Tamil Nadu Medical Officer (MRB/TNPSC) — Complete Guide
Tamil Nadu recruits Medical Officers through two distinct bodies: the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board (TNMRB) and the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC). TNMRB handles the bulk of Medical Officer recruitment for PHCs, CHCs and government hospitals, while TNPSC recruits for higher-level and specialist positions such as Assistant Medical Officer. Understanding which body handles which type of post is essential for targeting your preparation effectively. Recruitment is conducted periodically based on vacancies reported by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu.
| MBBS Doctor Posts | Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board (TNMRB) — officially titled "Assistant Surgeon" |
| Specialist / AMO Posts | Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) |
| Official Websites | mrb.tn.gov.in and tnpsc.gov.in |
| Age Limit (General) | No upper age limit for SC/ST; 35 years for others (with relaxation for BC/OBC) |
| Qualification | MBBS with NMC / Tamil Nadu Medical Council registration |
| Pay Scale | Level-22 in Tamil Nadu State Pay Matrix, Rs 56,100–2,08,700 + NPA |
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board (TNMRB) is the body that recruits MBBS graduates — under the official post title Assistant Surgeon, commonly called "Medical Officer" by aspirants — to work in Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), taluk hospitals and district headquarters hospitals across Tamil Nadu.
Selection Process: Written examination consisting of 200 MCQs covering MBBS clinical subjects at the diploma-level standard. The exam tests knowledge across Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics, PSM and allied specialties. The duration is typically 3 hours.
Certificate Verification: Candidates who qualify the written exam undergo certificate verification before final selection. The final rank list is based on written exam marks.
TNMRB runs Assistant Surgeon recruitment fairly regularly rather than as a single annual cycle — recent drives have filled well over 2,000 posts at a time (e.g. 2,553 Assistant Surgeon (General) posts in 2024). Check mrb.tn.gov.in for the current notification.
The Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) recruits Assistant Medical Officer (AMO) posts specifically for the Department of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy — i.e. Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy graduates, not MBBS doctors. If you hold an MBBS degree, TNMRB's Assistant Surgeon recruitment (above) is the relevant allopathic pathway, not TNPSC's AMO posts.
Selection Process: Written examination followed by an oral test (interview), based on past TNPSC AMO notifications. Eligibility requires the corresponding AYUSH degree (e.g. BSMS/BAMS/BUMS) and registration with the relevant council, not MBBS.
TNPSC recruitments for these posts are occasional, based on department vacancies. Check tnpsc.gov.in directly for current AMO notifications.
| Qualification | MBBS degree from a recognised university |
| Registration | Must be registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council or National Medical Commission (NMC) |
| Internship | Must have completed compulsory rotatory internship |
| Age (SC/ST) | No upper age limit |
| Age (Others) | Maximum 35 years (relaxation for BC/MBC/DNC — up to 40 years; for Ex-servicemen as per rules) |
| Language | Must possess adequate knowledge of Tamil (candidates should have studied Tamil as a subject or pass the Tamil language proficiency test conducted by TNPSC) |
| Domicile | Tamil Nadu nativity is generally required for both MRB and TNPSC posts |
| Pay Level | Level-22, Tamil Nadu State Pay Matrix |
| Basic Pay | Rs 56,100 – Rs 2,08,700 per month |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | As applicable, revised periodically by state government |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Based on posting location (Chennai / other cities / rural areas) |
| NPA | Non-Practising Allowance for medical officers (25% of basic pay for MBBS; higher for PG holders) |
| Pension | State government pension under applicable rules |
| Other Benefits | Medical reimbursement, leave rules, GPF, gratuity, risk allowance for certain postings |