How to Become a Pharmacist after 12th: Career, Courses, Eligibility, Skills, Benefits, Salary

Swatantra Khandelwal's profile photo

Swatantra Khandelwal

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who specialises in medication management. They dispense prescribed medications, and counsel patients on proper drug usage, potential interactions, and side effects. Pharmacists collaborate with healthcare teams, ensuring safe and effective medication therapy, and contribute to public health initiatives.

To become a Pharmacist after 12th there are Diploma, UG, and PG courses. The most popular courses are D.Pharm, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, and Pharm D. Some colleges have entrance exams like GUJ CET, BIT SAT, GPAT, and LPUNEST which need to be taken by aspiring candidates to get enrolled.

The average monthly salary of a Pharmacist is INR 43,422. The average starting salary offered to a Pharmacist in India ranges from INR 17,000 - INR 18,000 per month. Sun Pharmaceuticals, Cipla, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer are some of the top companies recruiting Pharmacists. 

Also Check:

How to Become a Pharmacist after 12th: Quick Facts

Eligibility Class 12
Qualifications A degree in Pharmacy
Starting Salary (INR) INR 2.28 LPA
Average Salary (INR) INR 4.84 LPA
Highest Salary (INR) INR 7.65 LPA
Top Recruiters Cipla, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Dabur

Eligibility to Become a Pharmacist after 12th 

To become a Pharmacist after 12th, candidates need to fulfill the eligibility criteria to be eligible for getting admission in the required courses. The eligibility criteria to become a Pharmacist after 12th are listed below.

  • The Candidates must have a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Class 12 with compulsory subjects being Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 
  • Candidate must have a diploma or degree in Pharmacy.

Steps to Become a Pharmacist after 12th 

Becoming a pharmacist typically involves a series of steps, starting after completing your 12th grade. Here's a general overview of the process.

  • Candidates must complete 10+2 education with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.
  • Candidates must research different colleges and universities that offer programs like B.Pharm.
  • Candidates must prepare and qualify for the respective entrance exam required for admission into the college of their choice.
  • Candidates must complete their degree with at least 60% of the marks.
  • Candidates must also pursue internship programs to gain practical knowledge.

Pharmacy Courses after 12th 

There are popular courses like Diploma in Pharmacy, Bachelor's in Pharmacy, and B.Pharm in Ayurveda that candidates can pursue after 12th to become a pharmacist. The details of the Pharmacy courses after 12th are mentioned below.

Degree D. Pharm B.Pharm B.Pharm in Ayurveda
Eligibility Class 12 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks Class 12 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks Class 12 with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks
Entrance Exams GUJCET, BIT SAT, MHCET NEET, BITSAT, MH CET, CUCET, DSAT, NMIMS CET, IPU CET UPSEE, MHT CET, BIT SAT, LPUNEST
Top Colleges JSS College of Pharmacy, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jamia Hamdard, etc. Panjab University, JSS College of Pharmacy, Lovely Professional University, etc. BHU, Jadavpur University, Indian Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences, etc.
Course Fees INR 50,000 - INR 2,00,000 INR 1 - INR 4 INR 55,000 - INR 5
Average Salary (INR) INR 1 - INR 4 LPA INR 1.6 - INR 3.6 LPA INR 1 - INR 3.5 LPA
Top Recruiters Sun Pharmaceuticals, Lupin, Cipla, Cadila Healthcare Lupin, Cipla, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Aurobindo Pharma, Merck Dabur, Imami, Himalaya Drugs, Patanjali

Top Pharmacy Colleges

There are several colleges in India offering different Pharmacy courses. The top colleges based on NIRF ranking which are offering Pharmacy courses are mentioned in the table below.

Name of the College Location Average Course Fees
Jamia Hamdard New Delhi INR 1,80,000
Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani INR 13,31,700
JSS College of Pharmacy Ooty INR 1,15,000
Panjab University Chandigarh INR 80,980
Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences Udupi INR 10,90,000
Chitkara University Rajpura INR 3,28,000
Jadavpur University Kolkata INR 9,600
I.S.F College of Pharmacy Moga INR 66,300

Skills Required to Become a Pharmacist after 12th 

Candidates need to have a certain set of skills in order to become better Pharmacists. The basic skills required are mentioned below. 

