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 explore career options in Pharmacy, First of all, let us know “What is Pharmacy?”
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
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 Course | Details |
| D.Pharm Full Form | Diploma in Pharmacy |
| D.Pharm Course Level | Diploma Program |
| D.Pharm Course Duration | 2 years |
| D.Pharm Eligibility | 10+2 (PCM or PCB) |
| D.Pharm Entrance Exams | State level Diploma entrance exams |
| D.Pharm Admission Process | Entrance Exam + Counselling Process |
| Top Colleges | Jamia 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 Course | Details |
| B.Pharma Full Form | Bachelor of Pharmacy |
| B.Pharma Course Level | Undergraduate (UG) |
| Course Duration | 4 years |
| B.Pharma Eligibility | 10+2 (PCM or PCB) |
| B.Pharma Entrance Exams | State level entrance exams |
| B.Pharma Admission Process | Entrance Exam + Counselling Process |
| B.Pharma Course fee | INR 25000 – 10 lakh |
| B.Pharma Top Colleges | Jamia Hamdard, NIPER Hyderabad, BITS Pilani |
| B.Pharma Average Salary | INR 4-20 LPA (Approx) |
| B.Pharma Career Scope | Public Sector (Government Hospitals, health departments, drug control organization), Private Sector (pharmaceutical companies, Entrepreneurship) |
| B.Pharma Job Profiles | Drug Inspector, Medical Representative, Pharmacist |
| B.Pharma Top Recruiters | Cipla, 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 Course | Details |
| Pharm.D Full Form | Doctor of Pharmacy |
| Pharm.D Course Level | Doctoral Degree |
| Course Duration | 6 years |
| Pharm.D Eligibility | 10+2 (PCM or PCB) |
| Pharm.D Entrance Exams | State level entrance exams, GPAT |
| Pharm.D Admission Process | Entrance Exam + Counselling Process |
| Top Colleges | JSS 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 Name | NIRF Rank | State |
| Jamia Hamdard | 1 | Delhi |
| National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Hyderabad | 2 | Telangana |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science -Pilani | 3 | Rajasthan |
| JSS College of Pharmacy | 4 | Tamil Nadu |
| Institute of Chemical Technology | 5 | Maharashtra |
| JSS College of Pharmacy | 6 | Karnataka |
| Panjab University | 7 | Chandigarh |
| Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal | 8 | Karnataka |
| National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali | 9 | Punjab |
| SVKM`s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies | 10 | Maharashtra |
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.
| Course | Starting 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
For any queries about Pharmacy Courses after 12th, feel free to leave your comments below.
In pharmacy which field is best
B.pharma is a good career option in Pharmacy. It is a 4 year UG degree course in Pharmacy with good job opportunities.
Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Industry (Focuses on drug development, marketing), Academia and Research can be considered for good career prospects.
After B.pharmacy…can I apply for competitive exams except medical side?
Yes, you are eligible for competitive exams.
Sir I have completed f.sc pre engineering in 2015. I got first division. What can I do in medical Fields. Pharmacy?
you can go for UG degree pharmacy programs like B.Pharm
Sir, if I didn’t clear any enterce exams, can I get seat in B pharmacy?
Sir I have complete BA in psychology in the 2021 please guide for ahead study in doctor line, pharmacy etc. For better future.
Sir I have passed the hs exam, and I have passed my exam with 90%bmarks. Can I do this course???
Am still a young boy of 17 I need more carrier guidance sir. Thanks alot
Which post earns more money in M. Pharma
Which is course is better either d. phar Or b pharmacy after class 12 for a better job in future please suggest me
B pharma achha h ya btech in pharmaceutical
I’m actually from Nigeria buh can I own my store after the my school
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?
My chemistry marks in puc 72, Can I apply for B.Pharma
Sir which one is best for career bpharmacy or d pharmacy n which clg is better in rmgm for pharmacy
I have completed my 12th….which course should I do of pharmacy to get a good job ….plus suggest..
Thank you
My chemistry number is 45% so I can apply for the D.pharma course?
My chemistry is 41% so I can apply for the D.pharma?