careerpathways

Career Paths Guide

Comprehensive pathway information for careers in India

Career	Educational Pathway	Age	Entry Exam/Process
IAS Officer	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → Graduation (Any Stream)	21-32	UPSC Civil Services: Prelims → Mains → Interview
Doctor (MBBS)	10th → 12th (PCB) → NEET → MBBS → Internship	17-25	NEET-UG
Engineer (B.Tech)	10th → 12th (PCM) → JEE/State CET → B.Tech	17-25	JEE Main/Advanced, State CET
Income Tax Inspector	10th → 12th → Graduation (Any Stream)	18-30	SSC CGL: Tier 1 → Tier 2 → Physical Test
Bank PO (IBPS/SBI)	10th → 12th → Graduation (Any Stream)	20-30	IBPS PO/SBI PO: Prelims → Mains → Interview
Chartered Accountant (CA)	10th → 12th (Commerce Preferred) → CA Foundation → Intermediate → Articleship → Final	17+	ICAI Exams (Foundation, Inter, Final)
Lawyer (Advocate)	10th → 12th → CLAT → 5-Year LLB or Graduation + 3-Year LLB	17+	CLAT/State Law Entrance Exams
Scientist (Research)	10th → 12th (PCM/PCB) → B.Sc. → M.Sc./PhD	21-35	CSIR-NET/GATE/JRF
IPS Officer	10th → 12th → Graduation (Any Stream)	21-32	UPSC Civil Services: Prelims → Mains → Interview
School Teacher	10th → 12th → Graduation → B.Ed	21-40	TET/CTET + State Teacher Recruitment
Librarian	10th → 12th → Graduation → BLIS	21-40	Librarian Recruitment
Architect	10th → 12th (PCM) → NATA/JEE B.Arch → B.Arch (5 Years)	17-25	NATA/JEE B.Arch
Journalist	10th → 12th → Graduation (Mass Comm./Journalism preferred)	21+	Direct Entry/Portfolio/Internships
SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level) Posts (e.g., Assistant Audit Officer, Income Tax Inspector, Assistant Section Officer)	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → Bachelor's Degree (Any Discipline) → SSC CGL Exam	20-30 (varies by post and category, relaxations applicable)	SSC CGL Tier-I, Tier-II, Tier-III/IV (as applicable)
SSC CHSL (Combined Higher Secondary Level) Posts (e.g., Lower Divisional Clerk, Data Entry Operator, Postal Assistant)	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → SSC CHSL Exam	18-27 (varies by post and category, relaxations applicable)	SSC CHSL Tier-I, Tier-II (Skill Test/Typing Test)
SSC GD Constable (General Duty in CAPFs, NIA, SSF, and Rifleman GD in Assam Rifles)	10th → SSC GD Constable Exam	18-23 (relaxations applicable)	SSC GD Constable (CBE), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Physical Standard Test (PST), Medical Examination
SSC MTS (Multi-Tasking Staff)	10th → SSC MTS Exam	18-25 (varies by post, relaxations applicable)	SSC MTS Tier-I, Tier-II (Descriptive Paper)
SSC Stenographer (Grade 'C' & 'D')	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → SSC Stenographer Exam	Grade 'C': 18-30; Grade 'D': 18-27 (relaxations applicable)	SSC Stenographer (CBE), Skill Test in Stenography
SSC CPO (Central Police Organization) - Sub-Inspector (Delhi Police, CAPFs)	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → Bachelor's Degree (Any Discipline) → SSC CPO Exam	20-25 (relaxations applicable)	SSC CPO Paper-I, Physical Standard Test (PST)/Physical Endurance Test (PET), Paper-II, Medical Examination
Civil Services (IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, etc.)	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → Bachelor's Degree (Any Discipline) → UPSC Civil Services Exam (CSE)	21-32 (General Category, relaxations applicable)	UPSC CSE (Prelims, Mains, Interview)
Combined Defence Services (Indian Military Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Officers Training Academy)	10th → 12th (Specific streams required for some academies, e.g., PCM for Air Force/Naval) → Bachelor's Degree (Any Discipline for IMA/OTA, Engineering for INA, Science with Physics & Maths for AFA) → UPSC CDS Exam	19-25 (varies by academy and course, unmarried status often required)	UPSC CDS (Written Exam, SSB Interview, Medical Examination)
Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants in BSF, CRPF, CISF, ITBP, SSB)	10th → 12th (Any Stream) → Bachelor's Degree (Any Discipline) → UPSC CAPF (AC) Exam	20-25 (General Category, relaxations applicable)	UPSC CAPF (Written Exam, Physical Efficiency Test (PET)/Medical Standards Test (MST), Interview)
Engineering Services (IES/ESE) - (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering)	10th → 12th (PCM) → Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (relevant discipline) → UPSC ESE Exam	21-30 (General Category, relaxations applicable)	UPSC ESE (Prelims, Mains, Interview)
Combined Medical Services (GDMOs, ADMOs in various Central Government organizations)	10th → 12th (PCB) → MBBS Degree → UPSC CMS Exam	Not exceeding 32 years (General Category, relaxations applicable)	UPSC CMS (Written Exam, Interview)
