Pharmacy Training

Pharmacy Spotlight

From 2026, NHS England will pilot a new education and training pathway for newly qualified Early Career Pharmacist (ECP) prescribers. This initiative aims to tackle longstanding inconsistencies around supervision, funding, and training quality across sectors and regions.

We are inviting employers, supervisors, learners, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other partners to be part of this exciting journey.

We will be developing the pathway offer to meet the needs of early career pharmacists and employers, enabling the delivery of high-quality care to patients. Participation will help shape an equitable pathway aligned with service priorities. Feedback will contribute to developing a unified training offer that supports prescribing competence in any practice setting.

If you are interested in being involved in the conversation, please complete your form by Friday 8 January 2026.

We are excited to announce the launch of the Early Career Pharmacist (ECP) supervisor resource library, created to support supervisors of newly qualified and early career pharmacists.

This curated collection offers flexible, high-quality resources, including:

· Short courses,

· Training materials,

· Practical tools aligned with current education and training standards.

Please note that this library does not include content related to designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) supervision or clinical supervision assurance.

Explore the library now via our ECP Supervisor Resource Library Futures page and share it with colleagues. You will need to create a free account to access the NHS Futures Platform, but you do not need an NHS email to do this.

The post-registration Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) programme is now live and accepting applications.

The funding is available to pharmacy technicians in all sectors, provided they meet the entry criteria and are eligible to apply. This is the final time NHS England will provide funded places on this programme, so don’t miss out! Limited places are available until March 2026.

Unlike previous rounds, there are:

· No sector restrictions – open to pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacy, NHS hospitals or Health and Justice settings,

· Rolling open applications – no restricted windows to apply, making it easier than ever to apply.

Visit CPPE’s website for full details of the programme, entry criteria, and how to apply.

The Pharmacy technician development programme is a new funded course in 2025-26. This flexible programme brings together existing CPPE resources under one umbrella, supported by one-to-one education supervision. Pharmacy technicians from all sectors can join this pathway, at any time, between now and March 2026.

How it works:

·       Start with a Learning Needs Review,

·       Access tailored face-to-face and online workshops based on your needs,

·       Track progress through an online learning record.

Learn more about the programme and how to apply on the CPPE pharmacy technician development programme webpages.

If you are a Foundation Trainee Pharmacist who began in the 2025 Summer start window, you will be part way through your training programme now and, hopefully, you have a good understanding of what you need to do including how the NHS England Assessment Strategy and e-portfolio work.

If you began in the 2025 Autumn start window, you will just be starting to get to grips with these. Make sure you have a look at the resources on our website, and on the NHS England Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme Learning Hub Catalogue. You will need to create a free account to access the Learning Hub, but you do not need an NHS email to do this.

All Foundation Trainee Pharmacists must use the Foundation Trainee Pharmacist Programme e-portfolio. If you need help you can join our drop-in support sessions or access step-by-step guides. Details are available on the Learning Hub.

If you need support during training, the trainee support guide on our website explains available support and NHS England’s role in providing it.

The Autumn window for recruitment of Foundation Trainee Pharmacists into training posts for the 2025-26 training cohort has now closed.  This means that almost 3,000 Foundation Trainee Pharmacists are now on programme in England. The majority of these trainees will join the register as independent prescribers in 2026, ready to support the ambitions of the 10 Year Health Plan.

Recruitment to foundation pharmacist training posts is managed exclusively via The National Recruitment Scheme (also known as Oriel). Further information on recruitment, including an update on recruitment for the 2026-27 cohort, can be found on our dedicated Foundation Trainee Pharmacist recruitment website.

Building on the successful first year of the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme (CPTAP) Cohort 1, NHS England has funded a second wave of Pre-Registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs) in community pharmacy: CPTAP Cohort 2.

Cohort 1 was the first focused community pharmacy funding offer for the pharmacy technician workforce.  The initiative has so far facilitated access to apprenticeship funding for education programmes and supported preparing the workforce for the future.   

