Accreditation and Recognition of
Pharmacy Technician Training Programmes
Requirements for competency based qualifications and knowledge based qualifications for pharmacy technicians
Youmust use this document to:
- demonstrate how you meet the criteria. Guidance on what sort of information and supporting evidence you need to provide is detailed on the right of the template and;
- List all the supporting documentation submitted with this template. Guidance on the documents that you will need to submit is provided.
Name of organisation:
Name of course to be recognised/accredited:
Contact name:
Job title:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Email:
Standard 1 – Patient and public safety
- There must be clear procedures to address immediately any concerns about patient safety arising from pharmacy technician education and training involving patients and the public
Evidence should include relevant policies and how they are implemented and quality management data.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance and evidence
1.1Supervision is in place to ensure that the practice of pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians does not jeopardise patient safety / All those who teach, supervise, give counselling to, employ or work with trainees are responsible for protecting patients and the public. Patients will be protected through explicit and accountable supervision and by the provision of clear and transparent standards of conduct based on our Pre-registration Trainee code of conduct Technician Code of Conduct.
1.2Pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians only undertake tasks in which they are competent, or are learning to be competent, under adequate supervision / Trainees must never be put in a situation where they are asked to work beyond their competence without appropriate support and supervision
1.3Assessment and monitoring systems are in place to ensure that pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians are able to practise safely and effectively at a level that is consistent with their stage of education and training. Causes for concern should be addressed promptly / Patient safety must be paramount at all times. Where there are serious concerns about the trainee’s performance, health or conduct, immediate steps must be taken to protect patients and the public. Trainees must not be allowed to continue their education and training if they pose a risk to patients and the public.
1.4Provision of appropriate support relating to health, conduct and professional progression is available to pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians / All those responsible for the education and training of trainees have a responsibility to share information relating to their trainee’s health, conduct or performance to ensure that those providing tutoring and supervision are properly informed. The trainee must agree to this. Where the trainee does not agree,, or is not able to agree,, those responsible for education and training must consider the trainee’s right to confidentiality and any serious risk posed to patients, the public, themselves or colleagues when deciding whether to share information with other people involved in the education or training of the individual. In some circumstances, if the trainee is not able or willing to agree to such information being revealed to other people involved in their education or training, they should not be allowed to continue.
1.5Trainees are not allowed to complete an accredited or approved programme if they are a risk to patients and the public / Trainees must be aware of their responsibilities in relation to identifying and raising concerns about patient safety and or the conduct of others that is not consistent with good professional practice as set out in the Pre-registration Trainee Technician Code of Conduct.
1.6Training providers delivering an accredited or approved programme use the Code of Conduct for Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians to ensure that professionalism is embedded in trainees and to act as a guide to what constitutes acceptable and unacceptable practice, attitudes and behaviours in relation to fitness to practise. / Trainees must be aware that from 1 July 2011, it is an offence for anyone who is not registered with us to pretend to be a pharmacy technician.
Standard 2 – Selection of trainees
2. All selection procedures must be open, fair and designed to identify those applicants who will practise safely and effectively and uphold the standards of the professionEvidence should include selection policies and procedures, analysis of selection data and training records of staff involved in selection
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance and evidence
2.1Selection policies and procedures must provide those submitting the application and those making the selection decisions with the information they need to make informed choices / All admission requirements must be clearly set out in information that is made available to potential applicants.
Guidance for applicants and employers should include information about resources, including costs and time that might be involved in undertaking their course or period of training.
Information should also make it clear that successfully completing all elements of pharmacy technician education and training means that applicants are eligible to apply to register with us; however it does not guarantee registration. Clear reference should be made to the fact that the pharmacy regulator will undertake checks on character and health issues before approving application to register
2.2Those responsible for selection must be trained to apply selection guidelines consistently and fairly. They must be trained to be able to promote equality and diversity and follow current equal opportunities legislation and good practice / All staff involved in selection should have been trained appropriately and are aware of relevant legislative requirements.
Standard 3 – Equality, diversity and opportunity
3.All aspects of pharmacy technician education and training must be based on principles of equality, diversity and fairness and meet the requirements of all relevant legislationEvidence should include information collected, relevant policies and how they are implemented and monitored.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance and evidence
3.1Information about equality and diversity issues must be collected routinely, analysed, recommendations developed, implemented and monitored / This standard is intended to ensure that trainees and applicants are treated fairly on the grounds of gender, race, social background, disability, religion, sexual orientation and other forms of discrimination. It is also concerned with encouraging diversity in the profession to reflect modern society.
