Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing

Programme structure

Our Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing is a one-year part-time 45 Credit programme of study at National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 7.

Credits gained on this programme here can be used towards gaining your Diploma or Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy.

Workshop days

There are 10 workshop days from January to September 2019.

Attendance is expected on all of these days.

Provisional 2019 dates (Changes will only be made in exceptional circumstances)

• Day 1 Wednesday 9 January 2019
• Day 2 Wednesday 30 January 2019
• Day 3 Wednesday 6 February 2019
• Day 4 Wednesday 27 March 2019
• Day 5 Wednesday 3 April 2019
• Day 6 Thursday 23 May 2019
• Day 7 Wednesday 5 June 2019
• Day 8 Wednesday 19 June 2019
• Day 9 Wednesday 3 July 2019
• Day 10 September 2019  (day to be confirmed)
• Day 11 October 2019 (day to be confirmed)

Application deadline for January 2019 course: 2 January 2019

Learning and teaching

Workshop days:

• Interactive patient-case discussions to develop your clinical reasoning
• Small group discussions to develop your future prescribing role
• Practical communication skills sessions
• Clinical examination training in specialist facilities
• Opportunities to reflect on your Supervised practice
• Academic tutor sessions to support your progress

E-learning material:

This comprises 3 units:

• Prescribing Governance
• Clinical skills for Prescribing
• Prescribing Partnerships

Students also have access to extensive on-line resources used on our other clinical courses and University library facilities.

Learning is backed up with individual tutor support and peer group discussions.

Multi-modal Assessment

• Assessments are varied and reflect the responsibilities of the prescribing role
• Assessments include a portfolio, short answer test and observations of clinical skills (OSCE)
• Research an area of your clinical practice

Careers

You will already be a registered pharmacist in employment in a UK healthcare setting. Acquiring this qualification and Independent prescriber status will enable you to seek extended roles in clinical practice as an autonomous prescribing practitioner. In addition, the ability to tailor some of the assessments to an area of practice will enable you to further your clinical interests.

All University of Exeter students have access to Career Zone, which gives access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.

Facilities

This programme is delivered at St Luke’s Campus, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter.

Some sessions will be delivered in the fully-equipped Clinical Skills Resource Centre.

Entry requirements

You must:

• have current registration with the UK General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
• have at least two years of patient-orientated experience in a UK hospital, community or primary care setting following your pre-registration year
• provide evidence of a recent, satisfactory enhanced DBS check
• have the agreement of a named designated medical practitioner (DMP) who is willing to supervise your training.
• demonstrate experience and reflective professional practice
• identify an area relating to your proposed scope of prescribing
• have support from a line manager, employer or service commissioner

Please download the Independent Prescribing Application pack and complete the form before applying online.

Applicants may be invited to undertake an informal interview as part of the application process. This will take the form of an individual meeting/telephone conversation with one of our academics.

Fees and funding

Fee information

Fees can normally be paid by two termly instalments and may be paid online. You will also be required to pay a tuition fee deposit to secure your offer of a place, unless you qualify for exemption. For further information about paying fees see our Student Fees pages.

UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Postgraduate loans of up to £10,609 are now available for Masters degrees. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

Health Education England funding

Pharmacists may be eligible for HEE funding of this course if they are on one of these work streams:

• Clinical Pharmacists in General Practice
• Clinical Pharmacists in Integrated Urgent care
• Medicines Optimisation in Care homes

If you are applying for this funding, please tick the appropriate box on the application form.

Contact us

Informal enquiries: Please email Dr Laura Sims

Phone: +44 (0)1392 725500
Web: Enquire online