Top 10 Career Options After 12th PCM

Kritika Yadav

For all school students, class 12th is a major milestone. It’s the last time you’ll wear uniforms and have to get up early in the morning. It’s also considered to be a deciding factor for your future.

Most of the students in class 12 with a PCM or Physics-Chemistry-Maths combination opts for an engineering degree after 12th while only a few actually look out for other career options. Today, students prefer to choose careers that need them to step out of their comfort zone and do something new. With new career opportunities arising everyday, there is a demand for skilled resources in every sector.

For someone with a PCM degree, there are a number of career options he/she can choose from. Given below are 10 PCM career options that can be great to have your dream career after 12th PCM.

1. Engineering

In the list of top courses after 12th PCM the first one is Engineering. Engineering is one of the most famous and sought-after PCM career option after 12th in India. Every year, lakhs of students complete their schooling and come out into the world of new opportunities, where they have millions of options. If someone wants to make their career in engineering, then the stream itself has different courses like B.E/B. Tech, diploma courses, and integrated engineering courses.

Engineering Highlights

Courses: BE/ BTech

Engineering Streams: Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, IT Engineering/ Computer Science Engineering, Electrical, and Electronic Engineering, etc.

Eligibility: Candidates need to have passed 12th Science in PCM with a high percentile

Course Duration: 4 years (includes eight semesters)

Entrance Exams: IIT-JEE, GATE, UPSEE, BITSAT, and other State level entrance exams.

Top Career Options: Software Engineer, Data Analyst, Digital Marketer, Website Developer, Database Designer

Average Salary: INR 2.5 lakhs – INR 3 lakhs PA

Top Engineering Colleges in India

IIITs- Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur, Roorkee, Guwahati
Anna University
Jadavpur University
Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur
Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)

2. Bachelor's of Architecture

Students who are looking for PCM career options can consider doing Bachelor in Architecture (BArch). A career in architecture after 12th PCM can be very rewarding. With new industries growing each day, there is a requirement for office space to accommodate the resources working every day to bring profit. Architects work behind the planning, designing, and execution of these office spaces, IT parks, and other commercial and residential buildings.

A career in architecture requires a person to have an eye for detail and good knowledge of aesthetics and great observation skills. Buildings like Burj Khalifa, Petronas Tower, Lotus temple, and Taj Mahal are all examples of good architectural works.

BArch Highlights

Eligibility: Candidates need to have passed 12th Science PCM with a high percentile

Course Duration: 5 years (includes eight semesters)

Entrance Exams: IIT-JEE, GATE, UPSEE, BITSAT, and other State level entrance exams.

Top Career Options: Architecture Designer, Interior Designer, Project Assistant Manager, Architecture Draftsman, Architecture Engineer

Average Salary: INR 2.5 lakhs – INR 4.5 lakhs PA

Top Architecture Colleges in India

School Of Planning And Architecture, Delhi
Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur
Sir J. J. College Of Architecture, Mumbai
Birla Institute Of Technology, Mesra
Jadavpur University, Kolkata

3. Industrial Design

Industrial design refers to designing products that are manufactured in mass like mobiles, appliances, and automobiles like cars and motorbikes. Industrial designing needs technical expertise which is taught to students from PCM backgrounds. Industrial designing is not only limited to designing products but also requires extensive research and development too.

To make a career in Industrial design one can pursue BDes in Industrial Design after 12th PCM. The BDes Industrial Design program Teaches students about design concepts and how to apply them to a variety of products. Through this program, students will learn how to turn their creative ideas into reality, and how to design products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Check the important details for doing a BSc in Physics after the 12th PCM below.

Industrial Design Highlights

Course: BDes Industrial Design

Eligibility: Candidates need to have passed 12th with a minimum of 50%.

Course Duration: 4 years (includes eight semesters)

Entrance Exams: UCEED 2022, AIEED 2022, NID 2022, SET 2022, CUCET 2022, etc.

Top Career Options: Industrial Designer, Industrial Design Researcher, Interior Designer, Automotive Designer, Package Designer, etc.

Average Salary: INR 2.45 Lakhs to INR 12.25 Lakhs per annum

Top Industrial Design Colleges in India

VIT Vellore – Vellore Institute of Technology
Chandigarh University, Chandigarh
Nirma University, Ahmedabad
IIT Bombay
Symbiosis Institute of Design

4. Defense Services

A career in defense is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious career options after 12th PCM. One can choose to serve the country through any one of the three primary branches of defense, namely, the Army, the Navy, or the Air Force.

