You are a Polish Pharmacist moving from the EU to the UK.
Overview
- The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the regulator of pharmacists and pharmacies in the UK.
Steps to registering in the UK via the GPhC
- Apply for the Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme (OSPAP) – a postgraduate diploma provided by the Universities of Aston, Brighton, Hertfordshire, Kingston – London and Sunderland.
- Undertake the Fitness to practise evaluation – this is a document submission where you need to prove to the GPhC that you are not a criminal etc.
- Take the Pre-registration training program – this is a 52-week in-pharmacy training programme conducted in England, Scotland or Wales. Once complete, you must be signed off as satisfactory by your pharmacist tutor-employer.
- Sit the GPhC registration assessment – this is a clinical knowledge exam, the failure rate is between 10-30% each year. If you would like to get a taste of what the exam entails have a look at this free online GPhC Exam questions course.
- Post GPhC registration – after you have received notice from the GPhC that you are now a licensed UK pharmacist, you will now need to do additional training to ensure you can carry out the duties required by your employer, these include:
- Pharmacist flu vaccine training – 74% of all pharmacies in the UK carry out this NHS commissioned, national service, you will need to be trained in CPR/Anaphylaxis plus vaccine administration technique.
- Medicines Use Review – another NHS commissioned service which is carried out in nearly all GPhC licensed pharmacies. You will need to go to the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) and undergo online training.