It’s a myth that pharmacists only sell medicines and keep the doctors updated about what’s new in the market. In reality, pharmacists acquire the skill of preparing medicines by studying medicinal science. During their course tenure, pharmacists perform extensive laboratory research and prepare medicines that recover ailing patients. A good pharmacist is one who is a regular learner and has a scientific aptitude.

In terms of career choice, pharmaceutical industry offer high paying jobs in the field of research, patient counselling, retail drug stores, hospitals, counselling physicians etc.  Under its umbrella of benefit pharmacy career has job flexibility, tremendous growth opportunity and global healthcare exposure. And the right pharmaceutical professional also has the possibility of discovering new drugs for curing fatal diseases.

Eligibility Criteria for Studying Pharmacy in India:

The first step towards pharmacy career is studying any one combination of subjects (in 10+2) mentioned below-

1. Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB).

2. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM).

3. Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology (PCMB).

Undergraduate Pharmacy Courses Available in India:

1. Diploma of Pharmacy: Widely recognized as D.Pharm course in India, it is the minimum UG course level that students have to complete for becoming a licensed pharmacist. D.Pharm is a two-year course during which students receive the fundamental knowledge of pharmaceutical science. Students who study D.Pharm are also eligible to study B.Pharm.

2. Bachelor of Pharmacy: Known as B.Pharm, it is a four-year course in pharmacy where students learn subjects related to healthcare and biomedical science so that they can work in medicine research & manufacture.

3. Pharm.D: Students can opt for 6 year Pharm.D course. In this course students are imparted clinical and community-based theoretical subjects in the first five year. In the last year of Pharm.D they serve as either interns or residents.

Postgraduate Pharmacy Courses Available in India:

1. Master of Pharmacy: Students after completing bachelor of pharmacy have the opportunity to specialize on a pharmacy subject. It is a two year postgraduate degree course emphasized on research. List of specializations are: Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical analysis, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Pharmacy Practice, Industrial Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance.

2. Doctor of Pharmacy (Post-Baccalaureate): A minimum three year course (2-year academic followed by internship) of Doctor of Pharmacy (Ph.D) is for students who are highly optimistic on joining research industry of pharmacy. Additionally, students get a chance of joining journal clubs, seminars. They also get the opportunity of publishing research articles.

Entrance Examination Details of B.Pharm Course:

Some major B.Pharm Entrance Examinations are:

1. Banaras Hindu University BAMS/B. Pharma (Ay) Entrance Test.

2. VELS University Entrance Examination.

3. Himachal Pradesh University Shimla B.Pharma Entrance Test.

4. B.Sc Pharma Entrance Examination in Punjab.

5. SEE-UPTU (State Entrance Examination Uttar Pradesh).

6. B.Sc Pharma Entrance Examination in Bareilly.

7. Rajasthan Pre Entrance Test for Pharmacy (RPETEAP).

8. B.Sc Pharma Common Entrance Examination in Kerala.

9. Maharashtra B.Pharm Common Entrance Test.

10. B.Sc Pharma Entrance Examination in Rohtak for Maharshi Dayanand University.

Entrance Examination Details of M.Pharm Course:

Some major entrance examinations for Pharmacy Master’s course are:

1. The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, (NIPER) JEE Entrance.

2. Kerala CEE Entrance Exam for M.Pharm.

3. Bharat Vidyapeeth Unversity Examination for Pharmacy Courses.

4. Manipal University Examination for M.Pharm.

5. GPAT or Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test is national entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency through which students get a chance of studying M.Pharm in participating colleges/universities after they clear the examination.

Top Colleges for Studying Diploma of Pharmacy:

1. Jamia Humdard University (Delhi).

2. Bundelkhand University (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh).

3. MET Institute of Pharmacy (Mumbai).

4. Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (Delhi).

Admission to these colleges is granted through interview or entrance conducted by the respective universities/colleges.

Top Institutes for Studying B.Pharm are:

Apart from the above mentioned examinations, there are other entrances through which students get a chance of studying in some renowned colleges.

1. Bombay College of Pharmacy (Mumbai).

2. Jamia Humdard University (Delhi).

3. University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Chandigarh).

4. Bundelkhand University (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh).

5. MET Institute of Pharmacy (Mumbai).

Admission to these institutions is purely based on merits of All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT), All India Manipal University Online Entrance Test (MU-OET), Punjab University Common Entrance Test (P.U. CET).

Top Colleges for Studying Pharm.D

1. VELS University (Chennai).

2. Jagadguru Shri Shivarathreeshwara University (Mysore, Karnataka).

3. Smt. Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy (Andhra Pradesh).

Admission to these colleges is granted through decisions made by Pharmacy Council of India.

Top Companies Hiring Pharmacists

Some of the major recruiting companies of the pharmaceutical industry are:

a) Glaxo Smith Kline India.

b) Sun Pharmaceuticals.

c) Abbott India.

d) Chemist Shops.

e) State Wise Drugs ad Pharmaceuticals Board.

f) Cipla.

g) Research Bodies and Labs.

h) Biocon.

i) FDA or Food and Drug Administration – A government body that hires pharmacists for different positions like Drug Inspector, Assistant Drug Controller, Drug Controller of State, Drug Controller of India and Deputy Drug Controller.

Besides the above mentioned jobs pharmacists also work as Quality Control and Quality Assurance for top pharmacy companies.