In 1990, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) mandated that a doctor of pharmacy degree would be the new first-professional degree. Currently all accredited schools and colleges of pharmacy in the US offer the PharmD degree. National association of Boards of Pharmacy is now permitting students with 5 years degree like Pharm D for FPGEE eligibility.
Many other countries like Canada, Spain, France, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Jamaica, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria etc have started Pharm D programs. India has started Pharm D Program from 2008.
Opportunities
Pharmacists can start their career in a limitless number of professional areas that range from community pharmacies, drug development, fundamental or applied research, biotechnology to areas such as forensic sciences, toxicology, regulatory affairs, clinical analysis, law enforcement (scientific police), bromatology, drug marketing, regulatory authorities, university teachers, executive managers (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and governmental institutions)etc.
Large numbers of Pharmaceutical companies are opting for clinical trials and the spending in four types of trials represented about $7.8 Billion in 2007 and is projected to grow to $17.2 Billion in 2013.Pharm D graduates will be the best suited for clinical research and related jobs across the globe.
Course Pattern
Duration:
Pharm D course shall be of six academic years (five years of study and one year of internship or residency) each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days. Sixth year involves posting in specialty units training students in pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy services
Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) course shall be for three academic years (two years of study and one year internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days.
Minimum qualification:
Pharm.D: 10+2 examination with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects along with one of the following subjects: Mathematics or Biology, Or A pass in D.Pharm; completed 17 years of age.
Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate): A pass in B.Pharm from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India
Attendance:
Candidate having regularly and satisfactorily undergone the course of study by attending not less than 80% of the classes held both in theory and in practical separately in each subject shall be eligible for appearing at examination.
Every student has to undergo one year internship as per Appendix-C of PCI regulations. Internship is a phase of training wherein a student is expected to conduct actual practice of pharmacy and health care and acquires skills under the supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
Examinations - Internal Assessment
A regular record of both theory and practical class work and examinations conducted for Pharm.D. or Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) course, shall be maintained for each student in the institution
30 marks for each theory and 30 marks for each practical subject shall be allotted as sessional.
There shall be at least two periodic sessional examinations during each academic year and the highest aggregate of any two performances shall form the basis of calculating sessional marks.
The sessional marks in practicals shall be allotted on the following basis
Actual performance in the sessional examination (20 marks);
Day to day assessment in the practical class work, promptness, viva-voce record maintenance, etc. (10 marks).
Examinations - External l Assessment
Theory examination shall be of three hours and practical examination shall be of four hours duration.
A Student who fails in theory or practical examination of a subject shall re-appear both in theory and practical of the same subject.
Practical examination shall also consist of a viva –voce (Oral) examination.
Clerkship examination – Oral examination shall be conducted after the completion of clerkship of students. An external and an internal examiner will evaluate the student. Students may be asked to present the allotted medical cases followed by discussion. Students’ capabilities in delivering clinical pharmacy services, pharmaceutical care planning and knowledge of therapeutics shall be assessed.
Criteria for Pass
A student shall not be declared to have passed examination unless he or she secures at least 50% marks in each of the subjects separately in the theory examinations, including Sessional marks and at least 50% marks in each of the practical examinations including Sessional marks.
The students securing 60% marks or above in aggregate in all subjects in a single attempt at the Pharm.D. or Pharm. D. (Post Baccalaureate) course examination shall be declared to have passed in first class.
Students securing 75% marks or above in any subject or subjects shall be declared to have passed with distinction in the subject or those subjects provided he or she passes in all the subjects in a single attempt.
All students who have appeared for all the subjects and passed the first year annual examination are eligible for promotion to the second year and, so on. However, failure in more than two subjects shall debar him or her from promotion to the next year classes.
Certificate of passing examination
Every student who has passed the examinations for the Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy) or Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) (Doctor of Pharmacy) as the case may be, shall be granted a certificate by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Bangalore.
