Key Summary
- RCPharm launched From Qualified to Confident to guide newly qualified pharmacists.
- Coming in September 2026, a national credentialing pathway and e-portfolio will help new prescribers build confidence and skills.
- Updated resources on RCPharm Learn will help community pharmacists deliver expanded clinical services like Pharmacy First and PIPS.
The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has announced a suite of education, credentialing, and professional support initiatives designed to strengthen its learning offer for pharmacists at every stage of their career across Great Britain.
Launch on 24 July, From Qualified to Confident provides cross-sector support and education for newly qualified pharmacists.
Developed alongside pharmacy leaders across the country, the hub complements employer-led training and NHS provision in England, Scotland, and Wales, offering consistent guidance across primary, secondary, and community settings.
In September 2026, the College will launch its Enhanced Curriculum and Credentialing Pathway, a national framework designed to take newly qualified pharmacist prescribers from initial registration to confident clinical prescribers.
The pathway includes a new e-portfolio to capture evidence of practice, feedback, and supervision. Access to the pathway and curriculum will not require RCPharm membership.
Louise Goldring, Director of Education at RCPharm, emphasised that the initiatives reflect the evolving nature of modern pharmacy careers:
"Pharmacists will increasingly have a career that spans multiple sectors and settings of practice, and we are committed to developing the support, learning, and assurance mechanisms that respond to the realities of modern pharmacy practice."
"The College is building on the foundations already in place and embarking on an ambitious educational future... working with pharmacy and education stakeholders and listening to the needs of our members and the wider pharmacy community to ensure our education supports pharmacists across their whole professional journey."
Goldring added that the College will continue introducing support that helps pharmacists deliver clinical excellence for patients.
To support expanding clinical roles in community settings, RCPharm has updated resources on its learning platform, RCPharm Learn.
The platform offers clinical learning and practical skill development-including consultation skills, clinical assessments, and remote consultations-tailored for pharmacists delivering Pharmacy First in England and Scotland, as well as the Pharmacy Independent Prescribing Service in Wales.
President of the Royal College of Pharmacy, Tase Oputu said: “The announcement of these ambitious plans to support newly qualified pharmacists, including the forthcoming launch of our enhanced curriculum and credentialing pathway, and our continued work to support pharmacists in community settings, really sets the pace for the College over the coming months as we move towards our goal of providing lifelong learning that prepares, supports and enables pharmacists achieve to excellence in practice and success in any role.
“As we develop our long-term strategy, our focus on education, credentialing and enabling excellence in practice will continue to provide career-defining education that enables pharmacists, particularly our members, to excel in practice, grow their skills and deliver for patients and the public wherever they choose to practice.”
