Pharmacy Courses

Pharmacy is the branch of health sciences that deals with the preparation and dispensing of drugs. Its aim is to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs. Candidates can pursue pharmacy after 10th, 12th, or UG. The course duration also varies between 2-7 years based on when aspirants choose to opt for the programme. Candidates who graduate from a pharmacy course are deemed responsible for checking medicines’ side effects, reactions, allergies, etc. They play a much larger role in the healthcare industry than one can realize. Aspirants have to appear for entrance exams such as West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam, BITSAT, Central Universities Common Entrance Test, GLA University Entrance Test (GLAET), NIPER Joint Entrance Exam, BITS Higher Degree Admission Test, Manipal University Online Entrance Test, and more to get admission into different pharmacy courses.

The studies are primarily conducted in classrooms, however, there are certain certificate and Diploma courses that offer opportunities for both online and offline modes. Top renowned colleges such as Jamia Hamdard, Panjab University, BITS, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Chemical Technology, JSS College of Pharmacy, and more grant aspirants admission into pharmacy courses. The course fees can vary between INR 20,000 to INR 20,00,000. Pharmacy courses have emerged as one of the most popular career paths because of the rising demand in the medical sector. Some of the most popular careers that graduates can opt for are pharmacist, drug inspector, clinical research associate, drug safety associate, Scientific Writer, Pathological Lab Scientist, etc. Interested candidates may also check out Pharmacy course subjects to get a better idea of the course structure, 

Candidates planning to take admission in pharmacy courses should have knowledge and information about each aspect of courses. Candidates can get a quick overview of the pharmacy courses below. 

Candidates who have a zeal for health care and medicine should pursue pharmacy courses. If you are interested in the pharmaceutical industry and wants to work towards developing medicine, finding a cure, doing experimentation, research then pharmacy is for you. In addition to this, if the science stream and subjects like biology, and chemistry, interest you then you can opt for pharmacy courses.

There are various reasons to choose pharmacy courses. Many of the candidates opt for pharmacy because they hold an interest in health and medicine and want to make a career in it. A significant reason you should select pharmacy courses is the variety of professional paths that a pharmacy study might provide. From nuclear pharmacy, which uses radioactive medications to treat diseases such as cancer, to veterinary pharmacy, which deals with medication for animals, one can easily choose a vocation that suits them. Qualifying in pharmacy can lead to a range of work options, many of which offer strong professional advancement. In addition to becoming a pharmacist, you may use your medical skills to work as a research scientist, pharmacologist, medical science liaison, or toxicologist, among other things.

Also read: Pharmacy courses after 12th

There are several kinds of pharmacy courses in India like diplomas, certificates, undergraduates, postgraduates, etc. Candidates can opt for the pharmacy courses as per their career plans. Pharmacy courses can be divided into the following types:

• Certificate pharmacy courses 
• Diploma pharmacy courses
• Undergraduate pharmacy courses
• Postgraduate pharmacy courses
• Doctorate pharmacy courses

Below you can find the different pharmacy courses available under each head.

Certificate pharmacy courses

Certificate courses can be done both online and offline mode. Various online platforms also provide free certificate courses in pharmacy. Some of the certificate pharmacy courses are given below with their fee structure. 

Diploma pharmacy courses 

The duration of most of the pharmacy courses vary between 1-3 years. Candidates who want to start their career early can opt for the diploma pharmacy courses. Some of the best diploma courses in pharmacy are listed below.

Undergraduate pharmacy courses

Candidates who want a proper degree in pharmacy should opt for undergraduate pharmacy courses. Some of the most popular ug pharmacy courses are given below in the following table.

Also read: M Pharm Colleges in Uttar Pradesh

Post graduate pharmacy courses 

The duration of pg pharmacy courses is 2 years. After completion of the undergraduate degree in pharmacy. Candidates can opt for post graduate degree in pharmacy. Some of the master’s degree in pharmacy courses are. 

Doctorate pharmacy courses 

Candidates who want to secure a doctorate degree in pharmacy can apply for the Ph.D. programmmes in pharmacy. The duration of doctorate pharmacy courses is 3 years. The kinds of doctorate pharmacy courses are 

Before applying for the pharmacy courses, candidates should make sure they fulfill all the factors of the eligibility criteria like educational qualification, subjects, minimum passing marks, etc. Candidates can check the various types of pharmacy courses eligibility criteria given below.

