Your route, step by step
- 1Class 11–12: take PCBThe excretory system and body-fluid chapters in Class 11 Biology are the foundation of kidney medicine. Prepare for boards and NEET UG together.
- 2NEET UG → MBBS · 5.5 years4.5 years of study plus a 1-year internship. Seats through MCC (all-India quota) and Tamil Nadu medical counselling.
- 3NEET PG → MD General Medicine (or Paediatrics) · 3 yearsFirst train as a physician.
- 4NEET SS → DM Nephrology · 3 yearsTraining in dialysis, kidney biopsy and transplant medicine.
- 5Practise as a nephrologistTransplant nephrology and paediatric nephrology are possible paths.
What a nephrologist does
- Diagnose and slow kidney disease
- Manage dialysis for kidney failure
- Care for patients before and after kidney transplant
- Treat high blood pressure and fluid and salt imbalances
Entrance exams & admission
- NEET UGFor the MBBS seat (conducted by NTA)
- NEET PGMD / MS / DNB seats (conducted by NBEMS); 50% of government seats are all-India quota, 50% Tamil Nadu quota
- INI-CETPG seats at AIIMS, JIPMER, PGIMER and NIMHANS
- NEET SSDM / MCh super-specialty seats (conducted by NBEMS)
Where you may work
Nephrology and dialysis units of hospitals, transplant centres and medical colleges.
Well-known colleges in and near Tamil Nadu
- Madras Medical College, Chennai
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- JIPMER, Puducherry
Official links
Links checked: Oct 2026. Always confirm dates and rules on the official site.
Outlook
Diabetes and high blood pressure are raising kidney disease rates, so dialysis and nephrology services keep growing.
Specialise later
- Dialysis
- Kidney transplant
- Paediatric nephrology
- Critical care nephrology
- Interventional nephrology
