Independent Prescribing Courses

Applications are now open for funded Independent Prescribing courses for pharmacists

NHS England is offering pharmacists from across sectors, including community pharmacy and locums, funded independent prescribing training. Tuition fees are fully funded for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

Pharmacists should check that they meet the eligibility criteria to apply for one of the places at a variety of universities across England.

Eligibility criteria

• Community pharmacists (including locum pharmacists); Pharmacists employed in General Practice (who are not eligible for, or enrolled on, the Primary Care Pharmacy Education Programme (PCPEP) and those who are working to provide primary care services (e.g. working in primary care) who are not employed in ARRS roles); and Health and Justice pharmacists.
• Pharmacists enrolled on CPPE’s Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway (PCPEP) and who meet the PCPEP criteria to enrol on an independent prescribing course.
• Pharmacists working in an NHS Hospital Trust or Mental Health Trust (NHS managed sector); Pharmacists working in an integrated care board (ICB), previously CCG pharmacists.

If you fit one of the categories above, you can apply to universities listed on the NHS England website.

If you would like to know more about the GPhC’s eligibility criteria for undertaking an independent prescribing course, please visit the GPhC website.

Courses are available until the end of March 2025, with several universities offering multiple dates for cohort intakes. Start dates will depend on the university provider.