Course description

• Please note, the September 2024 cohort is now full. All applications will now be considered for the March 2025 intake. Thank you for your patience.

As part of its long term plan the NHS has been developing clinical pathways that widen the remit of pharmacists, which in turn have a major positive impact on patient care - from diagnosis to prescribing. Part of this initiative involves broadening pharmacists' skills through training to become Independent Prescribers, and Health Education England (HEE) have extended funded training offers until March 2025.

At Leicester, the School of Healthcare’s accessible Pharmacist Independent Prescribing course is designed to support the pharmacy integration programme and enables pharmacists to become confident and knowledgeable non-medical prescribers. In fact, it is considered such an important part of the modern pharmacist's role that, as of 2026, all pharmacy graduates will be independent prescribers.

This programme comprises one 30 credit module. It’s designed to provide pharmacists with the knowledge and skills to prescribe within their chosen scope of practice. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing and be eligible for annotation on the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register or PSNI register as an independent prescriber.

This programme is ideal if you have work and personal commitments. It has a flexible format and is delivered using predominantly distance learning approaches, which means it is open to registered pharmacists from across England. The course comprises five virtual, interactive facilitated teaching sessions, and two face-to-face sessions delivered over a range of dates in locations across England. The course is entirely portfolio based with no OSCE style assessments.

Entry requirements

Scope of practice 1

"My intended scope of practice is the management of minor ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions in adults.

In my learning in practice setting within a GP practice I will have the opportunity to frequently encounter patients with ENT conditions as there is a minor ailments clinic daily, which is run by prescribing nurse practitioner and is supported by practice GPs as well as my DPP (Designated Prescribing Practitioner).

I have agreed with the practice team that I will have the opportunity to participate in this clinic under the supervision of a prescriber. This will allow me to develop the knowledge and skills to take a medical history and undertake any necessary clinical examinations to make a differential diagnosis. I will make prescribing recommendations or appropriate management plans to support my diagnosis."

Scope of practice 2

"My intended scope of practice is the management of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adults (excluding pregnancy).

In my learning in practice setting within an acute hospital I work in the trauma and orthopaedic department. I will have the opportunity to frequently encounter patients who have developed either Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism. These are known complications in orthopaedic wards.

My DPP is an advanced nurse practitioner who works in both the pre and post operative areas within trauma and orthopaedics.

I will be participating in preoperative assessment which will l include the completion of the VTE assessment on admission to establish patient risk prior to surgery and I will be participating in ward rounds of post operative surgical patients alongside the surgical team and advanced practitioners. I have agreed with my DPP that I will assess patients for post operative complications this will allow me to take a medical history and undertake any necessary clinical examinations and request and interpret any tests or investigations to make a differential diagnosis of VTEs. I will create a management plan for the patient and make any appropriate prescribing decisions."

"The IP course at the University of Leicester was a challenging but enjoyable journey. It made me into a significantly better and more skilled pharmacist. The staff are not only your tutors, they are just an email away to help and guide you."
Tara Pakdaman

"The course team at the University of Leicester have extensive experience in independent prescribing within pharmacy - which is massively helpful. They understand the pressures faced and have been very supportive and responsive! Thank you for all your advice."
Jay Patel

Course Enrolment

Q: The course was full for the cohort I applied for – do I have to reapply for the next cohort?

A: If the course is full, you will be offered a place in the next available cohort. Here are the steps to follow:

1. You will be automatically offered a place in the next available cohort if the current one is full.
2. You will need to confirm whether you accept the offer for the next cohort within a specified time.
3. You must have a recent signature from your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) on the declaration form. This signature confirms that your supervisory arrangements are still valid. You will be asked for this updated form closer to the processing time for the next cohort. 

You do not need to reapply for the next cohort, but timely confirmation and an updated declaration form are required to secure your place.

Q: I have completed Part 1 of the supplementary information form, and I am waiting for my DPP to return from holiday to complete part 2. Can I submit part 1 only and part 2 later?

A: To ensure your application is processed in a timely manner, please wait until both parts of the supplementary form are complete before submitting. Parts 1 and 2 must be fully completed before the application is reviewed by a course team member. Part submissions of the form will delay the processing of your application. Your place on the course will not be secure with an incomplete submission.

Selecting your scope of practice

Q: I would like to choose infections (all types) as my scope of practice, is this appropriate?

A: This is too broad as a scope of practice because you would have to demonstrate competence to diagnose and prescribe for all types of infections in order to pass the programme. This scope should be narrowed to make the workload achievable. A few examples of appropriately narrowed scope would be respiratory infections, pneumonia (community acquired and hospital acquired), skin infections and childhood infections.

Q: I would like to choose travel medicine as my scope of practice. Is this appropriate?

A: We do not recommend scopes of practice in which the diagnosis element is limited, and breadth of different treatment options is narrow. This is because it is challenging for the trainee prescriber to demonstrate competence in all prescribing learning outcomes across a diverse range of medicines. Examples of other scopes of practice that may be challenging include contraception, childhood immunisations and aesthetic medicine. 

However, in most cases your application will not be rejected based on the scope of practice you have chosen as you will have an opportunity to refine or change your scope when you start the course after discussion with the course team. Your chosen scope must however align with the expertise of your DPP (if they are not a doctor) e.g., Diabetes IP (Independent Prescribing) pharmacist DPP would supervise a trainee with a chosen scope of diabetes. 

