Foundation Training for Pharmacists

Background

In January 2021, the GPhC published the revised Standards for the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists.

These provide a set of new learning outcomes that span the whole 5-year initial training period (MPharm degree and the Foundation Training Year) and can link to a continuum of development into post-registration. They provide newly qualified pharmacists with the necessary consultation skills and confidence to provide the clinical services expected by patients and the NHS, working across health systems and will enable pharmacists to be independent prescribers at the point of registration.

NHSE have published a list of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) which are units of clearly defined professional activity which a learner is entrusted to complete in practice with the appropriate amount of supervision once adequate competencies are demonstrated. This provides some insight to the learning carried out during undergraduate training.

For more information, please visit the Initial Education and Training of Pharmacists – reform programme webpage.

Recruitment for training from 2025/26 onwards

All recruitment for rotations will be completed via the National Recruitment Scheme, Oriel.

Key information for students is available here.

Employer registration for 2025/26 closed on 1 March 2024.

Terms of participation

Employer handbook

Training site requirements

Foundation Trainee Pharmacist recruitment overview

Jan - March

Confirmation of participation and collection of employer data.

May

Review and confirm number of training places.

June - July

Oriel opens for applicants to view and complete application.

Nov - Dec

Offers released and employers informed.

Nov - Dec

Offers released and employers informed.

Jan - March

Confirmation of participation and collection of employer data.

Registration with the Faculty is open to employers wanting assistance with creating partnerships for rotations, particularly from 2026/27 training year when multi-sector rotations are mandated.

Assessment

An E-portfolio with dedicated user guides for the new e-portfolio by role. Detailed information about the e-portfolio, assessment tools, resources and videos are on the companion web page 'E-portfolio and downloadable resources'.

Trainee support guide: This document outlines the educational support processes in place for pharmacy trainees (foundation trainee pharmacists and pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians) who are undertaking NHS England (NHSE) commissioned training.

Prescribing supervision and assessment

The 2025/26 foundation trainee pharmacist training programme (starting in July 2025) will be the first year that foundation trainee pharmacists will be assessed against the full learning outcomes, including independent prescribing (except for those that graduate against the old learning outcomes, and Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme graduates).

In England, NHS England Workforce Training and Education will be responsible for the quality management of the foundation trainee pharmacist training, including how assessment and supervision relating to prescribing will be incorporated. This guide sets out the principles that training sites will be required to work to in the 2025/26 training year, which are based on requirements that the GPhC have included in the new standards.

Need for a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP)

Each trainee will require a Designated Prescribing Practitioner to assess their Prescribing Assessment Activities (PAAs), and, using the provided Assessment Tools, they will assess whether the foundation trainee pharmacist has demonstrated these to a satisfactory standard. This will require direct observation by the DPP for some, but not all of the PAAs.

The Prescribing Assessment Activities are mapped to the RPS Competency Framework for All Prescribers, providing assurance to DPPs that the trainee pharmacist is demonstrating the breadth of the competencies required to be a prescriber. The DPP may be a separate individual to the Designated Supervisor (DS), and may even work in a different organisation to the trainee.

Useful links:

Training provision for DSs and DPPs

Clinical skills training

General practice based training

There are already some rotations in General Practices/Primary Care Networks (PCNs), but recent approval now means that General Practices/PCNs can be the lead employer for trainee pharmacists.

Download this information sheet General Practices/PCNs.

Emerging routes to early career prescribing in pharmacy

NHSE have created an interactive resource which explores how the foundation pharmacist learning outcomes relating to prescribing enable early career pharmacists to implement prescribing in practice. It features seven early career pharmacists in different practice settings, highlighting their individual clinical focus, the clinical, procedural, and technical skills they’ll utilise, future development opportunities, and commonalities with other areas of practice.

Pharmacist Foundation Training Year survey

The Faculty would like to identify current and future training providers, designated supervisors and potential designated prescribing practitioners to offer support and networking opportunities, and ensure the formation of partnerships for the foundation training year 2026/27 where multi-sector rotations will be essential. If interested, please complete the Pharmacist Foundation Training Year form.