| 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. |
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.
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:
Below listed are points regarding who should pursue a DCH course:
Read More: DCH Jobs & Scope
DCH admission requires a candidate to fulfill a certain set of eligibility criteria. Below mentioned is the eligibility for the DCH course:
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:
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 |
Below mentioned are the distance DCH course details:
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 | – |
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:
Read More: DCH Syllabus and Subjects
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:
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 |
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:
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:
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
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:
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:
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 | – |
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 |
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:
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
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.
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:
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:
Name | Author |
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics | Behrman |
Forfar Textbook of Pediatrics | Campbell |
Common Symptoms | Illingworth |
Manual of Neonatal Care | Cloherty |
Harriet Lane Handbook | Barone |
Wing Educations Assistant