If you have the passion and the commitment to serve the nation fighting against all odds then a career in defense can be the best PCM career option for you. There are a number of written and physical examinations that one needs to clear before getting selected.

Defense Services- Highlights

Eligibility: Candidates need to have a minimum percentile of 65% in 10+2 (PCM) or 10+2 (any stream) in order to be eligible.

Course Duration: Depends upon the selected defense academy

Entrance Exams: Combined Defence Service (CDS), SSB (Service Selection Board), NDA

Top Career Options: There are many defense services career options in India, such as the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF), National Security Guard (NSG), Interservice institutions such as NDA, NCC, DSSC, Border Roads Organization, Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, and many more.

Average Salary: INR 30,000- INR 80,000 per month

Top Defense Services Colleges in India

Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun
Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai
National Defence Academy
Indian Air Force Academy
Indian Naval Academy

5. Physicists

A career as a physicist after 12th PCM needs you to be very good in the core subjects like Physics and Mathematics. Physicists working in laboratories in research, dedicate most of their time to projects trying to find solutions, investigating theoretical concepts, and also making presentations about their findings.

The nature of work varies from industry to industry an Aerospace physicist will work on technological innovations while a Biophysicist will study living organisms and life processes.

A career as Physicist can be a great PCM career option after 12th, however, to make a career as a physicist after 12th PCM, one needs to pursue a BSc in Physics first, then MSc and Ph.D. Check the important details for doing a BSc in Physics after 12th PCM below.

BSc in Physics – Highlights

Course: BSc Physics

Eligibility: Candidates must have a minimum percentile of 55% in 10+2 (PCM) in order to be eligible for BSc physics.

Course Duration: 3 years

Entrance Exams: SUAT, CUET, NPAT, etc.

Top Career Options: Physicist, Physics Lecturer, Lab Assistant, Research Associate, Subject Matter Expert, Technician, Radiologist Assistant, Academic Counselor, Content Developer, etc.

Average Salary: INR 4 – 6 LPA

Top BSc Physics Colleges in India

St Stephen’s College
Hindu College
Miranda House
Loyola College
Madras Christian College (MCC)

6. Teaching

Teaching is a noble profession and is a great way to give back something valuable to society. Teaching is a great career option after 12th PCM for those who like to share their knowledge with people and can explain tricky problems and concepts easily. Students can get a professional degree after 12th like BSc BEd to teach PCM to people in schools and colleges and start off their teaching journey.

Teaching- Highlights

Course: BSc BEd

Eligibility: Students need to have a minimum percentile of 50% in 10+2 (PCM)

Course Duration: 4 years duration

Entrance Exams: AIE CET, MAH BSc BEd CET, CUET, RIE CEE, SUAT, etc.

Top Career Options: There are many teaching career options in India, such as School Teachers, Private tutors, Online tutors, Education Consultants, principals, Vice principals, Counselors, Content Writers, Instructors, Education researchers, etc.

Average Salary: INR 3.5 LPA

Top Teaching (BSc BEd) Colleges in India

Central Institute of Education (Department of Education of the Delhi University), Delhi
Women’s University, Mumbai
Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Indira Gandhi National Open University

7. Pharmacy

A career in pharmacy can be a fruitful PCM career option after the 12th if you’re very good at Chemistry and Maths. Students who are interested in the medical field can pursue Bachelor in Pharmacy (BPharma) after 12th PCM.

Pharmacists are also known as chemists/druggists. Pharmacists research, experiment, and create drugs that are used for medicinal purposes. Pharmacists need to have a good knowledge of the usage and effects of drugs and should also be very good at mathematics to ensure that the composition of drugs is right. Every time when you pop a pill to cure your ailment, thank the pharmacists along with your doctor!

Pharmacy- Highlights

Course: BPharma, D Pharma

Eligibility: Students need to pass class 12th with the PCB/M to get admission in pharmacy courses after the 12th

Course Duration: 4 years duration in BPharam and 2-year duration in DPharama

Entrance Exams: WBJEE, GUJCET, BITSAT, MHT-CET, UPCET 2022, etc.

Top Career Options: Pharmacy clerk, pharmacy dispenser, pharmacist, chemotherapy pharmacist, nuclear pharmacist, etc.

