DCH Course: Full Form, Fees, Eligibility, Admissions, Colleges
A DCH is a three years undergraduate course that deals with various aspects of child healthcare such as common childhood ailments, immunization, nutrition, child psychology, and pediatric medicine. After completion of the course, students can work as Child Health Nurse, Child Health Educator, Child Development Specialist, etc.
Table of Contents
- What is DCH Course?
- Why Choose a DCH Course?
- DCH Eligibility Criteria
- DCH Admission Process
- Types of DCH Courses
- Top DCH Colleges in India
- DCH Syllabus and Subjects
- DCH Course Comparison
- Courses After DCH
- Career Options After Diploma in Child Health
- DCH Salary in India
- Skills to Excel as a Diploma in Child Health Graduate
DCH Course Details
| Degree | Diploma |
| Full Form | Diploma in Child Health |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Age | The minimum age limit to enroll in the course is 17 years. |
| Subjects Required | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Minimum Percentage | A minimum of 50% marks in 10+2 (high school degree). |
| Average Fees | ₹20K - 1 LPA |
| Similar Options of Study | Diploma in Child Psychology. |
| Average Salary | INR 2-5 LPA. |
| Employment Roles | Nutrition Specialist, Nutritionist, Child Development Specialist, etc. |
| Top Recruiters | Community Healthcare Centers, Hospitals, Clinics, etc. |
What is DCH Course?
DCH full form is Diploma in Child Health. The aim of the course is to equip students with specialized knowledge in treatment for newborns, children, and teenagers. The DCH duration is three years.
DCH Admission requires students to have a minimum of 50% in their high school degree (10+2) in the science stream. Admission to the course is done on a merit basis. The aim of the DCH syllabus covers various topics such as child growth and development, nutrition and feeding, behavioral and mental health, etc.
After completion of the DCH course graduates can work in various fields such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, community health care centers, research institutions, etc. The average salary of a DCH graduate is in the range of INR 2-5 LPA.
Why Choose a DCH Course?
DCH course helps students in understanding health from biological, behavioral, and population-based perspectives, through the integration of foundation and applied sciences. Below mentioned are points regarding why choose a DCH course:
- DCH course offers students the to work in a diverse range of roles such as child health specialist, pediatrician child health nurse, public health officer, etc.
- As per the National Institute of Health, the government is aiming to achieve the employment of 1416 pediatricians by 2030.
- As per data market bridge research, the pediatric drugs market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2022-29, leading to more demand for employment in the related field and roles.
- After completion of the DCH course, students have the opportunity to excel in their domain knowledge by enrolling in Master of Child Health, various certification courses, Ph.D., etc.
| B Pharmacy | D Pharmacy |
Who Should Pursue a Diploma in Child Health?
Below listed are points regarding who should pursue a DCH course:
- Individuals who want to build a medical specialty with knowledge, skill, and aptitude in the field of Pediatrics can pursue this course.
- Students who want to enhance their knowledge in the nutrition sector and who believe in serving society by giving advice about community pediatrics, preventive pediatrics, and public health can go pursue this health course.
- Individuals who want to gain advanced knowledge about common childhood illnesses, immunization, and pediatric emergency care can enroll in the DCH degree.
Read More: DCH Jobs & Scope
DCH Eligibility Criteria
DCH admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of eligibility criteria. Below mentioned is the eligibility for the DCH course:
- Admission for the DCH courses in India requires the aspirants to complete their 10+2 examinations with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks from any recognized board.
- The SC/ST/OBC candidates are given a relaxation of 5% marks.
- The minimum age to apply for the course is 17 years.
DCH Admission Process
The admission procedure for the DCH course is done on a merit basis. Listed below is the procedure to get admission for the DCH course:
- Step 1: Students must meet basic DCH eligibility criteria with a minimum of 50% in 10+2 examinations.
- Step 2: The student must fill out the application form for respective colleges available either online or offline.
- Step 3: The colleges may conduct counseling sessions as per their requirements.
- Step 4: Students must then submit valid documents for verification and pay the course fees.
Types of DCH Courses
The course has full-time, and distance learning options available to students. The following DCH course details are provided below:
|
Type |
Diploma in Child Health Eligibility |
DCH Duration |
|
DCH Full Time |
Should have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks. |
3 Years |
|
Distance DCH |
Should have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 45-50% marks. |
6 months-1 Year |
Distance DCH Course
Below mentioned are the distance DCH course details:
- There are various related certification courses in child health that can be pursued through distance learning.
- The National Institute of Continuing Education provides a Certification course in Child Health and Certificate course in Maternal and Child Health.
- The course duration is approx 6 months-1 year.
- The distance DCH course fees is in the range of INR 3,000-12,000 PA.
