RCPharm membership
RCPharm unites pharmacy across all its diverse sectors.
Our members share ideas at our events, bring expertise to current challenges, support each other and call for change together.
We’re here to enable you to deliver excellence in practice and to provide professional support, learning and development throughout your career in pharmacy.
Which membership is right for you?
What other membership types are available?
RCPharm is here to support you wherever your career in pharmacy takes you.
Student membership
Become an RCPharm student member and be part of something bigger.
- Free membership for all MPharm students in Great Britain;
- Get all the support you need throughout your time at university;
- Includes BPSA membership.
Unlock the benefits of RCPharm student membership:
- Full online access to Medicines, Ethics and Practice (the MEP);
- The Pharmaceutical Journal online;
- Access to essential pharmacy texts in our e-Library and support from our library team;
- Discounts of 25% or more on all Pharmaceutical Press titles, including FASTtrack books covering the main areas of study for your degree;
- Careers guidance and help with the ORIEL recruitment process;
- The chance to win our Student of the Year award;
- Access to our mentoring platform – get support from our mentors;
- RCPharm member-only email newsletters;
- Exclusive webinars and events.
Students studying an RCPharm recognised MPharm at an overseas institution can join for £72 for the duration of their course.
Foundation trainees
Pass your common registration assessment with the Royal College of Pharmacy.
Upgrade your BPSA/RCPharm student membership or join to become a foundation trainee member of the Royal College of Pharmacy, and you’ll get all the help and support you need to pass your common registration assessment in summer or autumn 2027.
We‘ll support your progress throughout your training year and prepare you to pass your assessment with:
- RCPharm Professional Liability Insurance – our indemnity insurance policy, exclusively for RCPharm members;
- Unrestricted access to 12 months of premium resources, tailored for your foundation training journey – benefit from expert Q&As, live learning sessions and insider tips to support you;
- Your own free print copy of the new BNF, plus unlimited access to the digital MEP;
- Revision Course with Practice Assessment – our Revision Course with Practice Assessment and feedback sessions are included with the programme;
- Get advice, support and guidance for every sector and every stage of your career, as well as dedicated support to help you prepare for your registration assessment;
- Access our RCPharm e-Library 24/7, and a full digital subscription to the Pharmaceutical Journal with assessment question examples, how-to videos on calculations and other learning content;
- Find your own mentor and get insider advice from experienced pharmacists;
- Regular webinars with pharmacy experts, bringing you all the latest skills updates, guidance and advice;
- 30 days of free access to Pharmacy Knowledge ONtrack, our interactive revision site, offering hundreds of assessment questions to practice and perfect ready for your registration assessment.
And, as an Associate RCPharm member, you can show your professional status by adding ARCPharm after your name.
Pharmacist membership
Practicing pharmacist member benefits include:
- RCPharm Professional Liability Insurance – our indemnity insurance policy, exclusively for RCPharm members;
- Support and training for independent prescribers;
- Master new pharmacy skills and knowledge with RCPharm Learn;
- The MEP – the best possible guide for pharmacy practice;
- Regular pharmacy webinars – watch live or on catch-up;
- One-to-one professional support to answer all your questions;
- Free subscription to the Pharmaceutical Journal;
- Complimentary ticket to our annual conference;
- Find a guide to build your career on our mentoring platform;
- 24/7 access to essential pharmacy texts in our e-Library;
- Revalidation assistance, to ensure you always pass;
- Up to 50% off essential publications such as the BNF;
- RCPharm member-only email newsletters;
- 25% off job postings on PJ Jobs;
- All the latest pharmacy guidance and patient safety updates.
As an RCPharm Member, you can show your professional status by adding MRCPharm after your name.
We also offer discounted membership for those not working, on maternity leave or with long-term illness.
Get discounted membership for your first two years of practice
Upgrade your RCPharm membership and get all the guidance, assistance and knowledge you’ll need, no matter what sector you’re starting in.
We offer a membership discount for your first two years of practice.
You’ll be a full RCPharm Member, with access to all our benefits, but with an early career discount.
Pharmaceutical scientists
Join the professional body for pharmacy.
- Expert feedback on your publications or proposals;
- Support for your research, with one-to-one advisory sessions;
- Opportunities to showcase your work at our annual conference.
