Non-Medical Prescribing for Pharmacists

Entry requirements

You can apply for this standalone module or PGCert if you:

• meet specific entry requirements set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (see below)
• be approved by Health Board Prescribing Pharmacy Lead and Clinical Manager
• hold a current enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to meet specific requirements of their professional body
• demonstrate ability to study at academic Level 7

In addition, and to meet the entry requirements for the stand-alone module, the GPhC requires that pharmacist applicants:

a. Applicants are registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

b. Applicants are in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator with which they are registered.

c. Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of their prescribing practice whilst training.

d. For the purposes of developing their independent prescribing practice applicants must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning.

e. Applicants must have a designated prescribing practitioner who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice. The applicant’s designated prescribing practitioner must be a registered healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights, who is suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role, and who has demonstrated CPD or revalidation relevant to this role. Although an applicant may be supervised by more than one person, only one prescriber must be the designated prescribing practitioner. The designated prescribing practitioner is the person who will certify that successful pharmacists are competent to practise as independent prescribers.

Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and will to be able to provide examples of relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting.

Months of entry

March, September

Course content

The Non-Medical prescribing qualification at Swansea University is available through a stand alone 40 credit module - Non-Medical prescribing (GPhC) SHGM22 (approved by the GPhC) or by doing a Post Graduate Certificate in Non-Medical prescribing.

The Post Graduate Certificate combines the stand-alone module (SHGM22) with an additional pharmacology module (20 credits) to comprise the Post Graduate Certificate. Some pharmacists might choose this option if they have not studied for some time or if they wish to gain an additional academic qualification.

From the Non-Medical Prescribing qualification you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to prescribe safely and appropriately within your area of practice.

The standalone module or the PGCert will equip you with the competency to practise within current legislation as an independent Non-Medical prescriber.

Why Non-Medical Prescribing for Pharmacists at Swansea?

The course is delivered through our School of Health and Social Care, so you will benefit from a diverse teaching and research environment.

Our teaching team has a strong background in academic support at all levels, including the specific demands of work-based learning.

You may be eligible to have your tuition fees covered through a Welsh Government bursary.

We have strong links with professional practice and academic research networks in Europe and around the world, so your learning is informed by the latest policy and practice developments.

Your Non-Medical Prescribing for Pharmacists experience

You will study one day per week via blended learning which is a mixture of remote and face to face teaching. For the face to face study, this will take place at St David’s Park Campus in Carmarthen. You will also be required to complete 90 hours of practice learning in your place of work for this qualification.

Many of our academic staff are pharmacists, registered nurses and midwives who are active in practice and research, providing an exceptional combination of theoretical rigour, professional insight, and practical expertise.

Information for international students

Unfortunately this course is not available to international students.