Independent Prescribing (Short Course) / Entry requirements

This is an accelerated course that is assessed only at master’s level (FHEQ7), so we require a relevant Lower Second honours degree or above. See the professional entry qualification section for further professional requirements.

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system. We ask for English language proof from applicants from countries that are not majority English-speaking countries. A list of majority English-speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found on the GOV.UK website .

• IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in reading and writing specifically
• TOEFL minimum of 100 (Internet-based test)

See further information about requirements for your country .

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Please include your experience as part of your personal statement.

Your experience could have been obtained:

• whilst studying pharmacy, and could include experiential learning, simulation, summer placements and other relevant activities;
• during your pre-registration/foundation training year;
• whilst employed in a pharmacy setting.

The types of clinical experiences you might describe in your personal statement include:

• Working clinically in a patient-facing role.
• Ability to undertake medication reviews.
• An ability to consult with service users and consider their needs.
• Having an area of intended prescribing practice and clinical experience in this area of practice.
• Evidence of your engagement with CPD in the last 12 months or since registration/revalidation.
• Your ability to use reflection for learning and development.
• An awareness of your own abilities, limitations and professional codes of conduct.
• The ability to communicate with a wide range of healthcare professionals.

Pharmacists must have the followings:

• Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
• In good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator with which you are registered.
• Experience in a UK pharmacy setting and an ability to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of your prescribing practice while training.
• An identified area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base your learning and up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to this area.
• A designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise your learning in practice. The proposed 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.

NMC registrants must have the following:

• First level registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (for nurses and midwives).
• At least one year of post-registration patient-focused experience.
• An identified area of clinical practice in which to develop your prescribing skills and one year's post-registration clinical experience in this area.
• Agreements with two experienced independent prescribers to act as your Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor during the 90 hours of learning in practice; these two roles should not be undertaken by the same person.
• You must be capable of safe and effective practice in clinical/health assessment, diagnostics/care management, planning and evaluation of care in your identified area of prescribing practice.

You must have access to a computer with fast and reliable internet connection. There is a minimum level of computer skills required, including the ability to:

• navigate the Blackboard virtual learning environment to locate teaching and learning materials (with initial basic training);
• navigate PebblePad to build an e-portfolio (with initial basic training);
• communicate by email;
• work efficiently with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint or similar software;
• use the internet to search websites;
• scan and upload documents;
• navigate e-learning programs;
• participate in online conferencing (webinars).

Please see section 3 of the Independent Prescribing additional application form (Word, 155KB) for details of the eligibility criteria for your:

• Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) - pharmacist applicants
• Practice Assessor (PA) and Practice Supervisor (PS) - NMC registrant applicants

Please note that DPPs/PAs/PSs must not receive any payment for supervising your practice.

Further information regarding your mentorship arrangement can be found in Appendix A/B of the nomination pack (PDF, 996KB).