Pharmacy Courses After 12th: Eligibility, Duration, and Career
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Pharmacy courses after 12th become the most popular courses for science students. These courses provide a strong foundation in drug formulation, pharmaceutical chemistry, and patient care. Pharmacy courses after 12th not only offer multiple career opportunities but also long-term career growth for pharmacists. Hence, it’s important to choose the right one.
If you are also interested in medicine, healthcare, or research centres, then pharmacy will be the best option for you. Through this blog, you’ll get an overview of the best pharmacy courses after 12th that provide you with a promising and stable career path.
Best Pharmacy Courses After 12th
| Course Name | Duration | Eligibility |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) | 4 Years | 12th with PCM/PCB, minimum 50% (varies by institute) |
| Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) | 2 Years | 12th with PCM/PCB |
| Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy) | 6 Years | 12th with PCM/PCB, minimum 50% |
| B.Pharm Lateral Entry | 3 Years | D.Pharm Pass |
| B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 3 Years | 12th with PCM/PCB |
| B.Sc. Pharmacology | 3 Years | 12th with PCB |
| B.Sc. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3 Years | 12th with PCM/PCB |
Read More: B Pharmacy Course Details, Full Form, Eligibility, Admission & Top Colleges
Eligibility Criteria for Pharmacy Courses
- To be eligible for the B Pharma programme, you must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board or university.
- You have to achieve a minimum of 50% marks in your academics.
- The core subjects should be Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics.
- Some colleges grant admission to students based on their 10+2 performance.
- Some universities or colleges require you to take an entrance exam.
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Entrance Exam for the Pharmacy Courses
Here are the top Entrance Exams for Pharmacy Courses after 12th in India.
National-Level Entrance Exam
| Exam Name | Courses Offered | Conducted By | Accepted By |
| NEET | Pharm.D (in some universities) | NTA | Select medical colleges offering Pharm.D |
| CUET (UG) | B.Pharm | NTA | Central & participating universities |
State-Level Entrance Exam
| State Entrance Exam | Courses | States / Universities |
| MHT CET | B.Pharm, Pharm.D | Maharashtra |
| WBJEE | B.Pharm | West Bengal |
| KEAM | B.Pharm | Kerala |
| KCET | B.Pharm | Karnataka |
| TS EAMCET | B.Pharm | Telangana |
| AP EAPCET | B.Pharm | Andhra Pradesh |
| OJEE | B.Pharm, Lateral Entry | Odisha |
| UPSEE (UPCET) (now via CUET) | B.Pharm | Uttar Pradesh |
Top Colleges for Pharmacy Courses
| College Name | Location | Courses Offered | Approvals | Highlights |
| Teerthanker Mahaveer University (TMU) | Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh | B.Pharm, D.Pharm, M.Pharm, Ph.D | PCI, AICTE, UGC, NAAC A+ | State-of-the-art labs, industry collaborations, strong placement support, and modern research facilities |
| National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research | Mohali, Punjab (Main Campus) | M.Pharm, MS (Pharm), Ph.D | Autonomous Institute under the Govt. of India | India’s top pharma research institute, advanced R&D, exceptional placement and global research exposure |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Ph.D | PCI, UGC | One of India's oldest and most prestigious universities, with strong medicinal research, experienced faculty |
| Bombay College of Pharmacy | Mumbai, Maharashtra | B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Ph.D | PCI, AICTE | Renowned for research, excellent placements, and strong industry connections |
| Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) | Mumbai, Maharashtra | B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Ph.D | Deemed University, PCI, AICTE | Top-ranked institute for chemical & pharmaceutical sciences, with high-impact research output |
| Poona College of Pharmacy (Bharati Vidyapeeth) | Pune, Maharashtra | B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Pharm.D, Ph.D | PCI, AICTE, NAAC A+ | Accredited institute, excellent academic reputation, hospital training for Pharm.D |
| NIPER S.A.S Nagar / NIPER Mohali (Another mention for clarity) | Punjab | MS (Pharm), M.Tech (Pharm), Ph.D | Govt. of India | Best for advanced pharmacy and biotech research |
| Chitkara College of Pharmacy | Rajpura, Punjab | B.Pharm, D.Pharm, M.Pharm | PCI, AICTE | Modern infrastructure, strong placements, industry-tied curriculum |
Fee Structure for Pharmacy Courses
The fee structure of pharmacy courses after 12th varies according to the institution or course. For the D.Pharm course, the fees usually range from ₹20,000 to ₹1,20,000 per year. Government colleges have relatively lower fees compared to private colleges. For the B.Pharm course, the fee range starts from ₹60,000 – ₹1,80,000 per year.
The fees for pharmacy courses after 12th are usually higher in private colleges and are normally inclusive of modern laboratories, training programmes, industrial visits, and placements on campus. The most expensive pharmacy courses after 12th are Pharm.D, with fees ranging from ₹1,00,000 to ₹3,50,000 per year in private colleges. Government colleges offering pharmacy courses after 12th at a bit cheaper cost, but the number of seats is low.
Most colleges provide education loans, merit scholarships, government scholarships and quota benefits to assist students in pursuing the pharmacy courses after 12th. Knowing the fee structure will enable you to make a course selection that will allow you to meet your budget but offer career benefits in the long term. Choose the right pharmacy courses after 12th according to your budget.
