Pharmacy Courses After 12th: Fees, Admission, Job Prospects

If you’re interested in the medical field but prefer not to pursue MBBS, BDS, or a nursing program, Pharmacy courses offer an excellent alternative after 12th.

In the Pharmacy domain, you will work with medicines and patient care, and be involved in various roles in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, including drug development, clinical research, and hospital pharmacy.

Before we begin to explore career options in Pharmacy, First of all, let us know “What is Pharmacy?”

pharmacy-courses

The word “pharmacy” is derived from the Greek word “pharmakon,” which means drug or medicine. This term was first recorded in the English language between the 15th and 17th centuries and later evolved with time.

“Pharmacy is the branch of health sciences that deals with the preparation and dispensing of drugs. It aims to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs”.

Pharmacists are expert healthcare professionals who have done their studies in medicine. They can use their knowledge of medicines and drugs for the benefit of patients.

The pharmacy field can primarily be divided into three disciplines:

  • Pharmaceutics
  • Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacognosy
  • Pharmacy Practice
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Pharmacy Course After 12th

Career in Pharmacy after 12th is one of rewarding option that opens doors to numerous opportunities in healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector.

Pharmacy is one of the top medical courses that candidates can pursue without NEET. Some of the top programs in Pharmacy are given below:

  • Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) in Ayurveda
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D)

Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)

A diploma in Pharmacy or D.Pharm is 2 year course which students can pursue after 12th. After completing the D.Pharm, candidates will be eligible to practice as a pharmacist.

D.Pharma is an entry level course in Pharmacy, the admission in this program are based on state level diploma entrance exams. D.Pharma candidates are eligible for admission in B.Pharma through the lateral entry admission.

Below are the key highlights of a diploma in pharmacy programme:

D.Pharm CourseDetails
D.Pharm Full FormDiploma in Pharmacy
D.Pharm Course LevelDiploma Program
D.Pharm Course Duration2 years
D.Pharm Eligibility10+2 (PCM or PCB)
D.Pharm Entrance ExamsState level Diploma entrance exams
D.Pharm Admission ProcessEntrance Exam + Counselling Process 
Top CollegesJamia Hamdard, NIPER, JSS College of Pharmacy

Bachelor in Pharmacy (B.Pharm)

A Bachelor in Pharmacy (B.Pharm) is 4 year undergraduate programs that deals with the study of medicines including, how they are developed, manufactured, and dispensed.

The courses curriculum is divided into 8 semesters and covers the following subjects:

  • Pharmaceutics
  • Pharmaceutical Chemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacognosy
  • Biochemistry
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Below are the key highlights of B.Pharm course after 12th:

B.Pharm CourseDetails
B.Pharma Full FormBachelor of Pharmacy
B.Pharma Course LevelUndergraduate (UG)
Course Duration4 years
B.Pharma Eligibility10+2 (PCM or PCB)
B.Pharma Entrance ExamsState level entrance exams
B.Pharma Admission ProcessEntrance Exam + Counselling Process 
B.Pharma Course feeINR 25000 – 10 lakh
B.Pharma Top CollegesJamia Hamdard, NIPER Hyderabad, BITS Pilani
B.Pharma Average SalaryINR 4-20 LPA (Approx)
B.Pharma Career ScopePublic Sector (Government Hospitals, health departments, drug control organization), Private Sector (pharmaceutical companies, Entrepreneurship)
B.Pharma Job ProfilesDrug Inspector, Medical Representative, Pharmacist
B.Pharma Top RecruitersCipla, Pfizer, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Lupin,

Learn More About – Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm)

Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D)

A doctor of Pharmacy also known as Pharm.D is a 6 year professional degree that focuses on preparing students for clinical roles in healthcare.

The course curriculum comprises 5 years of academic study and one year of internship. After completing the course, graduates can work as a clinical pharmacists in healthcare institutions, hospitals and research institutions.

Pharm.D CourseDetails
Pharm.D Full FormDoctor of Pharmacy
Pharm.D Course LevelDoctoral Degree
Course Duration6 years
Pharm.D Eligibility10+2 (PCM or PCB)
Pharm.D Entrance ExamsState level entrance exams, GPAT
Pharm.D Admission ProcessEntrance Exam + Counselling Process 
Top CollegesJSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Not sure what to do after 12th? – Learn about Popular courses and Career option

Pharmacy Courses Eligibility Criteria

For admission to the pharmacy courses, candidates have to fulfil the eligibility conditions for the courses that they are applying for:

Below is the eligibility criteria for all the top pharmacy programs after 12th:

For D.Pharm Course

The minimum qualification for diploma in pharmacy is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology subjects.

