Doctor of Pharmacy or Pharm D Course is a professional postgraduate degree course in the pharmacy field. Merriam-Webster defines Pharmacy as the art and science of preparing and dispensing medicines that are learned in this course.
Introduced by the Pharmacy Council of India in 2008 Pharm D course enables one to practice the profession of a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act 1948. Also, such professionals take on several tasks that MBBS graduates perform, such as monitoring patients, diagnosing diseases, etc.
It is a postgraduate qualification and hence Pharm D graduates can register directly for Ph D. The course is generally meant for students who have an interest in learning concepts related to Clinical research and acquiring an understanding of pharmacy practice concepts.
As Pharmacists, students will practice at both private and government hospitals. After successful completion of the course, there are a lot of positions available for freshers like Clinical Pharmacists, Drug advisors, Medical writers, nutritionists, Drug writers, etc.
What is the Pharm D course?
Pharm D is a six-year course that deals with the clinical study of drugs and various experiments. During the course duration, students have five years of academic learning with a one-year internship for practical training.
In this course, students do an in-depth study of pharmacy and are accepted across the world. Doctor of Pharmacy focused on classroom theory, penetrative laboratory experiments, and motivated research projects.
Pharm D Course Highlights
| Particulars | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Name of Course | Pharm D |
| Full Form | Doctor of Pharmacy |
| Course Type | Doctorate |
| Course Duration | 6 years (5 years Academic + 1-year Internship) |
| Age Limit | Minimum 17 years old |
| Eligibility Criteria | Sun Pharmaceuticals, Piramal, Cipla, Lupin, Glenmark, Amgen, AbbVie, Sanofi, Pfizer, Emcure, etc |
| Admission Process | Through Entrance Exam |
| Exam Type | Semester Wise |
| Entrance Exam | GPAT, NIPER JEE |
| Average Course Fees | INR 6,00,000 to 20,00,000 Lakh per Annum |
| Top Recruiters | Clinical Pharmacists, Data analysts, Business Development Managers, Pharmacologist, Research Scientists, etc. |
| Career Opportunity | Clinical Pharmacists, Data Analyst, Business Development Managers, Pharmacologist, Research Scientists, etc. |
| Average Salary | INR 3,50,000 to 8,00,00 LPA |
Quick Facts About Pharm D Course
The Pharm D course imparts knowledge to the students about drugs and their therapy, monitoring, selection, treatment, etc. It provides the learning of the patient’s health care services. Some quick facts regarding the pharm d course are given below.
Why Study Pharm D Course?
The demand for Pharm D courses in India, as well as other countries, is high. Pharm D course has its own set of advantages in this competitive world.
• Health Care Development:- Pharm D students work with other professionals for the development of Health Care. They are playing an essential role in decreasing acute and chronic diseases.
• Career Growth:- Day to day the growing rate of the pharmaceutical industry is extremely high. Indian Pharma Companies can be expected to grow up to 70 Billion dollars by 2025 and would double their size by 2030 to 140 Billion dollars. Hence enhancing employment opportunities.
• Flexibility of Work:- The work hours are flexible in this profession. This means it doesn’t affect your personal life. There are day shifts, night shifts, and 7 on shifts or 7 off shifts. You can choose any comfortable shift.
• Community Involvement:- Pharmacists are an important part of the community because they contribute to the health and welfare of the patients.
• Career Opportunity:- There are various career opportunities in the Pharmacy field. Pharmacists can work in private or government organizations, Nursing homes, Hospitals, Colleges, and Medical Industry.
Pharm D Course Required Skillset
Students must have the following skills below:
- Science wizard and technical skills
- Medical Writing and Ethics
- Determinant and consistency skills
- Business skills like marketing
- Communication and Personal skills
- Sharp Memory, Curiosity, and wicked knowledge
- Therapeutic and Counselling Skills
- Adaptation ability to dynamic situations
Who should do the Pharm D Course?
• The students who are interested build up a career in the healthcare sector can pursue a Pharm D course.
• The Candidates who want to pursue a career in the Pharmaceutical industry must study this course.
• Who are interested in working with the various drug regulations and preventing drug overdose should pursue this Pharm D Course.
Eligibility Criteria for Pharm D
There are some Pharm D course eligibility criteria applied. These are:
• Students must qualify 10+2 exam with 60% marks from any recognized Board with a science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics).
• Other Reserved category SC/ ST/ OBC may be given relaxation of 5% marks considered.
• Students who completed their B Pharmacy course are eligible for admission into the Pharm D course through lateral entry.
• Some universities and colleges have different eligibility for the Pharm D course as a common entrance exam for admission into the Pharm D course.
