Pharmaceutical care assessment (PCA)

Pharmaceutical care assessment (PCA)

Published: 15 August 2022

This was published when the organisation was the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.


Also known as a clinical examination exercise (mini-CEX), this tool is useful for assessing skills, attitudes and behaviours essential to the provision of high quality care, in particular helping you to show competency in patient and pharmaceutical care, and personal practice.

It is a snapshot of your practice, involving the observation and assessment of you in your day-to-day work. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes to complete, which includes time for discussion.

How to use the PCA in practice


Community example

Completing the PCA


Community example

How to use the PCA in practice


Hospital example

Completing the PCA


Hospital example

How to give feedback