD/MS after DNB course?
Ans. Yes, aspirants can pursue MD/MS on completion of DNB course.
Ques. Is a DNB degree recognised outside India?
Ans. Some of the developed countries have started recognising degree programs like DNB from India more than MD/MS from India.
Ques. Can DNB degree holders perform surgery?
Ans. Yes, the DNB degree holders can perform surgeries as a Cardiologist and Anesthesiologist.
Ques. Can MD/MS doctors do surgery?
Ans. After the completion of MD/MS degree program, one can join a medical college or university as a teaching faculty, start one's own practice, or can also apply for a job in the healthcare sector.
Ques. Which is better: DNB or MD/MS?
Ans. Both are equivalent postgraduate medical degrees and are offered by two different bodies. MD/MS degree by the MCI, DNB degree by the National board. The MD/MS programs are run in the Medical College Hospital's only. The quality of your MD/MS is completely dependent on the case exposure that you get in them.
Ques. Are DNB doctors paid less than MD/MS doctors in the future (in terms of the anesthesiology branch)
Ans. No, their salary is approximately the same. They get a salary according to their experience and qualifications.
Ques. Can I become a professor if I do DNB instead of an MD/MS course, if so, how?
Ans. Yes, you can, as per the MCI guidelines. However, there are various additional issues. You might need work experience of 1 year prior to applying for the post of assistant professor. If you are already employed as an associate professor, you might be treated as equal to MD/MS candidates for promotion to the post of a professor.
Ques. Why do people do a DNB after an MD/MS when they can directly pursue a D NB after an MBBS?
Ans. Doctors who have done MD/MS can directly appear in the final exam of DNB in their specialty. For them, it’s an additional qualification, which may give them some advantage in terms of recognition or making their visiting card fuller.
Those who take admission into DNB courses directly after MBBS have to complete 3 years of residency in their chosen specialty and have to appear in the DNB final theory and practical examinations to get their postgraduate degree by the name of DNB. However, they can’t appear for MD/MS degree programs examination directly.
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