For information about support staff training programmes subject to accreditation by the Society, click on the links below:
Pharmacy technicians
Dispensing/pharmacy assistants
Medicines counter assistants
Accreditation process
Accredited courses
These programmes are intended to support the Pharmacy Services S/NVQ level 3 qualification to meet the Society’s post transitional requirements for pharmacy technician registration. Programmes may be integrated with a training programme leading to the award of the S/NVQ but may also be delivered as a stand-alone programme.
Programmes must meet the requirements of the template for courses seeking accreditation as Technical Certificates within the framework of the Advanced Apprenticeship in Pharmacy Services. The technical certificate template was approved by the Pharmacy Sector Committee in May 2004 . The template outlines minimum requirements for syllabus content, guided learning hours and assessment .
Training programmes developed to be equivalent to one or more units of the Pharmacy Services S/NVQ level 2. All of the units of the S/NVQ framework are optional in as far as their inclusion in an accredited training programme is concerned, but the application for accreditation must specify which units the course is designed to cover and how the course is to be marketed. If individual modules of the training programme are to be marketed separately this must be specified in the application.
Course content must cover the "RPSGB underpinning knowledge criteria" based on the specified units of the Pharmacy Services level 2 S/NVQ knowledge and understanding framework. For each section of the framework, the transfer of the underpinning knowledge into the workplace must be demonstrated through the use of a variety of methods.
Courses must cover the knowledge and understanding associated with units 2.04 and 2.05 of the Pharmacy Services S/NVQ level 2, entitled Assist in the Sale of OTC medicines and provide information to customers on symptoms and products and Assist in the supply of prescribed items (taking in a prescription and issuing prescribed items).
The accreditation process for support staff qualifications is based on those followed for the accreditation of the pharmacy undergraduate programme (MPharm) and the accreditation of courses meeting the Society's requirements for pharmacist supplementary prescribers. The accreditation process is centred around a visit from an accreditation team appointed by the Society to a training provider.
For a guide on the accreditation of support staff training programmes click on the link below:
Accreditation of pharmacy support staff training programmes
The following training programmes have been accredited by the Society:
Pharmacy Services S/NVQ level 3 underpinning knowledge programmes (accredited since 2006):
Training programmes for dispensing and pharmacy assistants (accredited since 2006):
Medicines counter assistant courses (accredited since 2006):
Training programmes for dispensing and pharmacy assistants and medicines counter assistants have also been accredited for the Society by the College of Pharmacy Practice. Under this arrangement the following courses are currently accredited:
Training programmes for dispensing and pharmacy assistants:
Medicines counter assistant courses:
If you have any enquiries regarding the accreditation of support staff training programmes please contact:
Support Staff Regulation Division