Career Opportunities in Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the science of life, the knowledge about its working and how to maintain it as long as possible. It is a very ancient system which originated around 600 BC in India and is best prosperous here. It uses mix of natural herbs as medicine and has very effective treatment for virtually all kinds of illness. In Ayurveda, which is basically a humeral medical system, diseases are understood as an imbalance between the body’s three humors. The three humors are Vata (nerve energy), Pitta (catabolic fire energy) and Kapha (anabolic nutritive energy). Ayurveda in India is the best as no where else you can find the most professional practitioners of this medical system. Indian Ayurveda practitioners have kept the 5000 years old tradition of Ayurveda in its most original form.

Course Details :

In order to become an Ayurvedic medical practitioner, a formal medical education is mandatory. There are hundreds of medical colleges in India, which offer an undergraduate degree course in Ayurveda viz. Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.), a 5½ years course inclusive of a 6 months/one-year compulsory internship period. After completion of this course, one can opt for a Postgraduate degree i.e. Doctor of Medicine in Ayurveda [M.D. (Ay.)], a 3 years course.

Those who have completed Higher Secondary Course (10+2) with the subjects in Physics, Chemistry and Biology can opt for B.A.M.S. course, which is equivalent to an M.B.B.S. degree. Generally, admission/selection for this course is made based on a Common Entrance Test/Exam conducted at University/State/National level. Knowledge of Sanskrit or Hindi is essential to study any course in Ayurveda.

Career Prospects on Ayurveda :

There are many job opportunities both in India and abroad. An Ayurvedic practitioner can get employment as medical officer / doctor at government and private Ayurvedic hospitals. One can also start his / her own practice or open ones own retail shop of Ayurveda medicines. They can also find employment as supervisors in ‘Panch Karma’ Ayurvedic massage / health centres. Ayurvedic doctors can work industries engaged in Ayurvedic preparations. He can also work as Professor in Ayurvedic colleges or do research. A BAMS degree holder can also open up his own pharmacy after experience of 1-2 yrs of production in a reputed firm. Only after that you can apply for a drug manufacturing license. Another option is to work as a research scientist for multinational companies with a minimum experience of 3 years in clinical research and laboratory research.

Colleges offering Ayurvedic Course :

There are 219 colleges offering Under Graduate courses in Ayurveda (BAMS), 52 colleges offering Post Graduate courses in Ayurveda (MD/MS). Universities like Banarus Hindu University, Varanasi, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Rajastan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, N.T.R. University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur etc. offers Ph.D. courses in Ayurveda.

Remuneration :

In government Ayurveda hospitals the starting salary scale is around Rs.8000/- for BAMS graduates. Professors in Ayurveda colleges get more than Rs.8000/- per month. In private practice the remuneration depends totally on the effort you put in and your professional reputation. Dedicated and competent practitioners can earn more. A BAMS graduate working in private sector can earn more than what he earns in government sector. Running own pharmaceutical company is more remunerative than other jobs.