# Can You Change Your Specialty During PG Training in Punjab? (PPM 2024)

Source: https://upmed.net/ppm-change-of-specialty/  
Published: 2026-11-07 · Updated: 2026-11-07  
Category: Central Induction Policy / Punjab Residency Program  
Publisher: UPMED (https://upmed.net/)

> PPM 2024 rules on changing specialty during FCPS/MD/MS training in Punjab: medical grounds only, Standing Medical Board, Hardship Committee, merit condition...

Some trainees realise after joining that a specialty does not suit them. Under the [PPM 2024](https://upmed.net/ppm-level-3-punjab-residency-program-rules/), changing specialty is **not allowed as a rule**. There is only a narrow route for special cases.

## The basic rule

A PG trainee or deputationist is **not allowed to change the program (discipline of training) at any stage** of the course for which he or she was selected (Clause 7.11).

## The exception: special circumstances

A change may be considered only in **special circumstances, such as medical reasons**. A wish to move to a “better” specialty is not a ground.

## How the process works

1. **Standing Medical Board (SMB):** a provincial board notified by SHC&ME examines trainees who apply to change specialty purely on medical grounds (Clause 6.36).
2. The SMB sends its recommendations to the **Convener of the Hardship Committee** (Vice Chancellor, KEMU).
3. The **Hardship Committee** considers the case in its meeting and sends a clear recommendation, with the SMB report, to the SHC&ME Department. It can also recommend that a trainee be examined by the SMB (Clause 5.3).
4. If recommended, the trainee may be placed in a specialty and institution **where his or her merit matches** the merit of that particular induction (Clause 7.11).
5. **Final orders** are issued by the SHC&ME Department.

## What happens to stipend?

Stipend is paid only for the **rest of the total period**, counted from the first specialty and the date you first joined training under CIP (Clause 7.11). The clock does not restart.

## What about changing supervisor or institution?

Requests to change supervisor or institution are also handled by the Hardship Committee (Clause 5.3). For moving to another city, see [transfer and wedlock rules](https://upmed.net/ppm-transfer-wedlock-policy/).

## Leaving and re-applying instead?

If you leave training to apply again in another specialty, you face debarment and stipend refund penalties. Read [exit and resignation rules](https://upmed.net/ppm-exit-resignation-penalties/) first. Also, a doctor who has completed one Level-III training at government expense cannot apply again (Clause 6.41).

## Read more PPM rules

- [PPM 2024: all rules of Level-III training](https://upmed.net/ppm-level-3-punjab-residency-program-rules/)
- [Transfer and wedlock rules](https://upmed.net/ppm-transfer-wedlock-policy/)
- [Freezing of PG training](https://upmed.net/ppm-freezing-of-training/)
- [Exit, resignation and stipend refund](https://upmed.net/ppm-exit-resignation-penalties/)

**Applying for the January 2027 intake?** See the [December 2026-Jan 2027 Induction](https://upmed.net/december-2026-jan-207-induction/) page for the policy, merit criteria, CIP calculator and seat distribution.

*Source: Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM) of Post-Graduate Residency of Level-III Programs, SHC&ME Department, notified 15 May 2024, Clauses 5.3, 6.36, 6.41 and 7.11. [Download the PPM (PDF)](https://securedimages.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/f5177b16-203f-4126-8a4c-e2e5746fe0d1.pdf). Always check the latest notification of the SHC&ME Department.*