Pharmacy technicians 'need to be aware of new registration legislation'
Friday 30th July 2010
There is a little under a year until it becomes mandatory for all pharmacy technicians working in the UK to register with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).
From July 1st 2011, all pharmacy technicians will need to be registered with the organisation in order to continue to work in the profession.
Currently, pharmacy technicians must register with the RPSGB, but once the transition period comes to an end, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) will become responsible for the register.
Anyone who registers ahead of July 2011 will be automatically transferred from the RPSGB list on to the register held by the GPhC.
The process of setting up a register began back in 2005, when the RPSGB set up its voluntary registration scheme.
Pharmacy technicians could sign up to the register of their own accord, however, in 2009, legislation was passed to make registration compulsory.
Under the Healthcare and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments and Practitioner Psychologists) Order 2009, appearing on the Register of Pharmacy Technicians will become a legal requirement for those wishing to work as pharmacy technicians.
For many in the profession, this is a positive step because it protects the title registered pharmacy technician and means that only people who have undertaken the relevant training will be able to practice in this role.
While the sentiment behind the legislation strikes a chord with many working in pharmacies around the UK, there are many things that pharmacy technicians need to do before July 1st 2011 when registration becomes mandatory.
Professionals working in this field are able to apply for the register now and the RPSGB is strongly advising people to do so for several reasons.
The most pressing reason for pharmacy technicians to complete their registration with the RPSGB before July next year is because entry requirements for the register are expected to change once it becomes law.
By registering during the voluntary period, pharmacy technicians have several routes open to them and can be on the books of the RPSGB with a wide range of different qualifications in their field.
Once registration becomes mandatory, however, the number of pharmacy technician qualifications that the society accepts will be reduced.
Currently, pharmacy technicians with UK qualifications can apply for the register in two ways.
To be successful through route a or route b, pharmacy technicians must hold a relevant UK qualification – these include an NVQ to level three in pharmacy services, a BTEC National certificate in a subject such as pharmaceutical science or pharmacy services or a City & Guilds of London Institute dispensing technicians certificate. A full list of accepted qualifications is available on the RPSGB website.
Pharmacy technicians must also have the required amount of work experience. For route a, this means either a minimum of 14 hours per week for four out of the last eight years or a minimum of 28 hours per week for two out of the last four years.
Route b is a more flexible option when it comes to work experience criteria, as the candidate must have at least two years of relevant experience and, during that time, have worked at least 14 hours per week.
Work experience carried out during a pharmacy technician course can be counted towards the registration criteria.
Different rules apply for EEA and non-EEA applicants, who must supply proof of their pharmacy technician qualifications, as well as undertake relevant work experience for the required amount of time.
When the new legislation was announced in 2009, Janet Flint, head of support staff regulation at the RPSGB, welcomed the changes.
"Pharmacy technicians now have the status of belonging to a health profession recognised in statute. It also means they can practise as a pharmacy technician and to use that formal title, anywhere in Great Britain," she said.
Those who have not yet registered with the RPSGB are being urged to do so before the July 1st 2011 deadline.
Once the transitional period ends, anyone who has not registered with the society will no longer be able to work in pharmacy technician jobs in the UK.
However, the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) recently called on those working in the profession to register before September 27th 2010.
APTUK told its members that after this date, GPhC is likely to introduce new rules regarding a counter signatory for qualifications.
The organisation explained that currently, a pharmacist can countersign copies of the required documents, however, after the end of September those wishing to register with the RPSGB may need to enlist the services of a solicitor to countersign documents.
In addition to the rules surrounding registration, there will be other changes that pharmacy technicians need to be aware of.
These are expected to include a statutory requirement to carry out continuing professional development, as well as a new set of standards relating to the training and education of pharmacy technicians.
Written by Martin Lambert
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