Prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary Programme (V150) - 20 credits
Program start date | Application deadline |
2025-11-01 | - |
Program Overview
Prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary Programme (V150) - 20 credits - Module
Overview
This course will prepare you to prescribe safely and competently from the Nurse Prescribers’ Formulary for Community Practitioners to facilitate meeting the needs of your clients/patients and carers with whom you work. Successful completion of this course provides eligibility to apply for annotation against an entry on the NMC register as a nurse or midwife prescriber.
What's covered in this course?
Our evidence-based curriculum will empower you to develop and maintain high quality, safe and effective interdisciplinary provision prescribing. The course learning outcomes are written to ensure that they are applied to adult, mental health, learning disabilities, children’s nursing, midwifery and also SCPHN/DN. We use technology to enhance your learning through lectures, seminars, skills, simulation and virtual learning. Engagement of practice partners and service users in all areas of learning, teaching and assessment is integral to our approach.
Key aspects of the course are the practice assessment document including the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Competency Framework for all Prescribers; personal development planning; reflective practice; and pharmacology examination. In line with PSRB requirements, there will be a written pharmacology examination with a pass mark of 80% and a numeracy assessment with a pass mark of 100%.
The course is available to practitioners working in both the NHS and Independent sector. You must meet NMC entry criteria alongside any specific entry requirements set by your employer. Nurses and midwives must register the award with the NMC within five years of successfully completing the course. If you fail to do this, you will have to retake and successfully complete the course in order to qualify and register your award as a prescriber.
Why Choose Us?
- NMC approved programme
- One of the largest providers of prescribing programmes within the region
- Multi-professional learning opportunities
- Excellent working partnerships with many health care providers across the region
- Consistently well evaluated programme via student feedback
- High rate of student achievement
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
- Award: Module
- Starting: Nov 2025
- Pathway: Level 6
- Mode: Short Course
- Duration: 1 day a week over 7 weeks
- Fees: TBC
- Award: Module
- Starting: Nov 2025
- Pathway: Level 7
- Mode: Short Course
- Duration: 1 day a week over 7 weeks
- Fees: £995 in 2025/26
International students
Sorry, this course is not available to International students.
Entry requirements
The course is available to first level registered nurses working in both the NHS and independent sector who do not hold a specialist practitioner qualification. All applicants must meet Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards and those working within the NHS must have the written support from their Trust. A current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required and without this there may be a delay in commencement of educationally-led practice.
Module fees
£950 per 20 credits
How to apply
You will need to apply using the regional application form which is obtainable from the trust NMP lead or contact programme lead for more information.
Course in Depth
Level 6
Prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary 20 credits
The course has been designed to comply with the Realising professionalism: Standards for education and training publications; Part 1: Standards framework for nursing and midwifery education; Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment; Part 3: Standards for prescribing programmes (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2018). Successful completion of this course provides eligibility to apply for annotation against an entry on the NMC register as a nurse or midwife prescriber.
Cost: £950 per 20 credits
Level 7
Prescribing from the Community Practitioner Formulary 20 credits
The course has been designed to comply with the Realising professionalism: Standards for education and training publications; Part 1: Standards framework for nursing and midwifery education; Part 2: Standards for student supervision and assessment; Part 3: Standards for prescribing programmes (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2018). Successful completion of this course provides eligibility to apply for annotation against an entry on the NMC register as a nurse or midwife prescriber.
Cost: £950 per 20 credits
Course structure
The course will be taught over 6 days using a variety of teaching methods, sessions will take place 1 day per week (usually Monday) via MS Teams.
The equivalent of 10 days educationally led practice in own area of work.
Assessment
Assessments are set by the NMC as follows:
- Practice Assessment Document assessment is recorded a Pass/Fail. Passing this assures us that you have met The Prescribing Competency Framework for all prescribers (RPS, 2021).
- Numeracy is recorded as Pass/Fail. The numeracy assessment pass mark is 100%.
- Pharmacology exam is recorded as Pass/Fail. The pass mark is 80%.
- In-person assessment which will be graded according to University regulations (this will give the overall mark for the module).
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
Our Nursing and Midwifery courses are based at our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.