There are several types of pharmacy courses available in the form of various specializations. Candidates can choose the pharmacy courses as per their interest in the field, subjects liking, and career plans. Following the popular specialization available in the pharmacy. 

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Drug Regulatory Affairs
• Biopharmaceutics
• Industrial Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Technology
• Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Assurance
• Clinical Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmacy Practice
• Pharmacognosy
• Pharmaceutical Marketing Management
• Quality Assurance
• Drug Discovery and Development
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Bulk Drugs
• Pharmacology
• Phytopharmaceuticals and Natural products

Check out the M Pharm Colleges in India

Candidates are often confused between pharmacy courses and medical courses. There is a huge difference between them in terms of duration, knowledge, fees, etc.. To get a clear idea go through the different table given below. 

Also read: B Pharma Vs D Pharms: Which one is better?

The admission process for the pharmacy courses depends upon the type of course you opting. The pharmacy courses admission process is different for each programme like UK, PG, diploma, etc. Candidates can check the pharmacy courses admission process given below.

Pharmacy Courses Admission Process For Diploma

Most colleges base their Diploma Pharmacy admissions on the results of a university or state level entrance examination, such as  GUJCET, MHCET, UPSEE, and so on. Some colleges have their own entrance tests such as BITSAT, MET, etc for the diploma pharmacy admission.  Several states also hold the D Pharmacy Admission 2022 by providing merit lists for students who have been shortlisted based on state-level entrance exams.

Pharmacy Courses Admission Process  For Undergraduate Degree

To get admission into the pharmacy course undergraduate degree candidates should have passed class 10+2 and sit for the state level pharmacy entrance examination. Candidates should have scored the rank in the state level entrance examination 

Pharmacy Courses Admission Process  For Postgraduate Degree

Admission to postgraduate Pharmacy courses is based on graduation marks as well as scores in the pharmacy entrance examination. 

Note- The pharmacy courses admission process varies from college to college also. Some universities offer direct admission also via merits. 

Also read: Uttar Pradesh B Pharm Admission 2022

Admission to pharmacy programmes is done via an entrance examination. Most of the entrance examinations are conducted at the state level. Candidates need to sit for the pharmacy entrance examination and scored a rank in it to get admission into pharmacy college. Some of the top B.Pharm and M.Pharm entrance exams in India are given below:

Pharmacy Courses Entrance Exam for the UG Programmes 

WBJEE-  WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination) is a state-level exam administered by WBJEEB. The exam serves as a gateway for individuals seeking admission to B.Tech and B.Pharma programmes at West Bengal's universities, government colleges, and self-financing engineering and technical colleges. 

BITSAT- BITS Pilani administers the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test at the national level. Every year, BITSAT is organized to give admission to B.E., B.Pharm, M.Sc, and other courses offered at BITS campuses.

MHT CET- The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test, also known as MHT CET, is an entrance exam used to shortlist candidates for admission to undergraduate Engineering and Pharmacy programmes at various Maharashtra colleges. 

Pharmacy Courses Entrance Exam for the PG Programmes

NIPER JEE- The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Joint Entrance Test, or NIPER JEE 2022, is a computer-based exam for postgraduate programmes in MPharm, MTech (Pharm), MBA (Pharm), and PhD in pharmacy.

BITS HD- BITS (Birla Institute of Technical Science) Pilani administers the BITS HD online entrance exam. Birla Institute of Technical Science Higher Degree is the full name of BITS HD. This entrance exam is for individuals who want to apply for admission to BITS' higher degree programmes leading to M.E./M.Pharma, which is available at all three campuses like Hyderabad, Pilani, and Goa.

OJEEE- Odisha Joint Entrance Exam (OJEE) is a state-level entrance exam for admission to B.Pharm, MBA/PGDM, MCA, and M.Tech programmes administered by the OJEE Cell. Candidates can apply for admission to a variety of programmes provided by OJEE-affiliated colleges. OJEE is also used to get into Lateral Entry B.Tech, MCA/Lateral Entry MCA programmes.