Medication Management Communication Skills Interpersonal Skills
Patient Counseling Analytical Skills Computer Skills

Benefits of Becoming a Pharmacist after 12th 

Becoming a pharmacist after completing 12th offers several advantages. Here are some key benefits of becoming a pharmacist.

  • Job Opportunities: India has a vast and growing healthcare industry, leading to a high demand for qualified pharmacists. With the expansion of healthcare facilities, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and online pharmacies, pharmacists have a range of employment opportunities.
  • Diverse Roles: Beyond traditional roles, pharmacists in India can work in various sectors, including hospital pharmacies, community pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, regulatory agencies, and even government healthcare initiatives.
  • Career Stability: A pharmacist will never run out of jobs. Medicine is an important requirement today and it is increasing day by day. So, as a pharmacist, there will be more jobs in the future. 

Salary of a Pharmacist

The average annual salary of a Pharmacist ranges from INR 2.5 LPA. The starting salary of a Pharmacist is INR 1 LPA to INR 1.5 LPA. Salary increases as the years of experience increase. The following table includes data on the average annual salary of Pharmacists. 

Designations Average Annual Salary
Clinical Pharmacist INR 2.7 L
Hospital Pharmacist INR 2.3 L
Retail Pharmacist INR 2 L
Pharmacist INR 5.2 L

How to Become a Pharmacist after 12th: FAQs

Ques. What are the courses after 12th to become a pharmacist?

Ans. after 12th, there is a 2-year D. Pharm course, a 4-year Undergraduate degree in B.pharm & B.Pharm in Ayurveda. 

Ques. What are the options after B.Pharm?

Ans. After B.Pharma candidates can opt for further studies like M.Pharm and Ph.D. in Pharmacy or the candidate can seek jobs as a pharmacist in companies or labs.

Ques. What are the skills required to become a good Pharmacist?

Ans. A Pharmacist should have great communication skills and analytical skills, and they must have a good knowledge of Science. 

Ques. Are NEET scores required to get admission to a Pharmacy course?

Ans. No, NEET scores are not required. However, there are other entrance exams like MHT CET, BIT SAT, GUJ CET, LPU NEST, etc. 

Ques. Is there any age limit to become a Pharmacist after 12th?

Ans. Yes, the candidate must have completed their 17 years of age at the time of admission. 

Ques. Which is a better career option: Pharmacy or MBBS?

Ans. Both Pharmacy and MBBS deal with different aspects of the Medical field. But, Pharmacy has its own benefits. The Workload is comparatively less, multiple opportunities career-wise and the cost of education is also less.

Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] : 19 answered questions

VIEW ALL

Ques. How are the salary packages for B.Pharm students at BITS, Pilani?

● Top Answer By Shruti Dasgupta on 05 Aug 23

Ans. The salary package is very bad for B.Pharm. students at BITS Pilani. Companies including Mylan Labs, and Hetero Pharma visit the institute, but they offer lower packages to the students, which is highly disappointing. The highest package ranges from 1.2 to 3.2 lakhs per annum. Students from non-pharmacy backgrounds also have the chance to get placed in consulting and marketing firmsRead more
2
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Is it worth taking B Pharmacy at Bits Pilani and leaving a BTech in mining in NIT Raipur?

● Top Answer By Tithi Aggrawal on 09 Sept 23

Ans. In my opinion, a B Pharmacy at BITS Pilani is better than a BTech in mining at NIT Raipur. There are many opportunities one can avail of by doing this course. Some of them have been listed below  You can do an M Pharmacy from a prestigious US University or from NIPER Mohali. You might secure an excellent job abroad.  As far as core placements are concerned, there are far more pharmaceutical companies than mining companies. Moreover, BITS offers elective courses in 2nd year and minor courses so you can opt for CS minor courses and even get placed in a CS company. Another future prospect of doing B Pharmacy is that you can join any pharmaceutical company and work hard to secure a better position. You can also pursue a Ph.D. degree and pursue a career in research. In all, choosing a B Pharmacy at BITS Pilani will offer better opportunities than a BTech in mining at NIT Raipur.Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. How good is Sharda University for a B.Pharm course?

