Pharmacy is an extremely popular field that has immense career opportunities. Students who want to establish themselves as pharmacists can look for, and pursue pharmacy courses at different levels like undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels. There are 5+ online Pharmacy certification courses that students can pursue when they want to study Pharmacy.
Pharmacy certification courses will prepare pharmacists who shall be responsible for making a discovery or introducing new medicines to different medical practitioners. The duration of these online certification courses is somewhere between 3 weeks to 24 weeks. The mode of study is online and the language of study is English. Certifications are offered as and when the online courses are completed.
What is Pharmacy?
Pharmacy is not only a degree for running a drugstore but the practice, and the science of discovering, then preparing, reviewing, and monitoring the different kinds of medicines to make sure they are safe for consumption. The job of a pharmacist is also to ensure that these drugs are effective yet affordable, and readily available for regular consumption.
Pharmacy certifications or Pharmacy courses after 12th can help the students as a career option to join the field of medical research and development. A drug is only prescribed by a doctor when it has already undergone tests for dosage, and side effects and has been approved with prescription guidelines. A pharmacy student after he or she becomes a pharmacist is a part of the entire clinical trial of the medicines hence this job is a life-saving or breaking one.
Who Can Learn Pharmacy?
For students who have a special interest in medicine subject but do not want to become a doctor then for them, Pharmacy can be the best possible alternative. For students who love working under pressure by providing emergency services and want to save lives then becoming a pharmacist can be suitable for them by enrolling in Pharmacy certifications.
Again, for one who wants to lead a structured life by working only during regular hours but still wants to contribute medically then taking Pharmacy courses after 12th can prove to be a great career opportunity.
Eligibility Criteria For Online Pharmacy Courses
Pharmacy can be offered at different levels and the admission criteria for each of them is different. The eligibility criteria for different pharmacy Pharmacy certifications and Pharmacy online courses are different. Check below the eligibility criteria for the various kinds of Pharmacy courses:
Bachelor in Pharmacy (B. Pharm): Candidates should have completed their higher education from a national or state-level education board. They should also have studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, and English subjects. The age of the candidates should also be 17 as of December 31 during the year of admission.
Diploma in Pharmacy (D. Pharm): For this, the candidates must have completed their higher secondary education successfully with science subjects like Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
Master of Pharmacy (M. Pharm): Candidates who have completed their B. Pharm degree with the minimum marks asked by a pharmacy college, and approved by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D): This is a 6-year course where the candidates who have completed 17 years of age during admission must have done their higher education from any national or state education board. They should also have read compulsory subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Biology as additional subjects.
- For Pharm. D course, the candidates must have completed their Bachelor of Pharmacy course from a PCI-recognized university and also have done their secondary education with science subjects like Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or Mathematics.
Entrance Exams for Online Pharmacy Courses
Considering the present scenario, pharmacy education in India also continues to grow at a rapid pace but there are still a few Pharmacy entrance exams that need to be focused more on getting admission. These are listed in the table below.
- GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test)
- NMIMS NPAT
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali
- RUHS Pharmacy
- CG PPHT
- UKSEE Pharmacy
- MET Pharmacy
- OJEE Pharmacy
- TS EAMCET Pharmacy
- AP EAMCET Pharmacy
Skills Required for Pharmacy Courses Online
Some key skills that candidates must possess before they think of learning pharmacy courses online are the following:
- Mathematical Skills
- Research Skills
- Computer skills
- Proofreading Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Multitasking
- Communication skills
- Observation skills
- Scientific Paper Writing Skills
- Counselling Skills
Popular Online Pharmacy Courses and Certifications
Loads of online pharmacy courses and certifications are offered by well-known providers like Futurelearn, and Swayam that are offered over some weeks, and for free. Some are mentioned in the table below:
- FutureLearn Online Pharmacy Certification Courses
- Swayam Online Industrial Pharmacy Certification Courses
- Futurelearn Clinical Pharmacy Certification Courses
- Free Industrial Pharmacy Certification Courses
What You Will Learn in Online Pharmacy Courses?
Pharmacy studies involve spending ample time in laboratories where students research, and simultaneously learn about how chemistry is used for developing medicine.
Students mainly learn about the basics of pharmaceutical sciences. During the final years, the students are shifted to practicing more in reality than learning which means they will invest their time applying knowledge. Some of the key topics covered in pharmacy courses online include the following:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacognosy
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology
- Hospital Pharmacy
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Immunology
- Marketing & Business Management
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Computational Chemistry
Career Opportunities after Online Pharmacy Courses
In India, once candidates pursue pharmacy courses they are eligible for different job prospects. In MNCs, they get a pretty handsome salary package as the process of recruitment is highly competitive. Here are some of the best career options available after pharmacy courses online.
- Pharmacy Clerk
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Nuclear Pharmacist
- Chemotherapy Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Director
- Pharmacy Manager
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Pharmacologist
Salary Trends After Pharmacy Courses
The salary of any pharmacist varies depending upon the career path that they choose for themselves. Starting from 2 lakhs per annum, the salary can go up to 8 lakhs per annum. Have a look at the current salary trends mentioned below:
Job Profile | Average Salary |
Clinical Research Associate | Rs. 4LPA |
Drug Safety Associate | Rs. 3-5 LPA |
Pharmacist | Rs. 2-5 LPA |
Pharmacy Business | Rs. 8 LPA |
Pathological Lab Scientist | Rs. 3 LPA |
Scientific Writer | Rs. 3LPA |
Scope of Pharmacy Courses
Pharmacy courses are a field that is focused more on sciences and chemistry thereby dealing with the development, research, and study of pharmaceutical drugs. People who want to pursue pharmacy certification courses can also get a huge scope of moving ahead in their careers as this is a booming industry according to the World Health Organisation.
Top Recruiters
Let's look at the top-rated national, and international recruiters who give employment to graduates after Pharmacy courses online:
- Biocon
- Pfizer
- Piramal
- Cipla
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Johnson & Johnson
- Dr, Reddy’s Laboratories
- Serum Institute of India Ltd
FAQs
Q) What is the qualification for pursuing online pharmacy courses and certifications?
Ans) Students should have completed their class 12 with compulsory science subjects to pursue pharmacy courses online.
Q) Is learning pharmacy courses in online mode possible?
Ans) Yes, online Pharmacy certifications are available and can be learned through modes of online study.
Q) Can I pursue pharmacy courses free of cost?
Ans) Online course providers like Futurelearn, Swayam, and more allow candidates to pursue Pharmacy certifications free of cost.
Q) Can B.Pharm be learned by students through correspondence?
Ans) BPharm is a full-time classroom programme that requires students to be a part of lab practicals involved, hence correspondence is not possible.
Q) Can one pursue Pharmacy courses after 12th?
Ans) Those students who have completed studying, and passed 10+2 from a recognized board with science subjects can learn pharmacy courses.