Hospital pharmacist : Training

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)  replaced the Royal Pharmaceutical Society  as the statutory regulator of pharmacists in 2010.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is the professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy and supports its members in developing their professional, practice and leadership skills.

After becoming a registered pharmacist and obtaining a job, the majority of hospital pharmacists develop their careers by taking a certificate or diploma in clinical pharmacy, which is often followed by an MSc. This is usually necessary to be able to progress to more senior grades.

All pharmacists undertake a wide range of training to support them in their chosen speciality or career path. Training opportunities include in-house training provided by the pharmacy department or hospital, regionally or nationally organised study days or courses, initial speciality training and training in management.

Pharmacists need to keep abreast of developments in drug research, including new drugs that are developed and come on to the market, new methods of treating conditions with drugs, and government and hospital policies for drug treatment.

Further training also forms part of a pharmacist's continuing professional development (CPD). Undertaking and keeping a record of CPD is a mandatory requirement for all practising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as a condition of their registration with the GPhC.