● Top Answer By Devdutta Bose on 16 Jul 21

Ans. In comparison to other Universities in Delhi NCR, Sharda University provides a good possibility for B.Pharm students to work in a reputable field. There is a methodical technique to approaching the educational pattern in order to provide students with knowledge. Students will be able to demonstrate a thorough comprehension of the scientific principles and methodologies of pharmaceutical sciences through their basic professional education. This will allow them to continue their education and pursue postgraduate training and research. The curriculum was inspired by the fact that pharmacists are important members of the healthcare team, and they will be able to find work in either the public or private sector. Community pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, regulatory control and drug management, pharmaceutical industry, quality assurance, academic activities, training activities, and research are all key topics. Categories B.Pharm at Sharda University Course Fee 7.50 lakh Highest CTC 7 LPA Average CTC 4 LPA Recruiting Companies Patanjali, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Himalaya, etc. As a result, Sharda University will play a critical role in preparing students for the workforce rather than simply imparting theoretical information.Read more
1
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Is NIMS University Jaipur a good institution for a B.Pharm?

● Top Answer By Aliyah Bose, on 01 Nov 21

Ans. One of my friends studied B.Pharm at NIMS University Jaipur. According to him, it is overall a good institution, but the faculties are not good enough. They are said to be uncooperative and not easy to approach. They maintain a distance from students and keep them in continuous check, probably giving you a feeling of the school. Many students have mentioned that the fees of the college are really high and not appropriate for considering the facilities offered. It is suggested that you go to any other college because the scope and exposure NIMS University Jaipur provides is not enough to make a mark in today’s world.Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Is it worth taking B Pharma in BITS Pilani?

● Top Answer By Nisha Dubey on 19 Jul 21

Ans. My brother used to be a student of BITS Pilani and from what he has heard; it is not a good institute for students who want to pursue pharmacy. You should pursue pharmacy at BITS Pilani only if you have a strong background in physics, chemistry, and biology or you cannot get admission to some other institute. Even if you do have a strong background in the three subjects, the chances of getting converted to a different stream are very low. You have to obtain a CGPA of or higher than 9.8. It is simply too high and getting a 257 just will not be enough. On the other hand, BITS is a very reputed institute. It is highly praised by my friend and a lot of the students and former students as well. It is a very good institute but pharmacy is just not its forte. It would be better if you look for other institutes if you want to pursue pharmacy.Read more
1
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Which is the best university for pharmacy, Sharda University or Galgotias University?

● Top Answer By Senjuti Verma on 25 Mar 22

Ans. Galgotias University is a better option for pursuing Pharmacy. The course is well-structured and offers you practical training for a career in Pharmacy. The course will give you inside into how drugs are made and how pharmacists can make patient care better by interacting with other health professionals.  You will learn through lectures, laboratory assignments, study projects, seminars, etc. Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. Which are the best colleges for B.Pharma in Andhra Pradesh?

● Top Answer By Aishwarya Shastri on 08 Dec 23

Ans. Based on their popularity, I am listing down the top 10 pharmacy colleges in Andhra Pradesh- Andhra University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Visakhapatnam Chalapathi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guntur Acharya Nagarjuna University - [ANU], Guntur Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam - [SPMVV], Tirupati Sri Venkateswara College of Pharmacy - [SVCP], Etcherla Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research - [RIPER], Anantapur K L University - [KLU], Guntur Sri Venkateswara University - [SVU], Tirupati Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology, and Research, Guntur Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University - [JNTU], Anantapur These are just a few of the pharmacy colleges in Andhra Pradesh from where you can pursue your B.Pharma. You can check the details of all of these, and also check some other pharmacy colleges in the state . Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Is SHUATS okay for B Pharm or not?

● Top Answer By Radhika Jadeja on 14 Oct 21

Ans. Actually, no, the forte of SHUATS lies in the course it offers for agriculture and allied courses. SHUATS does offer the B.Pharm degree but if you really want to pursue this degree then it would be better if you opt for some other institute. The placement scenario for students of B.Pharm at SHUATS is not good at all. Instead, try pursuing the degree at VIT or SRM where students who have completed this course do get placements. Another popular degree that attracts candidates is the food technology course.Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Comments


No Comments To Show

Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] Colleges IN INDIA

View All
2.35 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
3.03 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
81.65 K Total fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
64.64 K Total fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
6.38 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
2.2 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES