How to Become a Pharmacist?

Becoming a Pharmacist is a long and assiduous undertaking, with years of devoted education, internships, and then a step into the professional world. As part of the broader scope of the medical field, Pharmacy courses like Diploma in Pharmacy, BPharma, etc enable its undertakers to study medicines, their dosage, and composition in order to treat various ailments in people. Here is a blog that elucidates the steps on how to become a Pharmacist!

What do Pharmacists do?

Pharmacists are medically trained healthcare workers. They are primarily accountable for:

• Providing medications to patients
• Educating people on drugs and potential side effects
• Managing the medication supply chain

Skills Required

• Ability to multitask
• Integrity
• Computer Skills
• Communication Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Understanding of clinical pharmaceutical

Eligibility to Become a Pharmacist

For students aspiring to become a Pharmacist, pursuing Science stream with Biology, Physics, and Chemistry [BiPC subjects] in their 10+2 is a necessary precondition. Apart from various scientific concepts, studying Biology creates an understanding of human anatomy and its functioning and how organs are likely to react to various medicines.

How to Become a Pharmacist?

The first step in how to become a Pharmacist is to pursue a Diploma or Bachelor of Pharmacy or any other equivalent course in the same field. Though the undergraduate courses vary in duration and eligibility, they cover a wide range of subjects such as Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Drug Delivery Systems, Nutraceuticals, etc. As soon as you complete a UG degree in this field, options like pursuing higher studies through courses like MPharma, and Pharma D will come your way. Let us take a quick look at the available courses in this field-

Course	Duration	Details
D Pharmacy	1-2 Years	A diploma in Pharmacy is a short-term course that you can pursue after 10+2. Upon completion, you can pursue a B Pharma course.
BSc/Bachelor of Pharmacy	3-4 Years	This is a longer course and it involves academic training about the various facets of the pharmaceutical industry.
M Pharma	2 Years	The master’s course in this field strengthens the knowledge of candidates as well as equips them with deeper insights into the chosen specialisation.
Pharma D	4-5 Years	Attaining a doctorate degree in this field is the ideal route if you want to pursue research.

As stated in the table during the Post Graduation courses like MPharm, MBA in Pharmacy, etc it is mandatory to opt for a particular specialization as it allows one to focus on core as well as a particular concentration. Running for 1-2 years, here are some of the specializations which you can choose at the Master’s level in Pharmacy:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Pharmacognosy
• Pharmacology
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• Pharmaceutics
• Drug Design and Development
• Regulatory Affairs
• Pharmaceutical Analysis

Eligibility Criteria

To get your studies started in this field, here are the requisites that you will need-

• UG Course: Basic qualification of 10+2 from BiPC Subjects along with a good score in the SAT exam 
• PG Course: A UG degree in the same field along with a good score in GRE Exam 
• Minimum required score in English language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc. 
• LOR and SOP 

Top Universities in the World

When you think about how to become a Pharmacist, picking the right university along with a concentration that aligns with your interests is important to establish a flourishing career in Pharmacy. These academic institutes provide a research-based edge and set their undertakers apart. Tabulated below is a list of such universities that provide appraised degrees in Pharmacy: 

University	Country	QS 2022 Rankings [Pharmacy & Pharmacology]
Monash University	Australia	1
Harvard University	USA	2
University of Oxford	UK	3
University College London	UK	4
University of Nottingham	UK	5
University of Cambridge	UK	6
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	USA	7
Johns Hopkins University	USA	8
University of Toronto	Canada	9
University of California, San Diego	USA	10

How to Become a Pharmacist in India?

For all the candidates who are looking forward to pursuing study in pharmacy in India, the path that you have to follow is more or less the same as followed overseas. Many leading universities of India offer varied level courses such as B Pharma M Pharma, and Pharm D courses pursuing which you can find the right answer to how to become a pharmacist. 