Entrance Exam for Pharm D Course
For admission into the Pharm D course, students must take the national or university-level Pharm D entrance exam. Some most common popular entrance exams in India are:
• GPAT: Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test, Online mode exam, national level exam.
• NIPER JEE: National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education Research Joint Entrance Exam, Online mode exam.
• NIMSEE: NIMS University Entrance Exam, Offline mode exam, national level exam.
• SRM JEE: SRM Institute of Science and Technology Joint Entrance Exam, Computer-based test, university-level exam.
• BV CET: Bharati Vidyapeeth Common Entrance Test, Offline mode exam, university-level exam.
• MET: Manipal Entrance Test, offline exam, university-level exam.
Admission Process of Pharm D
Admission to the majority of the Pharm D courses is done based on the entrance exam. Some colleges and universities are there that provide admission based on merit. The merit list is prepared based on the class 12th or equivalent exam obtained marks.
The detailed process of admission that the candidates are required to follow is described below:
• Registration:- The registration form will be released on the official website of the respective university and college. Visit the website and register.
• Exam Form Fill-up:- After successful registration fill up the exam form with the details of the necessary documents like personal details, academic details, etc.
• Pay Application Fees:- Candidates must submit the application fees for the Pharm D course before the last date of application through the website online portal and take out a receipt for future reference.
• Download Admit Card:- When respective authorities release the admit card candidates must download it to appear in the examination.
• Entrance Exam:- Give the entrance exam on the date by following the rule on your admit card.
• Counseling:- Based on scores obtained in the entrance exam colleges and universities conduct counseling or GD/PI for the final selection. Candidates should pay the seat acceptance fee to confirm their seats after selection.
Top Colleges in India for Pharm D
Here we have mentioned the names of the top 20 Parm D colleges from a total of more than 250 colleges in India. Admission is taken through the entrance exam in all these colleges. The colleges may be government or private, this is the best colleges in India.
| College Name | Gov./ Private | City Name | Avg. Course Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Private | Manipal | 2,210,000 |
| Poona College of Pharmacy | Private | Pune | 1,050,000 |
| JSS College of Pharmacy | Private | Mysore | 2,014,50 |
| Annamalai University | Government | Annamalai Nagar | 187,080 |
| NIMS University | Government | Jaipur | 150,000 |
| Government College of Pharmacy | Government | Amravati | 242,250 |
| JSS College of Pharmacy | Private | Ooty | 2,014,500 |
| Government College of Pharmacy | Dr. D Y Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research | Aurangabad | 220,500 |
| Government | Private | Pune | 2,500,890 |
| Andhra University College of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Goverment | Visakhapatnam | 180,700 |
| PSG College of Pharmacy | Private | Coimbatore | 2,100,600 |
| Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy | Private | Bangalore | 2,300,796 |
| Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research | Private | Chennai | 1,800,700 |
| SRM College of Pharmacy | Private | Kattankulathur | 2,900,790 |
| LM College of Pharmacy | Private | Ahmedabad | 2,100,400 |
| ISF College of Pharmacy | Private | Moga | 475,200 |
| KLE University College of Pharmacy | Private | Belgaum | 3,900,600 |
| The Oxford College of Pharmacy | Private | Bangalore | 2,580,700 |
| Vels University Chennai – Vel’s Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies | Private | 2,355,600 | |
| Amrita School of Pharmacy | Private | Kochi | 1,220,600 |
| Chitkara College of Pharmacy | Private | Rajpura | 2,100,800 |
Pharm D Course Syllabus
The syllabus for the Pharm D course is divided semester-wise. The syllabus is given for five academic years and each year has two semesters. The remaining students do internships for better knowledge.
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
|---|---|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry |
| Pharmaceutics | Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry |
| Medicinal Biochemistry | Remedial Mathematics/ Biology |
| SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
|---|---|
| Pathophysiology | Pharmacology-I |
| Pharmaceutical Microbiology | Community Pharmacy |
| Pharmacognosy & Phytopharmaceuticals | Pharmacotherapeutics-I |
| SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology-II | Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence |
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | Medicinal Chemistry |
| Pharmacotherapeutics-II | Pharmaceutical Formulations |
| SEMESTER 7 | SEMESTER 8 |
|---|---|
| Pharmacotherapeutics-III | Biostatistics & Research Methodology |
| Hospital Pharmacy | Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics |
| Clinical Pharmacy | Clinical Toxicology |
| SEMESTER 9 | SEMESTER 10 |
|---|---|
| Clinical Research | Clerkship |
| Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics | Project work (6 Months) |
| Clinical Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacotherapeutic Drug Monitoring | – |
| Year 6 | Internship Program |
Pharm D Books Name
Here we provide information about top books for the study of the Pharm D Course. These books are subjects in the pharm d course you will study in your course duration. All the books are helpful for better understanding each chapter and topic.
