Pharm.D. is a Professional Pharmacy Doctoral Programme. 'Pharm.D.' is a Latin term which stands for 'Pharmaciae Doctor' which means 'Doctor of Pharmacy'. Pharmacy is the art and science of preparing and dispensing drugs and medicines. The course is also known as Pharma.D., which many of the medical institutes prefer to term it as such. Pharm.D. is a registrable qualification under the Pharmacy Act 1948. Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is the regulatory body of Pharmacy education in India. Pharmacy Council of India introduced the 6 years Pharm.D. course in India from the academic year 2008. Pharm.D. enables one to practice the profession of a Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. Doctor of Pharmacy Programs is focused on classroom theory, penetrative laboratory experiments and motivated research projects. Only PCI approved Colleges can offer Pharm.D. course. There are only a limited number of Pharmacy Schools which provide Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

There are 2 types of Pharm.D.

Regulations for both Courses as per PCI 2008

1. Pharm.D. - The duration of the course shall be 6 academic years (5 years of study and 1 year of internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days.
   

   The period of 6 years duration is divided into two phases

   Phase I – consisting of First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth academic year.
   Phase II – consisting of internship or residency training for sixth year involving posting in speciality units. It is a phase of training wherein a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy services and acquires skill under supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
2. Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate) - The duration of the course shall be for 3 academic years (2 years of study and 1-year internship or residency) full time with each academic year spread over a period of not less than two hundred working days.
   
   

   The period of 3 years duration is divided into two phases

   Phase I – consisting of First and Second academic year.
   Phase II – consisting of Internship or residency training for third year involving posting in speciality units. It is a phase of training wherein a student is exposed to actual pharmacy practice or clinical pharmacy services and acquires skill under supervision so that he or she may become capable of functioning independently.
   The number of admissions for the Pharm.D. program are prescribed by the Pharmacy Council of India from time to time and is restricted to 30 student’s intake for Pharm.D. & 10 students for Pharm.D. (PB) per academic year as per 2008 regulations.

For Pharm.D. (6-year course)

A pass in any of the following examinations -

• 10+2 examination with Physics and Chemistry as compulsory subjects along with one of the following subjects: Mathematics or Biology.
• A pass in D.Pharm. course from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act.
• Any other qualification approved by the Pharmacy Council of India as equivalent to any of the above examinations.
• Provided that a student should complete the age of 17 years on or before 31st December of the year of admission to the course.
• There shall be reservation of seats for the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government/State Government/Union Territory Administration from time to time.

For Pharm.D. (Post Baccalaureate)

• A pass in B.Pharm. from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India under section 12 of the Pharmacy Act.
• There shall be reservation of seats for the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes in accordance with the instructions issued by the Central Government/State Government/Union Territory Administration from time to time.