Why become an RCPharm member?
- Access to research and career development services, such as one-to-one support sessions and our mentoring scheme;
- Professional feedback and advice on your research proposals, grant applications, journal articles and other publications;
- The ability to become a Qualified Person (QP) through the RCPharm;
- Access to our four research journals published in partnership with Oxford University Press;
- Free subscription to the Pharmaceutical Journal;
- Access to essential pharmacy texts in our e-Library;
- Up to 50% off essential publications, such as the BNF;
- Complimentary ticket to our annual conference;
- The European Industrial Pharmacy Group (EIPG) newsletter and webinars;
- Access to our pharmacy webinars and events;
- The Pharma Scene podcasts, with guests from across the profession;
- RCPharm member-only email newsletters;
- Access to specialised guidance for pharmaceutical scientists.
As an RCPharm member, you can show your professional status by adding SRCPharm after your name.
We also offer discounted membership for those not working, on maternity leave, or with long-term illness.
Become an international RCPharm member
Leading the way in pharmacy for 180 years, we are proudly supported by our Royal Charter, awarded by Her Majesty the Queen. Our work guides the practice of tens of thousands of members across Great Britain and around the world every day. Be a part of this rich heritage – become a member of the Royal College of Pharmacy today.
Am I eligible to join RCPharm?
If you’ve never been registered as a pharmacist in Great Britain
If you have an MPharm or overseas alternative from an institution recognised by the RCPharm, you can join as an Associate (check the FIP list to see if your institution is recognised).
If you are or have ever been registered with the GPhC
If you are or have been registered with the GPhC, the GB regulator, you can join as a Member.
Do you work as a pharmaceutical scientist?
Alternatively, you may be eligible to join as a Pharmaceutical Scientist.
RCPharm membership benefits include:
- The MEP – the best possible guide for pharmacy practice;
- Regular pharmacy webinars – watch live or on catch-up;
- Free subscription to the Pharmaceutical Journal;
- Find a guide to build your career on our global mentoring platform;
- 24/7 access to essential pharmacy texts in our e-Library;
- Up to 50% off essential publications such as the BNF;
- All the latest pharmacy guidance and patient safety updates;
- Access to our trusted pharmacy guides;
- RCPharm member-only email newsletters;
- Join us for regular Pharma Scene podcasts.
And, as an Associate RCPharm Member, you can show your professional status by adding ARCPharm after your name.
Become an RCPharm member and stay part of the profession
- Stay in touch with colleagues and peers, and make new connections with our Retired Pharmacist Group;
- Join events organised for YOU, including our Retired Pharmacists Annual Conference;
- Use your skills to mentor the next generation of pharmacists;
- The new Pharmaceutical Journal keeps you up-to-date with the latest in pharmacy;
- Receive RCPharm member-only email newsletters;
- Access to the RCPharm library, archive and print collections.
What will my new post-nominals be?
All members now have new post-nominals that clearly specify membership of the Royal College of Pharmacy. The table below outlines how these have changed, and what your post-nominal is now, depending on your membership type. All members should now be using their RCPharm post-nominal (and no longer their RPS post-nominal).
| Type of membership | RPS post-nominal | RCPharm post-nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Member | MRPharmS | MRCPharm |
| Fellow | FRPharmS | FRCPharm |
| Pharmaceutical scientist | SRPharmS | SRCPharm |
| Associate | ARPharmS | ARCPharm |
For members who were previously RPS Faculty members, the Faculty post-nominals have not changed and can continue to be used alongside your new RCPharm post-nominal.
Membership FAQs
If I join partway through the year, do I still pay full price?
Your membership is valid for one year, no matter what point in the year you join. If you are a foundation trainee, your membership will be valid for one training year.
I don’t live in Great Britain, can I join?
Yes. Anyone eligible for membership whose correspondence address is outside Great Britain, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands can join and will be charged the overseas fee.
Where can I access my payment information?
You’ll find all your recent membership payments listed in My RCPharm receipts and transactions, which can be downloaded as a PDF file.
Please note that payments will only be visible once they have been paid, the payment has cleared and been updated on our system. If you paid by Direct Debit, it can take a couple of extra days for the bank to update us after the funds have left your account.