Average Salary: INR 0.3 Lakhs to INR 3.6 Lakhs

Top Pharmacy Colleges in India

Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi
Punjab University, Punjab
Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
BITS Pilani, Rajasthan
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research(NIPER), Mohali

8. Data Analytics

Data science and data analytics are two of the most popular and in-demand job positions in the world right now. With so many job openings and opportunities available, it would be wise to consider taking data science courses after 12th PCM. With data science, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to finding a job that suits your skills and interests.

A data analyst is responsible for researching, calculating, and analyzing complex market data. They use scientific methods to derive this data and present it in a simple language that organizations can understand and use to inform their business decisions. Data analysts are able to take a large pool of information and break it down into useful data that is easy to understand. A degree in Statistics or IT is necessary for anyone wanting to begin a career in data analytics.

Data Analytics Highlights

Courses: BSc Data Science, BCA Data Science, B.Tech Data Science, Diploma in Data Science, etc.

Eligibility: Student must have passed class 12th with 50 percentile in any stream (scirence preferably).

Course Duration: Depending on the course you are opting for the duration may vary from 1 years to 4 years.

Entrance Exams: The entrance exam for Data Analytics will again vary with the course or diploma you are opting for. For example, if you are pursuing Btech then you must appear for JEE or other state-level entrance examination.

Top Career Options: Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, etc.

Average Salary: Average Annual salary is INR 4.4 LPA

Top Colleges for Data Analytics in India

SRM University Chennai
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
Jamia Hamdard University
Jawaharlal Nehru University

9. Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is an exciting and challenging career option after 12th PCM and it is relatively new. Ethical hackers, instead of unethical ones, will deliberately breach the security of a computer system to unveil any potential faults within the system. They work with various organizations to help improve their security measures by identifying any bugs or vulnerabilities in their company’s network security. To be an ethical hacker, one must have great logical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Ethical Hacking- Highlights

Courses: Diploma In Computer Science, B.Tech. IT & Cyber Security, B.Sc. in Networking and Security, B.Tech. Cyber Security and Forensics, CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) course, etc.

Eligibility: The Eligibility for ethical hacking varies with the degree or course that you are opting for, but the basic eligibility criteria are that the student must have passed class 12th in PCM with a high percentile.

Course Duration: Depending on the course you are opting for the duration may vary from 2 years to 4 years.

Entrance Exams: The entrance exam for ethical hacking will again vary with the course or diploma you are opting for. For example, if you are pursuing Btech then you must appear for JEE or other state-level entrance examination.

Top Career Options: Systems auditor, Security analyst, Encryption specialist, Secure programmer, Security manager, Network security specialist, System security architect, Ethical hacker, System administrator

Average Salary: INR 4 lakh – INR 10 Lakh per annum

Top Colleges for Ethical Hacking in India

SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Lovely Professional University
PSG College of Technology
Sharda University
Vikrant Institute of Technology and Management

10. Aviation

A career as a pilot after the 12th PCM is known to be one of the highest-paying jobs in India. To qualify as a pilot, you must be physically fit and have great logic and quick decision-making ability. Getting your commercial pilot license requires that you pass a number of exams, which include written, oral, medical, and physical exams, but once you qualify for the role, you can work with any airline company on a contractual basis.

Aviation – Highlights

Courses: BSc in Aviation, BA in Aviation, BTech in Aerospace Engineering, BBA in Aviation, Diploma in Aviation, and BSc in Airlines, Tourism, and Hospitality Management.

Eligibility: The minimum eligibility to enroll in programs like BSc and BTech courses is 50-60% in the class 12 board exam with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.

Course Duration: 8-24 months.

Entrance Exams: There are three main Aviation Exams in India namely Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) Entrance Test, Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT), and Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Common Entrance Exam (AME CET).

Top Career Options: Pilot, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Manufacturing Engineer, Quality Control Personnel, Airport Operations Manager, Air Ticketing Staff, Flight Steward/Stewardess, Flight Attendant, Aerospace Engineer, Aviation Medicine, etc.

Average Salary: INR 2 – 5 lakhs per annum for fresher

Top Colleges for Aviation in India

School of Business, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun
School of Management, Dr. DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai
International Institute for Aerospace Engineering and Management, Jain University, Bangalore
HITS Chennai – Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science
SJES College of Management Studies, Bangalore