wing educations logo
Click on the Edit Content button to edit/add the content.

DCH Diploma in Child Health Admission 2026-27

DCH Diploma in Child Health Admission 2026-27

DegreeDiploma
Full FormDiploma in Child Health
Duration3 Years
AgeThe minimum age limit to enroll in the course is 17 years.
Subjects RequiredPhysics, Chemistry, Biology
Minimum PercentageA minimum of 50% marks in 10+2 (high school degree).
Average Fees₹20K – 1 LPA
Similar Options of StudyDiploma in Child Psychology.
Average SalaryINR 2-5 LPA.
Employment RolesNutrition Specialist, Nutritionist, Child Development Specialist, etc.
Top RecruitersCommunity 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.

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:

  • MBBS
  • MD
  • Master in Child Development
  • MPH
  • Certification Course in Pediatric Cardiology
  • PhD

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

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

Semester Wise DCH Syllabus

The DCH course consists of core and elective subjects. Depending on the university/college, they may differ slightly. It has two parts -a compulsory set of courses covering all foundation areas in literature and a set of elective courses that aims at building job-specific skills and knowledge. DCH course aims to ensure that the students have access to all the vital information that they need to succeed in the workforce. The semester-wise courses are as follows:

DCH First Year Syllabus

Semester I

Semester II

Fluids and Electrolytes

Basic Sciences and Laboratory Medicine regarding Pediatrics and Childhood Diseases

Neonatology: The Fetus and Neonatal Infant

Psychological Behavioral Manifestations Disorders

Metabolic Diseases

Ethics in Pediatrics and Child Care

Emergency Pediatric Services

Clinical Epidemiology

Genetics

Pediatric and Neonatal Therapeutics

Nutrition

Computers in Pediatrics

Growth and Development

DCH Second Year Syllabus

Semester III

Semester IV

Development of Diagnostic Approach and Interpretation of Symptomatology and Clinical Signs in Infants, Children and Adolescents

Infectious Diseases

Immunological System and its Disorders

Rheumatic Diseases 

Respiratory System

Cardiovascular System

Hematology and Neoplastic Diseases

Gastrointestinal Tract

Nephrology and Genitourinary Tract

Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Congenital and Acquired disorders of eye, ear, nose, throat, bones and joints

Endocrine System

Research Project

Miscellaneous Diseases

Social Pediatrics

Preventive Pediatrics

DCH Subjects

The DCH subjects taught in the course are mostly similar for all the colleges, but it varies depending on the institution’s course module. But, the overall subjects are quite similar but put in a different order, depending on the teaching method. The course overall makes them have a peculiar way of nursing, childcare and health.

Core Subjects:

  • Basic Sciences and Laboratory Medicine regarding Pediatrics and Childhood Diseases.
  • Growth and Development
  • Nutrition
  • Genetics
  • Fluids and Electrolytes
  • Infectious Diseases

DCH Course Structure

The DCH course syllabus is designed to mainly include various works from pediatrics, nutrition, treatment and elective subjects that give the knowledge to work in the job sectors. This field sharpens a student’s mind to tackle the daily obstacles faced in their workplace, studies & other similar aspects. The course involves subjects which include aspects like

  • Literary theory
  • Core Subjects
  • Elective Subjects
  • Practical

DCH Teaching Methodology and Techniques

DCH is a course focusing on different aspects of pediatrician, nutrition and childcare and treatment. The course is designed based on requirements and helps get the most exposure to the field, and the DCH course subjects deal with the same. Therefore, learning strategies have varying implications for courses.

  • Assignments
  • Case studies/ Research work
  • Internships

DCH Projects

DCH project, known as a mini-thesis, is a compulsory project for the students to complete at the end of their semester. Students should regard their projects as an ideal opportunity to integrate what they have learned during the DCH program and apply it to their future working profession. Some of the project topics are:

  • Automated Monitoring System Of Advanced Medical Products
  • Efficient Alternative To An Ambulance
  • Sanitation And Hygiene
  • Effects Of Malnutrition Among Children

DCH Reference Books

DCH course is the one meant for the specialization in nursing, pediatrics and child care. To get a deep or in-depth knowledge, there are certain books published by the -authors, who have opened up about their thought process, and thus helps in being more skilled and knowledgeable about nutrition and health, which are a major part of DCH Subjects. Some of these books are:

DCH Reference Books

Name

Author

Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics 

Behrman

Forfar Textbook of Pediatrics

Campbell

Common Symptoms

Illingworth

Manual of Neonatal Care

Cloherty

Harriet Lane Handbook 

Barone