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About PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy)

Doctor of Pharmacy, also known as PharmD, is a professional degree programme that is essential for candidates who want to practice pharmacy. The programme covers uses, production and application of medicines with respect to the disease that the patient is suffering.

There are two levels of the PharmD programme. Candidates aspiring for this programme can apply at graduate as well as postgraduate, i.e. those who seek a career in pharmacy can apply for PharmD after 10+2 and even after completing graduation. The two PharmD courses are as follows:

• PharmD 6-year programme
• PharmD Post-Baccalaureate 3-year programme

The programme prepares the candidates to understand the clinical as well as commercial uses of medicine. A brief understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of the disease is also offered by the programme in the final year of the programme.

PharmD Course Highlights

Course Name	Doctor of Pharmacy
Short Name	PharmD
Course Level	Postgraduate
Course Type	Doctorate
Degree	Doctor of Pharmacy
Specialisation	Pharmacy
Relevant Stream	Pharmacy
Course Duration	3 Years (for Post-Baccalaureate programme) and 6 Years (for Pre-Baccalaureate programme)
Course Mode	Regular
Minimum Qualification Required	10+2 (for Pre-Baccalaureate programme) and a relevant UG Degree ((for Post-Baccalaureate programme))
Age	Not Specified
Selection Process	Admission Through Entrance Exam
Course Fee	INR 6 LPA - INR 20 LPA
Job Type	Pharmacist, Medicinal Instructor, Research professional, Marketing professional for Pharmaceutical Industry, Quality Control Officer, Drug Inspector
Average Salary	INR 3.5 LPA - INR 10 LPA

PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) Eligibility Criteria

In order to get admission in the course, candidates must meet the entry criteria for PharmD mentioned below.

PharmD 6-year programme:

• Candidates must have passed class 12 board exams from a recognized board with physics, chemistry and biology.
• The minimum requirement for candidates seeking this programme is 55% average marks in class 12 board exams.
• Candidates who have pursued diploma courses from either of the institutes recognized by the PCI (Pharmacy Council of India) can also apply for this programme.

PharmD Post-Baccalaureate programme:

• Candidates who have successfully completed BPharm from institutes recognized by PCI can apply for this programme.
• The candidates must have secured at least 50% aggregate marks in graduation in order to pursue this programme.

Note: The minimum marks may vary from institute to institute

PharmD Admission Process

• Admission to both the programmes is done on the basis of entrance exams.
• The examinations can be conducted either by the central medical authorities, state or universities.
• Candidates who perform well in the exam make to the merit lists.
• The selection/ counselling process is conducted on the basis of the merit lists.

PharmD Entrance Exams

Merit lists are prepared on the basis of score of candidates in the entrance exam basis which list of applicants shortlisted for PharmD course is released. Some popular PharmD exams are:

• Manipal Entrance Test for PharmD
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham for PharmD
• SRMJEEE for PharmD

PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) Syllabus

First Year:

Human Anatomy and Physiology	Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry	Medicinal Biochemistry
Remedial Biology	Pharmaceutics	Pharmaceutical Inorganic Chemistry

Second Year:

Pathophysiology	Pharmacology – 1	Pharmacognosy and Phytopharmaceuticals
Community Pharmacy	Pharmaceutical Microbiology	Pharmacotherapeutics – 1

Third Year:

Pharmacology (Advanced)	Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence	Pharmacotherapeutics – 2
Medicinal Chemistry	Pharmaceutical Analysis	Pharmaceutical Formulations

Fourth Year:

Hospital Pharmacy	Research Methodology	Biostatistics
Pharmacotherapeutics – 3	Clinical Pharmacy	Biopharmaceutics
Pharmacokinetics	Clinical Toxicology

Fifth Year:

Clinical Research	Pharmacoeconomics	Pharmacoepidemiology
Pharmacotherapeutic Drug Monitoring	Clerkship	Clinical Pharmacokinetics
Project work

Sixth Year:

Candidates have to pursue internships or training includes postings in special medical units. Students have to provide clinical pharmacy services to the allotted wards independently. Training is done for:

• 6 months in General Medicine department
• 2 months in each of the Speciality departments

PharmD Course Fee

Institute Type	Minimum Fee	Maximum Fee	Average Fee
Private Colleges	INR 70,650	INR 25 Lakhs	INR 8.3 Lakhs
Public Colleges	INR 69,000	INR 10 Lakhs	INR 5.3 Lakhs

PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) Career Options and Job Prospects

The PharmD course offers a good return on investment as there are a lot of jobs available after completion of the programme. Candidates can practice as a pharmacist at government as well as private hospitals. Jobs are also available at NGOs working in the health domain, especially in rural areas.

High paying jobs are also available in the pharmaceutical industries and pharmacy institutes. Candidates can also take up business opportunities and start their own pharmacy stores to provide medicines to patients and doctors.

Employment Areas	Pharmacist Medicinal Instructor Research professional Marketing professional for Pharmaceutical Industry) Quality Control Officer Drug Inspector
Job Profiles	Drug Control Administration Health Centres Pharmaceutical Companies Medical Dispensing Stores Educational Institutes Private Business Government Sector

Salary After PharmD

• Salaries or income in this industry varies from Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per annum, depending on the job or scale of business that the candidate has started.
• Pharmacists can earn up to Rs. 16 lakh per annum depending on the quality and the location of the store.