Approved courses and qualifications for pharmacy technicians

Pharmacy technician training involves completing a combined competence and knowledge-based qualification/course**.

This can be achieved by undertaking a GPhC-accredited course, GPhC-recognised qualification or GPhC-accredited/recognised apprenticeship pathway.

For more information on the GPhC's accreditation and recognition process, please see the approval process for education and training providers.

** The combined qualification/course is only applicable in relation to qualifications/courses developed to the standards for the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians - October 2017 and is a single qualification/course for the purpose of registration with the GPhC.

Quick links to sections

Recognised combined qualifications

The GPhC recognises the qualifications provided by the following awarding bodies:

Pearson/Edexcel

Current recognition period: until end of January 2026

Visit the Pearson/Edexcel website

Open Awards

Current recognition period: until end of January 2026

Visit Open Awards website

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

Current recognition period: until end of May 2026

Visit SQA website  

 

Accredited combined course providers

The GPhC accredits the following course providers to offer pharmacy technician training courses.

Buttercups

Current accreditation period: until end of October 2025

Visit Buttercups website

University of East Anglia - Certificate in Higher Education

Current accreditation period: until end of July 2026

Visit University of East Anglia website

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)

Current accreditation period: until end of February 2027

Visit NPA website

Skills4Pharmacy

Current accreditation period: until end of January 2027

Visit Skills4Pharmacy website

 

Approved apprenticeship pathways

The apprenticeship pathway is made up of qualifications/courses offered by the providers below. These qualifications/course are integrated in terms of the end point assessment (EPA) requirement of the pharmacy technician apprenticeship standard.

Buttercups

Details included in report above.

Current accreditation period: until end of October 2025

Visit Buttercups website

Pearson/Edexcel

Details included in interim report above.

Current recognition period: until end of January 2026

Visit Pearson/Edexcel website

University of East Anglia

Details included in report above.

Current accreditation period: until end of July 2026

Visit University of East Anglia website

Open Awards

Apprenticeship pathway - letter

Current accreditation period: until end of January 2026

Visit Open Awards website   

Skills4Pharmacy

Details included in report above.

Current accreditation period: until end of January 2027

Visit Skills4Pharmacy website

 

Qualifications and courses previously in teach out

The GPhC previously recognised the following qualifications and courses for the purpose of registration provided that a trainee was enrolled prior to the dates shown below and completes the qualifications/courses within the teach out period stated.

Buttercups- knowledge-based course

Pharmacy technician (knowledge-based) reaccreditation report

Current accreditation period: Ended Teach out period valid until 30 September 2023 (for trainees enrolled prior to 11:59 pm 31 August 2019).

Visit Buttercups website

National Pharmacy Association (NPA) - knowledge-based course

Current accreditation period: Ended Teach out period valid until 30 September 2023 (for trainees enrolled prior to 11:59 pm 29 February 2020).

Visit NPA website

City & Guilds

Current recognition period: Ended. Teach out period valid until 30th September 2023 (for trainees enrolled prior to 11:59 pm 30 September 2020).

Visit City & Guilds website

Pearson/Edexcel

Current recognition period: Ended. Teach out period valid until 30 September 2023 (for trainees enrolled prior to 11:59 pm 30 September 2020).

Visit Pearson/Edexcel website   

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)

Current recognition period: Ended. Teach out period valid until 30 September 2024.

Providers that are able to deliver units for EEA-qualified pharmacy technicians

Buttercups Training ^

Visit Buttercups Training website

National Pharmacy Association (NPA)^

Visit NPA website

^ If an application to the GPhC was received prior to 31 December 2020, trainees may be eligible to enroll and undertake specific units of the knowledge-based course if it is for the purpose of meeting education requirements as part of the previous route to registration for EEA-qualified pharmacy technicians.