Exit Exam now mandatory for D.Pharm students, PCI directs state councils not to register new passouts until exam is cleared

New Delhi Diploma in Pharmacy ( D.Pharm) candidates from next year have to give exit exam in order to get their degrees and qualify to practice, a recent circular issued by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has mandated. The exam will be held in July-September 2024 for the 2022–24 academic session, the PCI has informed

Further, the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) directed the various state pharmacy councils and registration tribunals not to register the candidates admitted to the Diploma in Pharmacy program during the 2022-23 academic session and passed in the 2023-24 academic session as pharmacists until they pass the exit examination and fulfil the other prescribed conditions under section 32(2) of the Pharmacy Act.

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that in February 2022, the Pharmacy Council of India, via a Gazette notification, released the "Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination Regulations, 2022" which called for a Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination after the completion of the course, making it mandatory for registration and a license to practice as a pharmacist. The exit examination was further scheduled to take place twice a year or as frequently as may be required as per the schedule of examinations announced by the prescribed authority. The examination date and centre will also be assigned to candidates by the prescribed authority based on the availability of the examination centres, the council stated.

The PCI has now informed that the said exam will be conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) from next year onwards. PCI further stated that the said exam will be conducted in the month of July-September, however, the date has not yet been declared.

" It is informed that council is going to conduct the Diploma in Pharmacy Exit Examination in July-September 2024 for 2022-24 academic session for D.Pharm. course through NBEMS. The exact dates for Exit Examination will be announced in due course of time,"

It further directed the state councils not to register new candidates as pharmacists, till they clear the exit exam

"In view of above, it is requested to not to register the candidates as a registered pharmacist who have admitted in the 2022-23 academic session Diploma in Pharmacy and passed out in 2023-24 academic session until they-

1. Qualify the Exit Examination and

2. 2 fulfil the other prescribed conditions u/s 23(2) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948,"

To view the official notice, click the link below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/exit-exmination-pci-circular-228923.pdf