EEA-qualified pharmacists

There are different routes towards registration with the GPhC for pharmacists who qualified in the European Economic Area (EEA).

Select the category your pharmacist qualification belongs to, and read the steps you will need to follow to apply to practise as a pharmacist in Great Britain.

EEA-qualified pharmacists

Pharmacists who qualified elsewhere (outside the EEA)    


I qualified as a pharmacist in an EU country

Although the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer a member of the European Union (EU), the Directive 2005/36/EC remains in force, meaning you can apply to have your qualification recognised by the GPhC, if your qualification:

  • is from a country listed in Annex V, section 5.6.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC
  • was started after the reference date specified against the country in which your qualification was awarded
  • complies with all the minimum training requirements described in Article 44 of Directive 2005/36/EC

Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications

If your qualification does not meet the above criteria, please see our overseas-qualified pharmacists page.

Applying for recognition of your qualification

1. English language skills

You will need to provide us with evidence of your English language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. We expect this evidence to be provided as part of your application.

We will accept:

  • a certificate of an English language test taken in a test centre, where you have met the minimum criteria set out in our guidance;
  • a pharmacy qualification taught and examined in a majority English speaking country, other than the UK;
  • evidence of work as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in a majority English speaking country, that meets our minimum criteria.

Providing evidence of English language competency sets out the detailed criteria. [Word 1.06 MB] The form will download on click.

2. Complete application form and provide supporting documents

You will need to provide evidence of your qualifications, ID and supporting information. You will need to arrange for documents to be sent directly to the GPhC by the appropriate regulator and competent authority.

Guidance and application form [Word 1.1 MB] The form will download on click.

3. We check your application form and supporting documents

We may contact you for additional information if your application is missing any supporting documents.

4. Notifying you of the outcome

When we have checked your application form, ID, qualifications and supporting documents, we will notify you of the outcome of your application to have your qualification recognised.

If your application for recognition of your qualification is successful, we will send you the application form you need to complete to apply to join the pharmacists' register.

5. Apply to register as a GPhC pharmacist

We expect you to apply to register as a pharmacist within three months of us notifying you that your application for recognition of your qualification was successful.

As part of your application to register as pharmacist in Great Britain, you will be asked to complete fitness to practise declarations and to check again that your supporting documents are up to date.

Application fee: £106 (until 31 March 2024); £114 (after 1 April 2024).

Registration fee: £257 (until 31 March 2024); £276 (after 1 April 2024).

Managing your registration as a GPhC pharmacist

If your application to join the pharmacists' register is successful, we will send you a confirmation letter.

You will need to create a new my GPhC account [710KB] to manage your registration and complete your revalidation each registration year.

Professional qualifications - EU Exit standstill provisions: review by the Secretary of State

Published by the Department of Health and Social Care, June 2023

 

I am a pharmacist from an EEA-EFTA country (Iceland, Lichtenstein, or Norway)

This application process applies to pharmacists in Iceland, Lichtenstein, or Norway; countries that are part of the European Economic Area - European Free Trade Association (EEA-EFTA). 

The Recognition of Professional Qualifications and Implementation of International Recognition Agreements (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens in a separate window)

Evidence of your qualification and English language skills

1. English language skills

You will need to provide us with evidence of your English language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. We expect this evidence to be obtained before you apply, so it can be considered with your application.

We will accept:

  • a certificate of an English language test taken in a test centre, where you have met the minimum criteria set out in our guidance;
  • a pharmacy qualification taught and examined in a majority English speaking country, other than the UK;
  • evidence of work as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in a majority English speaking country, that meets our minimum criteria.

Providing evidence of English language competency sets out the detailed criteria. [Word 1.06 MB] The form will download on click.

2. Provide evidence of your pharmacist qualification and supporting documents

You will need to provide evidence of your qualification, ID and supporting information. You will need to arrange for certain documents to be sent directly to the GPhC by the appropriate regulator and competent authority.

Guidance and application form [Word 1.1 MB] The form will download on click.

3. We check your qualification and supporting documents

We will review your qualification to see if we think it is comparable to a UK pharmacist qualification.

We may contact you for additional information if your application is missing any supporting documents.

Self-assessment and evaluation (if required)

4. Self-assessment

When we have reviewed your evidence of qualification and supporting documents, if we think that your qualification may not be comparable to a UK pharmacist qualification, we will send you a self-assessment form.

We ask you to complete this self-assessment so you can explain what steps you have taken, if any, to address potential gaps between your qualification and a UK pharmacist qualification.

5. Evaluation

Your self-assessment will then be reviewed.

If, during the evaluation process, we identify differences between your qualification and a UK pharmacist qualification, we will then consider reasonable and proportionate next steps.

For example, you may be required to complete an adaptation period such as a workplace training, and/or pass an aptitude test (exam), before we can recognise your pharmacy qualification and you can then apply to join the GPhC pharmacists’ register.

6. Complete any additional requirements

If we require you to complete an adaptation period (training), and/or an aptitude test (exam), you will need to send us evidence of having met these requirements.

Notifying you of the outcome

When your application is complete (we have checked ID, qualifications and supporting documents; and we are satisfied that any additional requirements, if applicable, have been completed, we will send you the application form you will need to fill in to apply to join the pharmacists' register.

Under the UK-EEA EFTA agreement, you will hear from the GPhC within four months of us having received a complete application.

Apply to register as a GPhC pharmacist

We expect you to apply to register as a pharmacist within three months of us notifying you that your application for recognition of your qualification was successful.

As part of your application to register as pharmacist in Great Britain, you will be asked to complete fitness to practise declarations and to check again that your supporting documents are up to date.

Application fee: £106 (until 31 March 2024); £114 (after 1 April 2024).

Registration fee: £257 (until 31 March 2024); £276 (after 1 April 2024).

Managing your registration as a GPhC pharmacist

If your application to join the pharmacists' register is successful, we will send you a confirmation letter.

To manage your registration and complete your revalidation each registration year, you will need to create a new myGPhC account, read the guidance [PDF 710 KB] on how to go about it.

Pharmacists who qualified elsewhere (outside the EEA)   

There are different registration pathways for pharmacists with Swiss nationality, and people that qualified as a pharmacist in a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

Follow the links below to find out what steps you will need to follow to apply to join the GPhC register.

I am a pharmacist with Swiss nationality (opens in a separate window)

I qualified as a pharmacist outside the EEA, and do not have Swiss nationality (opens in a separate window)