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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has set out proposed changes to registration routes for internationally qualified pharmacists, which would halve the length of training from two years to one and embed independent prescribing in the programme.
Currently, pharmacists who have qualified overseas must undertake one year of a postgraduate diploma — the Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) — followed by a foundation year of practice, before taking the GPhC registration assessment.
However, in council papers released ahead of and due to be discussed at a meeting on 26 March 2026, the GPhC said this could be replaced with a single year of integrated academic learning and learning in practice, focused on pharmacy practice in Great Britain.
The proposed one-year programme will include the same minimum number of independent prescribing hours as required for existing free-standing post-registration independent prescribing qualifications, the council papers noted.
If approved by the GPhC council, the proposals will be put out for wider consultation for a period of 12 weeks — from April 2026 — and could be in place from 2028.
In the council papers, the GPhC added that “including independent prescribing in the revised programme is realistic and achievable”, since internationally qualified pharmacists already have pharmacist skills and experience that may include prescribing.
Commenting on the proposed changes, Colin Rodden, professional secretary for the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP), welcomed the GPhC’s move to allow internationally qualified pharmacists a route to registration on the new learning outcomes.
“We are concerned, though, about the capacity in the system to give experiential learning to these students outside of the foundation training year.”
Rodden added: “It is unclear how this would be funded (as an organisation is paid only for a foundation trainee) and how capacity will be found with undergraduate students and foundation trainees. DPP [designated prescribing practitioner] provision would also need to be delivered, where existing capacity is stretched.
“Again, it isn’t clear how this supervision time will be funded in the proposed model. This has the potential to have a significant impact on a strained system unless significant resources are provided.”
He also asked whether the new GPhC proposals would increase the provision of reciprocal arrangements, improving the situation of UK pharmacists wishing to practice overseas.
Internationally qualified pharmacists would still need to sit the registration assessment before joining the register in Great Britain, the council papers said, adding that the changes are aimed to reduce cost, time and increase flexibility.
“The current route is expensive, in both time and money. It is also inflexible, particularly for those with substantial prior experience,” the council papers said.
In February 2024, the one-year programme was originally proposed for pharmacists from countries where initial education and training is dissimilar to Great Britain — such as India, Pakistan and Nigeria — with shorter routes available to pharmacists from countries where training is more similar.
However, in August 2024, following concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion, the GPhC said the proposed one-year route would apply to all internationally qualified pharmacists qualified outside the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Association and Switzerland.
According to the council papers, around 400 students undertake the OSPAP each year, around half of whom qualified in India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Egypt. One-third of OSPAP students have been resident in Great Britain before beginning their training and may have worked in a pharmacy support staff role and have completed relevant GPhC-accredited support staff training programmes, the council papers added.
Alongside the training requirements and passing the GPhC registration assessment, pharmacists must also have the right to work in the UK.
From 26 March 2026, Home Office changes will come into force that will give asylum-seeking qualified pharmacists the right to work in the UK after a period of 12 months.
The GPhC waives application fees for applicants with refugee status and says it will “consider and talk through individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis”.
