New standards approved for the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians

At its 16 July meeting, the GPhC Council approved new standards for the initial education and training of pharmacy technicians and agreed proposed actions to take to support their implementation.

In reaching its decision, the Council carefully considered the detailed analysis of the 880 responses that the GPhC received to the consultation from individuals and organisations across Great Britain.

Commenting on the Council’s decision, Gisela Abbam, Chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:

“We are grateful for the wide range of views shared during the consultation. The feedback reinforced the strong case for updating our initial education and training standards for pharmacy technicians, which are now more than 10 years old. The role of pharmacy technicians has changed significantly over that time and continues to evolve, with growing responsibilities and increasing professional autonomy across healthcare settings.

“To make sure pharmacy technicians are prepared for these expanding roles and can continue to provide safe and effective care for patients, the Council has agreed that the minimum level of study should be increased from RQF Level 3 (SCQF Level 6) to Level 4 (SCQF Level 7). This is an important step in ensuring that newly qualified pharmacy technicians have the knowledge, skills and judgement to prepare them for key developments in practice. 

“These developments include the introduction of PGDs to allow pharmacy technicians to administer and supply certain medicines; and forthcoming legislation to enable them to take responsibility for dispensing and supplying medicines without supervision by a pharmacist.  

“We recognise that implementing these changes will bring challenges for some employers and education providers, including considerations around workforce supply, training capacity and costs. We have listened carefully to the concerns raised through the consultation and will work closely with stakeholders as the changes are introduced. However, we are clear that raising the level of study is necessary to support the future development of the profession and, most importantly, to maintain patient safety and public confidence in pharmacy services.”

Kathie Cashell, Chief Executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council, said:

“In response to the concerns raised about the potential impact of raising the level, Council has agreed that implementation should be phased over a longer period to allow sufficient time for employers, education providers and other stakeholders to prepare for the changes. While new education and training programmes are expected to begin operating from 2028, full implementation will not be before autumn 2029.

“We have also established an implementation advisory group, bringing together representatives from across the pharmacy sector, including organisations that raised concerns during the consultation. The group will help shape the detailed implementation plans, identify and address practical challenges for implementation, and support a consistent and sustainable approach across Great Britain.

“This change will apply only to those training in the future. We are not planning any new requirements for pharmacy technicians who are already registered, pre-registration trainee pharmacy technicians or those due to start their training. We know that registered pharmacy technicians have developed their skills and knowledge through post-registration experience and training. This approach will continue for new registrants while we implement these changes and ensure that all pharmacy technicians have these skills at the point of registration.”

The updated standards include several other key changes, including:

• Final accuracy checking as a core competency: All trainee pharmacy technicians will be required to demonstrate competence in final accuracy checking before registration, enabling them to undertake this responsibility from day one of practice.
• New entry requirements: Prospective pharmacy technicians will need a minimum Level 2 science qualification (or equivalent) alongside existing English language and numeracy requirements, reflecting the scientific foundations of training.
• More flexible supervised practice: While retaining the current minimum two-year training period, the standards introduce greater flexibility in how supervised workplace learning is completed, helping employers and training providers adapt to different learning environments.

The updated standards will be published in the coming weeks, and the GPhC will now take forward actions to support the implementation of the standards. These actions include supporting the development of apprenticeships for pharmacy technicians incorporating the new standards and learning outcomes.

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