How to become a Nursing Officer — your road, class by class

A Nursing Officer is a registered nurse in a central government hospital. AIIMS New Delhi runs NORCET, the common test that fills Nursing Officer (Group B) posts at AIIMS New Delhi, the other AIIMS and several central hospitals. [3]

A normal working day

• Give and record patient care on wards, ICUs and operation theatres.
• Give medicines, monitor patients and respond to emergencies.
• Teach patients and supervise nursing students.

Pay

The NORCET advertisement prints the pay level, not a rupee figure, so no amount is printed.

Main routes

Time and cost

B.Sc Nursing

8 semesters; the last is a 22-week internship [1]

NORCET fee

₹3,000 General / OBC · ₹2,400 SC / ST / EWS · PwBD exempt [3]

Nursing college fees differ by state and college, so they are not printed here.

Hidden challenges

• NORCET has negative marking in both stages: one-third of a mark is cut for every wrong answer. [3]
• There is generally one allocation round and no waiting list — a candidate who does not join loses the seat. [3]
• At the participating AIIMS, 80% of seats are reserved for women and 20% for men. [3]

Who should not choose it

• You cannot do night shifts or long hours on your feet.
• You are uneasy with blood, injections or very sick patients.
• You dislike strict hospital rules and record-keeping.

1. You are here Class 8 · Class 9

   Science and English

   • B.Sc Nursing needs Class 12 Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and a pass in English. [1]

   Doubt What does a Nursing Officer do?

   A Nursing Officer is a registered nurse in a central government hospital. AIIMS New Delhi's NORCET fills Nursing Officer (Group B) posts at AIIMS New Delhi, the other AIIMS and several central hospitals. [3]

   Next: Read the Routes list above.

   Doubt Can boys become Nursing Officers?

   Yes. At the participating AIIMS, 80% of seats are reserved for women and 20% for men, so men compete for fewer seats. [3]

   Next: Prepare harder if you are a male candidate.

2. You are here Class 10

   PCB for B.Sc Nursing, any stream for GNM

   • GNM needs Class 12 with English and 40% in the qualifying exam and in English; Science is preferred, not compulsory. [2]

   Stream / subjects: Science with Biology (PCB) and English; GNM accepts other streams with English.

   Doubt Which stream do I need to become a Nursing Officer?

   For B.Sc Nursing, Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. GNM accepts Class 12 with English and 40% from any stream, but GNM holders need 2 years' hospital experience before NORCET. [1] [2] [3]

   Next: Choose PCB if you can — it saves two years later.

3. You are here Class 11 · Class 12

   Get into B.Sc Nursing

   • B.Sc Nursing needs 45% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology together (40% for SC, ST and OBC) and a pass in English; minimum age 17 by 31 December of the admission year. [1]

   Doubt What marks do I need in Class 12 for B.Sc Nursing?

   45% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology taken together (40% for SC, ST and OBC) and a pass in English. [1]

   Next: Keep PCB marks above 45%.

   Doubt What is the minimum age for B.Sc Nursing?

   17 years on or before 31 December of the year of admission. [1]

   Next: Check your date of birth.

4. You are here In college

   Nursing degree and registration

   • B.Sc Nursing runs 8 semesters; the last semester is a 22-week internship. [1]
   • NORCET needs registration as Nurse & Midwife with a State or the Indian Nursing Council before the closing date. [3]

   Doubt Do I need nursing registration before NORCET?

   Yes. Registration as Nurse & Midwife with a State / Indian Nursing Council — along with the qualification and any experience — must be complete by the closing date of registration. [3]

   Next: Register with your State Nursing Council as soon as you qualify.

   Doubt Can a GNM nurse apply for NORCET?

   Yes, with registration as Nurse & Midwife and two years' experience in a hospital of at least 50 beds, gained after the qualification and registration. [3]

   Next: Count your experience from the registration date.

   Doubt Is a Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing accepted for NORCET?

   Yes. B.Sc (Post-Certificate) or Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing from an INC / State Nursing Council recognised institute counts, with registration as Nurse & Midwife. [3]

   Next: Keep your council registration current.

5. You are here Graduated

   NORCET: Prelims and Mains

   • Stage I (Prelims): 100 MCQs in 90 minutes — 20 general knowledge and aptitude + 80 nursing — only for shortlisting. Stage II (Mains): 160 case-based MCQs in 180 minutes decides the merit list. [3]

   Exams that open here

   • NORCET-11 — Prelims 12 Sep 2026 · Mains 30 Sep 2026 [3]

   Money help at this stage

   Lower NORCET fee

   Doubt What is the age limit for NORCET?

