New Delhi, August 22, 2026:
Students and parents planning to pursue Allied & Healthcare courses in the 2026–27 academic session have been advised to verify the regulatory status and professional recognition of a programme before taking admission.
A public interest notice issued in reference to the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021 and related circulars has cautioned that an academically valid degree does not automatically ensure eligibility for statutory registration or professional practice.
The notice, issued by Dr. Rev. K.V.K. Rao, Founder and Chancellor of St. Mary’s Rehabilitation University, has highlighted three categories of courses that students should carefully verify before enrolling.
The first category relates to three-year Allied & Healthcare degree programmes. According to the notice, NCAHP has prescribed four-year competency-based courses for most Allied & Healthcare professions. It therefore cautions students that a three-year programme may not meet the requirements for statutory registration or professional practice.
The second category covers four-year programmes offered by Deemed-to-be Universities without the required regulatory approval. Students have been advised to check whether the institution has obtained prior approval from NCAHP or the concerned State Allied & Healthcare Council before commencing the programme.
The third category concerns courses offered outside the approved academic scope of a Private University. The notice recommends checking whether the specific Allied Health, Health Sciences or other professional programme is covered under the university’s Letter of Intent (LoI), First Ordinances or any subsequent valid approvals.
The notice also advises students and parents not to rely solely on an institution’s name, reputation or general affiliation while selecting an Allied & Healthcare programme.
As part of the recommended due diligence, students have been advised to obtain written confirmation from the institution regarding the course duration, applicable NCAHP or State Council approval, and whether the programme falls within the university’s approved academic scope before paying any admission fee.
The notice stresses that academic validity and professional recognition are not necessarily the same and urges prospective students to establish whether the qualification will support statutory registration and professional practice after graduation.
The advisory has been issued ahead of the 2026–27 admission cycle to encourage students and parents to conduct regulatory checks before committing to Allied & Healthcare programmes.