How to Become a Pharmacologist?

A pharmacologist deals with the discovery of new medicines and research of the chemicals for medicines and examines the effect of that medicine on the human body. The pharmaceutical industry is a billion dollar industry expected to reach a staggering $1,700 Billion by 2025. Pharmacology as a science and corporate sector has been a massive boost after COVID-19. This has led to an increase in funds for drug testing, experimentation and rising demand for pharmacologists. As per Indeed, the pay of a pharmacologist is higher than $100,000 (INR 75,57,850)!

Course Name	Bachelor’s and Masters in Pharmacology
Required subjects	A grade in Biology and Chemistry
Required grades	Minimum 50% in Physics, Chemistry, Maths/Biology and English
Course Duration-	Full time- 3 years Part-Time- 6 years
Average Salary	INR 32 to 37 LPA
Job Position	Scientist Project Manager (R&D) Biomedical scientist Pharmacologist Lecturer Analytical Chemist

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Who is a Pharmacologist?

Professionals who operate in research laboratories, hospitals, and educational institutions for medicines, rarely deal with patients. They mostly work with private health foundations, government institutions and pharmaceutical businesses. Pharmacology graduates must have a thorough understanding of physiology, pathology, and chemistry.

Key Responsibilities of Pharmacologists

Following are the key responsibilities of pharmacologists:

• Examine, research and, develop new medicines and drugs
• Analyzing the samples
• Ensuring the quality and safety of the new drugs
• Using advanced and excellent laboratory equipment to gather, analyze, and store data.

Also Read: Masters in Pharmacy in Canada

Skills Required to Become a Pharmacologist

• Expertise in Manufacturing Practices and Laboratory Practices
• Strong understanding of both verbal and written communication
• Willingness to learn new skills and techniques
• Analytical thinker to solve the critical problems
•  Time management and organizational skills
•  Strong knowledge base with medicinal plants and chemicals
•   Strong background in Mathematics and Science

How to Become a Pharmacologist? [Step-by-Step Guide]

Here is the step-by-step guide to becoming a pharmacologist:

Bachelor’s Degree: To prepare for the pharmacology field, students must have biology and chemistry as their major subjects. Different pharmacy programs have different eligibility criteria and may accept undergraduates.

Master’s Degree: To prepare for the masters, the students must have completed their graduation in biology. Different masters programs have different eligibility and this also needs practical training experience.

PhD Degree:  To become a pharmacologist, students must first get an M.D., PhD, or Pharm.D. It is necessary to conduct extensive research on each programme to discover which one is ideal for the students and needs to determine if they want to practice clinical pharmacology before applying. 

License: To practice legally, you must get a license from their state’s licensing authority. Each state board has its criteria and you need to pass a two-part test. One must renew their license as per the requirements of their state board.

Internship or Training: An internship is required to practice a pharmacological speciality that normally lasts two to three years and is intended to prepare for a career in that field.

Certifications: Achieving certificates in a specialized field can prove dedication to the profession. Many employers want pharmacology certificates, and they can also expand work possibilities and raise earning potential. Most certificates need recertification regularly.

Popular Pharmacology Courses

These are the following courses to become a Pharmacologist:

UG Courses

• Bachelor of Pharmacy
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Honours
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Pharmaceuticals Chemical
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Pharmaceutics
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Pharmacognosy
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Pharmacology
• Bachelors of Pharmacy in Ayurvedic
• Bachelors of Pharmacy along with Master of Business Administration
• BSc Biochemistry and Immunology
• BSc Molecular Chemistry and Biochemistry
• BSc Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
• BSc Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• BSc Biochemistry and Microbiology
• BSc Biology
• BSc Pharmacology and Biochemistry
• BSc Biological Sciences

PG Courses

• Masters of Pharmacy
• MSc Biochemistry 
• Masters of Pharmacy in Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
• Masters of Pharmacy in Biopharmaceutics
• Masters of Pharmacy in Biotechnology
• Masters of Pharmacy in Clinical Research and Practice
• Masters of Pharmacy in Cosmeceuticals
• Masters of Pharmacy in Drug Development and Regulatory Sciences
• Masters of Pharmacy in Drug Regulatory Affair

Must Read: B Pharmacy Subjects

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for Bachelor’s courses in Pharmacology:

• Students must have completed their 12th grade with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology to be admitted to the Pharmacy programmes.
• Students must score a minimum of 50% on the qualifying exams.
• Students who have completed the three-year Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm) programme are also qualified.

