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

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Swatantra Khandelwal

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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. 

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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] : 23 answered questions

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Ques. How are the placements in LPU for bpharma? Is it worth it or not?

● Top Answer By Vinima Bhola on 02 Jul 25

Ans. Particularly when compared to private universities in India, Lovely Professional University's (LPU) B.Pharm placements are robust and generally regarded as worthwhile. Particulars LPU B.Pharm Placement Data Highest Package 8.40 LPA  Average Package (Top 50%) 7.33 LPA Total Recruiters 40+ No. of Dream & Super Dream Offers 120+ If you want a private university setting, industry exposure, and robust placement support, LPU is a good option for your B.Pharm. Given the recruiter network and placement statistics, the investment is typically regarded as worthwhile. Although the highest packages are competitive for pharmacy graduates, they are not as high as those for engineering or management streams. Individual results are dependent on student performance, abilities, and initiative, just like at any other university.  Read more
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Ques. Can i get admission in b.pharma my percentage is 47 percentage ?

● Top Answer By Vinima Bhola on 01 Jul 25

Ans. No, you are not eligible to enrol in Amity University Gwalior's B.Pharm programme because of your 47% grade in the 12th grade. With 47%, you fall short of Amity University Gwalior's minimum eligibility requirements for a B.Pharm. This 50% cutoff is strictly enforced by the university, and their official admissions policy makes no mention of exceptions. You can look into other private colleges in India that might accept applicants with a 45% or higher.  If eligibility requirements are more flexible, you might also think about enrolling in a Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) and then pursuing lateral entry into a B.Pharm programme after completing the diploma.Read more
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Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] at DIT University Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Shreya Prakash on 04 Jun 25

Ans. Placement is really very good . Each year various companies come and select various students from our college. The package is also very good. From 6 th semester students become eligible for campus placements .Read more
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Ques. What is the admission process at Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] DIT University Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Shreya Prakash on 04 Jun 25

Ans. About This college I got to know from internet and it had really great reviews. Addmission process was online and offline both . The staff was really helpful while the admission process was ongoing. They provide relevant information.Read more
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Ques. What is the fees for Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] in DIT University Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Shreya Prakash on 04 Jun 25

Ans. College fee is really appropriate. This college provides vaceny for the students and also helps the students in their betterment.The faculty and staff are amazing and helpful. The teachers provide awesome knowledge and take care of each and every student. The college have labs for practical knowledge and they are fully equipped with all the materials.Read more
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Ques. How is the course curriculum of Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] in DIT University Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Shreya Prakash on 04 Jun 25

Ans. Course curriculum is relevant and up to date as they are really helpful for today's world betterment. The teachers provide notes and pdfs for learning. We have library for self studies from where we can issue the books .Read more
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Ques. How are the placements for Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] at MMC Chennai?

● Top Answer By Anonymous on 28 Dec 24

Ans. Placements are available in our college but not everyone is selected in the placements bachelors degree is not enough it is best to finish masters in NIPER institutions to get good work space or go to scientist sideRead more
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Ques. What is the admission process for Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] MMC Chennai?

● Top Answer By Anonymous on 28 Dec 24

Ans. This is one of the oldest and prestigious college in Tamilnadu. Which is also a government college where the fees would be less than compared to some other college with same course but without facilities.Read more
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Ques. What is the fees for Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] in MMC Chennai?

● Top Answer By Anonymous on 28 Dec 24

Ans. It is one of the college in Tamilnadu. There are three major department.we have sports in our college.college of pharmacy has a own building for theirself.staffs are very easy to teach and very friendly also they have laboratory facilities.Read more
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Ques. How is the course curriculum of Bachelor of Pharmacy [B Pharma] in MMC Chennai?

● Top Answer By Anonymous on 28 Dec 24

Ans. Pharmacy college syllabus is 8 semester course with duration of 4 years and exam will be conducted 6months once.The syllabus which is covered is necessary for the course which help to become a professional.Read more
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