The Pharmacist Independent Prescribing Practice Certificate is a 45 credit level 7 General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) accredited qualification delivered by Aston University, Birmingham. Taught predominantly online, this programme will enable you to evaluate and challenge prescribing practice with reference to evidence based practice, equality and diversity and clinical governance.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)

Successful candidates will qualify to apply for an annotation on the GPhC register as an Independent Prescriber (however please note that successful completion of this course is not a guarantee of annotation or of future employment as a pharmacist independent prescriber). Find out more about the GPhC’s accreditation reports and the timescales for future accreditations.

In addition, this course is approved by Health Education England.

The prescribing programme expects demonstration of Fitness for Professional Practise, accountability and acting in a professional manner. The programme is covered by the University Fitness for Practice policy and any concerns raised by DPPs, students or practice environments will be managed via the robust University procedure and may result result in referral to the GPhC for investigation.

Course outline

This course, which is suitable for all clinical specialties, has been designed to expand your existing knowledge and develop prescribing skills to support effective clinical care of patients in a patient-facing prescribing role.

Throughout the programme, it is our aim to enable you to:

Develop the knowledge, skills and clinical confidence to prepare you as a pharmacist to become a safe independent prescriber, working effectively within a health care team.
Recognise, take-responsibility for and demonstrate person-centred care.
Recognise, understand, apply and reflect upon professionalism as a prescriber.
Apply, manage and utilise professional knowledge and skills commensurate with being an independent prescriber.
Work collaboratively with patients and other health care workers, recognise your own role and the role of others, and demonstrate appropriate clinical skills.
Understand the role and responsibilities of an independent prescriber.
Prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively.
Use diagnostic aids relevant to the conditions for which you as a pharmacist intend to prescribe, including monitoring response to therapy.
Develop effective communication skills and relationships with patients, carers, other prescribers and members of the healthcare team.
Describe the pathophysiology of the condition being treated, and recognise the signs and symptoms of illness.
Take an accurate medical history and carry out relevant clinical assessments.
Utilise knowledge and skills in a critical and systematic manner.