Top DCH Colleges in India
DCH course is available in both private and public colleges across India. Admission to the course is mainly done on a merit basis. Below is the list of the best DCH Colleges in India along with their average fees:
|
Sl.No |
Name of the College |
Average Fees |
|
1 |
Dr. MGR Medical University |
INR 15,000 PA |
|
2 |
West Bengal University of Health Sciences |
INR 36,000 PA |
|
3 |
Singhania University |
INR 20,000 PA |
|
4 |
Jankalyan Institute of Health Science |
INR 5,360 PA |
|
5 |
National Institute of Medical Science |
INR 12,500 PA |
|
6 |
Kerala University of Health Science |
- |
DCH Syllabus and Subjects
The DCH syllabus focus on understanding various aspect of common childhood illnesses, child growth, and development, nutrition, immunizations, child psychology, etc. Below is a list of common DCH subjects:
- Basic Sciences and Laboratory Medicine as Applied to Pediatrics and Childhood Diseases
- Ethics in Pediatrics and Child Care
- Pediatric and Neonatal Therapeutics
- Child Health Policies
- Understanding Rheumatic Diseases and connective tissue disorder in Childhood
- Preventive Pediatrics
Read More: DCH Syllabus and Subjects
DCH Course Comparison
DCH degree is typically catered to students interested in a wide range of health, wellness, and illness and inclined towards health sciences. Below is a comparison of the DCH course with other courses:
DCH vs DCH Inspector
The table below showcases the differences between DCH and DCH Inspector:
|
Course |
Diploma |
Diploma |
|
Full Form |
DCH |
DCH Inspector |
|
Stream |
Medical |
Medical |
|
Course Duration |
3 years |
3 years |
|
Eligibility |
HSC (10+2) in any stream from any recognized university for Undergraduate, MBBS Degree for Postgraduate. |
10+2 in any stream with 50% aggregate |
|
Entrance Exams |
- |
JEE, JEE ADVANCED, NEET, AISEE, AIMEE |
|
Top Colleges |
Govt. Medical College, Coimbatore Medical College |
The University of Technology Jaipur, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Science Karnataka, All India Institute of Local Self Government Delhi |
|
Fees |
INR 6,000 - 1.2 LPA |
INR 10,000 - 2 LPA |
Courses After DCH
There are also many higher study options available for graduate students after a DCH degree, which can help them better understand the subject and gain the domain expertise. Listed below are some of the popular higher education options available for students:
Career Options After Diploma in Child Health
After completion of the DCH degree, graduates can work in government and private hospitals, Pediatric Clinics, Community Health Centers, etc., in various range of roles. Below is a list of various job roles available to DCH graduates:
- Child Health Specialist
- Pediatric Intensive Care Specialist
- Nutrition Specialist
- Nutrition Coordinator
- Medical Researcher
- Child Health Educator
| Career as a Health Inspector | Career as a Food Inspector |
DCH Salary in India
The average DCH job salary for graduates is around INR 2- 5 LPA [Source: PayScale]. The pay scale varies depending on the experience, domain experience, skills, etc., the candidate has. The DCH graduates can raise their salaries by doing internships in public and private hospitals, clinics, research institutions, etc.
Read More: DCH Job Salary
Skills to Excel as a Diploma in Child Health Graduate
There are many complex and soft skills that DCH graduates need to have to succeed in their careers. These are not necessarily skills that students can get in a classroom setting. Instead, these are skills that are learned through experience such as:
- Quantitative Analysis Skills
- Research Skills
- Collaboration and Teamwork Skills
- Professional Ethics
- Proficiency in Interpreting Diagnostic Test
- Analytical Skills
- The Ability to Work Under Pressure
- Interpersonal Skills
FAQs on DCH
Q: What is DCH full form?
A: DCH full form in medical is Diploma in Child Health.
Q: What is the difference between MD Pediatrics and DCH?
A: MD Pediatrics is a specialized and advanced course that focuses on managing various health conditions in children, whereas, DCH focuses on child health and development.
Q: What is the DCH course duration?
A: The diploma in Child Health duration is 3 years.
Q: What is DCH Meaning?
A: DCH is a Diploma in Child Health course that helps students understand various aspects of medical care and the well-being of children such as pediatric diseases, immunization, nutrition, etc.
Q: What is the average salary of a Diploma in Child Health graduate?
A: The average salary of a DCH graduate is in the range of INR 2-5 LPA.
Q: Which course can I pursue after DCH in medical?
A: After completion of the DCH course, graduates can pursue Master's in Pediatrics, a Master's in Child Development, a Master's in Pediatric Nursing, etc.
Q: What are the job opportunities available to a DCH graduate?
A: After completion of the DCH course graduates can work as Staff Nurse, Support Staff, Pediatricians, Nutrition Coordinator, etc.
Q: Can I pursue DCH after MBBS?
A: Yes, a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health can be pursued after MBBS, which is usually completed in one or two years.