Following significant interest from employers, a total of 718 PTPTs have been funded by NHS England in Cohort 2. Employers have completed recruitment, and trainees are now enrolled on the Pharmacy Technician (Integrated) Apprenticeship. 

These trainees are expected to qualify and register from Winter 2026 (Cohort 1) and Autumn 2027 (Cohort 2), helping to address the current workforce demand gap.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is currently consulting on new draft standards for the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians.

The key changes proposed include:

·       Raising the qualification level to minimum RQF Level 4,

·       Replacing Accuracy Checking with Final Accuracy Checking,

·       Introducing a level 2 science entry requirement (or equivalent),

·       Retaining hourly practise-based supervision requirements and clarify education supervisor and course provider responsibilities,

·       Adding new learning outcomes, such as digital technology, sustainability, and pharmacogenomics,

·       Making all pharmacy technician qualifications credit-bearing,

·       Updating standards and criteria for course providers,

·       Retaining the 2-year study duration,

·       Encouraging multisector training.

The consultation closes on 24 December 2025. NHS England is preparing its response to the consultation, but it is vital that everyone shares their views. Have your say today!  

Following the recent Expressions of Interest for the 2025-26 Teach and Treat programme we were encouraged to see so many innovative and exciting models that will help strengthen pharmacy workforce capacity.

This year’s programme is designed to tackle pharmacy workforce challenges by delivering supervised, hands-on clinical training for community pharmacists, aligned with local service needs.

By supporting independent prescriber training and developing a sustainable supervisor pipeline in community pharmacy, the Teach and Treat programme aims to equip pharmacists with the skills and confidence to provide safe and effective care in patient-facing settings.

These developments will expand clinical roles, improve patient access, and reduce pressure on other NHS services – key steps in transforming pharmacy for the future.

Find out more about the Teach and Treat programme on our website.

Pharmacists

Clinical Examination Skills Training for Community Pharmacists  

Health Education England are pleased to announce new, fully funded, NHS clinical examination skills training for community pharmacists.

This new offer will build on community pharmacists’ existing clinical examination and consultation skills – to assess, treat and manage common health problems.

10,000 module places will be available until March 2024.

Following completion of a pre-required, online gateway module on history taking and identification of serious conditions, pharmacists can choose their preferred journey through four optional modules, based on professional interests. These modules cover four key themes: dermatology, cardiology, paediatrics, and ear, nose and throat.

The module content will be delivered online using a flexible and responsive eLearning system, with optional face-to-face attendance for pharmacists who would find this beneficial. Pharmacists can complete the training at a pace and time of their choice. Face-to-face workshops will be scheduled to accommodate pharmacist working patterns.

The training is designed to be complementary to independent prescribing training and can be completed prior to or after independent prescribing training courses. 

This offer is available to community pharmacists, including part time staff and locums working in community pharmacy.

To register and find out more about the training visit the CliniSkills website.

To find out more about the Pharmacy Integration Programme, visit the NHS England website.

CPPE

Visit here to find some of the latest Pharmacist opportunities from the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education.

CPPE are suggesting to learners to utilise the e-learning resources below

More information on Independent-prescribing and the Policy on IP timing and studying two training programmes at the same time. 

Sign up to the CPPE waiting list for booking alerts.

More CPPE resources here!

You can find information about it on the CPPE website. Its aim is to help pharmacists prepare an application and prepare for prescribing training by helping them to understand what it means to be a prescriber, considerations when choosing a course, how they can demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills and plan for the study and supervised practice requirements of the course. 

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you have any questions.

Educational supervisor training for pharmacy workforce

ProPharmace are pleased to offer two fully funded, free to access Supervisor training programmes for those supervising the pharmacy workforce.

ProPharmace are pleased to offer two fully funded, free to access Supervisor training programmes for those supervising the pharmacy workforce. These programmes will ensure those involved in educational supervision, are confident to provide support and developmental aid to the pharmacy workforce.

  • Training for Educational Supervisors including Designated Supervisors (DS)

Both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians can apply for the educational supervisor training.

  • Training for Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPP)

Designated Prescribing Practitioners (DPP) supporting supervision of learners in the pharmacy workforce.

