Pharm.D

PharmD or Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional degree in pharmacy stream. Pharm D course duration is six years in total inclusive of 5 years of learning and one year of internship for practical learning. The only doctoral degree that can be pursued right after passing 10+2 qualifying examinations. Moreover, PharmD can also be pursued by BPharm graduates by seeking admissions to lateral entry course i.e. Pharm D (Post Baccalaureate).

The Pharm. D course is offered as a 6- year degree inclusive of five years of education and one year internship and, as a Post Baccalaureate course of three years duration. To pursue either of the courses, candidates should fulfill the eligibility criteria as mentioned below –

• Candidates must have completed 10+2 level of education from any state/national education board. They must have studied Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects with Mathematics or Biology as additional subjects. They must have completed 17 years of age in the year of admission. Or

• Candidates holding a diploma in pharmacy are also eligible for Pharm. D course provided they fulfill all other conditions as well.

• Candidates passed in Bachelor of Pharmacy course from an institute recognized under Pharmacy Council of India are eligible for Pharm. D course.

• They must have completed higher secondary education i.e. 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or Biology subjects.

As per regulations of PCI, the PharmD course curriculum is as under –

PharmD Phase I – Theoretical learning

PharmD Phase II – Internship or residency training during sixth year involving posting in speciality units.

Students holding PharmD degree get wide opportunities such as research and development, quality assurance and improvement, technical advancements in healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. Below are some of the top job profiles and companies for PharmD:

Disclaimer: The average salary data has been obtained from Payscale.com

PharmD degree holders get opportunities in R&D, Product Development, Technical and Marketing departments of Pharmaceutical companies. Some of the top pharmacy companies are:

Q: Is D Pharm and Pharm D the same?

A: Diploma in Pharmacy is abbreviated as D Pharm. It is a pharmacy degree course of less prestige than a Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Q: Is Pharm D degree holder a Doctor?

A: PharmD stands for Doctor of Pharmacy. It is a doctorate-level degree earned by aspiring pharmacists in pharmacy school, equivalent to an MD earned by physicians. Other countries have different qualifications for being a registered pharmacist, such as Canada, where a bachelor's degree in pharmacy is required.

Q: Pharm D or B Pharmacy, which is better?

A: Pharm.D is superior to B.Pharmacy because Pharm.D is a specialised doctoral programme, while B Pharmacy is a pharmacy undergraduate programme.

Q: Pharm D and PhD in Pharmacy, what’s the difference?

A: Pharm D is a specialised doctoral programme in pharmacy that focuses on work placement, while PhD in Pharmacy is a doctoral programme that focuses on science.

Q: What Does a PharmD graduate do?

A: PharmD graduates working in the area of pharmacy dispense drugs like intravenous antibiotics, pain relievers, dietary supplements, and chemotherapy. Pharmacists often keep track of their patients' progress and make adjustments to their medications as appropriate.

Q: Is it possible for me to open a medical store after getting my Pharm D?

A: A licensed pharmacist is required to operate a medical shop, so after earning your Pharm.D., you must register with your state pharmacy council and obtain a certificate (which takes about 45 days after registration), after which you can open a medical shop.

Q: What is the average fee for the Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) course?

A: The average fee for PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) is Rs 4,50,000 per annum.

Q: What is the duration of the Pharm D (Doctor of Pharmacy) programme?