Pharmacist foundation training scheme

Training to become a pharmacist in Great Britain involves learning, understanding and demonstrating how to deliver the safe and effective patient-centred care which patients and the public expect from pharmacy professionals

We set out the outcomes we expect trainee pharmacists to meet in the interim learning outcomes for trainee pharmacists.

Trainees who started their training before 2021 and have not yet completed their training must meet the previous scheme requirements. Find out more about the previous pre-registration training scheme

Meeting these outcomes form part of the overall criteria for registration as a pharmacist.

Preparing to become a pharmacist

The foundation training scheme is an important step in the journey to become a pharmacist. What do we expect trainee pharmcists to demonstrate, and how do we measure this?

See the progression to becoming a registered pharmacist:

Foundation training scheme, four stages: 1. GPhC accredited pharmacy MPharm or OSPAP qualification; 2. GPhC foundation training year; 3. GPhC registration assessment; 4. Joining the register as a pharmacist

The diagram is also available to download in pdf format [PDF 914 KB]

As part of our work to assure the initial education and training of pharmacists, we coordinate and run the GPhC pharmacist foundation training scheme. The scheme uses both individual work-based assessment and a national examination to test trainees’ abilities to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours necessary to provide safe and effective care as a pharmacist.

The pharmacy foundation training scheme is made up of:

  • a foundation training placement: under the supervision of a designated supervisor, trainee pharmacists spend at least 52 weeks in an approved training site, developing their practice to meet a range of interim learning outcomes. Their progress is guided by and verified by their designated supervisor, using progress reviews set out in the GPhC foundation training manual.
  • a registration assessment: pharmacist trainees sit an assessment which tests specific knowledge and skills set out in the assessment framework [340 KB]. Pharmacist trainees must demonstrate that they are making sufficient progress to meet all the interim learning outcomes by the end of their placement to be eligible to sit the registration assessment

Click here if you are looking to apply to start the pharmacist foundation training scheme