Robert Gordon University

Practice Certificate Pharmacist Independent Prescribing

Robert Gordon University

Course overview

This Practice Certificate in Pharmacist Independent Prescribing will prepare you to achieve the learning outcomes required by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to be eligible to apply for annotation as a Pharmacist Independent Prescriber.

Key highlights

  • Meets General Pharmaceutical Council learning outcomes for independent prescribing
  • Leads to eligibility to apply for annotation as Independent Prescriber
  • Learning in practice supervised by a Designated Prescribing Practitioner
  • Learning is based on your chosen clinical or therapeutic practice area

Entry requirements

All candidates must meet the requirements: Registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or, in Northern Ireland, with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Are in good standing with the GPhC and/or PSNI and any other healthcare regulator with which they are registered. Have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of their prescribing practice whilst training.

Have identified an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning. Have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice. The Designated Prescribing Practitioner As part of the course, the pharmacist's period of learning in practice must be supervised by a Designated Prescribing Practitioner who may be a medical or a non-medical independent prescriber.

The Designated Prescribing Practitioner must meet and be able to demonstrate the requirements: A registered healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights, Are in good standing with their profession's regulator and work in line with legal, regulatory, professional and organisational standards in a patient facing role. Are an active prescriber with competence applicable to the area in which they will be supervising. Have appropriate patient facing clinical and diagnostic skill.

Have appropriate knowledge and experience relevant to the trainee's area of practice. Have experience of supporting or supervising healthcare professionals. Have the ability to assess patient-facing clinical and diagnostic skills.

Have reviewed the Competency Framework for all Prescribers and can confirm that they meet all the competencies. Our Application Process The entry requirements of the course require you to have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber to act as the foundation of your prescribing practice whilst training. There is not a specific length of time that will determine this, it is the overall breadth and range of relevant experience that is important.

You will be asked to provide information about, and reflect on, your experience, education and training and to provide information about your proposed prescribing service.

Scholarships

  • Alumni Discount

    A 20% discount is provided exclusively on tuition fees and not to any associated course costs.

    Up to 20% of fees
  • Chevening Scholarship

  • International Students Emergency Fund

    The fund aims to help students with basic living costs such as food, utilities and rent.

  • RGU Early Deposit Payment Discount

    Self-funding students paying an international fee joining in the September 2026 intake who pay their deposit will receive an additional £500 discount.

    Up to £500
  • RGU Financial Award for MBA Students

    10% discount towards tuition fees.

    Up to 10% of fees
  • RGU Golf Scholarship

    Up to £8,500 per year

  • RGU International Merit Based Scholarship for Masters Students

    Value - £5,000 discount on postgraduate fees.

    Up to £5,000
  • RGU International Student Discount for Master's Students

    Students from Kenya, Indonesia and Nepal will receive a £4,000 discount. All other countries listed will receive a £3,000 discount.

  • RGU International Student Discount for Research Students

    £3,000 discount towards postgraduate research tuition fees.

    Up to £3,000
  • RGU International Student Discount for Undergraduate Students

    £2,000 discount on each year of study of undergraduate tuition fees.

    Up to £2,000
  • RGU SPORT Scholarship

    Financial assistance is awarded to support travel, training, equipment and competition expenses accrued during the academic year.

  • Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate Scholarship

Careers this course leads to

  • Pharmacist Independent Prescriber
  • Clinical Pharmacist
  • Community Pharmacist Prescriber
  • GP Practice Pharmacist
  • Hospital Pharmacist Prescriber

Cost of study

UK/Home: £2,600 | International: £2,600

Admission

Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Robert Gordon University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.

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