Proposing a suitable DPP and Learning in practice setting

Q: My DPP is 2.5 hours away from where I am based – will this be a problem?

A: In the section titled 'Learning in practice setting and Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP)' please outline your plan for completing the 90 hours. Travel must be considered, as this plays a significant role in determining whether your hours are achievable. We need to see that you have thoughtfully considered the logistics of spending your time in practice. 

Q: My DPP is already supervising two other trainees for IP. Can they be my DPP?

A: The course requirements are that any DPP only supervise a maximum of you and one other trainee. Therefore, you would need to find another DPP who is not already supervising two others. This is applicable even if the other trainees are completing courses at other universities. 

Q: My learning in practice setting is a community pharmacy - is this okay?

A: If the learning-in-practice setting is listed as a community pharmacy, you would need to ensure that you provide sufficient information in the supplementary form e.g. detailing whether this is a clinic your DPP runs, if this is a pathfinder site, and if you will have access to methods to request and review biochemistry results for differential diagnosis and monitoring of therapy, as well as referral pathways. These are essential for fulfilling the course learning outcomes. 

Q: If my current DPP was no longer able to be my DPP before I hear back from the university, would this affect my application if I managed to find someone else to be my DPP?

A: You must inform the admissions team if there are any changes to your circumstances, including changes to your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP). Such changes must be reviewed and approved by the course team. Please ensure to communicate any updates promptly to avoid potential delays or complications with your application process.

Q: I have found a DPP who is a dentist but she is situated next to a GP surgery so I will be able to spend a significant amount of time with GPs and nurses observing and practicing my intended scope of ENT – is this OK?

A: The DPP must have relevant expertise to sign off on all aspects of your scope of practice, including case-base discussions, clinical case studies, and clinical examinations relevant to the scope of practice. It is essential to ensure that your DPP has the necessary expertise in ENT or a related field to effectively support and sign off your training activities. Dentists would not be well placed to fulfil these requirements adequately.

Funding

Q: I am a community pharmacist practicing in Scotland – can I claim HEE funding?

A: HEE funding is only available for those who work in England via the Community pharmacists, pharmacists in GP and health and justice pharmacist's pathway. More information can be found here.

Q: I am a GP practice pharmacist living in Wales and working in England – can I claim HEE funding?

A: You can claim HEE funding if you are working in England and not eligible for CPPE Primary Care Pharmacy Education Pathway and not employed in ARRS role within the GP practice. 

Q: I am not eligible for HEE funding – can I still do the course?

A: Yes, you can still enrol on the course, but the course fees would need to be paid by you or your sponsoring employer.

Q: I have received a funding request from the university for the course fee, but I am eligible for Health Education England (HEE) funding. What do I do?

A: Upon accepting an offer, as part of the application process, you will receive automated fee request communications. If you are eligible for HEE funding and have clearly stated this in your application, please ignore this fee request. The course will claim HEE fees on your behalf, so no action is required from you regarding the fee. If you are unsure about the fee status, please contact the Admissions team for clarification.

Course considerations

Q: Can I start shadowing my DPP before the start of the course?

A: All 90 hours in practice must occur after the course starts. We would recommend not starting your hours until after your induction day. It is beneficial to plan and coordinate with your Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) regarding the timing of these hours. All hours must be completed before the final course portfolio deadline. 

Q: I am on holiday for the whole of one of the study day periods – is this, ok?

A: All study days must be attended to complete the course. If you are unable to attend one of the allocated study days due to being on holiday or for any other reason you will be offered an alternate day for that study day. For online study days, you have the option to join remotely from anywhere. 

Q: How long are the study days?

A: All study days run from 9.15am to 4.00pm. 

Q: What is involved in the study days?

A: The study days involve both face-to-face sessions and webinars:

1. Webinar Study Days:

• Details of topics covered in the online study days can be found on the website under ‘study days.
• The mode of learning is interactive, and group based.
• Trainees will be required to complete pre-study day activities before attending the webinar sessions and face-to-face sessions. 

2. Face-to-face Study Days:

• On the first study day, trainees will be introduced to basic observations such as Manual BP and NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2) scoring (and potentially ENT (ears nose and throat) examination, subject to change in 2025). They will have the opportunity to practice these skills using equipment (will be provided by the course) on each other.
• On the second face-to-face study day, trainees will be assessed and signed off on skills learned during the first study day.

Q: What types of exams are required to complete the course?

A: The course is portfolio-based and includes several types of assessment and work-based assessment tools, that form part of a final portfolio, such as:

1. Personal Development planning: Identifying the skills and knowledge required to be able to prescribe in your clinical setting and chosen scope. 
2. Case-Based Discussions: In-depth discussions about clinical cases to demonstrate understanding and decision-making skills.
3. Clinical Case Studies: Detailed write-ups of clinical cases to highlight diagnostic and clinical management planning abilities.
4. Reflections: Personal reflections on learning experiences and clinical practice that align with the GPhC Learning outcomes.
5. Consultation skills: An assessment of your ability to conduct consultations in practice and remotely.
6. Examination Skills Sign-Off: Practical assessment of examination skills in practice and during a face-to-face study day.

All these elements are compiled into your portfolio, which is reviewed to ensure you have met the course requirements. There are no OSCEs or exams associated with this course.