In India, there are many colleges that offer admission for pharmacy courses. One can choose the colleges as per liking, fee structure, specialization they want to pursue, placement rates, NIRF rankings, etc. Some of those top pharmacy colleges in India are listed below-

Studying pharmacy overseas sharpens your skills in dealing with consumers from diverse backgrounds and who speak a range of languages. There are various other benefits of studying pharmacy abroad- 

• Studying abroad in pharmacy programmes will assist you to learn more about the domestic health care system while evaluating how other nations' systems work.
• You will be fairly familiar with the international healthcare model and how pharmacists work, but many other nations have different approaches to medical, health care, and pharmacy. Learning these ways may aid in the development of my abilities as a pharmacy student.
• Along with the academics, you will get global work experience through internship programmes, field trips, and practical projects. 

The abroad universities also offer pharmacy courses in various disciplines. Candidates who want to get global exposure and are able to afford the high fees can take admission to the abroad colleges. Some of the top pharmacy colleges abroad are

The fees of pharmacy courses vary as per the degree and the college you are opting for. The pharmacy fees of top-tier colleges. if you are taking admission in top tier private colleges the fees will be high and if you are taking admisison in the government college the pharmacy courses fees will be low. The pharmacy courses fees are as follows

Also read: Diploma courses after 10th

A pharmacy course is quite different from another course as it involves research work, keen observation, advanced level computer skills. Some of the skills required for pharmacy courses are:

• Research Skills
• Computer skills
• Communication skills
• Observation skills and an eye for detail.
• Scientific Paper Writing Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Proofreading Skills
• Mathematical Skills
• Ability to Multitask
• Counseling Skills

The course curriculum of the pharmacy courses depends on the type of degree. If you are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy it will be 4 years long and consist of 8 semesters. The pharmacy course curriculum of a bachelor’s degree will include foundation subjects like Pharmatecual Analysis, Pharmacognosy I, Anatomy, Physiology & Health Education (APHE), etc. 

Whereas, if you are pursuing a master’s degree in pharmacy the duration of the course will be 2 years long and includes 2 semesters. The pharmacy course curriculum of a master’s degree will include subjects like Pharmaceutical Validation, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology, Clinical Pharmacy Practice, etc. 

 A student pursuing a Pharmacy course will be studying communication skills development, environmental science studies, ethical practices, and regulations of the Pharmacy Council of India apart from important pharmacy courses subjects. 

Find out what to do after B Pharmacy

Below we have provided a list of pharmacy course subjects that a student may encounter while pursuing a pharmacy degree. However, it must be noted that the syllabus and curriculum vary from course to course and college to college.

In India, pharmacy is a popular career choice since it allows you to work in a variety of settings, including research labs, pharmacies, hospitals, the armed forces, government institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry. In the evolved pharmacy industry, a professional must have management capabilities and computational skills along with core technical knowledge. The pharmacy industry is rapidly moving towards being a high technology-driven one and scientists are using more and more technology to predict the future of healthcare and thus the pharmacy industry ought to move along.

There is no doubt about the fact that the scope of pharmacy is very bright across the globe. The situation is such that one can live without food for a day or two. But in case of illness immediate relief is needed to survive. A pharmacist can be a distributor or a wholesaler. In this, the investment and the returns both are high and thus is a very booming area. Some good companies also provide loans for investment purposes. Other jobs that a pharma graduate can take up are as follows:

• Drug inspector
• Drug controller
• Hospital pharmacist
• Big data analyst
• Computational pharmacist
• Healthcare management scientist
• Life-cycle management scientist

Students easily find jobs at hospitals, industries, and research laboratories. In hospitals, private & government, their job entails preparation, procurement & stocking, and dispensing of medicines and health accessories. In addition, if one wishes, he/she can come up with his/her own pharmacy store setup.

Check out about the pharmacy council in India

After completing the pharmacy course candidates can secure jobs in government as well as the private sector. Candidates can get their pharmacist licenses and start their own businesses. Following are some of the job options after the pharmacy courses. 

Salaries for B.Pharmacy graduates in India vary according to qualification, experience level, and employer type. A pharmacist's annual income ranges from INR 2 to 5 Lakhs. The salary after pharmacy courses depends on the job profile also. Candidates can check the pharmacy salary as per the job profile given below. 

Check out the highest paying jobs in pharmaceutical sector 

The demand for jobs in the pharmacy sector is very high. Candidates can find jobs in India as well as in abroad. Some of the top pharmaceutical companies that hire candidates who have degrees in pharmacy courses are 

Check out the What after M Pharm?

We hope that this article on pharmacy courses was helpful to you. For more information stay tuned to CollegeDekho.