By Team Virohan on 13 Oct 2026
9 mins read
If you are weighing a radiology degree vs diploma, both routes now have a national curriculum from the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP), so you can compare them on published facts. The Bachelor of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT) is a four-year degree with three academic years and a one-year clinical internship. The Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology is a 2.5-year program that includes a six-month internship.
The degree takes longer and starts you at a higher level in NCAHP's career framework, while the diploma gets you into imaging work sooner and lets you join B.MRIT later through lateral entry. The right choice depends on how much time you can commit now and the role you want to grow into.
| Decision point | B.MRIT degree | Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Qualification level | Undergraduate degree | Diploma, the basic entry level for the profession |
| Duration | 4 years: 3 academic years plus 1 year of clinical internship (B.MRIT program details) | 2.5 years or 5 semesters, including a 6-month internship (NCAHP diploma curriculum) |
| Total training | Three academic years followed by a full internship year | 3,240 hours, with 1,080 hours dedicated to the internship (NCAHP diploma curriculum) |
| Eligibility at universities partnering with Virohan | 12th pass with 40% in all subjects individually; PCB mandatory. Minimum age 17 by the intake cut-off | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology under the NCAHP curriculum; marks criteria published by the institution |
| NCAHP entry requirement | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology; selection on 10+2 merit (NCAHP B.MRIT Corrigendum-1, 6 May 2026) | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology; minimum age 17; selection on 10+2 merit (NCAHP diploma curriculum) |
| NEET | Not required | Not required; selection is on 10+2 merit |
| Starting role in NCAHP's career framework | Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist (MRIT) (NCAHP B.MRIT Corrigendum-2, 21 September 2026) | Junior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist (Jr. MRIT) |
| Next qualification step | Senior roles open with experience | Lateral entry into the third semester (second year) of B.MRIT |
| Total program fee | ₹8,60,000 for the four-year B.MRIT at universities partnering with Virohan, plus ₹10,000 registration | Set by the institution |
Much of radiology and imaging work uses ionizing radiation, so the training route and the workplace are both regulated. Two national bodies matter most for you as an applicant.
NCAHP sets the curriculum. NCAHP is the statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that regulates allied and healthcare education under the NCAHP Act 2021. The Union Health Ministry launched NCAHP's competency-based curricula for ten professions, Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology among them, to bring uniform standards to training across the country (Press Information Bureau, Union Health Ministry release).
For the degree, NCAHP notified the Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology curriculum on 24 April 2025. Corrigendum-1, dated 6 May 2026, revised the entry rules so that selection is on 10+2 merit and added lateral entry for diploma holders. Corrigendum-2, dated 21 September 2026, added an indicative career progression for technologists in clinical settings. For the diploma, NCAHP issued a notice dated 30 September 2026 for the competency-based Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology curriculum. All of these are listed on the NCAHP curriculum index.
NCAHP's communication dated 8 April 2026 states that approved curricula are to be implemented from Academic Year 2026-27. It directs institutions to align curriculum, nomenclature, eligibility, infrastructure, laboratories, clinical practising facilities and intake with the approved requirements. For new courses under approved curricula, it adds that Atomic Energy Regulatory Board permission or approval must be obtained wherever required.
AERB regulates radiation safety. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) requires a licence before medical diagnostic X-ray equipment is operated. Its requirements for radiology facilities state that an X-ray installation must have staff with adequate knowledge of radiation protection to operate the equipment, such as an X-ray technologist, and that staff doing this work are radiation workers who follow AERB's safety code (AERB requirements for radiology facilities).
Whichever qualification you choose, check that it follows the NCAHP curriculum for that level, because the work you train for is regulated by AERB as well.
B.MRIT runs for four years. You complete three academic years and then a one-year clinical internship, which is part of the program duration (B.MRIT program details). The longer timeline gives you more time across imaging modalities such as X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound before you start working.
The diploma runs for 2.5 years, or five semesters, and the fifth semester is a six-month internship. NCAHP sets 540 hours of theory and practical classes per semester and 1,080 hours for the internship, a total of 3,240 hours (NCAHP diploma curriculum).
The diploma prepares you as a Junior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist. NCAHP describes the role as applying knowledge of radiation protection, anatomy and the principles of producing diagnostic X-ray images, and as the main link between patients and the rest of the healthcare team. The modalities in its scope are fixed X-ray imaging, mobile and bedside radiography, basic radiological procedures, computed and digital radiography, C-arm procedures, dental radiography and fluoroscopy. NCAHP developed the diploma curriculum with the needs of the primary healthcare sector and rural healthcare services in view, and it applies from Academic Year 2026-27 (NCAHP diploma curriculum).
B.MRIT covers a wider range. The program prepares you to operate diagnostic equipment and perform imaging procedures across X-ray, CT and MRI, along with other diagnostic imaging technologies, and to support patient diagnosis and treatment (B.MRIT program details). The extra academic year and the full internship year give you time to build skills in advanced modalities as well as the core X-ray procedures.
The diploma builds strong foundations in X-ray-based imaging for a quicker start, while the degree adds depth across advanced modalities and opens the technologist level directly.
Both routes start after 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Under NCAHP's curricula, selection for both the degree and the diploma is based on 10+2 merit, and you need to be 17 by 31 December of the year you join.
At universities partnering with Virohan, the B.MRIT eligibility is 12th pass with 40% in all subjects individually; PCB mandatory, with a minimum age of 17 by the intake cut-off. NEET is not required for B.MRIT (B.MRIT program details).
For the diploma, NCAHP's curriculum sets the same entry base of 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, a minimum age of 17 and selection on 10+2 merit. Read the institution's published requirements before you apply.