| Books Name | Author Name |
|---|---|
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | Tortora |
| Pharmacotherapeutics | Dipiro |
| Clinical pharmacology | Roger walker |
| Pharmaceutics | Martin’s |
| Organic chemistry | Pharmacy Practice |
| Pharmacy practice | Harikishan Singh |
| Pharmacognosy | Kokate |
| Hospital & clinical pharmacy | Paradkar, Siddique, Yadav |
| Medicinal Pharmacology | KD Tripathi |
| Microbiology | Asutosh Kar |
| Handbook of drug information | Lacy Armstrong |
Pharm D Top Recruiters
Pharm D graduates can get job opportunities in R&D sectors, Product Development, Marketing, and Technical departments of pharma companies. Some of the top Pharm D Indian and Foreign Recruiters are:
| Indian Recruiters | Foreign Recruiters |
|---|---|
| Sun Pharmaceuticals | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Cipla Limited | Piramal |
| Piramol | AbbVie |
| Aurobindo Pharma | Johnson & Johnson |
| Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories | Amgen |
| Zydus Cadila | Merck |
| Glenmark Pharma | Sanofi |
| Abbott Laboratories | Meijer Inc |
| Mylan Pharmaceutical | Walgreen Pharmacy |
| Lupin | Emcure |
Pharm D Course Jobs
Pharm D degree holders have wide opportunities to get jobs in their careers in the healthcare sector and the pharma industry. Below we provide some of the names of the jobs:
| Research Scientist | Clinical Research |
| Quality Assurance Manager | Pharmacy Technician |
| Medical Weiter | R & D Sectors |
| Clinical Pharmacist | Pharmacists |
| Pharmacy Manager | Regulatory Affairs Manager |
| Drug Expert | Relatail Pharmacists |
| Nutritionist | Lecturer |
| Drug Interaction Specialist | Pharmaceutical Advisor |
Pharm D Salary
According to the pay scale, the average salary of a Pharm D course graduate offered in India is INR 3.5 Lakh Per Annum. The Pharm D salary in India range became higher as they gained experience over time in the reputed pharmaceutical companies.
The candidates who completed higher studies after the Pharm D course duration can expect more salaries. The pay scale depends on the skills and experience in the pharma industry. If you have good knowledge and more experience you can expect a good salary.
Pharm D Future Scope
There is a lot of Pharm D scope in India available for Pharm D degree holders. They can further study for higher education and those who don’t want to go academic field can join jobs after graduation. Here we mentioned some options you can explore based on your liking:
• Higher Studies
After Pharm D which course is best? here we provide the best suggestion for you. You can do a Ph.D. after completion of the Pharm D course years. Other than recommending some of the course names below you can do any course.
- Ph D
- MBA
- M. Phil
- NET
- MPH
• Industry Career:
You can secure jobs in the pharmaceutical industry field such as R&D sectors, Quality Assurance Manager, Pharmacy Manager, Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Pharmacy Technicians, etc.
• Health Sector Career:
You also work in Government or Private hospitals as Pharmacists, Health clinics, Medical writers, Clinical Research, Drug experts, Drug Control Administration nutritionists, etc.
• Pharmacy Stores:
Pharm D degree holders became an entrepreneur by opening their pharmacy stores wholesale or retail.
Best Differences between Pharm D and D Pharm
| Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) | D Pharm (Diploma In Pharmacy) |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Pharmacy is the combination of the art and science of dispensing medicines. | A diploma in Pharmacy course may be a career-oriented program within the areas of pharmaceutical sciences. |
| Students must qualify 10+2 exam with 60% marks from any recognized Board with a science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics). | D Pharm course duration is 2 years. Two years are divided into four semesters. |
| In-Class XII or equivalent examination should be passed by any educational board. A minimum average score of 50% ( 45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at class XII. | For the Pharm D course, the top colleges are NIMS University and Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences. |
| The D Pharm courses are Jamia Hamdard University and Punjab University. | The D Pharm courses are at Jamia Hamdard University and Punjab University. |
| D Pharmacy degree holders’ job roles are Production Executive, Scientific Officer, Analytical Chemist, Medical Transcriptionists etc. | D Pharmacy degree holders’ job roles are Production Executive, Scientific Officer, Analytical Chemist, Medical Transcriptionists, etc. |
Pharm D Study Abroad
Some candidates prefer to study the Pharm D course in foreign universities due to the best infrastructure, research facilities, strong placements, and experienced faculties.
For Admission into a foreign country for this course, you must take some of the entrance exams such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), IELTS (International English Language Test System), and PTE (Proficiency Test of English).
