Are you interested in becoming a pharmacist in India?
If you answered yes, this article would be beneficial to you. Information about the D pharmacy course has been included in this article.
Course specifics, qualifications requirements, enrollment process, PG courses & further studies, career opportunities, employment portfolios, and salary details are all included in this article.
The D pharmacy course is a certificate programme. The abbreviations D Pharm and D Pharma are well-known. In India, a D pharmacy course is the minimum requirement for practicing or working as a pharmacist.
Pharmacists are clinical physicians who specialize in the area of pharmacy. They understand drug therapy, various kinds of drugs (composition, processing methods, and properties), and how to use drugs effectively (depending upon the condition of the patient). Druggists, chemists, and Doctors of Pharmacy are also terms used to describe pharmacists. Compounding, reviewing medications, dispensing medication, informing patients on dose and instructions, and checking and storing the pharmacy store inventory are some of their key responsibilities (at hospitals, clinics or drug stores).
Professional Pharmacy courses are available in India such as- Diploma, undergraduate degree (B Pharmacy), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), M.Pharm., PG Diploma, and PhD levels.
In this article, we will be focusing on the D pharmacy course.
Duration, Eligibility Criteria & Admission Process
A D pharmacy course is a Diploma certificate programme. The programme includes two academic years as well as a practical training session. Qualified applicants can receive a Diploma certificate from the University/Institute upon completion of the course (academic curriculum and practical training).
Duration: 2 years.
Eligibility criteria: The minimum educational requirement is a 10+2 qualification of Science stream subjects (PCB or M) from a recognized board (in some institutes, PCB subjects are mandatory). The required minimum aggregate marks may differ from one institute to another. It could be anywhere from 45 to 60 per cent (in main science subjects).
Admission process: Direct admission or a merit-based admission procedure can be used, depending on the institute. The admissions process at reputable and well-established institutes is merit-based. The marks obtained by students in the board assessment are taken into account in this process. Deserving students are assigned seats depending on their merit scores.
Note: The results of the relevant admission test are also taken into account in the case of certain institutes (while preparing the merit list).
Age limit: When applying for admission, the candidate must be at least 17 years old.
PG Courses And Further Studies
Successful applicants may be admitted immediately into the second academic year of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme after obtaining a Diploma of Pharmacy. Diploma in Pharmacy holders is enrolled depending on their merit points earned during the Diploma course.
Graduates of the Bachelor’s programme may pursue advanced courses such as Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy), M.Pharm., and PG Diploma programmes.
Check out this post for more information on the Pharm D course: Pharm D course. A relevant PhD programme may be pursued after completing a Master’s, PG Diploma, or Pharm D.
Master’s and post-graduate diploma programmes in pharmacy can be used to practice in specific areas within the field of pharmacy. Some of the well-known disciplines include-
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Community Pharmacy
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Nuclear Pharmacy
- Pharmacognosy
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Career Prospects And Job Opportunities
D pharmacy course certificate holders has a wide range of career openings. Employment openings in the public and private sectors are open to them.
In India, holders of a D pharmacy course certificate will begin working as pharmacists. They can operate in government or private department stores, as well as pharmacies, community health centers, and private drug stores. They typically check doctor’s orders, dispense medications to patients, send them advice and instructions, keep stock of drugs in warehouses, keep accounts, and manage inventory in this type of work environment.
D pharmacy course certificate holders have the choice of working with hospitals or private drug stores in addition to starting their own! To succeed in such an endeavor, one must have adequate financial capital as well as entrepreneurial skills.
Pharmaceutical firms are known to employ D pharmacy course graduates. They can work in divisions/sections such as engineering, process control, quality control, and marketing in this industry. When it comes to the marketing sector, one should work with companies that sell pharmaceutical drugs. A medical representative is another choice.
Other than working immediately after completing the D pharmacy course, one can pursue further education (B Pharm, Pharm D, M.Pharm. etc). One can work as a lecturer/tutor/instructor at appropriate pharmacy schools or institutes after completing a Master’s degree course.
Completing advanced courses such as a PhD would aid in the development of a career in the R&D (Research and Development) sector of the pharmacy industry.
Salary
The starting salary is determined by considerations such as the employer’s background, job place, and job profile. D pharmacy course certificate holders can earn anywhere from 3.5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per annum, depending on the factors mentioned above.