Program Overview

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Pharmacist Independent Prescribing (PIP) PG Cert

Key information

Delivery mode: Classroom & Online Study mode: Part time Duration: Six months, next intake September 2025 Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): 60 Application status: Open Start dates: September 2025, February 2026

Key benefits

• We are ranked 20th in the world for Pharmacy & Pharmacology (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
• Experienced clinicians including independent pharmacist and nurse prescribers and experienced academic staff lead our teaching.
• The course combines multi-professional university-based study days with flexible e-learning with work-based education.
• This course is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
• Course content and assessments will reflect the most up-to-date practice which will support you as a newly qualified pharmacist prescriber in your workplace.
• Includes patient assessment and consultation skills to support your prescribing practice.
• We are part of King's Heath Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between us, Guy's, St Thomas' and King's College Hospitals and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

Course essentials

This course aims to deliver competent pharmacist prescribers who can provide an independent and supplementary prescribing service which is safe and effective and takes into account the needs of patients, the professions and the relevant health organisations. We will:

• Meet the requirements of the GPhC indicative syllabus for pharmacist independent prescribing
• Support experienced practitioners to review and reflect on their current practice, to enable them to determine what skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to develop in order to become independent prescribers
• Enable practitioners to evolve an expertise in the art and science of prescribing This integrated multi-professional course will enable healthcare professionals to take on the role of an independent and/or supplementary prescriber. Pharmacists and nurses are taught together to facilitate multidisciplinary working. The GPhC and the NMC publish an indicative syllabus and learning outcomes which informs the curriculum. This course will enable pharmacists to take on the role of an independent and/or supplementary prescriber. Pharmacists and nurses are taught together to facilitate multidisciplinary working. The GPhC publishes an indicative syllabus and learning outcomes which informs the curriculum. The GPhC mandates a minimum of 26 days teaching and learning and a minimum of 12 (x 7.5 h) days in practice spent under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP). For cohort dates and application deadlines, please see the 'Teaching & Structure' tab.

Base campuses

• Guy’s Campus: The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
• Waterloo Campus: Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:2 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
• Programme-Specific Requirements:
  • We require you to have an MPharm or equivalent degree when applying.
  • You must currently be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
  • Applicants must have relevant experience in a UK pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber. This experience and awareness will act as the basis of their prescribing practice whilst training.
  • For the purposes of developing their independent prescribing practice applicants must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning.
  • You must have the agreement of a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) to act as your mentor to supervise your learning in practice (see Designated Prescribing Practitioner Requirements section below)
  • You will require written endorsement from your employer and/or sponsor whose patients they are going to prescribe for to indicate they have identified an area of clinical practice where independent/supplementary prescribing is required. In the acute sector, this would be the NHS hospital or private hospital that employs them. In primary care/community pharmacy this would be the employer or local commissioner of the service where independent/supplementary prescribing is required. An indication of service and patient need for a pharmacist prescriber should be indicated within the application, for example a focus on NHS or local priority or service development opportunity.
  • You will require written endorsement from your employer and/or sponsor that they have up to date clinical, pharmacological and pharmaceutical knowledge relevant to their intended prescribing area. You must be able to demonstrate reflective practice and take responsibility for your own continued professional development.

Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) Requirements

The designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) is a health professional with active prescribing competence applicable to the areas in which they will be supervising.

They should have:

• At least 3 years’ prescribing experience in the relevant field of clinical practice
• Appropriate and up-to-date patient-facing clinical and diagnostic skills
• Experience and/or training in supporting and supervising other healthcare professionals
• Experience of assessing patient-facing clinical and diagnostic skills
• The support of their employing organisation to effectively carry out the role of DPP

DPP Responsibilities

The DPP is responsible for overseeing the supervision of the trainee pharmacist independent prescriber and signing them off as a competent prescriber.

