GPhC boss apologises for registration assessment booking glitches  

Duncan Rudkin, chief executive of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), has apologised to pre and provisionally registered candidates for the technical glitches in the upcoming assessment booking, which have caused chaos among the future pharmacists.

Rudkin’s apology follows issues like wrongly booking several candidates into afternoon exams and asking many others to travel distant places from their original location to get a test centre and write their exams.

“I am really sorry about the issues some candidates are experiencing with the registration assessment booking system. Making life more stressful for any candidates, particularly at this difficult time, is the last thing we want to do,” he said in a statement.

In an attempt to reduce growing anxiety among the provisional registrants, the pharmacy regulator reassured the candidates that it is working with online test centre service provider, Pearson VUE, to sort out all issues immediately.

“As well as apologising, I want to reassure candidates that we are continuing to make good progress with resolving the remaining issues with booking places for the March sittings. This is our top priority right now,” Rudkin said.

“We have worked with Pearson VUE to identify additional capacity, particularly for candidates in Scotland. We are currently working to finalise arrangements for these further places and aim to be in touch with relevant candidates very soon."

Rudkin said Pearson VUE has also been contacting candidates who had booked afternoon sitting places due to technical error and they will be reallocated to a morning sitting.

He added that Pearson VUE has booked sites for both remote and foreign students, informing those candidates to expect a confirmation email from the exam service provider.

“Pearson VUE has confirmed that places have now been booked for candidates sitting remotely because of reasonable adjustments or because they are based overseas. These candidates should receive a confirmation email from Pearson VUE about their remote sitting place,” Rudkin noted.

The GPhC has previously confirmed that the exam for UK-based candidates will take place in the morning only. The exams are scheduled to be held on March 17 and 18.