Commenting on the first day of APTUK’s consultation period on its proposals to develop a UK-wide post-registration career development pathway for pharmacy technicians, Louise Goldring, Director of Education at the Royal College of Pharmacy said:

“We support APTUK’s intention to create a UK-wide post-registration career development pathway for pharmacy technicians. We welcome the opportunity for the whole pharmacy community to comprehensively engage in the detail of APTUK’s proposals and will actively consult with our members to ensure that their voices and opinions are heard. We have had initial, collaborative discussions with APTUK and look forward to building on this now that we have time to review the draft proposals in detail during the forthcoming consultation phase.”  

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Royal College of Pharmacy launches enhanced post-registration standard and credential for newly qualified pharmacist prescribers 

7 September 2026

The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) is today (7 September) launching its Enhanced Pharmacist Curriculum and Credentialing Pathway, establishing a nationally recognised professional standard for pharmacists developing their practice after registration as prescribers.  The pathway is launched as pharmacist prescribing is integrated into registration, with most newly qualified pharmacists, from 2026, entering practice as independent prescribers and taking on more autonomous clinical responsibilities early in their careers.  Developed with a broad range of stakeholders across pharmacy, healthcare, education and patient representatives, the Enhanced Pharmacist Curriculum and Credentialing Pathway supports pharmacists to develop the professional judgement, breadth of experience and confidence needed to manage increasingly complex care safely and effectively.  The Enhanced Pharmacist Curriculum and credential provide a nationally recognised pathway from initial registration. It also provides a foundation for continued development through advanced level practice and towards consultant-level practice.  It will help pharmacists build confidence, broaden their clinical and prescribing scope and demonstrate capability through workplace-based credentialing – giving employers, partners, patients and the public assurance that pharmacists are developing safely and consistently to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.  The curriculum sets outcomes across five domains:  person-centred care and collaboration professional practice  leadership and management  education  research and evaluation  Through the accompanying national pathways, pharmacists will build a portfolio of evidence from their everyday practice using a new e-portfolio platform developed specifically by the royal college for this purpose. They will be supported by structured learning, supervision, feedback and reflection. Portfolios submitted for credentialing will be independently assessed against the curriculum outcomes by the royal college, providing assurance to pharmacists, employers, patients and the public.  Tase Oputu, President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, said:  “The introduction of pharmacist prescribing at registration is a defining moment for our profession. Registration provides the foundation, but confidence and professional judgement continue to develop through experience, support and reflection.  “The Enhanced Curriculum gives pharmacists and employers a clear, shared standard for that next stage of development and will support pharmacists to deliver safe, high-quality care, while giving employers, the wider health system and patients greater assurance.”  Supporting implementation across GB  The Enhanced Curriculum and Credentialing pathway provides a shared professional standard across the UK, while training, access and funding arrangements reflect the different national systems.  In England, eligible pharmacists will be granted e-portfolio access and supported through NHS England’s commissioned Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Programme pathway.   In Scotland, the national pathway will provide eligible pharmacists with structured development and e-portfolio access, with the Enhanced credential positioned as a clear endpoint.  In Wales, eligible pharmacists will be supported through the Health Education and Improvement Wales Model of Support, including access to structured development, the e-portfolio and the Enhanced credential as a clear endpoint.  The College is also working with employers, education providers and national partners to support consistent implementation and access to appropriate supervision, learning opportunities and protected development time.  Joseph Oakley, Associate Director of Assessment & Credentialing at the Royal College of Pharmacy, commented:  “A curriculum alone cannot transform practice. Pharmacists also need supportive workplaces, skilled supervisors and collaborators to provide observation and feedback, varied clinical and professional experiences and time and space to develop and build their portfolio.  “We are asking employers and system leaders to use our Enhanced Curriculum and Credentialing Pathway as part of their workforce and service-development planning, helping newly qualified pharmacists to translate their registration as prescribers into confident, more autonomous practice.”  The Enhanced Curriculum, eligibility information and guidance on national routes are available on the enhanced curriculum and credentialing homepage. Read more news stories.