For admission to this course, candidates must have completed 17 years of the year of admission.

Note: D.Pharm (Diploma of Pharmacy) holders are eligible for admission into B.Pharm (lateral entry i.e. 2nd year B.Pharm).

For B.Pharm Course

This is the bachelor’s degree in pharmacy that can be taken after passing 12th/intermediate examination.

To pursue this course, candidates must pass 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry as a compulsory subjects along with one of the Mathematics / Computer Science / Biotechnology / Biology subjects and must obtained 50% marks in qualifying examination.

The minimum age of 17 years and maximum of 23 years as on or before 31st  December of the year of admission.

For M.Pharm Course

The successful completion of this course leads to the master’s degree in pharmacy.

A pass in Bachelor in Pharmacy (B.Pharm) programme with not less than 50% marks is required to be eligible for this course. For SC/ST candidates, there is no minimum qualifying marks.

For Pharm.D Course

The first Pharm.D programme was started at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy in Los Angeles, California in 1950.

The course duration is 6 years (5 years of classroom study and 1 year of internship). The qualification required is 10+2 with Physics and Chemistry as a compulsory subjects with any one of the Mathematics or Biology subject.

For Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Sciences

This is the research programme in pharmacy field. Candidates can pursue this course after completing M.Pharm from a well-recognized institution.

Check – Courses after 12th Science

Pharmacy Specializations

Have you recently completed your B.Pharm and Looking for M.Pharm Specializations!

Many specializations are available for pursuing M.Pharm programme. You can choose any of the specialization as per your interest.

Students have choices to opt specialization in master’s and doctoral pharmacy courses. Specializations are as follows:

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

Pharmacy Admission

To get admission in the pharmacy courses after completing class 12th grade, candidates have to follow the below mentioned conditions!

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must complete 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Mathematics as core subjects. The minimum percentage of marks is generally 50% (but varies by institutes).

Entrance Exams

Most of the colleges provides admission through entrance exams conducted at national or state level. Various states bodies regulates its own entrance exam for granting admission.

Admission into postgraduate pharmacy courses is done through Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT).

Some of the state level entrance exams for pharmacy courses:

  • KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test)
  • UKSEE (Uttarakhand State Entrance Exam)
  • Delhi CET (Delhi Common Entrance Test)
  • BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology & Science Admission Test)
  • WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination)
  • TS EAMCET (Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture & Medical Entrance Test)
  • AP EAMCET (Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture & Medical Entrance Test)
  • AP PGECET (Andhra Pradesh Post-Graduate Engineering Common Entrance Test)
  • MH CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)

Learn more about – Pharmacy Entrance exams in India

In India, there are many private and government owned pharmacy colleges. Before taking admission, make sure that the college is approved by All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE) and Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), New Delhi.

Top Pharmacy Colleges in India 2024-25

Here is the list of top pharmacy colleges in India as per NIRF rankings 2024-25:

University NameNIRF RankState
Jamia Hamdard1Delhi
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Hyderabad2Telangana
Birla Institute of Technology & Science -Pilani3Rajasthan
JSS College of Pharmacy4Tamil Nadu
Institute of Chemical Technology5Maharashtra
JSS College of Pharmacy6Karnataka
Panjab University7Chandigarh
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal8Karnataka
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali9Punjab
SVKM`s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies10Maharashtra

Learn More About – Top Pharmacy colleges in India 2024-25

Career and Job Scope

Career Scope & Job Opportunities in Pharmacy field are huge. Due to the opening of large pharmaceutical companies, the future in the field of pharmacy is bright.

Numerous jobs are available for pharmacists in government as well as private organizations. After completing your studies, you can easily find jobs in pharmaceutical industries, government departments, colleges, universities, hospitals, investigation and research institutes etc.

Pharmacists can practice in community pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and regulatory agencies. Sales & Marketing job sector also hires maximum number of pharmacy graduates.

One can also work in retail stores of medicines. After registering with the state Pharmacy Council, you can open chemist/drug shop and sell medicines as per doctors prescription.

