Pharmacy Courses in 2019 - Eligibility, Application Form and Exams, Career Opportunity
Pharmacy industry offers a wide range of job opportunities to the candidates looking to pursue a career in this domain. A majority of jobs offered in the field of pharmacy includes Clinical Research Associate, Pharmacologist, Science Writer, Research Scientist, Higher Education Lecturer, Medical Sales Representative, Community Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Product/Process Development Scientist, Toxicologist and many more. The role of a pharmacist is to dispense and managing medications, educating patients on correct usage of drugs, managing the overall health care of patients/customers in the pharmacies and dispensaries. If all these fields and job responsibilities fascinate you a lot, you can surely pursue a career in pharmacy.
Courses and Exams in Pharmacy
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma)
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharma) is an undergraduate programme for students seeking admission in pharmacy course. This course guides students in gaining knowledge of manufacturing, storing, and dispensing medicine. Any student who completes his/her 12th class examination in science stream with PCM or PCB subjects can pursue B.Pharma course. The duration of this course is 4 year. Once a student completes the course should register himself/herself under the Pharmacy law of their relevant state to become a licensed Pharmacist. After that, the student can seek a relevant position in various drug manufacturing companies, pharmacy stores, research and development centres, hospitals etc.
Eligibility Criteria
A candidate seeking admission in B.Pharma programme should have passed class 12th in science stream with a combination of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/Biology. Generally, the minimum marks required to be eligible for the course is 50% marks; however, this may vary from college to college.
Top Colleges/Institutes of Pharmacy
- Bombay College of Pharmacy
- Indian Institute of Chemical Technology
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Chandigarh
- Indian Institute of Technology (BHU IIT) Varanasi, UP
- JSS College of Pharmacy, Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu
- Manipal College of Pharmacy, Manipal
Salary Overview (INR)
While the salary of Pharmacists varies as per the experience and location, the minimum salary of a beginner pharmacist is around 25000. A pharmacist employed in a government hospital can expect a beginning salary of 5000. A medical representative can earn around 5000 to 10000 (excluding incentives). Lab researchers can get around 15000 to 40000 monthly.
Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT)
Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by National Testing Agency to provide admission to students in Masters in Pharmacy (M.Pharm) programmes. The GPAT exam is a 3-hour computer-based mode online test. The marks scored by the students in GPAT is accepted by all AICTE-Approved Institutions/University Colleges/Affiliated Colleges Departments/Constituent. Also, some of the students are given scholarships and other financial assistance in the field of Pharmacy on the basis of their GPAT score.
Eligibility Overview
Candidate applying for GPAT entrance exam should be a citizen of India. He/she must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy (4 years course after 10+2 including lateral entry candidates). Candidates who are in the final year of B.Pharma can also apply for the GPAT exam. Candidates who have completed B.Tech (Pharmaceutical and fine chemical technology) or equivalent are not considered eligible to take GPAT exam.
Pattern Overview
The GPAT exam is a 3-hour computer-based exam conducted in a single session. The total number of questions asked in the exam is 125 carrying total 500 marks. The exam is basically based on the following topics:
- Physical Pharmacy
- Physical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacognosy
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmaceutical Management/Jurisprudence/Engineering/Chemistry/Analysis
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Dispensing & Hospital Pharmacy
- Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
- Biochemistry
- Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics
- Anatomy, Physiology and Health Education
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