NORCET eligibility: qualification, age and registration
These are the rules recent NORCET notifications have used. Each notice can change them, so check the current one before you apply.
Educational qualification
You qualify by one of two routes:
Route (a) — degree
B.Sc (Hons.) Nursing / B.Sc Nursing from an institute or university recognised by the Indian Nursing Council or a State Nursing Council, or Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing; and registration as a Nurse & Midwife with a State or Indian Nursing Council.
Route (b) — GNM diploma
Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery (GNM) from a recognised institute, and registration as a Nurse & Midwife, and at least 2 years’ experience in a hospital of at least 50 beds after obtaining the GNM qualification.
Age limit and nationality
| Age limit | 18–30 years on the cut-off date in the notice |
|---|---|
| Relaxation | Commonly: SC/ST 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer) 3 years, PwBD 10 years over their category, and as per government rules for ex-servicemen and government employees |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or other categories permitted by the notice |
Practise NORCET questions free
NORCET marking, timed mocks and practice that adapts to your weak topics.
Final-year students
Whether final-year students can apply depends on the notice — read the “essential qualification as on” date carefully. If you are in your final year, keep your provisional documents ready and check each new notification.
Before you apply: a checklist
- Degree or diploma certificate
- Nursing council registration
- Experience certificate (GNM route)
- Category certificate in the prescribed format
- Photo and signature as per the specifications
- A working mobile number and email
Common mistakes
- Registration not in your name, or expired.
- Experience counted from before the GNM result.
- Experience from a hospital with fewer than 50 beds.
- Category certificate in the wrong format.
Practise NORCET questions free
NORCET marking, timed mocks and practice that adapts to your weak topics.
NORCET questions
All questionsWhat is NORCET?
The Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, conducted by AIIMS New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers for AIIMS institutions. Read the full guide.
Who can apply for NORCET?
B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) / Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing graduates, or GNM diploma holders with 2 years’ experience in a 50+ bed hospital — registered as Nurse & Midwife, and aged 18–30 with category relaxations. Details.
Does NORCET have negative marking?
Yes: −⅓ mark for each wrong answer, +1 for a correct one, and 0 for unattempted. How to use it to your advantage.
When is the next NORCET?
AIIMS has recently held NORCET about twice a year. Dates are announced in each notification on aiimsexams.ac.in.
Can GNM diploma holders apply?
Yes, with registration as Nurse & Midwife and at least 2 years’ experience in a hospital of 50 or more beds after GNM.
How long should I prepare?
Most students plan 4–6 months, but it depends on where you start. Take a diagnostic to find out — then plan around your weak areas. Preparation strategy.