Paramedical Courses and Colleges

The Role of paramedical professionals is critical for the successful treatment of many diseases. Experienced profofessionals earn good salaries. Some may even opt for private practice.
Paramedical courses offer specialized training in areas such X-ray technology, medical laboratory technology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, ophthalmic technology, audiology and speech therapy, prosthetic and orthotic engineering and clinical child development.
X-ray technology and radiology involves the use of X-rays high frequency sound waves etc. to scan the bodys entrails.
Medical laboratory technology is concerned with the collection, sampling, testing, reporting and documentation of laboratory investigations.
Physiotherapy covers the use of exercises, relaed equipment, electrotherapy, magneto therapy, massage etc. to rebuild damaged muscles, ligaments &bones.
Occupational therapy trains in the rehabilitation of physically and mentally impaired persons.
Opptometry or ophthalmic technology specializes in the treatment of disorders related to the eye.
Prosthetic or orthotic engineering involves the replacement of missing parts of the body with artificial structures.
Audiology and speech therapy is concerned with correcting speech defects.
Clinical child development is concerned with nutrition and treatment of growth defects in children

Courses
The courses available for paramedical sciences varies from diploma in particular field of 2 years duration, Bachelors degree courses of 3 or 4 years duration, Masters degree courses of 2 or 3 years as well as Ph.D. Although eligibility criteria is almost same foe all the paramedical courses but it varies slightly according to particular courses and disciplines.
Eligibility
The minimum qualification for getting admission to any paramedical courses is +2 passed or equivalents examination with physics, Chemistry, biology and English. At least 50% of marks should be secured in each of these subjects. Minimum age limit is 17 Years.

Admission
Some institutes conduct entrance tests, while others consider the marks secured in the qualifying examination.
List of Institutes
Kerala
Alappuzha , Medical college; Kottayam, Mahathmagandhi University,(School of Medicine); Medical College, Gandhi Nagar P.O.; Kozhikode, Medical College; Thiruvananthapuram, Central Institute of Mental Retardation, Jagathy; Medical College; Sree Chitira Thirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology;
Other Places
Ahmedabad, Smt. N.H.L.Municipal Medical college, Eills Bridge; Bangalore, Rajeev Gandhi University of Health Science, Jayanagar General Hospital Complex, 4th T Block, Jayanagar; St. Johas National Academy of Health Science; Chennai, Cancer Institute, Adyar; Madras Medical College; Sri. Ram Chandra Medical college&Research Institute, Porur; Sankara Netralaya Medical Research Foundation; Coimbatore, College of Nursing and paramedical ; Delhi, University college of Medical Science and G.T.G. Hospital, Shadhara; University of Delhi, Faculty of Medical Science; Mangalore, Institute of Nursing Science; Shree Devi College of Physiotherapy, Ballalbagh; Mumbai, All India Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation(AIIPM); Mysore, India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Karnataka; New Delhi, All India Institute of Medical Sciences; Institute for the Physically Handicapped, 4, Vishnu Digambar Marg; Pondicherry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER).
Job Prospects
Experts in this field can find suitable employment in hospitals ,nursing homes psychiatric clinics, rehabilitation centres polyclinics and diagnostic clinics. Paramedical services are also required in the R& D wing of pharmaceutical companies and institutional laboratories.