Royal College of Pharmacy renews focus on education for pharmacists across all sectors

24 July 2026

The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) is launching a range of education, credentialing and professional support initiatives designed to support and strengthen its education offer for pharmacists at every career stage and in every setting. As the role of pharmacy professionals continues to expand across health systems – including advances in medicines, technology and increased pharmacist prescribing – education, credentialing and professional development remain essential to advancing pharmacy practice and assuring patient safety. Ongoing learning and professional development helps pharmacists strengthen their clinical capability, respond effectively to change and flourish in their practice and career. Louise Goldring, Director of Education at RCPharm comments: “We know that pharmacists will increasingly have a career that spans multiple sectors and settings of practice and we are committed to developing the support, learning and assurance mechanisms that respond to the realities of modern pharmacy practice and enable pharmacists to flourish whatever their chosen career path. “The College is building on the foundations already in place and embarking on an ambitious educational future, working with pharmacy and education stakeholders and listening to the needs of our members and the wider pharmacy community to ensure our education and learning supports pharmacists across their whole professional journey: setting standards, supporting learning and professional development, assuring and recognising advancement and helping pharmacists practice with confidence. “We will continue to introduce education and professional support that helps pharmacists develop, thrive and deliver excellence for patients.” Newly qualified pharmacists support hub for College members: Launching today (Friday 24 July 2026), From Qualified to Confident is a uniquely cross-sector combination of support and learning designed to help newly qualified pharmacists continue to develop as pharmacists while building confidence, capability and judgement in safe and effective practice. Developed in collaboration with experts and leaders across pharmacy and across GB, From Qualified to Confident is designed to complement employer-led training and NHS provision in England, Scotland and Wales. It provides consistent, cross-sector support for pharmacists in every practice setting, helping them develop the capability and judgement needed to practice safely, recognising the responsibility every prescribing decision carries and providing both real time support and reflective education to meet those needs. Enhanced curriculum and credentialing pathway: Launching in September 2026, the enhanced curriculum and credentialing pathway is the Royal College of Pharmacy’s national pathway for supporting newly qualified pharmacist prescribers from newly registered to confident prescribers. Registration is the beginning of a professional journey. Safe and confident prescribing develops through experience, high-quality support and supervision, feedback and reflection – not through registration alone. The pathway will provide the structure pharmacists need to build their clinical skills, professional judgement and confidence through real-world practice. It will also support pharmacists to become well-rounded professionals who can lead improvements, educate others and use evidence to deliver better patient care. Designed for patient-focused practice, it can be used across community pharmacy, primary care, secondary care and other settings. Built for the profession, by the profession, the pathway has been shaped by pharmacists, employers, educators, patients and healthcare partners across every sector and all four UK nations with patient and multidisciplinary voices embedded from the outset. A new e-portfolio will help pharmacists capture evidence of their learning, feedback and practice. RCPharm credentialing will recognise those who demonstrate the enhanced standard, giving pharmacists confidence and recognition, employers and other professions assurance, and patients trust in the care they receive. The enhanced curriculum and credentialing pathway are distinct from the accompanying member support package, and RCPharm membership will not be required to access them. Support and learning for community pharmacists: The College has developed clinical and practical learning that will help community pharmacists prepare for the expanding role of pharmacy services across Great Britain. Content on the College's flagship education and learning platform RCPharm Learn will support pharmacists delivering Pharmacy First services in England and Scotland, and the Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service in Wales. The resources include clinical learning in key conditions and a focus on practice skills including consultation skills, clinical assessments and remote consultations. RCPharm Learn resources are offered in multiple formats to support different learning styles and preferences. The College is committed to the continued development of education in response to changes in pharmacy practice and informed by member feedback. President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, Tase Oputu said: “The announcement of these ambitious plans to support newly qualified pharmacists, including the forthcoming launch of our enhanced curriculum and credentialing pathway, and our continued work to support pharmacists in community settings, really sets the pace for the College over the coming months as we move towards our goal of providing lifelong learning that prepares, supports and enables pharmacists achieve to excellence in practice and success in any role. “As we develop our long-term strategy, our focus on education, credentialing and enabling excellence in practice will continue to provide career-defining education that enables pharmacists, particularly our members, to excel in practice, grow their skills and deliver for patients and the public wherever they choose to practice.” Explore the newly qualified pharmacists support hub: From Qualified to Confident. Read more news stories.