The National Recruitment Scheme (NRS) is the only way to obtain a foundation pharmacy training place in England and Wales.

The NRS aims to have a fair, equitable and transparent recruitment process for all. Applying through the online portal (Oriel) requires you to submit one application in order to apply for all foundation training places in England and Wales.
The number of funded foundation pharmacy training places in England and Wales each year is set by an annual budget setting process informed by workforce need data. It is not guaranteed that there will be funded places available for all applicants to the NRS.

Employers must register their programme information and sign up to the Terms of Participation each year during the registration window.
The employer registration window is open from early January until early March each year for the following foundation training year. For example, if you want to employ a foundation trainee pharmacist to start in the summer of 2027, employers will need to follow the registration process which happens during Jan and Feb of 2026. The registration process for employing a foundation trainee pharmacist in the summer of 2026 is closed.

Foundation Trainee Pharmacists cannot be employed outside of the National Recruitment Scheme.