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Kamaldeep
15 June, 2024
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Completed your 12th? And now you stand at a crossroads to find the best professional course after the 12th? Many 12th graduates find themselves in this situation, constantly questioning what comes next. Many professional courses are available, leading to lucrative career paths globally. This blog discusses the top 10 professional courses after the 12th to build your future. But first, let’s understand a few things about professional courses.
Professional courses provide a chance to gain specialised knowledge and job-oriented skills. One key benefit is learning from experienced professionals and enhancing your practical skills.
Certificate Courses: These are short-term programmes offering domain-specific coursework. They are beneficial for skill enhancement but not for starting your career after the 12th. Once you start pursuing your undergraduate course, you can sign up for a certificate programme.
Diploma Programme: They are usually one- or two-year courses and are very popular among students after the 12th. Diploma courses develop your basic skills and provide a base for the professional field in a shorter duration than a degree. Some students go further to pursue a more specialised professional course.
Degree Course: The full-time course covers the basics of the field and provides training in that particular domain. Professional degree courses are the most valued and credible programmes for securing a high-paying job globally.
Training Courses: As the name suggests, practical-based courses focus on a particular skill. However, they can only complement your main degree or help you transition into a new domain.
Not many of us know the difference between professional and regular courses. There are several career pathways to follow after the 12th, so the line between a professional course and a regular academic degree is blurred. Before highlighting the best professional course after the 12th, let’s understand the difference between professional courses and others.
| Regular Course | Professional Course |
| It is more theoretical and emphasises conceptual knowledge. | It is more practically oriented and aims to train students with real-time skills in the profession. |
| Regular courses cover the broader area of the subject. | It is highly domain-specific and covers more niche-oriented skills and topics of the field. |
| The scope is wider since they cover broader areas. | They have a limited scope compared to regular courses. |
| As it is less practical-oriented, career opportunities in niche roles are limited. | Since you get fully trained in your respective niche, the chances of getting hired at a lucrative package increase. |
Depending on your stream and area of interest, you have various professional courses. Here is the best professional courses list after the 12th based on their popularity:
Medicine is the most popular and widely chosen course among 12th graders in India. Every year, lakhs of students take the NEET entrance exam to pursue MBBS. This professional course involves studying the human body, its functions, diseases, diagnosis and treatment. It has numerous specialisations, such as cardiology, neurology, oncology, etc. The course structure of this programme involves clinical training in medicine and surgery.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in the PCB stream and qualified for the NEET entrance exam.
Selection Process: Based on entrance exam scores
Duration: 5 years theory + 2 months internship
Average Salary: INR 7.2 LPA
Fees: INR 7,00,000 to INR 50,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: General Physician, Medical Assistance, MBBS Doctosetc. (please note that after MBBS, you need to go for further specialisation to qualify for niche roles as a doctor)
As a whole, engineering involves designing, testing and building machines and structures. Students pursue professional courses like B.Tech and B.E. after 12th to enter this field. These professional courses are a combination of mathematics, science and technology. The programme covers all the branches of engineering in the initial semesters and gradually shifts the focus to your chosen specialisation. You can pursue an engineering degree in different domains such as IT, civil, electronics & communication, etc.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in the PCM stream with 50% minimum marks and qualified for the engineering entrance exam like JEE.
Selection Process: Based on entrance exam scores
Duration: 4 years
Average Salary: INR 5 to INR 8 LPA (depending on your specialisation)
Fees: INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Network Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Project Manager, Electrical Engineer, etc.
BArch is a professional course that trains students to plan, design, and administer infrastructure construction. Architecture as a whole is a broader field; it includes various specialisation areas like landscape architecture, interior design, etc. After medicine and engineering, architecture is one of the top professional courses after the 12th. Not only are students trained with technical skills, but they are also made capable enough to start their own ventures after this course.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in the PCM stream with 50% minimum marks.
Duration: 5 years
Average Salary: INR 3.9 LPA (varies as per skill set and city)
Fees: INR 10,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Project Manager, Architect, Interior Designer, Urban Planner, Landscape Architect, etc.
A large section of 12th graders choose BSC nursing as their career path. It is mostly the second-best option for NEET aspirants. Nursing deals with immediate patient care, promote healthcare awareness, and prevents illness. It is a practical-based programme offered in various specialisations like pediatric nursing, critical care nursing, etc. Nursing is among the most in-demand professional courses after 12th in India.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in the PCB stream with 50% minimum marks.
Duration: 4 years
Average Salary: INR 4.2 LPA
Fees: INR 50,000 to INR 4,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Geriatric Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Clinical Nurse, etc.
BBA is the most commonly pursued professional course after the 12th, irrespective of the stream. This course is designed to build a strong foundation in business principles and develop management aptitude in candidates. A typical BBA programme comprises course modules like accounting, finance, economics, human resources, operations management, and others. After pursuing this, students often pursue an MBA degree to hone their skills.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 with 50% minimum marks
Selection Process: Merit-based or based on CUET (depends upon the college)
Duration: 3 years
Average Salary: INR 4 to INR 7 LPA
Fees: INR 60,000 to INR 10,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Business Development Manager, Sales Executive, Human Resource Manager, Operations Manager, etc.