3.2Equality and diversity training records must be collected routinely and fed into quality management and enhancement mechanisms where appropriate
3.3Information about how issues are identified and addressed as part of the quality management and enhancement systems and how outcomes are disseminated should be collected and reported. / Equality, diversity and opportunity awareness pervades the other standards and all activities.
Standard 4 – Monitoring, review and evaluation
4.The quality of pharmacy technician education and training must be monitored, reviewed and evaluated in a systematic wayEvidence should include course regulations, quality data (including data relating to the quality and consistency of any assessments of safe and effective practice) and evidence from all those involved in teaching, learning and assessment.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
4.1The standard will be demonstrated by systems and policies that encompass the following information about roles and responsibilities, lines of accountability and authority to act of those involved in education and training together with the timing of monitoring reports and reviews.
All aspects of education and training must be covered including:
- entry to education and training
- quality of teaching and learning (including the curriculum)
- appraisal of and feedback to trainees
- assessment of trainees
- supervision, including training
- educational resources and capacity
- appeals
- malpractice and plagiarism
There should be mechanisms for monitoring trainees’ progression against the outcomes defined in the curriculum.
4.2There must be procedures in place to check the quality of teaching, learning and assessment and to ensure that standards are being maintained. These must be monitored using a variety of methods and approaches such as staff appraisal, student feedback, patient feedback and peer review. / There should be clear quality management systems in place for the curriculum, which should be fit for purpose and demonstrate consistency, validity and reliability in measuring outcomes
4.3Any problems identified through the gathering and analysis of quality data should be addressed promptly and the actions taken clearly documented. It must be clear who is responsible for this. / There should be clear quality management systems in place for workplace-based progress review/appraisals, where both must be fit for purpose.
Standard 5 – Support and development for trainees
5.Trainees must be supported to acquire the necessary skills and experience through induction, effective supervision, an appropriate and realistic workload, personal support and time to learnEvidence should include systematic feedback from those who are being supported and quality management data, such as CPD portfolio feedback reports, tutor and trainee evaluations.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
5.1Trainees must have access to pharmacists and/or pharmacy technicians who are able to act as role models and provide professional support and guidance / Trainees must have appropriate support. Training providers and employers must produce information about the support networks available including named contacts for trainees with problems. All tutors and training provider staff should be provided with a summary of the support and development opportunities available to trainees.
Trainers must make sure that trainees are properly supervised. Special support and guidance must be provided for trainees whose health, behaviour or skills give cause for concern. Where concerns arise because of a trainee’s disability, full consideration must be given to making reasonable adjustments to enable the trainee to complete the outcomes and application for registration.
Support and development should include health, welfare and conduct issues in so far as it affects their training.
All trainees should be provided with a summary of the support and development opportunities available to them.
Standard 6 – Support and development for those providing education and training
6.Those involved in providing the teaching and learning must be supported to acquire the necessary skills and experience through induction, effective mentoring, continuing professional development and personal supportEvidence should include staff development records, job descriptions and personal development portfolios and evidence of appropriate personal and professional development.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
6.1Supervising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must have an identified source of support from the training provider / Any pharmacist or pharmacy technician who comes into contact with trainees should recognise the importance of role models in developing appropriate behaviours towards patients and the public and colleagues. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with particular responsibility for teaching and assessing trainees must be appropriately qualified.
6.2Staff involved with the delivery and/or assessment of the programme must undergo a designated period of training and development in teaching, learning, assessment and trainee support / All those involved in providing teaching and learning should be provided with a summary of the support and development opportunities available to them.
Standard 7 – Management of initial education and training
7.Education and training must be planned and maintained through transparent processes which show who is responsible at each stageEvidence should include details of arrangements between the training provider and employers, such as clear plans and learning contracts between stakeholders and outcomes of quality monitoring and enhancement processes.
The education and training delivers trainees who are able to demonstrate the learning outcomes and are able to practise safely and effectively under supervision and to apply for registration with the GPhC
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
7.1All education and training will be supported by a defined management plan with a schedule of responsibilities as well as defined structures and processes to ensure the maintenance of standards in the arrangement and content of education and training to ensure effective delivery / Systems and structures must be in place to manage the education and training of trainees. They must take into account of:
- Access to and availability of suitable facilities
- Management of student progress
- Communication networks to support trainees and tutors
- Robust communication networks
- Clear lines of authority and responsibility
Standard 8 – Resources and capacity
8.The education and training facilities, infrastructure, leadership and other staffing must be sufficient to deliver outcomesEvidence should include the curriculum vitae and job descriptions of relevant staff, routine quality assurance and enhancement processes, GPhC quality assurance and enhancement processes such as accreditation visits and site visits and regular reviews of resources and infrastructure
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
8.1All training providers must have a pharmacist or pharmacy technician who has professional responsibility and sufficient authority to deliver outcomes / All training providers must have a pharmacist or pharmacy technician who has professional responsibility and sufficient authority to deliver outcomes
8.2 There must be:
- sufficient staff to deliver the education and training and support trainees’ learning
- appropriately qualified and experienced staff
- access to appropriate learning resources
- facilities that are fit for purpose
Standards 9 to 11 – Curriculum
9.The programme must develop the required skills, knowledge and understandingEvidence shouldinclude programme specifications, training materials, mapping to the curriculum and standards and procedures for programme review and development.
