Pharmacist Prescribing Scope of Practice Training Program

No RPL is available at the moment. Students who complete the full clinical or prescribing training program with another provider may complete the other program with PSA.

PTP: Learners must hold current registration as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacists who hold provisional registration may be eligible to enrol.

Clinical Practice Training Program: Yes, interns can enrol.

Pharmacist Prescribing Scope of Practice Training Program: Learners must hold current registration as a pharmacist in Australia. Pharmacists who hold provisional registration may be eligible to enrol.

Learners can complete both courses simultaneously, understanding of the prescribing cycle from completion of the prescribing training program may help with the final assessment in the clinical practice training program.  Completing both courses simultaneously may be a preferred option as there is, initially, a staggered release of content across both courses.

Yes. However, there is a face-to-face workshop component in Brisbane, and the Queensland training subsidy would not apply.

PSA has applied to ASQA for a Graduate Certificate of Pharmacist Prescribing. However, the application is currently being processed (as of 21.3.25).  If successful, completion of the prescribing training program will contribute to a graduate certificate.

Learners must complete a self-assessment against the NPS Prescribing Competency Framework, then develop a learning plan with the prescriber mentor.  The learner must complete a minimum of six case studies, demonstrating prescribing practice. These are to be reviewed and reflected on with a prescriber mentor.   They are then submitted to PSA.  The prescriber mentor must be an AHPRA-registered healthcare professional, authorised to prescribe medicines, with a minimum of 12 months independent prescribing experience, and practice within the same scope of practice as the learner.

The Australasian College of Pharmacy (ACP) is managing the subsidy. Upon approval of enrolment into the PSA course, the ACP require you to apply for the subsidy and provide evidence of the course enrolment and proof of payment (e.g. invoice).  The subsidy is available until the committed funds are fully allocated and only to students who successfully complete the approved course or courses within 18 months of enrolment. Students will be liable to repay the subsidy should they decide to discontinue their enrolment or do not successfully complete the course or courses.

No instalment plan is available for these courses due to the subsidy being offered by the Government.

A tax invoice as proof of payment and confirmation of your enrolment into the course. This needs to the submitted to the Australasian College of Pharmacy – Queensland

Now! Both courses are currently live and taking enrolments.

The prescribing training program is all completed online.  The clinical practice training program requires you to attend a 3-day face to face practical skills workshop and one day face-to-face OSCE. The OSCE and practical skills workshop are completed at least two weeks apart from each other.

Yes, pharmacists who have completed the PSA Sexual and Reproductive Health training can apply for credit for the hormonal contraception section of the scope of practice training program.

No, there are no additional requirements for CPD for pharmacist prescribers.  PSA recommends planning your CPD in line with your scope of practice, which may include topics related to prescribing competencies.

Yes, the prescribing course is suitable for all areas of practice.  Eligibility for Queensland Health subsidies may need to be considered.

No. If Deadly Pharmacist training has previously been completed, then a learner would only need to submit evidence they have completed the course.

You can enrol and complete the PSA clinical training while completing the prescribing component with another provider.

The prescriber mentor must be an AHPRA-registered healthcare professional, authorised to prescribe medicines, with a minimum of 12 months independent prescribing experience and be practising within the same scope of practice as the learner.  Due to the new and evolving role of pharmacist prescribing, pharmacists would not currently meet the requirements to be a prescriber mentor.  A suitable mentor may include a GP or a nurse practitioner working in the same scope of practice as a learner.

Not currently. However, PSA has an application with ASQA for a Graduate Certificate qualification.  PSA will keep applicants up to date with any developments.

The face-to-face OSCE in the Clinical Practice Training Program will be scheduled.  Learners will be given advanced notice of these dates.  The OSCE in the Prescribing Training Program will be delivered online, with learners given notice of available dates and times in advance.

The training is available to pharmacists regardless of their practice setting.  Subsidies may only be available to learners in specific practice settings.

Entry to the Pharmacist Prescribing Scope of Practice Training Program and the Prescribing Training Program is restricted to pharmacists who hold general registration with AHPRA.  Learners who hold provisional registration can enrol in the Clinical Practice Training Program.  There is a face-to-face component for this course.

The online modules vary in length but would take approximately five hours each to complete. The online tutorials are 2 to 2.5 hours each. The AI case scenario is 30 minutes interaction time and then time to complete and submit documentation.

Yes. The Qld subsidy deadline has been extended beyond 31^st March. However, there is a limited amount available.

PSA welcomes learners from across Australia. In order to access a subsidy for the training this will depend on your State or Territory health department requirements.

Under the current model for prescribing S4 medicines, these medicines are not able to be prescribed under PBS pricing – they would be prescribed as a private prescription.

Yes. Learners can completed the training in any order, or simultaneously.

Yes. PSA believes the training will benefit learners in all practice settings.  Learners should be aware that eligibility to government subsidies may vary.

It’s recommended to complete the course with your current provider. If enrolling into the PSA course from another provider, you will need to complete the entire PSA course.

Yes. We are able to recognise courses you have completed with PSA that are included in the Clinical Practice Training Program – this includes Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Absolutely.  Just like immunisations, PSA believes that prescribing should be setting-agnostic.  As we’ve seen with immunisation and administering medicines, this can now be done in many other settings like aged care, hospitals and general practice.  This was a direct result of PSA advocacy and we believe prescribing will follow the same path.

Enrol now!  Learners in the Clinical practice training program must hold provisional or general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia with no conditions on practice.  It is a pre-requisite to be a pharmacist vaccinator.  Learners in the Pharmacist prescribing scope of practice training program or Prescribing training program must hold general registration with no conditions on practice.

The prescribing program is widely applicable and is a nationally-accredited course.  It could open up many career opportunities.  In Queensland, if you successfully complete the course, you will be able to prescribe additional medicines if you are working in a community pharmacy.

There are three days required for the practical clinical skills workshop.  The OSCE is one day and can be completed two weeks after completion of the workshop.

Absolutely.  If learners have completed the clinical component with another provider, they can complete PSA’s  Prescribing Training Program.  Similarly, if a learner has completed the prescribing skills component with another provider, they may choose to complete the Clinical Practice Training Program.