Pharmacists in India

HOW DOES A PHARMACIST GET LICENSED IN INDIA

There are 2 kinds of pharmacist degrees in India. One is the regular 4-year program which is called the Bachelor of Pharmacy or B. Pharm. The other is a 2-year program called the Diploma of Pharmacy or D. Pharm. The government licenses both of them.

The regulator has allowed 2 forms of pharmacy licenses for a reason. D.Pharm students end up in working in retail stores. Students need to attend a college accredited by the Pharmacy Council of India. As they don't really need to learn about the inner workings of a manufacturing facility they are allowed to opt for a 2 year program. At the end of 2 years they are required to take 3 months on the job training. For 1.5 months they have to work in a pharmacy and for the next 1.5 months they have to work in a hospital pharmacy. At the end of the 6 months training the student can apply for his Diploma. The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) issues this diploma.

The other form is the regular 4 year Bachelors of Pharmacy degree. Students taking this degree are normally headed towards a job in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. They work in the quality control and production departments. This program is also very conducive towards production and manufacturing due to which very few B.Pharm students take up jobs in pharmacy. At the end of 4 years they are required to get practical training for 6 months in pharmaceutical production at the end of which the PCI will give them a degree.

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