A professional law degree can be taken in different combinations. You can complete a 3-year UG-level degree programme first and then go for LLB. Or pursue a BA LLB/BBA LLB integrated programme. It is essential to choose the right course to reap the most benefits. If you are sure to follow the law field, then BA LLB or BBA LLB is an ideal choice.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 with 50% minimum marks and qualify for the law entrance exam if required
Duration: LLB – 3 years after graduation and BA LLB/BBA LLB – 5 years
Average Salary: INR 4 to 7 LPA
Fees: INR 4,00,000 to INR 15,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Judge, Law Officer, Legal Consultant, etc.
In the arts stream, the Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication is a widely chosen professional course after 12th grade. It consists of modules on media ethics, reporting and journalism, media management, advertising, PR and marketing, radio and TV production, and communication theory.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in any stream with 50% minimum marks.
Duration: 3 years
Average Salary: INR 4 to INR 8 LPA
Fees: INR 60,000 to INR 7,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Reporter, Content Writer, News Anchor, Social Media Manager, Public Relations Officer, Advertising Executive, Radio Jockey, etc.
Biotechnology is another prospective professional course after the 12th for science background students. This field harnesses the power of biological processes to create new products or improve existing ones. It covers topics like genetic engineering, bioprocessing, organic chemistry, and others. It is delivered in two-degree formats: BSc Biotechnology and B.Tech Biotechnology. The eligibility, fee structure, and curriculum for both are different. However, a professional course involves a combination of theoretical sessions and rigorous lab sessions.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 in the PCB (and maths if you go for BTech) stream with a minimum of 50% marks.
Duration: BSc Biotechnology – 3 years & B.Tech Biotechnology – 4 years
Average Salary: INR 3.5 to INR 5.5 LPA
Fees: INR 2,00,000 to INR 10,00,00 for the complete course
Job Role: Biotechnologist, Biochemist, Clinical Technician, Research Scientist, Bioprocess Engineer, etc.
IT has become a major employment provider today, and this fact is not hidden from anybody. Pursuing a professional course after the 12th in IT or computer applications will definitely open various career avenues for you. BCA and BSc IT are two professional courses in the IT sector that offer technical training in various aspects of this field. These courses will help you start your career in the IT sector in a shorter period of time.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 with 50% minimum marks. (some institutions may require maths as a subject in class 12th)
Duration: 3 years
Average Salary: INR 8 – INR 12 LPA (depending on your specialisation)
Fees: INR 1,50,000 to INR 9,50,000 for the complete course
Job Role: Web Developer, Software Engineer, System Analyst, Computer Programmer, Network Administrator, etc.
Just like law, making a career in the teaching profession has few bumps. To pursue the professional education course, you must complete a three-year undergraduate degree. Only then will you be eligible to enrol in the Bachelor of Education programme? Therefore, many students who aspire to become teachers choose the integrated Bachelor of Arts + Bachelor of Education. This professional course after the 12th is an efficient way to start your career in the education sector.
Eligibility: You must have completed 10+2 with 50% minimum marks
Duration: 4 years
Average Salary: INR 2.9 to INR 5 LPA (depending on your specialisation)
Fees: INR 1,50,000 to INR 5,00,000 for the complete course
Job Role: High School Teacher, Private Educator, etc.
Almost every college/university offers top professional courses after the 12th, but it depends on the parameters suitable for your profile. Moreover, a college can be good for BTech courses, but it might not be a good choice for BBA. Therefore, thorough research and professional guidance from experts are required here. We have prepared a list to give you a brief idea of top colleges in India offering professional courses after the 12th class in various disciplines.
Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
VIT Vellore
SRM University
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Amity University
Manipal University
Jain University
Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth
AIIMS
Kasturba Medical College
Institute of Management Technology
BITS Pilani
SKVM’s NMIMS
Finding the right professional course after the 12th is hard, especially when you have many options. Through this blog, we tried to narrow down your research to a few professional courses and areas offering high returns. Since career planning is tricky, you must identify your goals and streamline your research accordingly. If need be, you can also get professional help from a career counsellor. Therefore, do your homework and make the best choice.
Happy studying!
MBBS, BArch, BTech in CSE, and BCA graduates are likely to get the highest salary package.
Based on income and prestige, MBBS, computer science/IT, MBA and other IT-related fields are the most in-demand courses at present.
ACCA, CPA, CMA, and CA are among the highest degree of professional courses.
Think, research, and understand the course. Then, evaluate the future scope, calculate the ROI, and consult a career counsellor.
To become successful and excel in a job, it is not only about the field you have chosen. Your skill set, knowledge, eagerness to learn, and adaptability also matter. According to current industry trends, the IT, medicine, and AI sectors are considered the largest job providers for 2024. However, competition in these fields is also fierce.
