Credentialing at the College
The Royal College of Pharmacy is leading a transformation in how post-registration pharmacy practice is defined and assured across the UK. By establishing national curricula and a structured credentialing framework, we provide a consistent system for career-long development and progression.
Our credentialing system establishes national standards for post-registration practice. Through robust assessment, pharmacists demonstrate advancing knowledge, skills and behaviours, assuring providers, commissioners and patients of the quality and safety of care delivered.
Our three levels of practice
Our credentialing model spans three levels of practice, each underpinned by a dedicated curriculum. Each curriculum is organised into five domains: person-centred care and collaboration, professional practice, leadership and management, education, and research.
These domains align with the NHS four pillars of practice, which underpin clinical practice, leadership, education and research. This supports the integration of credentialed pharmacists within multidisciplinary teams.
Post-Registration Foundation is the first level. It supports pharmacists to become prescribers and develop foundational skills in leadership, management, education and research. An enhanced Foundation curriculum will launch in summer 2026 to strengthen support for newly qualified pharmacist prescribers.
Core Advanced is the next level. At this level, pharmacists increase the complexity of their practice and extend their influence at team, service and organisational level. Following this, Consultant Pharmacist is the highest level of credentialing. Pharmacists of this experience practise as system leaders, delivering impact at the most senior level of the profession.
Alongside these levels, our model includes two specialist advanced curricula developed in collaboration with the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) and the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP). These support advanced pharmacist practice in critical care and mental health.
Supporting workforce development and assurance
Our curricula and credentialing standards are relevant across the UK, promoting consistency in pharmaceutical practice, enabling professional mobility across sectors and geographies, and strengthening professional cohesion.
The framework supports academic, vocational and hybrid models of learning with professional learning underpinned throughout by high-quality educational supervision, practice supervision and mentorship.
Pharmacists undertaking credentialing compile an e-portfolio documenting professional learning, experience and reflection for assessment by expert royal college assessors. We publish guidance, resources and webinars to support e-portfolio development and submission. Many of these resources are available to members without charge, with paid access available to non-members.
Ultimately, we would like to see system-wide adoption of post-registration credentialing to assure the profession, with the framework integrated into NHS policy, informing workforce planning and built into pharmacist job descriptions across the health system.