The Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharma) syllabus is prescribed by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) under its Education Regulations 2020 (ER-2020). The curriculum is structured as a two year full time course spread across 4 semesters, combining pharmaceutical science theory, practical/laboratory work and internship training.
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Course Level | Diploma (Higher Secondary) |
| Full Form | Diploma in Pharmacy |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Total Semesters | 4 |
| Regulating Authority | Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and AICTE |
| Degree Awarded | Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharma) |
| Mode | Full-time (Theory + Practical/Lab + Internship) |
| Minimum Contact Hours | 1800 hours (inclusive of internship) |
| Subject | Theory Hours | Practical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry I | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmacognosy I | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmaceutics I | 60 | 60 |
| Biochemistry | 60 | 30 |
| Anatomy and Physiology | 60 | 30 |
| Pathophysiology | 60 | -- |
| Microbiology | 60 | 60 |
| Communication and Information Technology | 30 | 30 |
| Subject | Theory Hours | Practical Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry II | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmacognosy II | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmaceutics II | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmacology | 60 | 60 |
| Pharmacy Practice | 60 | 60 |
| Forensic Pharmacy and Toxicology | 60 | -- |
| Hospital Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy | 60 | 60 |
| Social and Administrative Pharmacy | 60 | 30 |
| Internship (500 hours minimum) | -- | 500 |
The D.Pharma curriculum is organized into five key domains:
| Component | Hours | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry Lab | 120 | Organic synthesis, qualitative analysis of drugs |
| Pharmacognosy Lab | 120 | Microscopy, phytochemical identification, crude drug evaluation |
| Pharmaceutics Lab | 120 | Formulation preparation, coating, packaging |
| Microbiology Lab | 60 | Culture preparation, antimicrobial testing, sterilization |
| Pharmacology Lab | 60 | Animal studies, pharmacological screening |
| Community / Hospital Pharmacy Internship | 500 | Real-world pharmacy practice, dispensing, patient interaction |
Authoritative Reference: Pharmacy Council of India - "Education Regulations 2020 (ER-2020) for Diploma in Pharmacy" available at pci.gov.in.
Students may explore government scholarships, state schemes, eligible category based support, institution level awards and other verified financial assistance programs. Eligibility may depend on academic performance, family income, domicile, category, course eligibility and renewal conditions.
VET SAT is a scholarship and aptitude initiative of the Medivita Healthcare Scholarship & Aptitude Foundation. Eligible students may be considered for scholarships of up to 100%, subject to the published scheme, eligibility criteria, merit or rank, available funds and applicable terms and conditions.
Important: VET SAT does not replace the prescribed admission process, counselling, institutional eligibility or professional registration requirements.
The core subjects include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacology, Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence.
Yes. PCI prescribes the minimum curriculum and colleges and state boards follow it.
The course runs over 2 years and 4 semesters, with subjects spread across both years.
Yes. Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy include laboratory practicals, along with dispensing and pharmacy practice training.
Yes. Hospital Pharmacy, Health Education and Community Pharmacy are included to prepare students for dispensing and patient counselling.
Yes. Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence covers the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and related rules for pharmacists.
Yes. Drug store and business management topics cover inventory, purchasing and running a pharmacy.
Yes. PCI revises the curriculum periodically, so confirm the current version with your college before admission.
Check the Pharmacy Council of India website (pci.gov.in), your State Pharmacy Council and the official website of your college or university.
Yes, VET SAT offers upto 100% scholarships for the D.Pharm courses nationally or internationally, as per VET SAT, All India Rank (AIR) and listed terms & conditions.