Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway: Supporting newly qualified prescribers
The Pharmacist Enhanced Practice Pathway is a new national pilot programme created by NHS England, the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education (CPPE) and the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm). It is designed to support this year’s newly qualified pharmacists as they begin their careers as independent prescribers (IPs).
This year’s newly qualified pharmacists will join the register already annotated as IPs and as their clinical responsibilities expand across different healthcare settings, this pathway provides structured support during this crucial early stage of practice.
Funded by NHS England, the pathway builds on foundation training and helps pharmacists grow confidence in prescribing, strengthen clinical decision‑making and develop the skills needed to manage increasingly complex patient care.
Learners will benefit from:
- A structured induction;
- Modular online learning;
- Educational supervision;
- Learning resources;
- Workshops focused on prescriber development;
- Workplace‑based learning activities; and
- An e‑Portfolio aligned to RCPharm’s Enhanced curriculum.
The pathway is designed to help learners:
- Build prescribing confidence;
- Create a personalised development plan;
- Apply learning through structured workplace experience;
- Develop reflective practice and evidence progression;
- Strengthen enhanced practice skills and behaviours; and
- Grow as leaders, managers and educators.
Pharmacists annotated as IPs at the point of registration from any NHS‑providing sector will be eligible to apply.
The pilot will offer 1,200 places across two cohorts:
- 900 places for learners with a workplace educational supervisor; and
- 300 places for learners who need CPPE‑provided educational supervision.
Applications open:
- 1st September 2026 for cohort one; and
- 4th January 2027 for cohort two.
Alongside supporting learners, the pilot will help shape the future of pharmacist workforce development in England. Feedback from participants, supervisors and employers will provide valuable insight into how best to support newly qualified Early Career Pharmacist prescribers.
