How To Become A Pharmacist In India: Eligibility, Admisssion And Registeration

In this post we will discuss complete procedure of becoming a pharmacist. To become a registered pharmacist you need to be eligible to take admission in pharmacy college approved by PCI.
To be a registered pharmacist in India is a three stage process.

1. You complete your senior secondary education in science stream
2. You appear for Pharmacy colleges entrance exam or take direct admission on vacant seats in an PCI Approved Institution.
3.  You fulfill pharmacy council criteria and get registered in state pharmacy council as pharmacist.

Let’s Discuss these steps one by one in some details.

Eligibility For Pharmacy Course Admission

You can take admission one of these three pharmacy courses to become registered pharmacist.

• D. Pharm. ( 2 Years Duration )
• B. Pharm. ( 4 Years Duration )
• Pharma D. ( 6 Years Duration )

[box_highlight background=”#f3ff99″]Basic Eligibility For all these courses is 10 + 2 with science stream[/box_highlight] (Both PCB and PCM are eligible). Most colleges ask for minimum 50 percent marks in 12th class.
For those who have already done D. Pharm can take admission directly in  B. Pharm second year. B. Pharm Degree Holders can do post baccalaureate Pharma D which is of 3 years Duration.

Admission In Pharmacy College

Candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria can admission in Pharmacy college in course of their choice by passing the entrance examination.
Practically Speaking admission in pharmacy courses is possible directly also without appearing in entrance exam. But if you want a good college and intend to save on fees then entrance exam is the best option. With entrance exam you can also get admission in the government pharmacy colleges.
Some of the entrance exams for admissions in pharmacy courses are following:

• Maharashtra CET
• Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET 2019)
• Uttar Pradesh State Entrance Exam (UPSEE)
• Telangana Dost
• Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture & Medical Entrance Test (TS EAMCET)
• CG PPHT 2019 (Chhattisgarh Pre Pharmacy Test)

Registration In Pharmacy Council

Only a registered pharmacist can dispense drugs. It means if you want to open retail pharmacy you must be a registered pharmacist. Only a registered pharmacist can apply for government pharmacist job.
[box_highlight background=”#f3ff99″]Only those pharmacists who complete there education from a pharmacy council of India (PCI) approved college can get registered as pharmacis[/box_highlight]t. So always check college approval status before taking admission.
The minimum qualification required for registration as a pharmacist shall be a pass in Diploma in pharmacy. Higher pharmacy qualifications are also eligible.
Just carry your 10th marksheet, pharmacy mark sheets and certificates, license fees, address proof  and photographs to get registered as pharmacist in your state council.
After completing above three stages you will be a registered pharmacist . You will be eligible to practice as pharmacist in private and government sector.
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