Career Options and Average Salary
| Career Role | Description | Average Salary (INR per year) |
| Pharmacist | Dispenses medicines in hospitals/clinics; guides patients on prescriptions. | ₹2.5 – ₹4.5 LPA |
| Drug Inspector | Ensures quality, safety & regulation of medicines; government job role. | ₹6 – ₹12 LPA |
| Medical Representative (MR) | Promotes pharmaceutical products to doctors & hospitals. | ₹3 – ₹6 LPA |
| Clinical Research Associate | Works on clinical trials, documentation & research studies. | ₹4 – ₹8 LPA |
| Quality Control (QC) Analyst | Tests the medicine quality, purity & chemical composition. | ₹3 – ₹6 LPA |
| Quality Assurance (QA) Officer | Ensures production and documentation follow regulatory standards. | ₹3.5 – ₹7 LPA |
| Pharmacovigilance Associate | Monitors drug safety and reports adverse drug reactions. | ₹4 – ₹7 LPA |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | Handles drug approval documents & compliance with govt norms. | ₹5 – ₹10 LPA |
| Production Chemist | Works in pharmaceutical manufacturing units & production lines. | ₹3 – ₹6 LPA |
| Research Scientist | Conducts R&D for new drugs, formulations & therapeutic products. | ₹8 – ₹15 LPA |
| Hospital/Clinical Pharmacist | Works directly with patients and doctors in hospitals. | ₹3 – ₹6 LPA |
| Biotech/Pharma Lab Technician | Supports lab experiments, testing & analysis. | ₹2 – ₹4 LPA |
| Entrepreneur (Medical Store Owner) | Opens own pharmacy or wholesale medical business. | Income varies (₹3–15 LPA+) |
Government Career options after B.Pharmacy
There are several government career options available after B.Pharmacy:
| Career Option | Recruiting Body / Organisation | Role Description |
| Drug Inspector | State Public Service Commission (SPSC), UPSC, CDSCO | Ensures the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines and penalises drug legislation. |
| Pharmacist (Government Hospitals / Defence Services) | State Health Departments, Railways, ESIC, Defence (Army, Navy, Air Force) | Dispenses and manages medicines in government hospitals, dispensaries, and defence medical facilities. |
| Scientific Officer | Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), ICMR, DRDO | Conducts scientific research, drug analysis and assists in the formulation and testing of new drugs. |
| Food and Drug Analyst | State Drug Control Departments, FSSAI | Tests and evaluates food and drug samples to ensure their safety and quality. |
| Research Scientist / Assistant | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), CSIR, DRDO, ISRO | Engages in research and development of pharmaceutical formulations and healthcare innovations. |
| Lecturer / Assistant Professor | Government Pharmacy Colleges, Universities, AICTE | Teaches pharmaceutical sciences, supervises labs, and participates in scholarly research. |
| Regulatory Officer | CDSCO, State Drug Regulatory Authorities | Manages licensing, registration and the conformity of drugs in the country and abroad. |
| Hospital Pharmacist | Government Hospitals, AIIMS, CGHS | Manages medicine distribution, inventory control, and ensures rational drug use in hospitals. |
| Public Health Officer | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Works on health promotion programs, drug supply, and disease prevention. |
| Clinical Research Associate (Government Projects) | ICMR, DBT, AIIMS | Manages and supervises the clinical trials of new drug development within the government research programmes. |
Future Scope of Pharmacy in India
The role of pharmacy in India has a very promising future because pharmaceutical specialists are in high demand. As the number of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres is growing, the demand for clinical pharmacists is also growing. The pharmacy industry is growing not only in retail and hospital settings but also in specialised areas like pharmacovigilance, medical coding, clinical research, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical biotechnology and regulatory services.
Personalised medicine, or the personalisation of treatment based on a person's genetic profile, is a concept that is gaining popularity, and this opens up the possibility of new opportunities for clinical pharmacists and researchers. The governmental initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadhi Stores, and the increase in government spending on healthcare suggest that the government and its community pharmacies should create more jobs.
At the same time, the growth of the private sector is still going on, with the presence of multinational companies increasing their operations in India. All in all, the pharmacy profession is a stable industry in the long term, has global prospects, has financial prospects, and a possibility to make an impact on the welfare of society.
Conclusion
Pharmacy courses after 12th open up a world of exciting possibilities in healthcare, industry, research, and entrepreneurship. As the market of pharmaceuticals is expanding, the demand for healthcare services is rising, and the demand for qualified specialists is increasing worldwide, the pharmacy courses after 12th can be considered a reliable, highly respected, and long-term opportunity.
If you are fond of science and desire to work in the sphere of healthcare or have a vision to create your own corporation one day, pharmacy courses after 12th will be a good choice. The industry is dynamic and technologically advanced, which provides new avenues to students who are ready to learn and develop. In pharmacy, you can go anywhere: you can work at a hospital, a research laboratory, a production facility, or a multinational healthcare organisation.
FAQ
Q1. Which pharmacy course is best after 12th?
Ans: B.Pharm and Pharm.D are the best for long-term careers, while D.Pharm is ideal for quick jobs and business opportunities.
Q2. Can I open a medical store after D.Pharm?
Ans: Yes, D.Pharm graduates can register as pharmacists and legally open a medical store.
Q3. Is pharmacy a good career for the future?
Ans: Absolutely. With India’s growing pharmaceutical industry, the future scope of pharmacy is extremely bright.
Q4. Do pharmacy courses after 12th require entrance exams?
Ans: Most pharmacy courses after 12th, like B.Pharm and Pharm.D courses, require CET/NEET scores, while D.Pharm often allows direct admission.
Q5. What is the salary after B.Pharm?
Ans: If you pursue pharmacy courses after 12th, you'll get a range of career opportunities. The salary range may vary according to the position and qualifications.