In order to get started on this career path, it is advised to be gained in pursuing a diploma or bachelor’s level degree in Pharmacy. Once you have attained foundational knowledge through a UG course, you can go on to strengthen your concepts and earn specialised knowledge through a master’s degree in Pharmacy. Since it is important for a full-time pharmacist to have a licence to practice in India, you can apply for yours once you have completed a Master’s degree. Furthermore, if you want to pursue research in this domain or take up a job in Academia, you may get started with Pharm D. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Diploma: Basic qualification of 10+ 2 examination 
• UG Course: Basic qualification of 10+ 2 examinations along with 50% marks from BiPC Subjects
• PG Course: Minimum 50% marks in UG degree from a recognised institution
• Minimum required marks in the applicable entrance exam- 

Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) Exam	HPCET
UPSEE Pharmacy	NIPER JEE
B.Sc Pharma Entrance Exam in Punjab	CPNET UP
GGSIPU CET	KCET

Top Universities

Here are the top universities and colleges in India that offer degrees in Pharmacy- 

• Jamia Hamdard University (Delhi)
• Bundelkhand University (Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh)
• Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (Delhi)
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University (Uttar Pradesh)
• Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra, Ranchi)
• Jadavpur University (Kolkata)
• Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Manipal)
• The Oxford College of Pharmacy (Bangalore)
• PSG College of Pharmacy (Coimbatore)

Registration as a Pharmacist 

The State Pharmacy Council of India conducts registration for pharmacists within section 19 of the pharmacy act. The registration for pharmacists is done under sections 33 and 32, as Burbage applicants must have attained a minimum of 18 years of age. Stated below are a few important parameters- 

• Applicant must reside as well as carry the business or profession of Pharmacy in the particular state 
• The applicant must have qualified and approved examination and shall possess qualification approved under section 14 of the Pharmacy act or is a registered pharmacist in any other state

Average Salary

Getting a lucrative salary in return in the field of their choice boosts one’s morale. Tabulated below is the estimation regarding the average salary of the Pharmacist-

Lowest	INR 2,90,000
Average	INR 3, 62, 000
Highest	INR 15,92,000

Top Recruiting Companies 

Some of the recruiting companies that mainly hire graduates of this field are-

• Glenmark
• Sun Pharma
• Cadila Health
• Torrent Pharma
• Abbott India
• Cipla
• Lupin
• Aurobindo Pharma
• Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
• Alkem Lab
• Piramal Enterprises

Pros and Cons

Whenever one decides to pursue a career in a certain field, there are a bunch of pros and cons attached to it. Now that we are decoding the path of how to become a pharmacist, latest take into account some pros and cons related to it- 

Pros of Becoming a Pharmacist

• Pharmacists have job flexibility and can choose to work in various work settings such as nursing homes, retail stores, pharmaceutical companies, etc
• As the biotechnology sector of the country is flourishing, the need for pharmacists is now enhancing day by day. 

Cons of Becoming a Pharmacist

• Within the job profile of a pharmacist, the task of dealing with plenty of customers on a daily basis can be hectic and it may put you in unpleasant situations. 
• Those who worked as retail pharmacists, tend to go for longer hours instead of 9 to 5. 

Study Material 

Here are some of the important books for this field-

• Theory and Practice of Industrial Pharmacy by Lieberman & Lachman
• Advanced Entrance Guide For Pharmacist Exam By Birla
• Physical Pharmaceutics by CVS Subrahmaniam
• Piyush Guide for Drug Inspector and Pharmacist Exam
• Pharmaceutical Engineering by CVS Subrahmanyam
• A Textbook of Forensic Pharmacy – B M Mithal

How Many Years Does it Take to Become a Pharmacist?

The length of time it takes to become a pharmacist is determined on the education you get. However, after completing a two-year diploma course in pharmacy after 10+2, you can become an entry-level pharmacist and begin your pharmacy career.

FAQs

With an unlimited scope and an unlimited array of jobs, becoming a pharmacist is lucrative not just for the individual but for society as a whole. If you are still confused about how to become a Pharmacist, then Leverage Edu will help you in fulfilling your dream! Our experts will help you in completing the admission formalities along with helping you write an impressive SOP. Register today for a free counselling session and move a step closer to becoming a part of one of the most coveted fields of the world!