When the profession of pharmacy was developed in the country way back in 1960s, there was a demand for the qualified pharmacists, in order to cater to the needs of the then profession of pharmacy, a short version of pharmacy program namely Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) was developed and offered to the students with SSLC/Xth qualification. Later, in 1990s, the minimum qualification for D.Pharm admission was raised to PUC/Pre-degree/10+2. Thus a large number of students persuaded their interest in the profession of pharmacy through D.Pharm and registered themselves are pharmacists. These registered pharmacists confined themselves either to community or hospital pharmacy stores.

After D.Pharm, the students can pursue higher studies in Pharmacy by joining B.Pharm, B.Pharm-Lateral or PharmD programs.

Pharmacy education in India has undergone tremendous changes to meet the requirements of industry and the community at large. The D.Pharm is able to meet the requirements of community and hospital stores only partly. The degree program (B.Pharm) is developed to address all other demands of the profession of pharmacy. However, B.Pharm education today is facing the challenge of meeting the changing needs the of industry. The four-year B.Pharm course offered by Maa Vaishnodevi College of Pharmacy is prepared considering the needs of the industry, which gives more impetus for skill development. Thus, B.Pharm graduates can don the roles like Industrial Pharmacist (Manufacturing, Packaging, Quality Control, and Quality Assurance), Hospital and Community Pharmacist (Dispensing of Medicines and Counselling of patients), Sales and Distribution executive (Detailing to Doctors and Bulk Distribution of Medicines), Academic Pharmacist (Training Diploma in Pharmacy Students). With experience, an aspirant can move up the ladder to occupy senior positions in pharmaceutical companies getting hefty pay and perks.