Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice

The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice (PgCert/Dip GPP) is a part-time programme which runs over two to four years. It is a unique work-based learning experience that enables both Community and Hospital Pharmacists to expand their practice and access career opportunities. It has been developed as a unique collaboration of higher education institutes and employers (both NHS and Community Pharmacy representatives) under the umbrella of the Joint Programmes Board.

Unlike other post-graduate programmes the PG Diploma in General Pharmacy Practice (Community Pharmacy) is a work-based programme that develops your competencies using a validated competency framework which has been accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. You will use this General Level Framework (GLF) to assess your current level of practice to identify your personal needs in order to design your unique learning programme.

As it is a work-based programme the course runs separately for Community and Hospital Pharmacists.

Teaching

The majority of your learning will occur in your work-place guided by self directed learning, supported by study days and learning sets. You will be allocated a practice tutor who will help you plan your learning in the workplace and an academic tutor to support you throughout the course.

Assessment

Assessments are broadly divided into academic assessments and workplace competency assessments.

A range of academic assessment strategies have been adopted including

  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations
  • Multiple Choice Questions
  • Competency-based portfolio review
  • Written assignments to include: short essays; critical appraisals; reflective analysis of clinical work.

A range of formative workplace assessments help you plan your learning as well as assessing your current levels of competency against the GLF.

Careers

This programme will help you to seize opportunities in your future career so that you can deliver high-quality, patient-centred pharmacy services.

Completion of the practice elements of the course will also lead to the award of a Statement of Completion of General Pharmacist Training (SCGPT) from an accredited training centre.