Program Overview

The Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing is a part-time, distance learning course that aims to provide pharmacists with the necessary skills and knowledge to become independent prescribers. The course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council and is designed to meet the needs of pharmacists who wish to develop their prescribing skills.

Key Facts

• Start date: January, March, and June 2026
• Accreditation: Accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council
• Application deadline: 10 November 2025, 26 January 2026, and 20 April 2026
• Study mode and duration: Part-time, distance learning, with two face-to-face periods and a period of learning in practice

Course Content

The course consists of pre-face-to-face course activity, distance learning material, two face-to-face periods, and a period of learning in practice. The course modules include:

• Therapeutics from a choice of cardiovascular, common clinical conditions, respiratory disease, substance misuse, and co-morbidities
• Communicating with patients and colleagues
• Prescribing and public health
• Care planning

Period of Learning in Practice (PLP)

The PLP is a period of supervised practice that aims to provide students with opportunities to develop competencies in prescribing. The PLP starts after the first face-to-face period and focuses on the patient group(s) in which the student will be expecting to prescribe.

Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP)

The DPP is a registered healthcare professional who supervises the student during the PLP. The DPP must meet certain requirements, including:

• Being a registered prescribing practitioner in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights
• Being in good standing with their profession's Regulatory body
• Having at least three years of recent active prescribing experience
• Having up-to-date patient-facing clinical and diagnostic skills
• Having experience and/or training in teaching and/or supervision in practice

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the course, pharmacists must:

• Be currently registered with the GPhC and/or PSNI as a pharmacist
• Be in good standing with the healthcare regulator with which they are registered
• Have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting
• Be able to recognize, understand, and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber
• Have identified an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning
• Be able to demonstrate how they reflect on their own performance and take responsibility for their own CPD

Fees and Funding

The tuition fees for the course are:

• Scotland: £2,925 (2024/25)
• England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: £2,925 (2024/25)
• Republic of Ireland: To be confirmed Funding applications can be made through NHS Education for Scotland (NES).

Assessment

The course assessment includes:

• Therapeutics Assessment (MCQ and short answer)
• Prescribing and public health (short answer)
• Reflective reports related to care planning and communicating with patients and colleagues
• Summative OSCE for the care planning class

Start Dates and Application Deadlines

The course starts in January, March, and June 2026, with application deadlines of 10 November 2025, 26 January 2026, and 20 April 2026, respectively.

• Communicating with patients and colleagues
• Prescribing and public health
• Care planning

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Course Structure:

• Pre-face-to-face course activity
• Distance learning material
• Two face-to-face periods
• Period of Learning in Practice (PLP)

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Course Schedule:

• Communicating with Patients and Colleagues: Emphasizes effective communication skills for pharmacists in patient interactions and interprofessional collaboration.
• Prescribing and Public Health: Covers the principles of prescribing, including legal and ethical considerations, and the role of pharmacists in public health initiatives.
• Care Planning: Involves developing and implementing patient-centered care plans that optimize medication therapy and improve patient outcomes.

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Assessment:

• Distance Learning:
• Therapeutics Assessment: MCQ and short answer
• Prescribing and Public Health: Short answer
• Face-to-Face Period 1:
• Formative OSCE for the care planning class
• Distance Learning (after Face-to-Face Period 1):
• Reflective reports related to care planning
• Reflective reports related to communicating with patients and colleagues
• Face-to-Face Period 2:
• Summative OSCE for the care planning class

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Other:

• The course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to provide courses in independent prescribing.
• Successful completion of the course results in the award of a Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing.
• The course involves 30 ScotCat credits on completion.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation