Alamy.com
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said it agrees with proposals to raise the minimum qualification level for pharmacy technicians.
In response to a consultation on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) proposals, published in December 2025, the RPS said that the changes would help to “future-proof” the profession.
Under the proposed changes, the required training level in England and Wales would be raised from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 to level 4, while in Scotland, it would increase from Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 6 to level 7.
In consultation documents, published in October 2025, the GPhC said the changes are needed to meet the increasing demands of the pharmacy technician profession.
The RPS’s consultation response added: “Pharmacy technicians are taking on more complex responsibilities, including those enabled by recent legislative changes such as patient group directions and pharmacy supervision.
“A more consistent baseline of education will ensure pharmacy technicians are prepared for these expanded roles supporting safe, effective care.”
The RPS said the proposals would promote consistency across Great Britain, as well as enhance public and professional confidence in the pharmacy technician role.
However, it also warned that there could be consequences for employers around increased costs for the education and training of support staff to meet the new requirements. Smaller employers and community pharmacies would be disproportionately impacted by increased wages that may follow an increase in education level and skillset, it added.
The RPS said that any impact would be felt more acutely in England, as in Wales and Scotland pharmacy technician courses already provide a level of education equivalent to RFQ level 4.
According to its response, the RPS was also supportive of proposals to include final accuracy checking in initial education and training but asks for “careful consideration” to be given to ensure that trainees from all sectors — including primary care — are able to gain the necessary experience around dispensing.
In a position statement, published on 19 December 2025, Phil Jones, director of education at the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK), said that the APTUK supported the proposal to raise the training level.
“Members consistently highlighted that this change would enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills, better reflect the complexity of modern roles that increasingly involve clinical services and leadership responsibilities, and align with NHS workforce priorities while reducing variability across the UK,” he added.
“However, members also expressed concerns about the financial implications for employers, particularly in relation to pay banding disparities, and the potential risks to recruitment and retention if remuneration does not adequately reflect the higher qualification level.”
According to the Company Chemists’ Association’s response to the consultation, published on 18 December 2025, the body expressed concern around training costs, saying that there was “limited need for level 4 skills within core community pharmacy technician roles”.
The GPhC consultation closed on 24 December 2025.
