Prescribing competency framework

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

This framework sets out what good prescribing looks like. It describes the demonstrable knowledge, skills, characteristics, qualities and behaviours for a safe and effective prescribing role. Its implementation and maintenance are important in informing and improving practice, development, standard of care and safety (for both the prescriber and patient).

It’s a generic framework that can be used by any prescriber at any point in their career, regardless of their professional background. However, it must be contextualised to reflect different areas of practice, levels of expertise and settings. The framework is for all regulators, professional bodies, education providers, and patients/carers to use.

The framework was first published by the RPS (now the Royal College of Pharmacy) in July 2016, and we will continue to maintain and publish it in collaboration with a multidisciplinary group with representatives from professional regulators, professional organisations, prescribers from all professions, lay representatives and other relevant and interested stakeholder groups from across the UK.

RCPharm members can find out more about prescribing with our dedicated prescribing guidance section for aspiring pharmacist prescribers, prescribing trainees, newly practicing, and experienced prescribing practitioners. A new collection of prescribing learning resources, mapped to the competency framework has also been developed by The Pharmaceutical Journal to support development of the core skills required to independently prescribe medicines.

For all you need to know about pharmacy prescribing, visit our prescribing guidance section.