Results for GPhC registration assessment announced

More than 1,000 candidates sat the registration assessment on 2 November, 700 of them passed   

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has published the results of the common registration assessment for aspiring pharmacists held on 2 November, 2023.

An overall pass rate of 66 per cent was recorded this year, as compared to 56 per cent in 2022 and 61 per cent in 2021.

A total of 1,067 candidates took the registration assessment, held jointly by the GPhC and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI), of which 700 candidates cleared the assessment

In 2022, 937 candidates sat the registration assessment of which 525 passed the assessment.

Commenting on the results, GPhC Director of Education and Standards, Mark Voce, said: “I would like to congratulate all those who passed the November registration assessment and I look forward to them joining our register to continue to the next stage of their career.

“There will be candidates who unfortunately did not pass the assessment. If this is the case, the information on our website outlines all the possible options of what to do next.

“There is also advice available from the independent charity, Pharmacist Support, who can offer help with wellbeing and mental health, as well as practical support.

“For those who passed the registration assessment, I would like to wish them every success for the future,” he added.

Nearly half of the candidates (500) were first time sitters, while 457 were second time sitters, and 85 were third time sitters.

Candidates who passed the assessment include 303 first time sitters, 329 second time sitters, and 50 third time sitters.

The registration assessment papers are set by the Board of Assessors, an appointed body of pharmacists and assessment experts, according to the GPhC.

It assesses pharmacy graduates’ knowledge and skills to ensure safe and effective practice as pharmacists.