Pharmacy Qualification Adaptations 

In 2020 to mitigate the disruption to teaching, learning and assessment of Pharmacy qualifications, flexible approaches were applied specifically where: 

There are requirements to include direct observation as the main source of evidence.

The adaptations currently apply to the following qualifications: 

• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills (now closed for registrations) 
• Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Support Staff  
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills (now closed for registrations)  
• Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians 

From the 1 October 2022 these adaptations will be withdrawn by all Awarding Organisations offering Pharmacy qualifications, the assessment requirements will revert to the assessment strategy of the qualification, across the qualification’s skills-based units there must be at least three observations which cover the required skills. Evidence should be generated over a period of time to show consistent performance. 

The full Contingencies for 2021-2022 for Health Service Sciences document can be found here:

Contingencies for 2021-2022 for Health Service Sciences

Approaches when the new plan is published 

Once the new plan is published, Pearson will: 

Withdraw the qualification with Integrated Apprenticeship - Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians (integrated apprenticeship) 603/6304/6.

Learners who are registered on this will be transferred to Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in the Principles and Practice for Pharmacy Technicians 603/5160/3 but with a different internal code for learners on Apprenticeship to differentiate on reporting.

Centres need to make sure that learners are registered on the correct internal code.

The recording of the webinar – Preparing learners for the pharmacy EPAs can be found here: 

Pharmacy Webinar | Preparing learners for Pharmacy EPAs | April 2022