Career as a Medical Physicist in India: Salary, Courses and How to Begin

Nuclear Power & Radiological Engineering Healthcare & Life Sciences

Updated 30 Oct 2026

At a glance

A medical physicist applies physics in hospitals: planning radiation treatment for cancer and keeping imaging and radiotherapy machines safe and accurate, usually after an M.Sc in Medical Physics.

A medical physicist applies physics to patient care in hospitals. They plan radiation treatments for cancer patients and make sure X-ray, CT, MRI and radiotherapy machines are accurate and safe.

The work sits between medicine and engineering. Medical physicists work alongside radiation oncologists, radiologists and technicians, using physics and mathematics to check that each treatment delivers the planned dose and that equipment performs correctly.

This page covers what the job involves, the subjects and degrees that lead to it, the main colleges and entrance exams, and salary ranges. Salary figures are indicative and should be checked against current job advertisements.

Minimum Qualification: B.Sc in Physics (with Maths preferred)
Typical Degree: M.Sc Medical Physics (2 years)
Expected Entry Salary: Around ₹4 - ₹7 Lakh/annum (verify)
Entry-level to Senior: Around ₹4 L to ₹25 L/yr (verify)
Job Demand Growth: Steady, linked to cancer care demand
Work Hours: Hospital hours, some on-call duty
Places of Work: Hospitals, cancer centres, research labs

What Does a Medical Physicist Do?

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Plan radiation treatment for cancer patients by calculating the dose and checking it with the radiation oncologist.
Carry out quality assurance tests on linear accelerators and other radiotherapy machines to confirm they deliver the right dose.
Calibrate and test X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine equipment so images are accurate and safe.
Measure radiation levels and check shielding in treatment rooms and imaging suites to protect patients and staff.
Advise hospital teams on radiation safety rules and the safe use of radiation sources.
Investigate equipment faults or dosing errors and recommend corrective action.
Train residents, technicians and students, and take part in clinical research or audits.

Where They Work

Most medical physicists in India work in hospitals with radiotherapy, radiology or nuclear medicine departments. These include government medical colleges, central institutes such as AIIMS and PGIMER, state and regional cancer centres, and large private hospital chains. Cancer treatment centres are the main employers for radiotherapy physics roles.

Other employers include research institutes working on radiation physics, regulatory and safety bodies that oversee radiation use, universities that teach medical physics, and equipment suppliers that need specialist support. Some physicists also work in medical device companies or in consultancy for hospitals that are setting up new equipment.

How to Become a Medical Physicist in India?

After Class 12

Choose Science with Physics and Mathematics, which gives the strongest base for a physics degree. Students who take Biology can still apply for some courses, but should check whether maths is required by the university they want to join.

Undergraduate

Complete a three-year B.Sc in Physics (or B.Sc Honours in Physics) with strong grades. Some students choose a B.Tech in Biomedical Engineering or a related field instead, which can also lead to medical physics or medical imaging work.

Postgraduate and Specialisation

Take a two-year M.Sc in Medical Physics, or an M.Sc in Physics with a medical physics specialisation. Clinical training in a hospital is a major part of most programmes. A PhD is usually needed for research and teaching posts.

Licence / Certification

Clinical roles involving radiation usually require training and approval related to radiation safety. In India, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulates radiation use in medicine, and its current licensing and training requirements should be checked before applying.

First Job

Start as a junior or trainee medical physicist in a hospital radiotherapy or imaging department. Build experience in treatment planning and quality assurance, and gain certifications to move into senior roles.

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Dentist

Healthcare & Life Sciences

Eligibility and Subjects Required

Stream and Subject Requirements

Class 12 in Science with Physics and Mathematics is the most direct route, because most B.Sc and M.Sc courses in physics expect strong maths.
Students from PCB can still apply to some courses, but they usually need to show physics and maths at the graduation level. Check each university's eligibility rules.
Graduates with a B.Sc in Physics, or a B.Tech or B.E. in a related engineering field, can apply for M.Sc Medical Physics programmes that accept them.

Minimum Qualification

A bachelor's degree in Physics or a related discipline, usually with a minimum aggregate of around 50 to 60 percent. Exact cut-offs vary by university.
An M.Sc in Medical Physics or an M.Sc in Physics with medical physics training is the common qualification for clinical roles.
Clinical posts in radiotherapy and imaging often also require radiation safety training and any approval required by the regulator.

Courses and Degrees for Medical Physicist

Undergraduate Degrees	Postgraduate Degrees	Diplomas	Certifications & Short-term Courses
B.Sc in Physics (3 years) B.Sc (Honours) in Physics (3 years) B.Tech in Biomedical Engineering (4 years) B.E. / B.Tech in Electronics or Instrumentation (4 years)	M.Sc Medical Physics (2 years) M.Sc Physics with medical physics specialisation (2 years) M.Tech in Biomedical or Radiological Physics (2 years) PhD in Medical Physics (3 to 5 years)	PG Diploma in Medical Physics (1 to 2 years, offered by select institutes) Diploma in Radiation Protection (duration varies by institute)	Radiation Safety Officer training course (short course, duration varies) Quality assurance training for radiotherapy equipment (short course, duration varies) Treatment planning software training (short course, duration varies)

Undergraduate Degrees
- B.Sc in Physics (3 years)
- B.Sc (Honours) in Physics (3 years)
- B.Tech in Biomedical Engineering (4 years)
- B.E. / B.Tech in Electronics or Instrumentation (4 years)
Postgraduate Degrees
- M.Sc Medical Physics (2 years)
- M.Sc Physics with medical physics specialisation (2 years)
- M.Tech in Biomedical or Radiological Physics (2 years)
- PhD in Medical Physics (3 to 5 years)
Diplomas
- PG Diploma in Medical Physics (1 to 2 years, offered by select institutes)
- Diploma in Radiation Protection (duration varies by institute)
Certifications & Short-term Courses
- Radiation Safety Officer training course (short course, duration varies)
- Quality assurance training for radiotherapy equipment (short course, duration varies)
- Treatment planning software training (short course, duration varies)

