Eligibility

Candidates having either a diploma or a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy can work as retail chemists and manufacturing chemists and also as drug inspectors, depending on their qualifications.

Training

Graduate courses (B.Sc.) as well as diplomas are offered in pharmacy.

Eligibility

Students who have completed the 10+2 or equivalent examination, with physics, chemistry and biology/mathematics are eligible for the Diploma in Pharmacy as also the Bachelor's degree programme (B.Pharm.). 
However, admission to the B.Pharm. courses are on the basis of the candidate's performance in the entrance exam.

Duration

· The diploma course in Pharmacy is of one to two year's duration.
· The Bachelors' degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) is of four years duration.
· The Masters' course (M.Pharm.) is of two years' duration while the Ph.D. course in pharmacy requires a minimum of three years' study.

Academic Programme

The academic programme for the B.Pharm. course includes the study of medicinal plants and animals, the mineral sources of drugs, the structure and functions of the human body, the effects of drugs, pharmaceutical chemistry, the preparation of medicines, the general principles in the practice
of pharmacy and its various branches, and the ethics and laws governing pharmaceutical practice.

Institutions

Various institutions in the country offer degree and diploma courses in pharmacy. In all, there are 253 institutions, recognized by the Pharmacy Council of India, offering diplomas in pharmacy, and 59 recognized institutions in the country, which offer degree courses in pharmacy. However vocational courses in pharmacy are considered illegal by the Pharmacy Council of India.

Personal Attributes

Capacity for original thought, intelligence, a scientific bent of mind, logical thought process, ability to concentrate on work, inquisitiveness, patience, a strong sense of responsibility, and a liking for teamwork.

Pressures 

The work in laboratories may involve withstanding the nauseating odour of medicines and requires a lot of accuracy and efficiency while preparing drugs.