The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has issued a circular on admissions in Pharmacy Courses. This circular is dated 4th August, 2023.
The circular states that the minimum statutory requirements for registration under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 are as follows:
- applicant should have attainted 18 years of age and paid the prescribed fees
- applicant should reside or carry on the business or profession of pharmacy in the state
- applicant should have passed an approved examination or he should possess approved qualifications or is a registered pharmacist in another state.
Furthermore, PCI is empowered to prescribe the minimum standards of education required for qualification as a pharmacist. Accordingly, PCI has framed Education Regulations for various pharmacy courses.
Additionally, the PCI approves the following registrable qualifications under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, if obtained from a PCI approved institution:
- D. Pharm (2 years)
- B. Pharm (4 years) and
- Pharm. D (6 years)
PCI also emphasises that the admission qualification (10+2 science academic stream with physics, chemistry, mathematics or biology) to various pharmacy courses is mandatory in nature. Hence, verification of this basic qualification (10+2) is also mandatory.
PCI has directed that all admission making authorities shall strictly verify the 10+2 documents of candidates before taking admission in any Pharmacy Courses.