The DPP's responsibilities include:

• Support and supervise the pharmacist independent prescriber during their training in practice
• Assess the performance of pharmacist independent prescribers in training
• Provide feedback to the trainee pharmacist independent prescriber
• Attend a KCL training session (webinar) to fully understanding the programme requirements of the trainee pharmacist independent prescriber and the DPP
• Raise any concerns about the trainee pharmacist independent prescriber to the programme leaders at KCL

International applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications

English language requirements

English language band: D

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

Selection process

Your application will be assessed by two academics. Please note that applications will be reviewed after the deadline with applicants being told whether they have been successful after references have been received.

Applications must be made online using King’s online application portal apply.kcl.ac.uk.

All applicants are also required to complete an Additional Information Form after submitting their applications on King's Apply. Please ensure all sections of the additional information form have been completed in full.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

• Previous Academic Study: A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
• References: Two references are required: please refer to the Additional Information form for details of who you should use as referees and what information they will be asked to submit.
• Other: You will also need to provide evidence of being registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council or Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

Teaching methods - what to expect

• Tutorials
• Workshops

The seminars and physical assessment skills training have a different theme each week which is supported by online learning material to provide students with the underpinning knowledge base.

This is a 60 credit module, accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council, representing 600 hrs of student endeavour comprising:

• 26 days of teaching. This includes 12 study days involving attendance at either Waterloo or Guy’s campus, and flexible e-learning materials
• 90 hours of supervised practice within the clinical environment of the student
• Personal study and preparation for assessments including a reflective portfolio of practice
• Online support sessions to address student questions relating to portfolio development and physical assessments.

Typically, one credit equates to ten hours of work

A variety of teaching methods are used including tutorials, workshops, presentations and case studies. Material is also provided via the King’s e-learning and teaching service (KEATS).

Attendance

The seminars have a different theme each week which is related to the modules that are in the web based learning materials. Attendance at these seminars is compulsory and it is expected that annual leave will not be taken throughout these days.

Key Dates

Please click the relevant link in the table below to access Key Dates, for the relevant cohort that you wish to join. This document contains dates for all taught sessions, the DPP session, assessment days and online sessions.

• Application deadlines for 2025/26:
  • Cohort: September 2025
  • Deadline for applications: Wednesday 23rd July, 5pm

Assessment

• Coursework
• Exams

Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and examination. Coursework contributes approximately 70% and examinations approximately 30% to your final mark.

Assessment comprises three distinct approaches, all of which must be passed:

• A written examination comprising multiple choice and short answer questions
• An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• The presentation of a reflective practice portfolio recording the individuals learning from their minimum of 90 hours in practice. This must contain 2 patient cases, a therapeutic and risk framework as well as a range of competence related assessments. Competency is assessed using the Royal Pharmaceutical Society A Competency Framework for all Prescribers 2021.

Structure

Required modules

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totaling 60 credits. You are required to take:

• Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing (60 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

We will equip you to be a pharmacist independent prescriber and deliver services for patients in line with the demands of the changing NHS.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Part time: £4,500 per year (2025/26)

This tuition fee is subject to annual increases, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

Please note: a deposit is not required.

Please note: Current regulations allow some students to pay UK tuition fees on the basis of their EU citizenship or residency. Until these eligibility criteria are changed, the EU tuition fee will remain the same as the UK tuition fee.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

NHSE funding for prescribing training places will be open to pharmacists who work in the NHS managed sector (hospital and mental health) in London region organisations only.

Pharmacists working in other sectors of care can access independent prescribing training offers through the NHS England Workforce Training & Education Independent Prescribing offer 2024/25 here. Eligible pharmacists will need to have (as a minimum):

• The support of an identified designated prescribing practitioner (DPP).
• An appropriate practice-based learning environment in a prescribing setting that can offer appropriate clinical support.
• Commitment to use the skill within your area of competence and expertise, for the delivery of NHS clinical services as they emerge.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies, but what you need will be available in the library
• Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
• Library fees and fines
• Personal photocopies
• Printing course handouts
• Stationery
• Travel costs for travel around London, between campuses and for project placements
• Graduation costs

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.