NCAHP's Corrigendum-2 sets out an indicative career progression for technologists in clinical settings, summarized in the table below (NCAHP B.MRIT Corrigendum-2, 21 September 2026).
| Clinical post | Qualification for direct entry |
|---|---|
| Junior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist (Jr. MRIT) | Fresh Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology graduates |
| Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist (MRIT) | B.MRIT or its equivalent |
| Senior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist (Sr. MRIT) | B.MRIT or its equivalent, with 4 years of experience as a Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist |
This is the clearest difference between the two routes. The degree takes you straight to the Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist level, and the senior posts in the progression are built on the degree. The diploma starts you at the junior level, where the framework expects you to work in the same position for around three years with performance appraisals.
Choosing the diploma first does not close the degree route. NCAHP provides for lateral entry into the third semester (second year) of B.MRIT for candidates who have completed the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology, so diploma holders can upgrade their qualification and advance in the field (NCAHP diploma curriculum). The B.MRIT curriculum carries the same provision for diploma holders in the same discipline (NCAHP B.MRIT Corrigendum-1, 6 May 2026).
If you start with the diploma and later want the degree-level role, this is the route to plan for. Check how the university you are interested in applies lateral entry before you rely on it.
At universities partnering with Virohan, the B.MRIT total program fee is ₹8,60,000 for the four-year degree, plus a ₹10,000 registration fee, and the same figure applies at every campus that offers it (B.MRIT at HRIT University, Ghaziabad). The fee covers tuition, laboratory access, examinations and the internship year. Hostel and transport are billed separately.
Diploma fees are set by the institution offering the course. At government institutions, state funding carries most of the cost, but seats are few and are allocated through state merit lists and counselling. Ask the institution for its total program fee before you compare it with B.MRIT.
B.MRIT prepares you to operate diagnostic imaging equipment, produce scans and support patient diagnosis and treatment (B.MRIT program details). Job roles listed for the program at universities partnering with Virohan include:
The roles open to you depend on the modalities you train in, the employer and your experience.
Both routes lead to imaging work, and neither is a lesser choice. The decision usually comes down to a few practical questions.
Many students who like hands-on technical work with patients also look at other allied and healthcare degrees, such as B.MLS, B.AOTT, BPT and B.Optom, before deciding. If you are unsure which route matches your plans, you can talk to our expert counsellors about program and university selection.
Virohan is an industry partner to higher education institutions. The universities teach and award the degree, and Virohan supports students by giving them access to 2,000+ healthcare employer partners across 20+ cities for internship and job opportunities. An internship is not a guaranteed job offer.
B.MRIT is available at these universities partnering with Virohan:
At each of these universities, the program follows the four-year structure with a one-year clinical internship, and the total program fee is ₹8,60,000 plus ₹10,000 registration. With nearly a decade in allied and healthcare education, Virohan has built a network where over 13,000 candidates and alumni are pursuing healthcare education and careers through Virohan's network of top universities and healthcare employer partners. You can read the B.MRIT program details or browse other allied and healthcare courses.
With NCAHP curricula now published for both routes, you can compare a radiology degree and diploma on clear facts. B.MRIT takes four years, including a clinical internship year, and starts you at the Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist level. The diploma takes 2.5 years, starts you as a Junior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologist, and leaves the degree open through lateral entry into its second year.
If you want the degree-level role from the start and can commit four years, B.MRIT is the direct route. If a shorter start suits you better, the diploma gets you into imaging work sooner, with a defined path to the degree later.
For help with program and university selection, talk to our expert counsellors.
Is radiology a diploma or a degree course in India?
It can be either. NCAHP has published curricula for a four-year Bachelor of Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (B.MRIT) and for a 2.5-year Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology. Both need 12th with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, and both include an internship, one year for the degree and six months for the diploma.
Is B.MRIT better than a radiology diploma?
B.MRIT takes you further at the start. Under NCAHP's career framework, B.MRIT graduates enter as Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologists, while diploma graduates enter as Junior Medical Radiology and Imaging Technologists. The diploma is shorter, though, and you can later join the second year of B.MRIT, so the better choice depends on your time and goals.
Can I move from a radiology diploma to B.MRIT?
Yes. NCAHP provides for lateral entry into the third semester, the second year, of B.MRIT for candidates who have completed the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology. This lets you start working sooner and still upgrade to the degree later. Check how the university you choose applies lateral entry before you plan around it.
Is NEET required for a radiology degree or diploma?
NEET is not required for B.MRIT. Under NCAHP's curricula, selection for both the B.MRIT degree and the Diploma in Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology is based on 10+2 merit. At universities partnering with Virohan, the B.MRIT eligibility is 12th pass with 40% in all subjects individually; PCB mandatory, with a minimum age of 17.
What is the duration of B.MRIT?
B.MRIT takes four years: three academic years followed by a one-year clinical internship. The internship is part of the program duration, not an optional add-on. At universities partnering with Virohan, the total program fee for the four years is ₹8,60,000, plus a ₹10,000 registration fee, and the same figure applies at every campus offering the degree.
What jobs can I get after B.MRIT?
After B.MRIT, you can work in diagnostic imaging roles such as MRIT Technologist, CT Scan Technician Assistant, Mammography Technician, Radiation Therapy Technologist, Radiology Department Coordinator and Radiology Safety Officer. Your options depend on the modalities you train in, your employer and your years in the field, and NCAHP's framework links senior technologist posts to experience.
Salary figures and fee estimates are indicative and may vary based on institution, location, and individual performance. All regulatory information is based on NCAHP communications as of April 2026. Verify current details directly with your chosen institution or NCAHP.
