CPD Pharmacist Independent Prescribing

As part of its long term plan the NHS has been developing clinical pathways that widen the remit of pharmacists, which in turn have a major positive impact on patient care - from diagnosis to prescribing. Part of this initiative involves broadening pharmacists' skills through training to become Independent Prescribers. At Leicester, the School of Healthcare’s accessible Pharmacist Independent Prescribing course is designed to support the pharmacy integration programme and enables pharmacists to become confident and knowledgeable non-medical prescribers. In fact, it is considered such an important part of the modern pharmacist's role that, as of 2026, all pharmacy graduates will be independent prescribers. This programme comprises one 30 credit module. It’s designed to provide pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to prescribe within their chosen scope of practice. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing and be eligible for annotation on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register or PSNI register as an independent prescriber. This programme is ideal if you have work and personal commitments. It has a flexible format and is delivered using predominantly distance learning approaches, which means it is open to registered pharmacists from across England. The course comprises five virtual, interactive facilitated teaching sessions, and two face-to-face sessions delivered over a range of dates in locations across England. The course is entirely portfolio based with no OSCE style assessments. To complete the application you will need to provide the following information: The role and responsibilities of the DPP are outlined in the DPP course guide (PDF, 1MB). *If you are undertaking your 90 hours of learning in practice in an organisation that is different to your current employer (or if you are self employed) then you will need to confirm that there are appropriate clinical and information governance ar

To complete the application you will need to provide the following information: Evidence of your registration with the GPhC or PSNI, this can be a screen shot of your GPhC payment records. Signed declarations that: you are currently in good standing with the GPhC or PSNI you and your organisation have appropriate indemnity insurance to cover your training as a prescriber* Confirmation of the clinical area in which you intend to practice as a prescriber and a personal reflective statement supporting your choice of prescribing area – see information below about what experience, both therapeutic and clinical, that you need to have completed in order to undertake the prescribing certificate course and the evidence you might need to upload. Details of the clinical setting in which you will complete the learning in practice A statement of competence to supervise your leaning in practice signed by your DPP which includes meeting requirements set out in the following documents: A Competency Framework for Designated Prescribing Practitioners (RPS, 2019) Standards for the Education and Training of Pharmacist Independent Prescribers (GPhC, 2019) Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Competency Framework for Prescribers (RPS, 2021) The role and responsibilities of the DPP are outlined in the DPP course guide (PDF, 1MB). *If you are undertaking your 90 hours of learning in practice in an organisation that is different to your current employer (or if you are self employed) then you will need to confirm that there are appropriate clinical and information governance arrangements in place to support your learning in practice. Relevant experience to succeed as a trainee prescriber The Pharmacist Independent Prescriber programme is designed to enable you to undertake relevant clinical examination skills and to develop your consultation skills, your clinical decision making and your care planning skills to enable you to be a safe and effective prescriber. As part of the application form you

International students: £4,000.

UK students: £2,000

2026

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• Leicester, Campus-based, United Kingdom