We have updated our proposed approach to revise the routes to registration for internationally-qualified pharmacists who want to practise in Great Britain, in response to feedback from stakeholders.
Our Council has reviewed our initial proposed approach in this area after carefully considering feedback from stakeholders. The Council has decided that we will develop a consultation proposing one route to registration for internationally-qualified pharmacists, which would take one year instead of the current two years. This one-year programme will include both university study and in-practice training.
Currently pharmacists who qualified in an European Economic Area (EEA) country or a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) country can apply for recognition of their qualification. The recognition of EEA qualifications has been extended until September 2028, but from that point EEA-qualified pharmacists may also need to go through the single route for registration, depending on decisions made by the Government.
We had previously been developing proposals for three routes to international registration, which would take different lengths of time, depending on how similar the education and training that the internationally-qualified pharmacist had completed was to pharmacist education and training in Great Britain. We have however decided to change this proposed approach after considering feedback from stakeholders.
Duncan Rudkin, Chief Executive of the GPhC, said:
“While stakeholders generally welcomed the proposed approach to reduce the length of time and cost to complete the required education and training, some concerns were also raised about the fairness of the original proposals.
“Our Council has listened to these concerns. As an organisation we’re committed to delivering equality, improving diversity and being inclusive in all our work as a healthcare regulator and an employer. We want to make sure that all our proposals and policies protect the public and maintain standards in ways that are demonstrably inclusive and equitable.
“Our Council has therefore decided to propose having one single route to registration for all (non-EEA/EFTA) internationally-qualified pharmacists.
“We also want to focus our efforts at this point on taking forward the one-year programme, because a significant proportion of overseas applicants are applying from countries such as India, Pakistan and Nigeria, who would need to complete a one-year programme.
“We also intend that shortening the course from two years to one year, once implemented, will significantly reduce the burden for internationally-qualified pharmacists and help to increase the pharmacist workforce in the long-term.”
Next steps
We are now developing the detail of the proposed approach for a single route to registration, as well as drafting updated standards for the education and training of internationally-qualified pharmacists, ahead of full public consultation. Applicants would still all need to pass the registration assessment.
We will be reconvening a working group whose members will include representatives from statutory education bodies, OSPAP providers and other university representatives, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, employers, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the UK Black Pharmacists Association, and other representative bodies, to help us further develop the proposals and the updated standards.
We will also continue to engage closely with different organisations representing internationally-qualified pharmacists and other key groups, to make sure our proposals are as inclusive and equitable as possible.
There is significant work to do, and so we are expecting to be able to consult on the proposals for the route to registration for internationally-qualified pharmacists in 2025.
Impact for internationally-qualified pharmacists
We know that internationally-qualified pharmacists who are considering applying for OSPAP will want to know what changes will be made and when, to help them make decisions about when to apply for OSPAP.
We are contacting internationally-registered pharmacists who are planning to apply for OSPAP courses that there won’t be any changes to the OSPAP course until September 2026 at the earliest.
We will provide further details and timelines after the outcome of our consultation next year.
International route for internationally-qualified pharmacy technicians
Internationally-qualified pharmacy technicians and senior pharmacy technician leaders have also asked us to look at a shorter route to registration for internationally-qualified pharmacy technicians based on prior learning. We will consider an international route to registration for pharmacy technicians as part of our review of the initial education and training standards of pharmacy technicians later this year.