Pharmacist Course

Pharmacy is concerned with the preparation of various medicines and drugs, identifying the dosage, the good and bad effects of the medicines as well finding effective ways of organizing, storing, and administering vaccines and counseling the patients. It encompasses the overall knowledge of Biology and Chemistry which is then applied to the realm of Medical Science. If you have always been curious about the magic of medicines and how they work on the human body to help it fight against various diseases, then a career in Pharmacy is an ideal one for you. This blog aims to explore the plethora of Pharmacist courses available across the globe, the top universities you can pursue them from as well as the career opportunities that this field entails.

Overview

Usually, whenever we think about a pharmacist, there is just one picture that dawns upon us which is that of a man standing behind the counter of a medical store giving medications enlisted in the buyer’s prescription. But the field of Pharmacy is much more than that. It offers plentiful work opportunities ranging from Sales and Marketing to Research and Development. With an array of Pharmacist courses available around the world, you can delve deeper into this specialized realm of Medical Science by pursuing either a degree or diploma course and discover lucrative career prospects in both the public and private sectors.

Also Read: Pharmacy Degrees in the UK: Entry Requirements, Universities, Salary

Pharmacist Courses: Certificate Courses

The top institutes in India that offer various certificate courses in Pharmacy are the Institute of Good Manufacturing Practices India (IGMPI), DIA Global, and Catalyst Clinical Services. Certificate courses in Pharmacy come with a variety of benefits, including industry experience, job assistance, and the ability to pursue them in either a regular or distance mode. Mankind Pharma, Glenmark Generics, and Jubilant Lifesciences Ltd are the top recruiters for professionals who have completed IGMPI certificate courses in pharmacy.

Pharmacist Courses: Diploma & Bachelor’s Degrees

Following are the major undergraduate Pharmacist courses including degree programs and diplomas that can be pursued after completing your 12th class-

Course Name	Duration
Diploma in Pharmacy	2 Years
Diploma in Ayurvedic Pharmacy	2 Years
Diploma in Pharmaceutical Marketing	2 Years
Diploma in Drug Store Management	2 Years
Diploma in Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance	1-3 Years
PG Diploma in Drug Store Management	1-3 Years
PG Diploma in Principles of Clinical Pharmacology	1-3 Years
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Management	2 Years
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance	2 Years
PG Diploma in Pharmaceutical Chemistry	2 Years
PG Diploma in Herbal Products	1-3 Years

Course Name	Duration
B Pharma (Bachelor of Pharmacy)	4 Years
B Pharm (Pharmaceutical Chemistry)	4 Years
Bachelor of Pharmacy in Pharmacognosy	4 Years
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Pharmacy	4 Years
Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons)	4 Years
B Pharm (Pharmaceutics)	4 Years
B Pharm + MBA	5 Years

Pharmacist Courses: Master’s Degrees

If you have completed your graduation in a discipline related to Medical Science and want to explore the field of Pharmacy, there are several postgraduate programs offered by universities and colleges across the globe. Below we have listed down the diverse range of master’s degree Pharmacist courses you can opt for:

Course Name	Duration
M Pharmacy (Master of Pharmacy)	2 Years
MSc (Clinical Research and Pharmacovigilance)	2 Years
M Pharm (Clinical Pharmacy)	2 Years
M Pharm (Industrial Pharmacy)	2 Years
MSc (Pharmacology)	2 Years
M Pharm (Pharmaceutics)	2 Years
M Pharm (Biopharmaceutics)	2 Years
M Pharm (Biopharmaceutics & Pharmacokinetics)	2 Years
M Pharm (Biotechnology)	2 Years
M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Chemistry)	2 Years
M Pharm (Medicinal Chemistry)	2 Years
M Pharm (Drug Discovery and Drug Development)	2 Years
M Pharm (Cosmeceuticals)	2 Years
M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance)	2 Years
M Pharm (Pharmaceutical Market and Management)	2 Years

Pharmacist Courses: Doctoral Degrees

If you want to pursue the field of Research and Development after completing a Pharmacist course, here are the major doctoral degrees available:

Course Name	Duration
Doctor of Pharmacy	3 Years
PhD (Pharmacology)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmacognosy)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmaceutical Biotechnology)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmaceutical Chemistry)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmaceutical Medicine)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry)	3 Years
PhD (Pharmacy Practice)	3 Years
PhD (Phytopharmacy & Phytomedicine)	3 Years

Moreover, programs like Pharmaceutical Sciences (Research), and Pharmacy (Research) are also suitable for those wanting to work in the field of Pharmaceutical Research.

Pharmacist Online Courses

• Udemy- Your Guide To the Pharmaceutical Industry
• Udemy- Become a pharmacy technician
• Udemy- Top Drugs 1 – Medications you NEED to Know – Pharmacy
• Coursera- Drugs, drug use, drug policy, and health
• Coursera- Drug Discovery

Pharmacist Courses Abroad

Apart from the highly preferred MBBS course, there are various other Medical Science specializations that we often overlook while researching academic opportunities in the field of Medicine. One such sub-field of Medical Science in Pharmacy. As the arena of technology has merged with biology thus giving birth to biotechnology, the realm of Medicine has been massively revolutionized. This has resulted in an increase in the varied courses available in the specializations of Medical Science. There are numerous medical colleges and universities that offer a multitude of Pharmacist courses for those wanting to build a career in this field. Below we have listed the varied range of degrees as well as short-term programs available in the field of Pharmacy.

Pharmacist Colleges Abroad

Some of the top colleges for Abroad are-

Course	College
MPharm Hons	University of Waterloo
Masters of Pharmacy	University of Hertfordshire
Pharmacy MPharm	King’s College London
MPharm	University of Manchester
B Pharmacy	University of Oxford
B Pharmacy	Monash University
B Pharmacy	Harvard University

Pharmacist Course: Career Scope

With the Pharmaceutical industry growing immensely as the technology is gradually entering the world of Medicine, multifarious career opportunities have emerged in the field of Pharmacy. Graduates in this field can explore work prospects in Research Institutes, Hospitals, Cosmetic Industry, Colleges/Universities, etc. 

Moreover, you can also get into the retail business by working in a medicine & drug store. This way, you can gain the necessary experience and gain some expertise in managing a pharmaceutical store which can further assist you in opening a pharma company of your own. To become a pharmaceutical retailer, you would need to apply to the state Pharmacy Council and register with them to get the license. Then, you can open your own chemist/drug retail shop and sell medicines as per prescriptions given by doctors.

Career Profiles 

After completing a Pharmacist course, you can choose from a wide range of career prospects available across the vast spectrum of Medicine. Here is a list of major job profiles that you can consider:

• Clinical Pharmacologist
• Clinical Pharmacist
• Medicine Safety Manager
• Medicines Management Technician
• Pharmacy Assistant
• Veterinary Pharmacy
• Dispensary Pharmacist 
• Dispensary Manager
• Consultant Pharmacist 
• Pharmaceutical Technician 
• Hospital Pharmacies

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog helped you understand what a Pharmacist course is and the immense scope that this field entails. If you are planning to pursue the field of Pharmacy and don’t where to start, you can reach out to our Leverage Edu experts and we’ll guide you in finding an ideal course and university that aligns with your interests and aspirations and equips you with the right knowledge and exposure into this lucrative area of study.