Standards for pharmacy education

We set standards for the education and training of pharmacy professionals

On this page you will find the different sets of standards and guidance for the education of pharmacy professionals. Use the links below to navigate to the relevant section on this page.

Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists

Standards for the education and training of non-EEA pharmacists wanting to register in Great Britain

Standards of initial education and training for pharmacy technicians

Education and training requirements for pharmacist independent prescribers

Education Procedures for the initial education and training of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

Guidance on tutoring for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians


Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists

The standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists set out the knowledge, skills, understanding and professional behaviours a student and/or trainee pharmacist must demonstrate to pass their initial education and training and to join the professional register. The standards also set out the requirements for organisations providing initial education and training. The standards ensure that newly registered pharmacists are competent to practise safely and effectively.

New standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists (2021)

We have recently published new standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists, which will be gradually implemented from 2021 onwards.

The implementation of these standards will transform the education and training of pharmacists, so they are able to play a much greater role in providing clinical care to patients and the public from their first day on the register, including through prescribing medicines.  

Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists (January 2021)  [PDF 939 KB]

Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists Welsh (January 2021) [PDF 989 KB]

For more information, please see our FAQ on the new standards.

Standards published in 2011

MPharm students who began their studies in 2021 or earlier are currently being taught on courses which meet the standards introduced in May 2011:

Future pharmacists: Standards for the initial education and training of pharmacists [PDF 826 KB]

COVID-19-related advice for MPharm degree providers

We have issued two guidance documents for MPharm degree providers in response to issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Guidance on MPharm admissions (April 2020)

Guidance on experiential learning, placements, laboratory work and other face-to-face interaction on MPharm degrees and OSPAPs (collectively 'experiential learning') (May 2020)


Standards for the education and training of non-EEA pharmacists wanting to register in Great Britain

These standards set out the criteria against which we will approve education and training for non-EEA pharmacists who want to register in Great Britain. The standards ensure that pharmacists from outside of the EEA are competent to practise safely and effectively.

For more information please view the full version of these standards:

GPhC Standards for the education and training of non-EEA pharmacists [PDF 690 KB]

COVID-19-related advice for OSPAP providers

We have issued a guidance document for OSPAP providers in response to issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic:

Guidance on experiential learning, placements, laboratory work and other face-to-face interaction on MPharm degrees and OSPAPs (collectively 'experiential learning') (May 2020)


Standards of initial education and training for pharmacy technicians

Standards of initial education and training for pharmacy technicians set out the criteria against which we approve education and training for pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians. The standards ensure that newly registered pharmacy technicians are competent to practise safely and effectively.

See the standards for the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians

 See the evidence framework for those designing and developing courses incorporating the standards


Education and training requirements for pharmacist independent prescribers

These documents set out the criteria against which we will approve education and training programmes to train pharmacists as independent prescribers. The standards and learning outcomes ensure that pharmacists who are annotated on the register as independent prescribers are competent to practise safely and effectively.

See the standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers [PDF 1.1 MB] 

The standards were revised in October 2022, and from 1 October 2022 the accreditation and reaccreditation of independent prescribing courses will be to the revised standards. Some courses which were last accredited before 1 October 2022 may still be running according to the previous standards.

See the previous standards for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers

Read the previous standards in Welsh

Guidance to support the standards

We have developed guidance for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers, which is intended to support course providers as they design courses for the education and training of pharmacist independent prescribers.

The guidance also provides clarity for pharmacists and their designated prescribing practitioners (DPPs) around achieving learning outcomes within the standards.

See the guidance to support the implementation of the standards [PDF 825 KB]


Education Procedures for the initial education and training of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

The GPhC has a set of procedures which are the framework in which its education work functions. They should be read in conjunction with other relevant documents, like our Accreditation and Recognition Manuals, Registration Assessment Regulations etc.

GPhC Education Procedures December 2013


Guidance on tutoring for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians

We give guidance to pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who act as designated supervisors/tutors for trainee pharmacists and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians.

Guidance for foundation training supervision

Guidance on supervising pharmacy professionals in training