The reforms to the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists
In January 2021, the GPhC published revised standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists (IETP). These revised standards mark an exciting time for the profession as they provide a set of new learning outcomes that:
Span the whole 5-year initial training period (MPharm degree and the foundation training year) and can link to a continuum of development into post-registration.
Provide newly qualified pharmacists with the necessary consultation skills and confidence to provide the clinical services expected by patients and the NHS, working across health systems.
Will enable pharmacists to be independent prescribers at the point of registration.
Interim GPhC learning outcomes are in place during the 2024-25 foundation training year with the full learning outcomes, including prescribing, implemented in the 2025-26 foundation training year.
NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate (formerly known as HEE) will play a key role in these reforms, more information can be found on the initial education and training of pharmacists - reform programme website below.
When these reforms were announced we developed the Early Careers (EC) programme to prepare the system for these changes, supported by Early Careers Training Programme Director (EC TPD). Outputs of the work can be found in the page below.
Resources to support the development of Training Plans for Foundation Training Programmes 2025/26
As part of the foundation training year, Foundation Trainee Pharmacists (FTPs) will be required to undertake at least 90 hours of supervised training to develop their prescribing competence. The training plan must align with NHS England Foundation Trainee Pharmacist prescribing supervision and practice-based assessment strategy for 2025/26 requirements (available here).
The following guidance provides one example of potential activities to consider when completing FTP training plans to meet the NHS England Assessment Strategy prescribing activities.
This document was developed from the experience and outputs of a pilot in South East London (SEL) Integrated Care System in 2024, supported and funded by NHS England Pharmacy London, to test models for integrating prescribing training into the pharmacist foundation training year. Further information on this pilot is available here.
Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Prescribing Learning Hours: GP Practice/PCN Guidance is in development.