GPhC urged to set an exact date for pre-registration assessment to be held next year

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society on Thursday (Oct 1) urged GPhC to to set an exact date to provide certainty for those sitting their pharmacy pre-registration assessment next year.

The General Pharmaceutical Council said last week that the exam will take place in the first quarter of 2021 and have assured those involved that the exam will not happen in the first two weeks of January.

Commenting on the GPhC’s update, Gail Fleming, RPS director of education, said: “At least we now know that the assessment will take place in the first quarter of 2021 and will not take place in the first two weeks of January, but we urge the GPhC to act quickly to set an exact date to provide certainty to those who will be sitting the exam.

“In addition information about the format of the assessment including resources and the arrangements for reasonable adjustments is urgently needed to alleviate the ongoing concerns of many trainees.

“We are aware of the extremely challenging circumstances that trainees find themselves in; many are unable to secure employment as provisional registrants leading to financial hardship or in the case of overseas trainees, visas may run out before they are able to sit the exam.

“We need to look after our future professional workforce and these issues must be addressed. Regular, transparent and detailed communication is essential and we would ask the GPhC to provide more frequent updates. However, we also need to see more practical support made available.”

Latest update from the GPhC has confirmed that it has identified a preferred supplier for the online registration assessment and it is currently in contractual discussions with them.

“We will now work with the supplier to identify an exact date for the next registration assessment and the detailed arrangements for the sitting, including how and when to start the application process, adjustment arrangements and the assessment specification. We will give you more information about progress in our October update.”