The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a directive to all State and Union Territory (UT) Medical Education Departments regarding the mandatory completion of the Basic Course in Medical Education Technology (BCMET) for appointed faculty in medical colleges. This notice was issued on April 1, 2025.
BCMET Requirement for Faculty Promotion
According to the paragraph 6 of Teachers Eligibility Qualification in Medical Institutions Regulations, 2022, as outlined in an NMC public notice dated July 25, 2022, faculty members seeking promotion to Associate Professor and Professor positions in Broad Specialties (MD/MS) and Super Specialties (DM/M.Ch.) must complete the BCMET course. This training must be obtained from institutions designated by the NMC.
Basic Course in Medical Education Technology (BCMET) Course
The BCMET course is designed to enhance the teaching and learning skills of medical faculty, ensuring high-quality medical education. Failure to comply with the BCMET requirement could affect faculty promotions and the eligibility of medical colleges to obtain the Letter of Permission (LOP) for future academic years.
Recognizing the challenges faced by Government Medical Colleges in appointing faculty at the last moment, the NMC’s Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) has made a special provision. In such cases, the Principal Secretary, Medical Education of the respective State/UT, must provide an Affidavit confirming that the appointed faculty will complete the BCMET training within the next academic year.
The Affidavit must assure that the BCMET training will be completed before the call for applications for the Letter of Permission (LOP) for the academic year 2026-27. The LOP application process is expected to begin around October 2025.
The NMC has instructed all State/UT Medical Education Departments to:
- Take necessary action to ensure compliance with the BCMET requirement.
- Facilitate the submission of the required Affidavit from the competent authority at the earliest.
- Ensure that all faculty members, particularly those appointed at the last moment in Government Medical Colleges, complete the BCMET training within the specified timeframe.
