ANM vs GNM – both are popular nursing courses that allow the aspiring candidates to join healthcare sector beyond MBBS. However, both of them are very different when it comes to aspects such as course duration, eligibility criteria and job or career prospects.
ANM stands for Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery; whereas GNM full form is General Midwifery Nursing. ANM course is a 2-year diploma course and GNM is a 3.5 years course (including 6 months of internship).
What is ANM Nursing course?
ANM (full form Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery) course is a 2-year diploma course (with 6-months internship) that prepares the students to work as community health professionals.
Due to its short duration, the ANM syllabus have lesser subjects as compared to GNM course. This nursing course primarily focusses on fundamentals of nursing such as how to administer medical equipment and medication for rural area patients. The students also learn how to handle medical records, set up operation theatre, etc.
Nursing staff with ANM degree are expected to have a basic understanding of nursing practices such as offering first aid and basic medication and medical care to the patients.
What is GNM Nursing course?
GNM full form is General Midwifery Nursing. The GNM course duration is 3.5-years course with mandatory internship of 6 months. The GNM syllabus covers every topic covered in ANM syllabus along with other advanced-level nursing specializations and topics
Eligibility criteria for ANM and GNM Courses
To fulfill ANM eligibility criteria, the candidates should have passed class 12 from any stream (Science Arts / Commerce) from a recognized education board. Whereas, to fulfill GNM eligibility criteria, students should have passed Class 12 with minimum 40% aggregate marks with English as a mandatory subject.
Also Read: List of GNM Subjects
ANM Nursing Course vs GNM Nursing Course: Which one to Choose?
The below table shows detailed comparison between GNM and ANM nursing courses:
| Parameters | ANM | GNM |
| Degree Type | Diploma Course | Diploma Course |
| Duration | 2 years | 3.5 years |
| Admission Process | State-level and University-level entrance exams | State-level and University-level entrance exams |
| Courses Overview | ANM nursing course covers fundamental knowledge of how to provide primary healthcare to people along with providing basic understanding of handling operation theaters, medical equipment, etc. | GNM nursing course primarily covers the clinical approach on how to handle patients and understanding of how to take care of patients and help them with the recovery process. |
| Average Fees | Rs 50,000 – 1 Lakh | Rs 20,000 – 1.5 Lakh |
| Top Colleges | Avadh Institute of Medical Technology and Hospital, SVSU – Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Teerthanker Mahaveer College of Nursing, School of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Noida International University, etc. | SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, S.M.S. Medical College, Avadh Institute of Medical Technology and Hospital, NIMS Nursing College, NIMS University, etc. |
| Average Salary (Freshers) | Rs 2 lakhs per annum | Rs 4 lakhs per annum |
| Job Profiles | Traveling Nurse, In-charge and Helper, Maternal Care Room in-charge, Junior Lecturer, etc. | Nursing Teacher, Forensic Nurse, Clinical Nurse Consultant, etc. |
ANM Nursing vs GNM Nursing: Syllabus
ANM & GNM nursing courses are base of Indian healthcare system that not only prepares the students to provide basic healthcare to patients but also help them recover mental health issues. Interested candidates can check the ANM vs GNM syllabus to get an idea of the topics and subjects covered in both the courses:
| ANM Syllabus | GNM Syllabus |
| Health Center Management | Nursing Administration & Ward Management |
| Medical-Surgical Nursing | Research & Statistics |
| Child Health Nursing | Medical-Surgical Nursing |
| Midwifery | Community Health Nursing |
| Community Health Nursing | Child Health Nursing |
| Mental Health Care | Nursing Foundation |
| Health Promotion | Behavioral Science |
| Primary Healthcare Nursing | Pediatric Nursing |
ANM Nursing vs GNM Nursing: Career Scope and Salary
While starting salaries for ANM and GNM course graduates can be on the lower side (as these are diploma courses), their earnings can increase significantly with experience in the specific fields. For instance, the salary of a Nursing Superintendent can easily go up to Rs 7.5 LPA. Below is a basic idea of typical starting salaries for ANM & GNM nursing courses:
- ANM nursing fresher’s salary in India can be in-between Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month
- GNM fresher’s salary in India can be in-between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000
Though as mentioned earlier too, the starting salary can be less, experienced nursing staff can easily earn salaries between Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 as nursing profession has a lot of potential in India as professionals in the field are in high demand.
ANM vs GNM Nursing Job profiles:
Below table shows the list of popular job profiles in ANM & GNM nursing industry:
| ANM Job Profiles | Annual Salary (Average) |
| Nursing Tutor | INR 3.09 Lakhs |
| Healthcare Nurse | INR 2.2 Lakhs |
| Certified Nursing Assistant | INR 2.9 Lakhs |
| Community Health Nurse | INR 7.48 Lakhs |
| ICU Nurse | INR 2.82 Lakhs |
| GNM Job Profiles | Annual Salary (Average) |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | INR 4.2 Lakhs |
| Legal Nurse Consultant | INR 5.3 Lakhs |
| Professor | INR 8.3 Lakhs |
| Forensic Nurse | INR 4.9 Lakhs |
| Traveling Nurse | INR 3.2 Lakhs |
ANM & GNM Nursing Top Recruiters:
The table below lists the top recruiters for ANM and GNM nurses.
| ANM vs GNM Top Recruiters | |
| Apollo Hospital | Fortis Hospital |
| Medanta | Government and Private Hospitals |
| Community Health Centres | Private Clinics |
| Dispensaries | Nursing Homes |
| Nursing Schools and Associations | Aanangwadi Programmes |
| Army Hospitals | The Indian Red Cross Society |
Also Read: GNM 1st Year Syllabus, GNM 2nd Year Syllabus
FAQs on ANM vs GNM:
Q. What is the main difference between ANM and GNM Nursing?
A. ANM nursing is a 2-year diploma course with primary focus on community health services and can be pursued by students from any stream (Arts / Science / Commerce). Whereas, GNM nursing is a 3.5-year diploma course that offers wider spectrum for nursing training with more coverage on nursing topics.
Q. What are the eligibility criteria for ANM and GNM nursing courses?
A. ANM nursing course requires Class 12 certificate in any stream with the age limit of 17-35 years for the candidates. Eligibility criteria for GNM course requires the candidate to pass Class 12 – minimum 40% marks – with English as a mandatory subject.
Q. What are the course durations for ANM and GNM Nursing programs?
A. The course duration for both GNM and ANM nursing courses are shared below:
- ANM Nursing Course – 2 years (with mandatory 6-months internship)
- GNM Nursing Course – 3.5 years (with mandatory 6-months internship)