What Is NORCET? Full Form, Exam, Posts and Salary | NPrep

NORCET is the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test, an exam conducted by AIIMS New Delhi to recruit Nursing Officers for AIIMS and other central government hospitals. It has two computer-based stages, runs twice a year, and leads to a Pay Level 7 post. NORCET 11 filled 2,218 posts at 27 institutes.

Updated 11 November 2026. Every rule here is from AIIMS Notice 103/2026 (NORCET 11), and NORCET 12 dates are from AIIMS's 2027 calendar. The NORCET 12 notice is not out yet, so check it when it comes.

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NORCET at a glance

Item	Detail	Source
Full form	Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test	Notice 103/2026
Conducted by	AIIMS New Delhi	Notice 103/2026
Post	Nursing Officer, Group B, Pay Level 7	Notice 103/2026
Posts in NORCET 11	2,218 at 27 institutes	Notice 103/2026, Annexure V
Who can apply	B.Sc or Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing, or GNM with 2 years' experience; registered Nurse and Midwife	Notice 103/2026
Age	18 to 30, with relaxation	Notice 103/2026
Stages	Stage I (100 MCQs, 90 minutes) and Stage II (160 MCQs, 180 minutes)	Notice 103/2026
How often	Twice a year	AIIMS calendar
NORCET 12	Stage I 10 April 2027, Stage II 30 April 2027	AIIMS calendar 2027

What is the full form of NORCET?

NORCET stands for Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. "Common" is the key word: one exam recruits Nursing Officers for many hospitals.

Who conducts NORCET, and for which hospitals?

AIIMS New Delhi conducts it, but it does not only fill AIIMS posts. In NORCET 11, the 2,218 posts were spread across 27 institutes:

• AIIMS across India, including New Delhi, Deoghar, Patna, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati.
• ESIC, New Delhi, with 523 posts, the largest single block.
• JIPMER Puducherry, Dr. RML Hospital and other central government hospitals.

See is NORCET only for AIIMS? for every institute.

Who can apply for NORCET?

You need one of these, plus registration as a Nurse and Midwife with a State or Indian Nursing Council:

• B.Sc (Hons) Nursing or B.Sc Nursing, or Post-Basic B.Sc Nursing, or
• GNM, plus 2 years' experience in a hospital of at least 50 beds after qualifying.

The age limit is 18 to 30 years, with relaxation for reserved categories and some government employees. See NORCET eligibility for the details.

How does the NORCET exam work?

Stage	Questions	Time	What it does
Stage I (Prelims)	100: 80 nursing, 20 GK and aptitude	90 minutes, 5 locked sections of 18 minutes	Decides who is called to Stage II
Stage II (Mains)	160 nursing, case-based	180 minutes, 4 locked sections of 45 minutes	Decides your rank

Both stages deduct 1/3 mark for each wrong answer, and a section cannot be reopened once its time ends. Stage I is not just a formality: in NORCET 11, 100,804 candidates appeared and 12,638 were called to Stage II. See the NORCET syllabus and exam pattern.

What happens after you qualify NORCET?

1. Stage II result: AIIMS publishes ranks based on Stage II marks.
2. Choice filling: you list the institutes you would join, in order.
3. Allotment: AIIMS allots seats by rank, category and choices, in one round.
4. Joining: you must join the allotted institute, or your candidature for that NORCET is cancelled.

After that, the institute decides your posting and service rules. See NORCET choice filling and AIIMS allotment and life as an AIIMS Nursing Officer.

What is the salary after NORCET?

A Nursing Officer starts at Pay Level 7, with a basic pay of ₹44,900. With allowances, gross pay is about ₹89,600 to ₹1,01,500 a month depending on the city, by NPrep's calculation at today's 63% DA. See the AIIMS Nursing Officer salary page.

NORCET kya hai?

NORCET ka full form hai Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. Yeh exam AIIMS New Delhi leta hai, aur isse AIIMS, ESIC, JIPMER jaise central hospitals me Nursing Officer ki bharti hoti hai. Exam saal me do baar hota hai, do stage me: Prelims me 100 questions aur Mains me 160 questions, har galat answer par 1/3 mark kata hai. Rank sirf Mains se banti hai. NORCET 12 Prelims 10 April 2027 aur Mains 30 April 2027 ko hai.

FAQs

What is the full form of NORCET?

Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test. AIIMS New Delhi conducts it to recruit Nursing Officers for AIIMS and other central government hospitals.

Is NORCET only for AIIMS?

No. In NORCET 11, the 2,218 posts were at 27 institutes, including ESIC (523 posts), JIPMER and Dr. RML Hospital, as well as AIIMS across India.

How many times is NORCET held in a year?

Twice, in the April and September cycles. NORCET 12 Stage I is on 10 April 2027 and Stage II on 30 April 2027.

Is NORCET tough?

It is competitive. In NORCET 11, 100,804 candidates appeared in Stage I for 2,218 posts. See is NORCET tough for the full numbers.

Can GNM students apply for NORCET?

Yes, with 2 years' experience in a hospital of at least 50 beds after qualifying and registering. B.Sc and Post-Basic B.Sc holders need no experience.

What is the salary of a NORCET Nursing Officer?

Pay Level 7, starting at a basic pay of ₹44,900. Gross pay with allowances is about ₹89,600 to ₹1,01,500 a month, depending on the city.

What to read next

• Up: AIIMS NORCET exam guide
• Across: NORCET eligibility and NORCET preparation strategy
• Practice: free NORCET mock test