Commercial Pilot	10th → 12th (PCM) → CPL Training → DGCA Exam	17-32	DGCA CPL Exam + Medical Test
Nurse	10th → 12th (PCB) → B.Sc. Nursing/GNM	17-35	State Nursing Entrance Exams
Pharmacist	10th → 12th (PCB) → D.Pharm/B.Pharm	17-25	State Pharmacy Entrance Exams
Fashion Designer	10th → 12th → NIFT Entrance → B.Des./B.FTech	17-23	NIFT/NID Entrance Exam
IFS Officer (Foreign Service)	10th → 12th → Graduation → UPSC CSE	21-32	UPSC Civil Services
Dentist (BDS)	10th → 12th (PCB) → NEET → BDS → Internship	17-25	NEET-UG
Surgeon (MS)	10th → 12th (PCB) → NEET → MBBS → NEET-PG → MS	17-25	NEET-UG → NEET-PG
Cabin Crew	10th → 12th → Training Program	18-27	Airline Interview + Training Program
Company Secretary (CS)	10th → 12th → CSEET → Executive → Professional	17+	ICSI Exams (Foundation, Executive, Professional)
Civil Engineer	10th → 12th (PCM) → B.Tech Civil Engineering	17-25	JEE Main/State CET
Software Engineer	10th → 12th (PCM) → B.Tech/BCA/MCA	17+	Campus Placements/Coding Tests
Judge	10th → 12th → Graduation → LLB → Practice → Judicial Services	21-35	State Judicial Services Exam
Army Officer	10th → 12th (PCM) → NDA/CDS → SSB	16.5-24	NDA/CDS → SSB Interview
Navy Officer	10th → 12th (PCM) → NDA/INET → SSB	16.5-24	NDA/INET → SSB Interview
Air Force Officer	10th → 12th (PCM) → NDA/AFCAT → SSB	16.5-24	NDA/AFCAT → SSB Interview
Police Constable	10th/12th → State Police Recruitment	18-28	State Police Recruitment Exam + Physical Test
Sub-Inspector (Police)	10th → 12th → Graduation → SI Exam	20-28	State SI Recruitment Exam
Professor	10th → 12th → UG → PG → PhD → NET	23+	UGC NET/CSIR NET + PhD
Data Scientist	10th → 12th (PCM) → B.Tech/B.Sc. → Specialization	21+	Technical Assessment/Portfolio
Graphic Designer	10th → 12th → Diploma/Bachelor in Design	17+	Portfolio Review/Design Entrance
Animator	10th → 12th → B.Sc Animation/Diploma	17+	Portfolio/Entrance Exam
Chef	10th → 12th → Hotel Management/Culinary Arts	17+	NCHMCT/Institute Entrance
Actor	No formal education required - Acting Workshops	Any	Auditions/Theatre Training
Professional Cricketer	School Level → District → State → National Selection	6-25	Trials/Sports Quota
Content Creator/YouTuber	No formal education - Digital Skills	Any	Platform Registration/Content Strategy
Social Worker	10th → 12th → Graduation (Social Work/Arts)	21+	Direct Entry/NGO Recruitment
Wildlife Photographer	10th → 12th → Photography Course/Self-taught	17+	Portfolio Review
Event Manager	10th → 12th → Graduation/Diploma in Event Management	18+	Direct Entry/Internship
Interior Designer	10th → 12th → Interior Design Course	17+	Portfolio/Design Entrance
Fitness Trainer	10th → 12th → Fitness/Sports Science Certification	18+	Fitness Certification Exams
Digital Marketer	10th → 12th → Marketing/Digital Marketing Course	18+	Certifications/Portfolio
State PSC Officer	10th → 12th → Graduation → State PSC Exam	21-35	State PSC: Prelims → Mains → Interview
Customs Officer	10th → 12th → Graduation → SSC CGL	21-32	SSC CGL Exam
Railway Officer	10th → 12th → Graduation → RRB Exam	18-33	RRB NTPC/JE Exams
Hotel Manager	10th → 12th → BHMCT/Hotel Management	17+	NCHMCT/State Hotel Management Entrance
Marine Engineer	10th → 12th (PCM) → B.Tech Marine Engineering	17-25	JEE Main/IMU CET
Geologist	10th → 12th → B.Sc Geology → M.Sc	21+	GATE/CSIR NET
Bank Clerk	10th → 12th → Graduation → IBPS Clerk	20-28	IBPS Clerk/SBI Clerk Exam
Railway Sub Inspector	10th → 12th → Graduation → RPF SI Exam	20-28	RPF SI Exam
Firefighter	10th → 12th → Fire Service Training	18-25	Physical & Written Tests
Logistics Manager	10th → 12th → Graduation → MBA/Supply Chain Management	21+	MBA Entrance/Direct Hiring
Actuary	10th → 12th → Graduation (Maths/Stats) → Actuarial Exams	21+	IAI Actuarial Exams
Public Relations Officer	10th → 12th → Graduation → PR/Mass Comm	21+	Direct Entry/Portfolio
Film Director	Film School/Self-taught → Portfolio Building	Any	Film School Entrance/Portfolio
Biotechnologist	10th → 12th (PCB) → B.Sc Biotechnology → M.Sc/PhD	21+	CSIR NET/GATE (BT)
Environmental Scientist	10th → 12th → B.Sc → M.Sc Environmental Science	21+	CSIR NET/University Entrance
Cybersecurity Expert	10th → 12th → B.Tech/Cybersecurity Certifications	18+	Industry Certifications (CEH, CISSP)
Entrepreneur	Variable - Business Skills & Experience	Any	Business Registration/Funding Process
Veterinarian	10th → 12th (PCB) → NEET → B.V.Sc → Internship	17-25	NEET (Veterinary)
Professional Blogger	Digital Skills Development - Any Educational Background	Any