Orthopaedist
Treats disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system — bones, muscles, joints and soft tissue.
Overview
An Orthopaedist is a medical professional who focuses on treating disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system comprising of the bones, muscles, joints, and soft tissues.
Where they work
- Clinics
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Medical Colleges
- Research Institutes
Work environment
It is a desk job. You will need to handle a team of nurses and other medical staff. Local travel is not a part of this job role. Part-time work and contractual jobs are available. Hospitals and clinics usually work for 6 to 7 days. You are likely to work 9 to 10 hours 6 days a week. This may vary from clinic to clinic. Shift system may be available. Entrepreneurship: you can set up your own private practice.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You enjoy Science
- You like to help others
- You pay attention to details while working
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10 + 2 in Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
- 2Complete an undergraduate degree in Medicine & Surgery (M.B.B.S.)
- 3Complete a Diploma in Orthopaedics.
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete an M.B.B.S. followed by M.D./M.S. in Orthopedics.
- 2For admissions, you can appear for entrance exams such as NEET (National Eligibility Entrance exam) for M.B.B.S., NEET-PG (Post Graduate Medical Entrance after MBBS), INI CET (National Importance Combined Entrance Test) for admission into MD (Doctorate of Medicine) Program.
Forms, exams and applications
NEET for M.B.B.S.; NEET-PG and INI CET for postgraduate medical study. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Orthopaedics. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab
- Jiwaji University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
- AIIMS Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
- AIIMS Rohtak, Haryana
- Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat
- Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, Karnataka
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- JSS Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka
- Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Intern
- 2Resident Orthopaedist
- 3Orthopaedist
- 4Senior Orthopaedic
- 5Head of Orthopaedist Department
- 6Dean of the Hospital
Expected income
₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000 per month
These figures are taken from NCS and are indicative and subject to change.
SourceRelated careers to explore
Surgeon
Doctor who treats conditions by operating — as a general surgeon or in a surgical speciality.
Physiotherapist
Treats injury and restores movement and function using massage, exercise and other techniques.
Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Dr. Surbhit Rastogi — An Orthopedic surgeon with 16 years of expertise in this profession. He earned his MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, his D'Ortho from the same institution, and his DNB from the Indian Spinal Injury Centre. He is currently a consultant at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 389 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: http://bit.ly/3Y7Tecv
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The printed card puts Christian Medical College, Vellore and Sri Ramachandra Institute, Chennai in Karnataka; both are in Tamil Nadu and the states are corrected here. As on the Ophthalmologist card, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute (a state-government institute) is printed under private institutes.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.