Job Profile

Some of the popular job profile in the pharmacy sector are given below:

  • Consultant Pharmacists
  • Clinical Pharmacist
  • Dispensary Manager
  • Dispensary Pharmacist
  • Community Pharmacist
  • Hospital Pharmacist
  • Medicines Safety Manager
  • Medicines Management Technician
  • Pharmacy Assistant
  • Senior Clinical Pharmacists

Pharmacy Courses Salary

The salary & remuneration in the pharmacy sector depends on the qualification, company, job profile and experience of the candidates.

A fresher graduate with a diploma or a bachelor degree in pharmacy can start their career with the salary range of ₹ 3-5 lakhs per annum.

The top recruiters in this field include private Hospitals, Drugs & pharmaceutical companies, Healthcare NGO’s and public sector hospitals & research organization.

Candidates also get the opportunity to work in the public sector, these government hospitals, research centres and pharmaceutical regulatory bodies.

With a few years of experience, pharmacy professionals can expect salaries ranging from ₹5-8 lakhs per annum. Candidates graduating from the top-tier pharmacy institutions often secure higher salary packages, especially when hired by hospital chains, pharmaceutical companies, and other top healthcare organizations.

In the below table, we have given the salary of Pharmacy courses salary after 12th, based on the courses and experience of the candidates.

CourseStarting Salary (LPA)3-5 years Experience
D.Pharma₹ 2-4 LPA₹ 4-6 LPA
B.Pharma₹ 3-5 LPA₹ 5-8 LPA
M.Pharma₹ 4-6 LPA₹ 6-10 LPA
Pharma.D₹ 4-7 LPA₹ 7-15 LPA

Books & Study Materials

Some of the best study books on pharmacy are listed here:

  • Pharmacy Practice by David A. Holdford, Thomas R. Brown
  • Clinical Pharmacy: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment by Paul Rutter
  • Drug Store and Business Management by V.N. Raje
  • Introduction to General Pharmacy by Gaurav Agarwal
  • Physical Pharmacy by S.P. Agarwal, Rajesh Khanna
  • Introduction to Pharmaceutical Calculations by Judith A. Rees, Ian Smith, Jennie Watson

Pharmacy Courses After 12th FAQ’s

Answer: After completing 12th, students can pursue courses like D.Pharm (Diploma in Pharmacy), B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy), and Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy). These courses prepare students for careers in pharmaceutical sciences, research, and healthcare.
Answer: To pursue B.Pharm, candidates must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Mathematics as compulsory subjects. A minimum aggregate score of 50% is usually required, but this may vary by institution.
Answer: The duration varies by course. D.Pharm typically takes 2 years, B.Pharm lasts 4 years, and Pharm.D is a 6-year program, including 5 years of academic study and 1 year of internship.
Answer: Graduates can work in various fields such as community pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, research labs, regulatory agencies, and even as medical representatives. Higher studies like M.Pharm and Ph.D. are also options.
Answer: The average salary for pharmacy graduates in India ranges from ₹2,00,000 to ₹6,00,000 per annum. Salaries can increase with experience and specializations in areas like clinical research or regulatory affairs.
Answer: No, NEET is not required for B.Pharm admission. However, state level or university entrance exams are conducted like UPSEE, UKSEE, MHT CET etc..
Answer: Yes, students can pursue pharmacy courses abroad after 12th. Countries like the USA, UK, and Canada offer B.Pharm and Pharm.D programs. Admission usually requires good academic performance, IELTS/TOEFL scores, and sometimes entrance exams.

For any queries about Pharmacy Courses after 12th, feel free to leave your comments below.

21 Comments

    1. Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Industry (Focuses on drug development, marketing), Academia and Research can be considered for good career prospects.

  1. Sir I have completed f.sc pre engineering in 2015. I got first division. What can I do in medical Fields. Pharmacy?

  2. Sir I have complete BA in psychology in the 2021 please guide for ahead study in doctor line, pharmacy etc. For better future.

  3. Which is course is better either d. phar Or b pharmacy after class 12 for a better job in future please suggest me

  4. I have completed B.tech Biotechnology (2016-2020). I’m interested to pursue my higher studies in the field of pharmaceutics. What specialization course do I need to prepare?

  5. I have completed my 12th….which course should I do of pharmacy to get a good job ….plus suggest..
    Thank you

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