GPhC could consider scrapping registration assessment

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has suggested it could scrap the registration exam, providing “training was at a standard that negated the need for the assessment in the future”.

GPhC council meeting papers, published on 17 February 2025, revealed that the idea was discussed at the regulator’s Quality and Performance Assurance Committee meeting, held in November 2024.

“With regards the impact on trainees of high-stakes assessments held at the end of training, more work to explore this was requested,” minutes of the November committee meeting said.

“A shift in societal thinking had moved towards consideration of whether it was acceptable or necessary to put people through these types of processes; this could also go some way to reducing the number of reasonable adjustments requested.

“A long-term objective could be set to ensure that the quality assurance of training was at a standard that negated the need for the assessment in the future,” they added.

The papers also show that the GPhC is considering delivering the registration exam calculations paper as an “on-demand paper to be taken at a time selected by the candidate”.

“This would require an expansion of the GPhC’s question bank by approximately 4,000, something that could be achieved using AI to clone questions, essentially changing the figures but keeping the calculations the same,” the minutes said.

Students currently take the calculations paper at the end of their MPharm’s fifth year, but stakeholders have given feedback that the paper could be taken earlier, according to the papers.

“A candidate who was unable to do the calculations could not become a pharmacist and it was noted that there had been some candidates that stated they had not understood the significance of the calculations until they reached their foundation year,” the papers said.

The impact of moving the assessment would need to be considered, because “the earlier the calculations assessment was held, the lower the knowledge base of those sitting the paper would be, requiring greater changes to the questions”, the papers added.

“Thought would be needed around whether candidates would still have three chances to pass and whether they should have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice before taking the exam,” they said.

The papers confirmed that no changes would be made to the registration assessment prior to 2026.

Helen Chang, head of professional development at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “We welcome the GPhC’s review of the registration assessment model. It is essential that the national assessment model leading to registration for the profession remains valid and reliable in the context of a rapidly evolving landscape of pharmacy practice, especially as pharmacists begin to register as prescribers from 2026. 

“We must ensure that any revised national assessment model is based on the contemporary assessment evidence base to uphold the highest standards of quality and safety within the profession for the benefit of the public. 

“We are also aware of concerns raised by some trainee members regarding the assessment format and its timing within the foundation training year, and it is reassuring to see that their feedback is being considered during this review process,” she added.

“We also welcome the GPhC’s consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion factors in their review, which will be crucial to ensure the assessment model is fair and accessible to all candidates, regardless of background.”

In a statement, the Pharmacy Schools Council (PhSC) said: “The GPhC has presented work around their ongoing evaluation of the registration assessment to the PhSC previous to their council meeting. This remains a live dialogue that the PhSC welcomes and will continue to actively engage in and help to inform. 

“The PhSC has noted that, in the longer term, the GPhC is considering the removal of a final registration assessment. While such a move warrants attention, significant factors remain which necessitate continued reflection and debate before such a step was taken.

“We note that notwithstanding this suggestion, ‘no changes would be made to the registration assessment prior to 2026’.”

Louise Edwards, chief strategy officer at the GPhC, said: “Our council [is] of the view that there remains the need for an independent national assessment that makes sure that pharmacists to go on the register and be fit to practise from day one, ensuring public safety, whilst also looking to develop in the future an improved and more flexible approach. We would hold a public consultation on any proposals to change the current approach to the registration assessment.

“The review of the future of the registration is a complex project and in addition to reviewing the different stages of the learner journey, also requires consideration of many of the quality assurance processes that the GPhC undertakes in its regulatory work.”

• This article was updated on 20 February 2025 to include additional comment from the General Pharmaceutical Council