   18 to 30 years on the closing date, with 5 more years for SC / ST, 3 for OBC and 10 for PwBD (13 for OBC, 15 for SC / ST). [3]

   Next: Apply while you are within the limit.

   Doubt What are the qualifying marks in NORCET?

   Prelims: the 50th, 45th and 40th percentile for UR-EWS, OBC and SC-ST. Mains: 50%, 45% and 40%. PwBD candidates get a further 5 points. [3]

   Next: Treat the Mains as the real competition.

   Doubt How many candidates reach NORCET Mains?

   Five times the seats in each category from among Prelims qualifiers, plus all qualified PwBD candidates and anyone tied at the cut-off. [3]

   Next: Score well above the Prelims cut-off.

   Doubt How often is NORCET held?

   AIIMS plans NORCET twice a year; NORCET-11 was held in September 2026. [3]

   Next: Watch aiimsexams.ac.in for NORCET-12.

   Doubt Is the NORCET fee refunded?

   Only for SC and ST candidates who sit the exam — they get it back after the result. Others' fees are not refunded; PwBD candidates pay nothing. [3]

   Next: Keep your category certificate ready for verification.

6. You are here Working / switching career

   Allocation and joining

   • After Mains, qualified candidates fill choices of institutes and are allotted in merit order — generally in one round, with no waiting list. [3]

   Doubt How are AIIMS chosen after NORCET?

   Qualified candidates fill choices of institutes after Stage II and are allotted in merit order, usually in one round. Not joining an allotted seat ends the candidature. [3]

   Next: List only institutes you will really join.

   Doubt Can a nurse already working in a government hospital apply?

   Yes, with a No Objection Certificate uploaded by the notified date; central government civilian employees with 3 years' service also get age relaxation. [3]

   Next: Ask your office for the NOC early.

B.Sc Nursing / GNM → registration → AIIMS NORCET · Indian Nursing Council · AIIMS New Delhi

Post

Nursing Officer · Group B · Pay Level 7 [3]

Prelims

100 MCQs · 90 minutes · −1/3 [3]

Mains

160 MCQs · 180 minutes · −1/3 [3]

Age

18–30 on the closing date [3]

Stage table source [1] [2] [3]

Open the full exam guide

• National route: NORCET is one all-India test; state government nurse posts are filled through each state's own notices. [3]

National route applies. This career follows the same rules in every state and UT.

1. Indian Nursing Council — Revised Regulations and Curriculum for B.Sc (Nursing) Program, Regulations 2020 (Gazette, 5 July 2021), copy hosted by thc.nic.in (opens in a new tab) age 17, 45% / 40% PCB + English, NIOS, medical fitness, entrance pattern and 50% qualifying, admission dates, reservation, 8 semesters and internship, SNRC registration and CNE renewal · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
2. Indian Nursing Council — Eligibility criteria (GNM and B.Sc Nursing) (opens in a new tab) GNM: 10+2 with English and 40%, science preferable, NIOS, 5% SC/ST relaxation · Last checked 25 Oct 2026
3. AIIMS New Delhi — NORCET-11 advertisement, Notice No. 103/2026 (24 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) Nursing Officer Group B Level 7, participating organisations, eligibility routes, registration, age and relaxation, two-stage scheme, qualifying marks, 80 : 20 women / men, allocation, fees and SC / ST refund, NOC, twice-a-year plan · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
4. SCERT Nagaland — NMMSS Examination 2027 advertisement (27 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) Class 8 eligibility, 55% / 50% Class 7 marks, ₹1,000 a month from Class 9 to 12 (one state's notice of the central scheme) · Last checked 24 Oct 2026
5. Ministry of Education — PM-USP Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships guidelines (2022-23 onwards), copy hosted by NIT Kurukshetra (opens in a new tab) 80th percentile, ₹4.5 lakh income, regular degree only, no other scholarship, ₹12,000 / ₹20,000 rates, renewal rules · Last checked 24 Oct 2026
6. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment — Post Matric Scholarship for SC students, guidelines 2020-21 to 2025-26 (copy hosted by Goa Social Welfare) (opens in a new tab) ₹2.5 lakh income limit, fees + academic allowance, no pre-payment of fees, CA/ICWA/CS students covered · Last checked 24 Oct 2026

Read more: all sources

Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and we will update it.