Qualified Pharmacist Membership

Becoming a qualified pharmacist involves a 5-year programme of continuous learning and workplace training. This begins with a 4-year Master of Pharmacy degree (known as MPharm). After completing the degree, learners will move on to a 1-year pharmacy foundation trainee pharmacist work placement in a healthcare setting. Some learners may choose a degree that integrates 12 months of training within a 5-year course.

Once training is complete, learners take an exam to register with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), making them an officially qualified pharmacist. From here, they can choose further educational pathways like the Newly Qualified Pharmacist pathway (NQPh) to steer their professional development.

The newly qualified pharmacist pathway (NQPh) is an optional pathway for recently qualified pharmacists developed by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the NHS.

The pathway aims to bridge the gap between training and post-GPhC registration, providing a frictionless transition from training into practising independently. It achieves this with a combination of four core elements:

Curriculum

The pathway uses the RPS Post-registration Foundation Curriculum.

Portfolio

Learners on the pathway can access the RPS e-Portfolio, which provides a platform for them to reflect on their work and previous experiences.

Learning resources

Each learner can access learning resources that have been created with new curriculum domains in mind. UKCPA’s library of resources and other locally accessed resources can supplement and complement these.

Supervision

Access to learner supervision is supported by the pathway.

The Newly Qualified Pharmacist pathway is designed to be learner-led, taking place over a span of 1 to 3 years, and is supported by workplace learning.

Although the pathway isn’t mandatory, it helps qualified pharmacists progress into more advanced and complex areas of practice. Following the pathway helps learners to demonstrate progression towards learning outcomes that are outlined by the RPS Post-registration foundation pharmacy curriculum.

Despite studying for four years and undertaking a year of workplace training, going out into the field for the first time as a newly qualified pharmacist can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there is plenty available for newly qualified pharmacy professionals to support you for the rest of your career.

Having supported and built communities around 1000s of student, trainee, and qualified pharmacists, the UKCPA communities have helped plenty of individuals overcome challenges faced in their initial months as practising GPhC members. 

1. Build a support system - finding communities outside of your immediate colleagues can help to alleviate the overwhelm of your first few months as a qualified pharmacist, and will provide invaluable support through the rest of your career. Having a UKCPA membership that provides access to communities in different sectors is invaluable for this alone.
   
   
2. Communicate and ask questions - communication is the best way to overcome any anxieties or struggles you might be facing in a pharmacy setting. Speak to team members and ask for the opinions and thoughts of your team members when you come across unfamiliar situations.

3. Be prepared for your GPhC revalidation - as a qualified pharmacist, you have to revalidate and renew your GPhC membership Keep your continued professional development (CPD) records and other supportive evidence up to date, and use your UKCPA resources to stay on top of your knowledge.