Eligibility criteria for Master’s courses in Pharmacology:

• Graduation degree with an aggregate of 55% or equivalent CGPA (50% for SC/ST candidates) or Bachelor’s degree course (3 years) or Bachelor of Physiotherapy with at least 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST).
• Courses required Physiology, Biochemistry, or applied sciences are sufficient to form a foundation for their work in pharmacology.

Also Read: Paramedical Course List for Students

Top Universities for Pharmacology Courses in the World

University	QS World Rankings 2022
University of Oxford	#2
Monash University	#58
Harvard University	#5
University of Cambridge	#3
University of Nottingham	#103
Johns Hopkins University	#25
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	#100
King’s College London	#35
University of Toronto	#26
The University of Manchester	#27

Top Colleges in India 

• Jamia Hamdard
• Birla Institute of Technology & Science -Pilani
• Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal
• National Institute Of Pharmaceutical Education And Research – [NIPER], Mohali
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
• JSS College of Pharmacy
• Banaras hindu University
• Indian institute of Technology, Bombay
• Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
• Panjab University

Application Process

• Step 1: Submit the Application form online for the admission. Check with the college admission office and make sure to apply on time
• Step 2: Pay the fees as per the course selection and scan the required documents for the course.
• Step 3: Letter of recommendation needs to be submitted. Make sure to submit at least 2-3 letters of recommendation and it should be well drafted along with the designation and contact details of the concerned recommender.
• Step 4: Scanned transcript copies with the application. Make sure to check the eligibility criteria and the approximate grades required.
• Step 5: International students have submit their TOEFL/IELTS/PTE or GRE scores in order to complete the application process.
• Step 6: Once all the documents have been uploaded, candidates can submit the application to the university and expect an answer within 2-3 weeks!

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Documents Checklist

• Birth certificate
• School leaving certificate
• SSC passing certificate
• Identity Proof (Aadhar card)
• Degree/Diploma/Postgraduate degree certificate
• English Proficiency Test

Scope as Pharmacologist in India and Abroad

Research and Development: Every industry relies on research to some extent. When it comes to the subject of pharmacy, however, research is even more crucial. The whole industry seeks to perform extensive research and to provide discoveries, breakthroughs, and reports. As a result, under research and development, individuals can apply for the positions of:

• Associate Research
• Scientist Project Manager (R&D)
• Pharmacologists working as academic researchers
• Toxicologist

Analysis and Testing

This is to check that the quality and effectiveness of the medicine in issue meet the standards and requirements. This department offers the following job opportunities:

• Internal Audit Officer
• Quality Assurance Officer
• Manager of Clinical Quality Assurance

Pharmacology Sales and Marketing

For every business that manufactures or provides services, marketing is an important means for promoting pharmacology. Marketing is a very important factor as we are moving towards digitalization.The following are the finest jobs in this category:

• Sales Executive Marketing Manager
• Marketing Representative
• Sales Representative

Manufacturing and Production of Pharmacology

This course will assist in establishing a profession focused on entrepreneurial and management abilities. There are several pharmaceutical businesses nowadays that have classified their departments based on the nature of their activity.

This department’s employment openings are as follows:

• Assistant Manager Production
• Plant Manager
• Production Officer
• Production Chemist
• Production Manager

Job Profiles and Salary

Job Profiles	Average Salaries
Researcher	INR 32,24,173
Pharmacologist	INR 34,95,201
Toxicologist	INR 29,95,887
Biomedical scientist	INR 30,07,071
Lecturer	INR 40,70,511
Product manager	INR 57,47,609
Analytical chemist	INR 24,96,572
Pharmacist	INR 37,83,805

Top Recruiting Companies

Top companies that are recruiting for Pharmacologist:

• Advanced Clinical
• HireLifeScience.com
• Kelly Staffing Services
• Scientific Search
• Simply Biotech

What is the Difference Between a Pharmacologist and a Pharmacist?

Pharmacist	Pharmacologist
Provides medication to patients	Work on R&D of medicines and drugs
The job is very less technical and the pharmacist just needs to give the medicines as per the prescription by the Doctor	The job is very technical and requires working in a laboratory doing research

Also Read: Career in Biochemistry

FAQs

Related Read: MSc Biochemistry

Students of Pharmacology can work in both the private and public sectors. While choosing a suitable university, you may feel confused, but Leverage Edu is here to find the best universities and courses. Do contact our experts and counsellors on 1800572000 for a FREE profile evaluation!