We’ve spent £41million expanding our facilities at City South. These facilities offer hands-on practical experience, replicating the spaces you will come across in professional practice.
In a sector where new techniques are constantly being discovered, we work hard to ensure that you learn using the most up-to-date equipment available. Alongside physical spaces such as a mock operating theatre and wards, we also make use of online and virtual technology, such as our virtual ward and virtual case creator.
Centre for Skills and Simulation
The Centre for Skills and Simulation offers a range of different spaces which replicate situations that you will encounter in practice. These include hospital wards, an operating theatre and a home environment room.
Our mock wards enable you to get a feel of what a ward is really like before you head out for your first placement. The hospital wards can be adapted from low care to high dependency care environment with the necessary monitoring equipment.
The home environment room is the perfect space for teaching communications skills and allows us to simulate a community setting for our students. It is particularly useful for mental health nurses, learning disability nurses and midwives.
Simulation Manikins
We have several Simulation men (SIM men) and simulation babies (SIM babies) which are anatomically correct manikins used for teaching specific techniques such as advanced adult and paediatric life support skills, acute and high dependency clinical skills, first aid and communication skills. The manikins contain software which replicates real symptoms, and can manipulate indicators such as blood pressure, pulse and heart rate for extra realism. SIM man can even ‘talk’ to the students as they are treating him, to add another dimension to learning.
Computer Facilities
The Seacole building has two open-access IT Suites which offer PCs, printers, photocopiers and scanners. There is also an IT Helpdesk for quick and easy help with your computing or internet issues.
Our PCs utilise the latest Intel i5 core technology, all with:
- Fast (unrestricted) internet connectivity
- Ability to save files to USB, DVD & CD
- Microsoft Office software
- Research and statistical software
- Storage space which can be accessed from any PC across the University and from home
Our PCs are also designed to support students who may have difficulties with reading and writing, featuring specialised software with zooming/magnification and screen reading capabilities, which may also be customised for individual student needs.
In addition to desktop PCs, we also offer a laptop loan facility, allowing students to borrow a laptop for up to six hours while on campus.
Our staff
Rachel Hogan
Senior Lecturer
Rachel qualified as an Adult Nurse from BCU in 2003, post qualifying she spent some time in the acute setting within Trauma and Orthopaedics and Critical Care. As a student, Rachel fell in love with community nursing and moved into that setting in 2006. She spent the next 10 years working within community nursing undertaking further qualifications...
Sophie Moran
Course Lead for Non-Medical Prescribing
Sophie is the Course Lead for Non-Medical Prescribing at BCU and an external examiner at Nottingham Trent University. Sophie joined BCU in July 2021.
Birmingham City University
Overview:
Birmingham City University (BCU) is a large and diverse university located in the heart of Birmingham, England. It boasts over 31,000 students from over 100 countries, emphasizing practice-based learning.
Services Offered:
BCU offers a wide range of services to its students, including:
Accommodation:
Seven halls of residence with various on-campus and inner-city living options.Financial Support:
Scholarships and financial aid programs to help students fund their education.Career Services:
Support for graduate employment, self-employment, volunteering, mentoring, and graduate events and training.Learning Support:
Resources and assistance for students with learning difficulties.Library Services:
Access to the university library for alumni and students.Student Union (BCUSU):
A student-led organization providing representation, activities, and support.Student Life and Campus Experience:
BCU offers a vibrant student life with numerous opportunities to explore:
Life in Birmingham:
The university provides information and resources for students to navigate life in the city.Campus Facilities:
Access to industry-standard facilities, innovative learning spaces, and social spots.Virtual Tours:
Immersive 360-degree tours of the campuses to experience student life virtually.BCU Boost:
A financial support package designed to simplify student life, including travel incentives, financial management tips, and discounts.Key Reasons to Study There:
Practice-based Learning:
BCU focuses on practical skills development and real-world application of knowledge.International Opportunities:
The university offers international study opportunities and a diverse student body.Employability Focus:
BCU emphasizes career readiness and provides resources to help students find employment.Gold for Student Experience:
BCU has received the highest possible rating for student experience in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).Academic Programs:
BCU offers a wide range of academic programs across various faculties: