D.Pharm
Pharmacy diploma · After Class 12
A two-year Diploma in Pharmacy that trains you to dispense medicines and run a pharmacy. It covers pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and hospital and community pharmacy, followed by practical training. It is the minimum qualification to register as a pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and is regulated by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI).
After D.Pharm, you can
How you get in
Class 12 with Physics and Chemistry plus Biology or Mathematics, at a PCI-approved institution. Admission is through state counselling or entrance tests, or on Class 12 merit, depending on the state. After passing, you register with the State Pharmacy Council to work as a pharmacist.
At a glance
- PCI's Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination Regulations, 2022 link registration to an exit exam, but the exam has been repeatedly deferred; check the current rule with your State Pharmacy Council.
- Some government pharmacist notices now ask for a B.Pharm or Pharm.D, so eligibility differs post by post.
- Every retail chemist shop needs a registered pharmacist, so D.Pharm holders can be hired by one or open their own.
- Lateral entry to the second year of B.Pharm is a common next step.
In numbers
Programme row 'D.Pharma - Diploma in Pharmacy'. Many D.Pharm institutes are standalone and may not all report to AISHE. AISHE counts responding institutions only; coverage varies by year, so part of any change can reflect reporting rather than real growth.