Independent Prescribing

Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists (Level 7) - 45 credits

Independent Prescribing (IP) is becoming an essential skill for pharmacists, to enhance their existing role or to act as a catalyst for role change. Our dedicated IP Team continues to develop the curriculum to ensure you meet the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) learning outcomes and are appropriately prepared for your future prescribing practice.

Month of entry

September and February

Mode of study

Part time

Location

Keele University campus

Subject area

Pharmacy

Fees for 2023/24 academic year

UK - Part time £2,950

Duration of study

6 months

Apply now

Why study Independent Prescribing for Pharmacists (Level 7) - 45 credits at Keele University?

1st in the UK to receive accreditation by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Learn from tutors who are qualified prescribers

Our programme is approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council

The distance learning format of the course enables you to study where and when it is most convenient

insert-a start insert-a end

insert-b start insert-b end

Entry requirements

Only pharmacists with 2 years post-registration experience in a UK pharmacy setting are eligible to apply for a place on this course.

The entrance requirements are stipulated by the GPhC and the University. All entrants to the Keele University Independent Prescribing Preparatory Course must meet the following requirements:

Current registration with GPhC &/or PSNI as a practising pharmacist and be of good standing with their Regulatory Body
Have at least two years appropriate patient orientated experience practising in a hospital, community or primary care setting following their pre-registration year;
Identify an area of clinical practice and need in which to develop their prescribing skills;
Have up-to-date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to their intended area of prescribing practice;
Able to provide written endorsement from an appropriate Designated Prescribing Practitioner - (DPP) that s/he will supervise the 'learning in practice' element of the Course, in the clinical area in which the pharmacist intends to prescribe independently immediately on qualification.

Please note, places on each cohort are limited to 60 and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to completed applications submitted. If all places are allocated, successful applicants will be offered the next available cohort.

The following resources will support you in your role as a DPP.

IT Literacy Recommendations

If you are competent to carry out the activities listed below then you should have no significant issues with the level of IT skills required for the Independent Prescribing course.

Sending and receiving emails
Working with Microsoft Word™
Downloading and uploading documents
Using the internet to search and navigate websites
Scanning, or using your smartphone camera, to digitalise documents
Participating in online discussion groups

You will also need to have access to a stable internet connection for most of the aspects of the course.

It will be helpful if you are familiar with using software such as the free Microsoft Teams™ application, but be reassured that there will be a demonstration of how to use Teams™ for the Independent Prescribing course on Study Day 1.

Next Steps

insert-c start insert-c end

insert-d start insert-d end

insert-e start insert-e end

insert-f start

Keele Postgraduate Association

Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

KPA interior

Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

insert-f end

Our expertise

Your learning will be supported by our experienced team of course managers, tutors and administrators. Our study days are also supported by a team of specialist IP’s and medics whose expertise will ensure you the best start in your prescribing career. More information about members of the team can be found in the staff biographies.

The Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning, part of the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering at Keele University, has a reputation for online distance learning programmes tailored to the needs of pharmacists, general practitioners, nurses and other members of the health care team. Our high-quality learning materials have been developed and updated with our extensive network of current multidisciplinary clinical practitioners and includes clinical skills training to help prepare prescribers for a wide range of current and developing prescribing roles.

We are very proud that The Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning in the School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering was the first education provider in the UK to have its course for preparing pharmacists as supplementary prescribers accredited by the RPSGB in June 2003. We were also among the first to provide an Independent Prescribing (IP) Conversion Course and our UK leading programme trained the first Pharmacist IP graduate in the UK in 2007. Pharmacist Independent Prescribers have graduated with us since and we are now accredited to use the Designated Prescribing Practitioner role.

Next Steps

insert-g start insert-g end

insert-h start insert-h end

Visit us Enquire about this course Programme specifications

Book to visit us