Pharm. D. is a 6- year doctorate level course, including five years of academic study and a year of internship or residency. The course aims to prepare eligible candidates students in the management of patient medication therapy and improving patient outcomes.
The basic eligibility criterion to apply for the course is a 10 + 2 or equivalent qualification from a recognized board and a qualified diploma in Pharmacy from any Pharm. D. College recognized by Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The average fee charged for the course in India ranges between INR 6 and 20 Lacs, varying across Institutes. Various institutes accept score GPAT for the admission.
Upon completing the course successfully, postgraduates are lucratively employed in both private and government hospitals, or run open their own pharmacy. The average initial annual salary offered to such postgraduates ranges between INR 3 and 10 Lacs, depending upon the candidate’s skillsets.

Pharm. D.:Course Highlights

Tabulated below are some of the major highlights related to the course.

Pharm. D.: What is it About?

Pharm. D. is the art and science of preparing and dispensing medicines. The course has been designed to train eligible candidates in clinical pharmacy, pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical care. Upon successful completion of the course, students gain skills in diagnosis and treatment of diseases, selection and therapeutic usage of drugs, monitoring of patients, etc.

Pharm. D. is a latin term which means pharmaciae doctor. It is a registered qualification under pharmacy act, 1948. The course was introduced by Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), regulatory body for pharmacy education in India. The course is generally meant for students who have interest in learning of concepts related to clinical research and acquire an in-depth understanding of pharmacy practice concepts.

Pharm.D.: Eligibility

Candidates interested in pursuing the course are required to meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• A minimum aggregate score of 55% at both Higher and Senior Secondary levels (classes 10^th and 12^th) completed from a recognized educational Board.
• Also, candidates should have completed the Senior Secondary level (class 12^th) in the science stream, with a minimum aggregate score of 60% in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) or PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology).

Pharm.D.: Admission Process

For admission to the course, eligible candidates need to have passed a relevant entrance examination, conducted by any university at State and national levels, as part of the general admission procedure. Subsequently, qualifying candidates are needed to qualify rounds of group discussion and personal interview as part of the counseling procedure.

Some of the major entrance examinations conducted in India for admission to the course are as follows:

• GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test)
• UP-CPMT (Uttar Pradesh Combined Pre-Medical Test)
• PMET (Punjab Pre-Medical Entrance Test)
• UPSEE Pharmacy (Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Examination)