Overview
PCL in General Medicine (Health Assistant) at NPI Narayani Samudayik Nursing College, Chitwan
The PCL in General Medicine (Health Assistant) at NPI Narayani Samudayik Nursing College, Chitwan is a three-year technical health program under the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). The official curriculum title is Proficiency Certificate Level in General Medicine, commonly associated with the Health Assistant (HA) pathway.
The program prepares middle-level health personnel for responsibilities involving patient assessment, provisional diagnosis, basic treatment, referral, emergency care, maternal and child health, community health activities, medical investigations, record keeping, and health-service administration within the scope of their training.
Key Highlights
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Course: | Proficiency Certificate Level in General Medicine |
| Common Name: | Health Assistant (HA) |
| Duration: | 3 academic years |
| Study System: | Yearly system |
| Affiliation: | CTEVT |
| Stated Intake: | 40 seats |
| Entrance: | CTEVT entrance examination |
| Professional Council: | Nepal Health Professional Council |
The CTEVT curriculum sets the group size at a maximum of 40 students and requires at least 90% attendance in each subject to appear in the respective final examination.
Eligibility and Admission
Candidates entering PCL in General Medicine must meet the CTEVT entry requirements.
Eligibility:
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SLC, SEE, or equivalent pass with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and grades in Compulsory Mathematics, English, and Science; or
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CMA equivalent with a minimum of 68.33%.
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Candidates must pass the entrance examination administered by CTEVT.
The program runs for three academic years under a yearly system, with the curriculum specifying 35 academic weeks including the evaluation period. The medium of instruction may be English and/or Nepali.
What Students Study
The course combines general medicine, surgery, primary healthcare, maternal and family health, laboratory work, pharmacology, public health, and field-based practice.
Second-year subjects include:
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Medicine-I
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Surgery-I
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Basic Medical Procedures and First Aid
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Clinical Pathology
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Pharmacology and Pharmacy
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Environmental Health
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Health Education
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Primary Health Care and Family Health, including maternal and child health, family planning, and nutrition
Third-year study includes Medicine-II, Surgery-II, Health Management, and Epidemiology, Demography and Community Diagnosis. Medicine-II covers areas including pediatrics, neonatology, psychiatry, and dermatology, while Surgery-II includes ENT, dentistry, and ophthalmology.
The course places consistent attention on deciding which conditions can be managed with available health-post resources and which cases require referral to a higher-level or specialist facility.
Clinical and Community Practicum
Practical training is a substantial part of the HA curriculum. Teaching methods include demonstration, guided practice, observation, simulation, fieldwork, case analysis, project work, hospital practice, and community practice.
Third-year comprehensive clinical practicum runs for 16 weeks, covering 96 days excluding Saturdays. Students rotate through areas including emergency, medicine, surgery, ENT, eye care, dentistry, clinical pathology observation, pharmacy and pharmacology dispensing, obstetrics and gynaecology, maternity, family health, basic medical procedures, and physiotherapy.
A separate comprehensive community field practicum covers 48 days excluding Saturdays. It is divided between community health diagnosis activities and attachment to a Health Post or PHCC. Activities include community assessment, health education, environmental health work, client assessment, injection and dressing practice, dispensing, maternal and child health, family planning, nutrition, and health-service recording and reporting.
NPI Narayani Samudayik Nursing College is associated with the NPI Narayani Samudayik healthcare setting in Bharatpur, Chitwan. The hospital environment includes general medicine, surgery, emergency, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, pathology, ICU, NICU, and other clinical service areas relevant to health-professional education.
Examination and Grading
Both theory and practical components are evaluated through internal assessment and final examinations. Students must complete internal assessment requirements before appearing in the final examination.
The minimum pass mark is 40% in theory and 50% in practical. Students must also secure the required pass marks separately in internal assessment and yearly final examinations.
The grading system is:
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Distinction: 80% and above
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First Division: 65% to below 80%
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Second Division: 50% to below 65%
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Pass Division: pass marks to below 50%
Students who pass all required components across the three years receive the Proficiency Certificate Level in General Medicine qualification.
Professional Pathway and Licensing
The curriculum identifies graduates as eligible for positions equivalent to Non-Gazetted First Class/Level 5 (Technical), as prescribed by the Public Service Commission of Nepal and related agencies.
After completing the course, graduates must meet the applicable professional licensing requirements before entering professional practice. Health Assistant professional regulation is associated with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).