Entrance Exams for Medical Physicist

Exam	Level	Held	For Course	Website
CUET-PG	National (postgraduate entrance)	Once a year	M.Sc programmes in central universities, including Physics and related subjects	nta.ac.in
IIT JAM	National (postgraduate entrance)	Once a year, organised by a rotating IIT	M.Sc and integrated M.Sc programmes at IITs and participating institutes, including Physics	Updating soon
GATE	National (postgraduate and research entrance)	Once a year, organised by a rotating IIT	M.Tech and PhD admissions in Physics, Engineering and related subjects	Updating soon

Exam
CUET-PG
Level
National (postgraduate entrance)
Held
Once a year
For Course
M.Sc programmes in central universities, including Physics and related subjects
Website
nta.ac.in
Exam
IIT JAM
Level
National (postgraduate entrance)
Held
Once a year, organised by a rotating IIT
For Course
M.Sc and integrated M.Sc programmes at IITs and participating institutes, including Physics
Website
Updating soon
Exam
GATE
Level
National (postgraduate and research entrance)
Held
Once a year, organised by a rotating IIT
For Course
M.Tech and PhD admissions in Physics, Engineering and related subjects
Website
Updating soon

Top Colleges for Medical Physicist

Government Institutes

College	Location	Website
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi	New Delhi, Delhi	aiims.edu
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)	Chandigarh	pgimer.edu.in
Tata Memorial Centre	Mumbai, Maharashtra	tmc.gov.in
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	bhu.ac.in
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)	Puducherry	jipmer.edu.in

College
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
Location
New Delhi, Delhi
Website
aiims.edu
College
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)
Location
Chandigarh
Website
pgimer.edu.in
College
Tata Memorial Centre
Location
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Website
tmc.gov.in
College
Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
Location
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Website
bhu.ac.in
College
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER)
Location
Puducherry
Website
jipmer.edu.in

Private Institutes

College	Location	Website
Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore	Vellore, Tamil Nadu	Updating soon
Manipal Academy of Higher Education	Manipal, Karnataka	manipal.edu

College
Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
Location
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Website
Updating soon
College
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Location
Manipal, Karnataka
Website
manipal.edu

Skills Required to Become a Medical Physicist

Technical Skills

Radiation physics and dosimetry
Radiotherapy treatment planning software
Quality assurance testing of linear accelerators and imaging equipment
Radiation protection and shielding principles
Medical imaging physics (X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound)
Data analysis using Python, MATLAB or similar tools

Soft Skills

Clear communication with doctors and technicians
Attention to detail
Teamwork in clinical settings
Problem-solving under pressure
Patient empathy
Commitment to continuous learning

Medical Physicist Salary in India

0 to 3 years

Entry Level

₹4 - ₹7 Lakh/annum

Typical job titles: Junior Medical Physicist, Medical Physics Trainee, Quality Assurance Physicist (trainee)
Work at this level: Supporting senior physicists with quality assurance tests, dose checks and equipment testing, while completing clinical training and certification.

4 to 9 years

Mid Level

₹8 - ₹14 Lakh/annum

Typical job titles: Medical Physicist, Radiotherapy Physicist, Imaging Physicist, Radiation Safety Officer
Work at this level: Planning treatments independently, leading quality assurance programmes, advising clinical teams and managing equipment projects.

10 years and above

Senior Level

₹15 - ₹25 Lakh/annum

Typical job titles: Senior Medical Physicist, Chief Medical Physicist, Head of Medical Physics, Professor of Medical Physics
Work at this level: Running a medical physics department, setting safety and quality standards, guiding research and training, and planning new radiotherapy or imaging services.

Career Opportunities and Job Roles

Radiotherapy Physicist

Plans and checks radiation treatment for cancer patients alongside radiation oncologists.

Imaging Physicist

Keeps X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound equipment calibrated and producing accurate images.

Nuclear Medicine Physicist

Supports diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using radioactive materials, including dose calculations and safety checks.

Radiation Safety Officer

Oversees radiation safety in a hospital, including staff monitoring, shielding checks and regulatory compliance.

Quality Assurance Physicist

Runs testing programmes that confirm machines and treatments meet safety and accuracy standards.

Medical Physics Researcher

Works on new imaging methods, dose delivery techniques or radiation safety research in an institute or university.

Medical Physics Educator

Teaches medical physics to postgraduate students, residents and technicians at universities and training centres.

Scope and Future of Medical Physicist in India

Demand for medical physicists is closely tied to the use of radiation in diagnosis and treatment. Cancer care is the largest driver, since radiotherapy depends on physicists to plan and verify every treatment. As more hospitals add imaging and radiotherapy services, the need for qualified physicists to test and maintain equipment is likely to continue.

Growth is strongest in cancer centres, large hospitals and national programmes that expand cancer care, such as the National Cancer Grid, which links cancer centres across the country. Demand for trained professionals also comes from the spread of advanced imaging, image-guided treatment and new radiation technologies. Radiation safety rules, enforced by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, add to the need for trained safety professionals in hospitals.

Medical physicists trained in India may find opportunities abroad, especially in countries where the profession is a recognised clinical role. Each country has its own certification and registration rules, so students planning to work overseas should research the specific requirements early and plan for any exams or training they need.

Is Medical Physicist
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