List of Pharmacy Courses After 12th - Admission Process, Fees, Career Options, Salary

Pharmacy Courses After 12th: If you are a PCB student and wish to pursue medical programmes, then Pharmacy courses are a viable option apart from the MBBS courses and BDS courses. Pharmacy courses not only open up good job opportunities, but you can also get a decent salary after pursuing pharmaceutic-centric programmes from various colleges across the country. As per the minimum eligibility criteria of Pharmacy courses after 12th, students must study Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics during their 10+2 level. 

Bachelor of Pharmacy or B Pharm is not counted amongst the conventional medical courses but is a suitable option that can help you secure a career once you after your graduation. The aim of the programmes is to educate the students regarding the correct use of medicines and managing them in terms of dosage and guiding the patients. Students can apply for Pharmacy courses in India with their CBSE 12th Result 2023 and ISC Class 12th Result 2023.

In this article, you can check out the list of pharmacy courses that you can pursue at the undergraduate level along with other related-details pertaining to the discipline. 

Pharmacy Courses After 12th - B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy)

B.Pharm or Bachelor of Pharmacy is one such degree course that offers depth knowledge of medicines, their composition and manufacturing. In India, B.Pharma is one of the most preferred pharmacy courses after 12th class. It seeks to impart a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental uses of biochemistry in pharmacology (a subject of Pharmacy). It is a thorough approach that has worked well for the prescription, production, and distribution of medications. Once a student enrols and completes such pharmacy courses, he or she is more likely to pursue a career in Pharmaceutical Business or continue their education in this field.

B.Pharm Eligibility - Minimum of 50% in Class 12th and Physics, Chemistry and Biology as mandatory subjects in 12th.
Course Duration - 4 years

Pharmacy Courses After 12th Class - D.Pharm

Diploma in Pharmacy, popularly known as D.Pharm, is one of the most preferred four-semester pharmacy courses after 12th class. The fundamentals of pharmaceutical research are covered in D.Pharm. These pharmacy courses are intended to prepare students for employment in hospitals and other pharmaceutically-related fields under the supervision of a registered pharmacist after they complete their 12th class in the science stream. There are several employment options for DPharm graduates in hospitals and the pharmaceutical sector.

D.Pharm Eligibility - A minimum of 50% in 12th Class with PCB stream
Course Duration - 2 years

Types of Pharmacy Courses & Duration

At the undergraduate level, students will be able to pursue two distinct courses that are highly regarded in the field of Pharmacy. Check out the types of Pharmacy courses and their duration here.

Eligibility Criteria for Pharmacy Courses in India

In order to pursue any pharmacy course after class 12, all aspirants of the course need to meet the requisite eligibility criteria for Pharmacy courses in India.

Note: Pharmacy colleges will define their own requirements and eligibility criteria for the various pharmacy courses at the undergraduate level. Therefore, prior to applying for admission to the different programmes, aspirants are advised to go through the admission guidelines and policies of each individual college.

Common Topics in Pharmacy Courses

Under both the degrees, i.e. Diploma in Pharmacy and Bachelor of Pharmacy, there will be certain topics that will be common across various pharmacy colleges in India. Here are some of the common topics in Pharmacy courses that are taught in classrooms across India.

Note: Each college/institution/university will define its own curriculum for the various B.Pharm and D.Pharm programmes, while, ensuring that they meet the requisite curriculum guidelines set by the Pharmacy Council of India.

Entrance Exams for Pharmacy Courses

There are several entrance tests that are conducted in order to offer pharmacy aspirants admission to the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Listed below are some of the entrance tests for B.Pharm, D.Pharm and M.Pharm.

Note: Apart from these state-level entrance tests, conducted for the purpose of offering admission to pharmacy aspirants in the respective state, individual institutes and universities also offer either B.Pharm or D.Pharm admissions based on University-level entrance exams.

Best Pharmacy Colleges in India

India is home to a number of reputable colleges and universities which offer pharmacy at various levels, i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma. Check out the following list of Best Pharmacy Colleges in India, the courses offered by them and their respective course fees.

Pharmacy Certificate Courses

Apart from the conventional route of either opting for a Diploma or Bachelor’s programme, many students choose to explore certificate courses. They are offered by standalone institutions for anywhere between 1 month to 2 years. Based on the timeline and quality of the certificate courses, aspirants are charged an appropriate amount of anywhere between INR 500 to 50,000. The courses can be pursued online or offline based on students' convenience.

Top Colleges/ Platforms Offering Certificates Programmes for Pharmacy Courses

There are many institutions that offer certificate courses to students. Given below are some of the renowned ones.

Top Colleges/ Platforms Offering Online Certificates Programme

Listed below are a few online platforms and institutions offering certificates course to aspirants.

Top Colleges/ Platforms Offering Offline Certificates Programme

Listed below are a few offline institutions offering certificates course to students.

Career Prospects and Job Opportunities in Pharmacy

Having pursued B.Pharma programme opens your options for jobs in government as well as the private sector. Candidates can also start their own business after getting their pharmacist license. Some of the career prospects and job opportunities in Pharmacy available to pharmacy graduates in India are as follows:

• Chemical/Drug Technician

• Drug Therapist

• Hospital Drug Coordinator

• Bio-Technology Industries

• Drug Inspector

• Health Inspector

• Making Prescription to Patients

• Pharmacist

• Research Officer

• Pathological Lab

• Scientist

• Research & Development

Average Salary in Pharmacy Career in India

Candidates pursuing undergraduate pharmacy course can expect starting salaries ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs.18,000 per month. The average salary in pharmacy in India depends on various factors such as their qualifications, area of specialisation, place of employment, skills and training received and much more. Like other industries, the more on-field experience a graduate of pharmacy gains, the better the job profile and payscale of that candidate. With proper experience and developed skillset, Pharmacists can expect an annual salary of ₹4,50,000 - ₹7,00,000.

This can also be enhanced with higher education in pharmacy or other fields, to expand one's knowledge and skillset. In most cases, higher education results in a better package and better job profiles for pharmacy graduates. Some of the courses that one can pursue after graduating from a Pharmacy course in India is as follows.

Future Scope and Options after Pursuing Pharmacy Courses

Although there are good job options available after pursuing B.Pharm, students can find better opportunities after pursuing a masters course i.e. M.Pharm. Postgraduates in the pharmacy field can also get opportunities to work with international companies.

Another option for the future is pursuing an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management. This specialization will help you move up the ladder and offer very bright job opportunities including roles like Production Manager, Area Manager, Medical Representative, etc.

Reputed Recruiters in the Field of Pharmacy

The pharmaceutical industry has seen massive growth over the past decade, where different pharmaceutical companies have been able to produce top quality medicines and drugs for medicinal purposes. Here are some of the top recruiters in the field of pharmacy.

• Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd

• Cipla Limited

• Aurobindo Pharma Ltd

• Lupin Ltd

• Dr Reddy's Laboratories

• Abbott India Ltd

• Mankind Pharma Ltd

• Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd

The colleges listed above are just a few of the many pharmacy colleges in India offering a range of pharmacy courses to aspirants. If you wish to explore other such non-conventional medical courses, you can also consider a career in the field of Radiology, Homeopathy and Ayurveda, Physiotherapy etc. However, if you wish to stick a career in the pure medicine field, do a keep track of admission process at top MBBS colleges!

If you are looking for a pharmacy college for yourself in India, then fill out the Common Application Form, available on our website. You will be able to select the college and course of your choice and you can also seek guidance for admission from our counsellors as well.