Criteria to meet this standard / Guidance
9.1For competency based qualifications, the programme covers the knowledge, skills and understanding set out in Appendix 1 / The curriculum requirements are set out below
9.2For knowledge based qualifications, the programme covers the knowledge and understanding set out in appendix 2 / The curriculum requirements are set out below
Competency based qualification requirements
Provide information on how your training programme meets the General Pharmaceutical Council requirements and is at the required National Occupational Standards (NOS)
You must provide a cross reference for each element listed mapping the element to the contents of your course. The cross reference should include the name of the document referenced with the page number(s).
9.1: To achieve an approved competency based qualification, trainees must be able to meet the outcomes of the following National Occupational Standards (NOS)
NOS / Learning outcome / Name of document and unit/module number / Page / Accreditation team use onlyPharm 02 / Provide an effective and responsive pharmacy service
Pharm 03 / Process pharmaceutical queries
ENTO HSS1 / Make sure your own actions reduces risks to health and safety
HSC 33 / Reflect on and develop their practice
Pharm 07 / Receive prescriptions from individuals
Pharm 08 / Confirm prescription validity
Pharm 09 / Assemble prescribed items
Pharm 10 / Issue prescribed items
Pharm 11 / Prepare extemporaneous medicines for individual use
Pharm 12 / Order pharmaceutical stock
Pharm 13 / Receive pharmaceutical stock
Pharm 14 / Maintain pharmaceutical stock
Pharm 15 / Issue pharmaceutical stock
Pharm 27 / Undertake an in-process accuracy check of assembled prescribed items, prior to a final check
To achieve the competency based Qualifications and Credit Framework qualification and the Scottish Vocational Qualification, trainees must also be able to meet the outcomes of at least three of the following NOS
NOS / Learning outcome / Name of document and unit/module number / Page / Accreditation team use onlyPharm 04 / Provide advice on symptoms and the actions and uses of medicines
Pharm 05 / Assist in the sale of medicines and products
Pharm 17 / Manufacture and assembly of medicinal products
Pharm 19 / Prepare aseptic products and carry out in-process checking
Pharm 20 / Prepare documentation, materials & other items for manufacture and assembly of medicinal products
Pharm 21 / Prepare documentation, materials, components & other items for the preparation of aseptic products
Pharm 23 / Check documentation, starting materials, components and other consumables for the production of aseptic products
Pharm 24 / Provide an effective service in a setting outside the pharmacy
Pharm 25 / Assist in the supply of pharmaceutical appliances
Pharm 26 / Process prescriptions for payment
Pharm 30 / Prepare to conduct a review of an individual’s medicines
LLUK 11 / Facilitate learning through demonstration and instruction
HSC 241 / Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
Curriculum requirements
Provide information on how your training programme meets the General Pharmaceutical Council learning outcomes and is at the required academic level.
9.2: To achieve an approved knowledge based qualification, trainees must be able to meet the following learning outcomes.
Criterion / GuidanceThe duration of the underpinning knowledge programme must provide a minimum of 720 learning hours comprising:
Science of pharmacy
(minimum of 400 learning hours)
- 30 learning hours of chemistry
- 30 learning hours of microbiology
- 340 learning hours of biology, human physiology and action and uses of medicines.
- Pharmacy practise and law (a minimum of 230 learning hours)
- 100 learning hours on dispensing procedures and practices.
- 60 learning hours of interpersonal skills
- 50 learning hours on pharmacy law, ethics and regulation
- 20 learning hours on pharmaceutical production and aseptic procedures
The programme covers all learning outcomes of the competency based and knowledge based qualifications for pharmacy techncians / Course summary to include module or unit titles and the phasing or sequence of the modules or units in the programme.
While completing the programme the trainee must undertake a minimum of two years simultaneously completed work-based experience under the supervision, direction or guidance of a pharmact to whom the trainee was directly accountable for not less than 14 hours per week. / Requirement stated in course materials
To achieve an approved knowledge based qualification, trainees must be able to meet the learning outcomes listed in section B2 of appendix 2 of the standards as well as meeting the contents of the syllabus listed below.