UK
Clinical Pharmacy
Association

Overseas Pharmacy Membership

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Access support and community wherever you’re based with a UKCPA overseas pharmacy membership.

Join today for less than £3 per week

Education
Expert-led online education and training.
Events
Access virtual networking events, wherever you are.
Resources
Extensive online resource library.
Communities
Dedicated online clinical communities and forums.

Overview

If you’re an international pharmacist or pharmacy technician, you can access our clinical communities wherever you are in the world with a UKCPA overseas pharmacy membership.

If you’re an international pharmacist or pharmacy technician, you can access our clinical communities wherever you are in the world with a UKCPA overseas pharmacy membership.

Healthcare systems can vary hugely from country to country, but clinical pharmacy practice in the UK is held to be among the most advanced in the world. Benefit from the experiences and knowledge of UK pharmacy practitioners with an overseas pharmacy annual membership. 

Access online education, resources and virtual events from anywhere, at any time. Discover our diverse pharmacy communities to share experiences, seek support, and find helpful resources from fellow UK and international pharmacists. Join UKCPA as an overseas pharmacist today.

What does your membership include?

Overseas pharmacy professionals can access our online resources from anywhere in the world, or you can become a qualified pharmacist member here in the UK.

Join today for less than £3 per week

Clinical communities
Join clinical communities tailored to your specialisms or interests.
Networking
Connect with 100s of UK and overseas pharmacists in person and online.
Resources
Access networking events, conferences, and overseas pharmacy forum discussions.
Events
Expert-led education and training to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
Get involved
Involvement with projects, committees, and other activities.
Collaboration
A chance to contribute to international guideline development.

Benefits of a UKCPA overseas pharmacist membership

Becoming a member of UKCPA gives you a unique opportunity to develop your career in clinical pharmacy and grow as a pharmacy professional.
Tailored online education
Online education is included within your overseas pharmacist membership fee or offered at a discounted rate. Join us live on our platform or watch recordings at your own convenience.
Pharmacy forums
Join our pharmacy forums to access gold standard pharmacy best practice and connect with other UK and overseas pharmacists.
Supportive communities
Access our clinical communities, from critical care to respiratory for resources and guidance. Join as many as you’d like to expand your network.
Expert-led training
Upgrade your knowledge with high-quality training, delivered by practising pharmacy professionals.
Virtual and in-person events
Connect with fellow UK and overseas pharmacists via our online and face-to-face events.
Clinical resource libraries
Get access to extensive resources and guidance shared by fellow UKCPA members.

Are you a prescriber in a non-pharmacy profession?

Join UKCPA as a healthcare professional for tailored guidance from medicines experts to support your career.
Join as a healthcare professional

Member stories

Networking and sharing of practice

UKCPA provides a great opportunity for networking and sharing of practice; being able to use the forums to ask for help and advice, and also to see potential current topics in the areas you are interested in is very helpful.

Sarah Tinsley - Advanced clinical lead pharmacist in surgery

You are not alone as a pharmacy geek

The conferences and workshops provide an opportunity to link up with others that are just as passionate; they invigorate thinking, stimulate you to try new ideas and make you realise that you are not alone in being a pharmacy geek.

Gillian Williams - Principal pharmacist in medicine and urgent care

About overseas pharmacy

UKCPA’s easily accessible online events and resources allow overseas pharmacists to develop and grow, regardless of where they are based in the world.

A GPhC overseas pharmacist is someone who is from a country outside of the EEA (European Economic Area) and has registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for clearance to work in the UK. The GPhC is the regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales that all international pharmacists wishing to practise in the UK must register with.

To register with the GPhC, overseas pharmacists from outside the EEA must have:

  • A relevant European qualification, as outlined by GPhC; or
  • A non-EU qualification equivalent to UK Bachelor's degree standard, as assessed by UK ENIC 
  • A qualification that allows pharmacy practice in the country where it was awarded
  • Completed at least three years’ undergraduate study in pharmacy-related subjects
  • Possess relevant work experience in a pharmaceutical setting
  • Passed a GPhC-approved English language test 
  • Passed the GPhC’s overseas pharmacy registration assessment

After being accepted by the GPhC, overseas pharmacists must also apply to the Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP), which is a full-time, one-year postgraduate course, designed to prepare you for practising in the UK.

A GPhC overseas pharmacist can carry out the same tasks as a UK-qualified pharmacist or pharmacy technician once they are registered with the right bodies and have completed the OSPAP. Roles and responsibilities can include:

  • Dispensing prescribed medication
  • Advising on the safe use of medicines
  • Providing healthcare advice to patients and customers
  • Delivering vaccinations and other acute care services
  • Managing stock levels
  • Training more junior pharmacy professionals
  • Pharmaceutical research
  • Ongoing education and development to stay up to date with new regulations and guidance

Sign up for a UKCPA overseas pharmacy membership to join our pharmacist support network. Access UK-standard training, educational resources, and online forums for ongoing support, wherever you are in the world.

Being a pharmacy technician involves working closely with the public providing a crucial service for communities in a range of settings. Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, discretion, and a drive to help people are absolute musts in any pharmacy technician job description.

Overseas pharmacy resources

Become a member

Join UKCPA for less than £3 a week and access all our communities, education and resources.

join today
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