Kerala NEET third phase option registration for MBBS, BDS courses closes October 10

In short

The third phase option registration for MBBS and BDS courses in Kerala is open at cee.kerala.gov.in.
Online option registration for this phase will close on October 10, 2026.
Provisional allotment is scheduled for October 8, 2026, with final allotment on October 9, 2026.
The joining period for allotted colleges is from October 10, 2026, to October 14, 2026.
NEET UG qualified students who did not participate in earlier counselling rounds are eligible to register.

The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Kerala, has opened the third phase option registration for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the 2026 academic year. Eligible NEET UG qualified students who have not participated in previous counselling rounds can register their options online through the official portal, cee.kerala.gov.in.

This phase of option registration is crucial for candidates seeking admission to various medical and dental colleges across Kerala. The CEE, established in 1983, is responsible for conducting entrance examinations and managing the allotment process for professional degree courses in the state, utilising a Centralized Allotment Process (CAP) to ensure merit-based admissions with communal reservation.

Third Phase Registration and Allotment Schedule

The online option registration window for the third phase is currently active and will close on October 10, 2026. Following the registration, the provisional allotment list for this phase is scheduled to be published on October 8, 2026. The final allotment list will then be released on October 9, 2026.

Candidates who are allotted seats in this phase will have from October 10, 2026, until 4:00 PM on October 14, 2026, to join their respective colleges. This schedule provides a defined timeline for candidates to complete their admission formalities.

Event / Activity	Timeline
Online Option Registration closes	10-Oct-2026
Publication of Provisional Allotment	8-Oct-2026
Publication of Final Allotment	9-Oct-2026
Joining period at the allotted colleges	10-Oct-2026 to 14-Oct-2026 (Until 4:00 PM)

How to Register Options

Eligible candidates must log in to the ‘KEAM 2026 Candidate Portal’ on the CEE website using their application number, password, and access code. After logging in, they need to navigate to the ‘Option Registration’ tab.

Candidates are required to select their preferred medical colleges and courses from the available list and arrange them in order of priority. It is advised to save the preference list frequently and print a hard copy for future reference. This process allows candidates to specify their choices for admission to MBBS and BDS programmes in Kerala.

Previous Counselling Rounds Overview

The first phase allotment for MBBS and BDS courses for the 2026-27 academic year began on August 15, 2026, with option registration closing on August 22, 2026. The final allotment for the first phase was also published on August 22, 2026.

The second phase option entry for MBBS and BDS admissions commenced on September 8, 2026. Online option confirmation was mandatory by September 11, 2026. The last date to vacate a first phase seat was September 10, 2026, and the deadline to join a Round 2 seat was September 14, 2026. Document and data verification for Round 2 was conducted on September 15, 2026. Round 3 counselling was previously scheduled from September 16 to September 26, 2026, with a joining deadline of October 1, 2026, and data verification on October 2, 2026. The current third phase option registration follows these earlier rounds, aiming to fill remaining seats.

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →