Pharmacist Independent Prescribing

Module overview

Please note we currently have limited vacancies for the Health Education England (HEE) route for this programme.

Studied via blended learning (online and face-to-face sessions), this standalone module offers comprehensive training for pharmacists aspiring to become safe and effective independent prescribers.

It focuses on developing the clinical confidence and skills needed to deliver person-centered care while working collaboratively within healthcare teams. Ideal for pharmacists looking to expand their role, this module equips you with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of prescribing within legal, ethical, and professional frameworks.

The indicative content of the module includes the impact of prescribing decisions, legal and ethical responsibilities, and partnership working with patients and carers. It covers essential skills such as clinical history taking, consultation, and the application of pharmacology in prescribing.

The module also addresses critical aspects of healthcare, including health economics, clinical governance and the management of prescribing errors, ensuring that you are well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of an independent prescriber.

Objectives and outcomes

• Develops your knowledge, skills and clinical confidence to become a safe and effective independent prescriber.

• Prepares you to work collaboratively and effectively within a healthcare team.

On successful completion of this module you will be able to:

• Recognise, take responsibility for and demonstrate person-centred care.

• Recognise, understand, apply and reflect upon professionalism as a prescriber.

• Apply, manage and utilise professional knowledge and skills commensurate with being an independent prescriber.

• Work collaboratively with patients and other health care workers, recognise their own roles and those of others, and demonstrate appropriate clinical skills.

Entry requirements

• You must be a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) employed in a patient-facing role, and be of good standing with your regulatory body.

• You must have written approval from your employer/line manager and Non-Medical Prescribing lead (if applicable) supporting your study.

You should also:

Experience

• Have appropriate patient-orientated experience practising in a hospital, community or primary care setting following your pre-registration year.

• Identify an area of clinical practice in which to develop your prescribing skills.

• Have up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to your intended area of prescribing practice.

• Demonstrate that you reflect on your own performance and take responsibility for your own CPD.

Supervision

• Have a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise the in-practice learning element. Applicant’s DPP 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 DPP. The DPP is the person who will certify that successful pharmacists are competent to practice as independent prescribers. Please see further information below on DPP pre-requisites when considering who to approach to supervise your in-practice learning. 

Other

• Desirable
  A relevant postgraduate clinical diploma (or equivalent) is desirable (Pharmacists only) 

• We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications and experience.

• The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. If you hold an alternative qualification, you may wish to enquire with our admissions team prior to application whether or not your qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications, this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the programme director.