United States of America (USA)
Candidates can be admitted to the Pharm D Course in the USA. The Pharm D course duration is the same as the Indian Pharm D course in Karnataka. All the details of the Pharm D course are similar.
| University Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Cincinnati | 111,50,500 |
| University of Arizona | 66,90,500 |
| University of Iowa | 130,80,900 |
| University of Missouri | 166,20,00 |
| Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 235,80,500 |
United Kingdom (UK)
Candidates can be admitted to the Pharm D Course in the UK. The Pharm D course duration is the same as the Indian Pharm D course in Tamilnadu. All the details of the Pharm D course are similar.
| University Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | 75,90,500 |
| University of Reading | 6,500,500 |
| University of Kentucky | 40,00,00 |
| University of Liverpool | 73,15,500 |
| University of Manchester | 75,75,900 |
Australia
Candidates can be admitted to the Pharm D Course in Australia. The Pharm D course details in Telegu are the same as the Indian Pharm D course in Bangalore. All the details of the Pharm D course are similar.
| University Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Technology Sydney | 8,00,500 |
| University of Tasmania | 8,700,500 |
| Flinders University | 7,950,700 |
| University of Newcastle | 9,600,500 |
| Curtin University | 8,500,500 |
Canada
Candidates can be admitted to the Pharm D Course in Canada. The Pharm D course duration is the same as the Indian Pharm D course in Kerala. All the details of the Pharm D course are similar.
| University Name | Average Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Alberta | 10,45,000 |
| University of British Columbia | 15,13,900 |
| McGill University | 2,900,500 |
| University of Waterloo | 3,800,500 |
| University of Toronto | 102,60,500 |
Some FAQs Related to Pharm D Course
Q1. Is D Pharm and Pharm D the same course?
Ans. Doctor of Pharmacy is the full form of Pharm D. And a Diploma in Pharmacy is abbreviated as D Pharm. It is a pharmacy diploma degree course less important than a Doctorate of pharmacy.
Q2. Pharm D degree holder considered as a medical Doctor?
Ans. Pharm D stands for Doctor of Pharmacy and it is a doctorate level course. So the students can be considered doctors. Other countries have different qualifications for being a Pharmacist, such as Canada, where a bachelor’s degree is required in pharmacy.
Q3. Pharm D or B Pharmacy, which is a better course?
Ans. Pharm D is the best course than the B Pharmacy course. Because the Pharm D course is a specialized doctoral program, while the B Pharmacy course is an undergraduate pharmacy course.
Q4. What is the difference between Pharm D and Ph.D. in Pharmacy?
Ans. Pharm D course is a doctorate-level course in pharmacy that focuses on work placement, while a Ph.D. in Pharmacy is a doctorate-level course that focuses on science and research.
Q5. What does a Pharm D graduate do?
Ans.Pharm D graduates working in the area of pharmacy dispensing of drugs. Also often work on keeping track of their patients’ progress and making adjustments to their medicines as needed.
Q7. What are the average fees for the Pharm D course?
Ans. The average fees for the Pharm D course depend on the college type whether or not government or private. Government colleges average fees below two to three lakhs per annum but private college’s average fees are so high.
Q8. What is the duration of the Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) course?
Ans. The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) program is a six-year course. Five Years of academics and the last one-year internship.
Q9. Is the Pharm D course a good career option?
Ans. Yes, the Pharm D course is a good career option. Because most people are still not aware of this Pharm D course they pay a higher amount of salary.
Q10. How do I fill out the Pharm D form for admission?
Ans. You can fill out the online form through the college or university’s official websites. Some colleges and universities have offline form options where you have to visit the respective college the fill out the application form.
Q11. What are the top recruiting areas of the Pharm D course?
Ans. The top recruiting areas of the Pharm D course are Health centers, Drug control administration, and medicines dispensing stores in Healthcare. Other than they can be recruited in the Pharmaceutical industry such as R&D sectors, Production Manager, Technical Pharmacy etc.
Q12. What are the government jobs for Pharm D in India?
Ans. Government jobs for Pharm D in India are Drug Inspectors, Clinical Research, Pharmacists, etc.
Q13. Are there any fixed working hours for Pharm D?
Ans.No, there are flexible working hours for Pharm D graduates. They can choose their working time to their choices of comfort.
Q14. Is becoming a Pharm D course worth the cost?
Ans. Yes, the Pharm D course is worth the cost invested by students which for why they will get a high pay salary after the course.
Q15. Is NEET required for Pharm D?
Ans. No, NEET is required for admission into the MBBS course. For Pharm D you should take the other entrance exam like GPAT, NIPER JEE, MET, etc.