When do I need to renew my membership?
Your membership is valid for one year (unless you are a trainee). We will contact you 6 weeks before your membership is due to be renewed. You can find out when your current membership term ends in your profile.
How can I cancel my membership?
If you would like to cancel your membership, please contact our membership team, who are available Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Call: 0207 572 2737 (and select option 2)
Email: [email protected]
I’ve recently changed address, who do I need to tell?
If your correspondence details change, simply log in to the website and change them in the My Profile section, where you can also:
- Tell us how you’d like us to address you when we write to you, e.g. “Dear John” or “Dear Mr Smith”.
- Tell us if you’ve changed your name or prefer to be known by another name, e.g. your middle name.
- Add or update your contact details, including your email address and telephone number(s).
- Choose the communications you’d like to receive from us.
- Tell us your sector of practice and your specialisms.
Alternatively, contact the membership team directly on 0333 733 2570 or 0207 572 2737, or email [email protected], and we’ll update your details for you.
If you are registered with the GPhC, you will need to inform them separately of any change of details.
Is my membership tax-deductible?
To claim relief on your membership fees, contact your tax office and apply, stating that you wish to claim the allowance against your professional fees paid to the Royal College of Pharmacy (an HMRC list 3 organisation).
Please note: Tax relief can only be claimed if you are working and your membership is relevant to the job you are working in.
For more information, please visit How to reclaim your tax.
Can I use RCPharm post-nominals after my name?
As long as you remain a member of the Royal College of Pharmacy, you are able to display the relevant membership post-nominal letters after your name, e.g. MRCPharm (Member of the Royal College of Pharmacy); FRCPharm (Fellow of the Royal College of Pharmacy); SRCPharm (Pharmaceutical Scientist of the Royal College of Pharmacy), or ARCPharm (Associate of the Royal College of Pharmacy). This is in line with other professional bodies and royal colleges.
For members who were previously RPS Faculty members, the Faculty post-nominals have not changed and can continue to be used alongside any new RCPharm post-nominals.
These letters are prominent and visible characteristics of your commitment to your profession.
However, these letters are not to be mistaken for a qualification or a licence to practice. The GPhC is the supplier of the restricted title “pharmacist” and therefore the right to practice as a pharmacist. Modern regulators do not supply official postnominals in the way that professional bodies do.
Does membership allow me to practice as a pharmacist in Great Britain?
No. The Royal College of Pharmacy is the dedicated professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy in Great Britain. We do not regulate pharmacists. This is undertaken by the General Pharmaceutical Council.
I would like to resign from the register
The register of pharmacists is now administered by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). You can contact the GPhC by calling 020 3713 8000 or emailing [email protected].
Can I apply for Qualified Persons (QP) eligibility assessment via the College?
The Royal College of Pharmacy, Royal Society of Biology and Royal Society of Chemistry operate an assessment procedure for their members for eligibility to act as a QP. Applying for QP eligibility assessment is a separate process to applying for RCPharm membership.
RCPharm Members, Fellows, Associate and Pharmaceutical Scientist members are all able to apply for QP eligibility assessment via the RCPharm.
For further details on QP eligibility assessment, please see our Qualified Persons page.
How much does an overseas retired member pay?
Anyone based overseas* pays the overseas rate. This is the only rate available to people based overseas, even if they are retired, on maternity leave, or not working.
The discounted rate recognises that people based overseas are unable to get as involved as those based in Great Britain.
Find out more about our latest membership fees.
*Overseas is outside of Great Britain, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
Why are membership fees a little lower if I pay by annual Direct Debit?
We always try to pass savings on to members wherever possible. Payment by annual Direct Debit is more efficient for our operations and helps us save costs to manage our membership.
Annual Direct Debit payments (as opposed to paying by card or monthly Direct Debit), save us time in collecting membership fees and reduce our costs in marketing, administration and managing your membership. We therefore encourage annual Direct Debit by offering lower fees to those who choose to pay by this method.
We believe membership is great value however you choose to pay, and because we are a “not-for-profit” Chartered organisation, your membership fees directly support the work we do to put pharmacy at the forefront of healthcare.
Setting up a Direct Debit is easy. To find out more, email our membership team.