Visit the ProPharmace website to register

Implementing the Foundation Pharmacist training info

Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First is here – build your pharmacy future with fully funded, flexible training tailored to your skills, experience and individual learning requirements.  Learn new skills, support peer development and expand your clinical knowledge.

Courses include:

  • Advancing your role for Community Pharmacy Technicians 
  • Educational Supervisor Training for Community Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.

Find out more and apply now 

Pharmacy Technicians

CPPE Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) programme

Open for NHS England Funded Applications 2025 / 2026

NHS England is pleased to announce that we have funded CPPE to offer the Accuracy checking pharmacy technician (ACPT) programme for pharmacy technicians working in community pharmacy, NHS hospitals, and in health and justice for 2025 / 2026.

A total of 240 NHS England-funded places are available and funding will end when all 240 places have been allocated or by the end of March 2026.

The ACPT programme is a 3-12-month training and development programme available to pharmacy technicians, with employer support. The course is designed to support pharmacy technicians in meeting a range of competencies during their training in order to deliver safe and effective patient care.

The scope of the programme is to train and assess pharmacy technicians, working in community pharmacy, health and justice and NHS hospitals, to perform the final accuracy check of dispensed items on prescriptions that have been clinically screened/ approved by a pharmacist.

The ACPT programme is open to any pharmacy technician in England, from any sector, who provide NHS services and who qualified pre-2017 GPhC Initial Education & Training Standards. Those who have train on the current standards, receive the knowledge and competencies required to carry out a final accuracy check.

Self-funded places will remain available for pharmacy technicians who do not work in community pharmacy, health and justice or in an NHS hospital for a cost of £330 including VAT.

For more information, including further eligibility criteria, please visit: 

https://www.cppe.ac.uk/career/acpt

Trainee Pharmacist Foundation Training Year

Following recent changes to the MPharm course, from 2026 all newly registered pharmacists will enter the register with the training, skills and confidence to provide a range of clinical care to patients, including prescribing of medicines.

MPharm students must complete 4 years of undergraduate study and then complete the foundation training year (including passing the GPhC exam) to register as a pharmacist. Currently, upon registering, pharmacists are not able to prescribe medication and must undertake additional qualifications to do so. From 2026, the newly qualified pharmacists will register as prescribers.
 
To develop their competencies accordingly, NHS England is working to develop the foundation training year. One of the changes will be to introduce consistent funding to all training providers. The funding is available for a trainee pharmacist for the 2025/26 foundation training year. 

FAQs_Funding for the Foundation Training Year 2025_26 

For further information, please see the attached document with FAQs or contact

[email protected] 

Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme

NHSE are excited to announce the launch of the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme.

This programme will support Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs) to be employed and complete their full 24-month apprenticeship training within a community pharmacy setting. Upon completion of training and registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) this will support community pharmacy to utilise the expertise and knowledge of registered pharmacy technicians as part of pharmacy services and wider reform.

The programme aims to support pharmacy technicians to:

  • develop the skills required to be a safe competent and confident final accuracy checking pharmacy technician
  • improve leadership and communication skills
  • direct the dispensary team
  • increase the pharmacy team’s capacity to deliver patient-facing services.

The total cost for a place on the course is £330 inclusive of VAT. This payment can be self-funded or employer financed.

To find out more, including entry criteria and how to apply, visit: www.cppe.ac.uk/career/acpt 

CPPE

Visit here to find some of the latest Pharmacy Tech opportunities from the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education.

Extended until March 2025, the CPPE Community pharmacy technician: advancing your role is a fully funded learning programme designed to help community pharmacy technicians develop the skills and confidence to support the delivery of effective clinical services in community pharmacy.  It guides pharmacy technicians to reflect upon their existing transferable skills and identify development needs to support the readiness for advancing their role in practice to support service delivery.
 
For full information, please visit:

Leadership

Pharmacy Leads Programme - North West Leadership Academy (NWLA)

Three-Part Programme -Please complete this survey to express an interest in future cohorts of this programme.