Pharmacy is a highly marketable course in Kenya, with a growing demand for pharmacists. Now is an excellent time for anyone considering this career to pursue it.
Many high school graduates choose a career in pharmacy because of its potential rewards. This field also introduces them to the world of science and medicine.
To study Pharmacy, you need good KCSE results and a genuine passion for healthcare and helping others.
As a pharmacist, you’ll need to make sure patients get the right medicine and advice for a better recovery. The job description also involves disease prevention & management and patient counselling.
So how can you become a pharmacist in Kenya? This article explores the details of unlocking this career, its required credentials and a salary.
Requirements to qualify as a Pharmacist
Pharmacy, like many careers in Kenya, has specific eligibility requirements. To become a pharmacist, you need a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy. After that, you must complete a one-year supervised internship overseen by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Those who study Pharmacy abroad and want to practice in Kenya must pass an internship exam. This involves 6 months of hospital pharmacy practice, 3 months in a community or retail pharmacy, and 3 months in the pharmaceutical industry.
Once the internship is complete, pharmacists need to pass a registration exam from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Afterwards, they should engage in ongoing professional development through the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK). The PSK ensures adherence to professional standards and ethics and supports the welfare of pharmacists.
Before you can pursue pharmacy at a college, you need to meet the minimum secondary education requirements set by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for KCSE.
The requirements include a minimum overall grade of C+. Additionally, you must have at least a C+ in the following cluster subjects:
- Mathematics – C+
- Compulsory Science: Chemistry – B
- Optional Sciences: Physics or Biology – B+
- Optional Languages: English or Kiswahili – B
These subjects lay the groundwork for pharmaceutical studies. The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) uses cluster points to decide admissions into different programs. They include:
| University | Institution Type | 2023 Cut-off | 2022 Cut-off | 2021 Cut-off | Cluster Weights |
| University of Nairobi (UON) | Public | 44.452 | 43.885 | 43.860 | 21.436 |
| Kenyatta University (KU) | Public | 44.010 | 43.541 | 43.604 | 21.436 |
| Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT) | Public | 43.872 | 43.483 | 43.083 | 21.436 |
| Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) | Private | 39.609 | 34.150 | 42.564 | 21.436 |
| Kabarak University | Private | 41.093 | 38.341 | 42.807 | 21.436 |
| Kisii University | Public | 43.111 | 43.003 | 42.017 | 21.436 |
| Maseno University | Private | 43.308 | 43.126 | 42.847 | 21.436 |
| Mount Kenya University (MKU) | Private | 42.989 | 39.982 | 43.292 | 21.436 |
Different types of nursing courses in Kenya and entry requirements
To start a career in pharmacy, you need to enrol in a recognized institution. Based on your KCSE results and cluster subjects, you can pursue either a degree or a diploma in pharmacy.
Undergraduate Pharmacy Programs (B.Pharm)
This involves pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, a four-year undergraduate program available at accredited universities and institutions nationwide.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board oversees pharmacy education and practice in Kenya. Here’s a list of universities and institutions offering degrees and diplomas in pharmacy.
The curriculum involves topics such as:
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmacognosy
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Pharmacy Practice
Diploma in Pharmacy
If a 4-year degree isn’t what you’re looking for, you can opt for a 3-year diploma in Pharmacy. This program is available at several institutions, as mentioned earlier.
The PPB recognizes graduates with a diploma in pharmacy as pharmaceutical technologists or pharm techs. While this qualification doesn’t make one a fully licensed pharmacist, it provides deep knowledge of pharmaceutical sciences and can land one an entry-level position in the industry.
To pursue a diploma in Pharmacy, you’ll need a KCSE mean grade of C plain, with at least a C plain in Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics/Physics, and English/Kiswahili.
After completing the diploma, you can enrol in an undergraduate Pharmacy program at any recognized institution. Additionally, many diploma graduates receive exemptions for some courses when they move on to the degree level.
Pharmaceutical Internships
Once you earn your Pharmacy degree, you must complete a mandatory one-year internship before you can practice as a registered pharmacist.
During this internship, you will work under the supervision of an experienced pharmacist in a real-world setting, and your performance will be reported to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
During this training, you are expected to gain knowledge in several areas including:
- Dispensing medications
- Counselling patients on medication use
- Monitoring drug therapy
- Compounding medications
- Managing inventory
- Maintaining records
Acquiring a license
Once your internship is complete, you’ll need to get your license from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
This involves submitting an application with the necessary documents, including your academic transcripts, internship certificate, and police clearance certificate. Upon approval of your application, you’ll be granted a license to practice as a registered pharmacist.
Maintaining this license requires ongoing professional development, including attending workshops, conferences, and training sessions, and keeping up with the latest advancements in pharmacy.
Pharmacist Salary
According to Glassdoor, a pharmacist’s salary in Kenya ranges from Sh. 91,000 to Sh. 196,000 per month. Entry-level pharmacists can expect to earn around Sh. 60,000 per month, according to Salary Explorer.
Some of the areas you will find pharmacists working include:
- Community pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Research and Academia
- Government and Regulatory Agencies.
Some pharmacists choose to become entrepreneurs and open their own pharmacies. Their earnings in this case depend largely on the success of their business.
