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Pharmacist CPD & Revalidation: How to Stay Compliant With the GPhC

  • Writer: Locumr
    Locumr
  • Jan 15
  • 3 min read

Staying registered as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in the UK requires more than just paying an annual fee. It involves keeping up with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) requirements for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Revalidation.

This mandatory process is designed to demonstrate to the public and the regulator that you are practicing safely, effectively, and professionally.


Here is a straightforward guide on what you need to do every year to stay compliant.


Your Annual Revalidation Requirements

To renew your registration each year, you must submit a revalidation record through your myGPhC account. This record is known as the "4-1-1" requirement:

  • 4 CPD Entries: At least two must be planned learning activities. The other two can be unplanned.

  • 1 Peer Discussion: A reflective conversation with a peer about your practice.

  • 1 Reflective Account: A written reflection on how your practice meets the GPhC's standards.

Important: You must submit these records by your specific deadline (usually two months before your registration expires). You cannot renew your registration payment until this is submitted.


1. The Four CPD Entries

CPD (Continuing Professional Development) demonstrates how you maintain and improve your competence. The GPhC requires a mix of learning styles.

Planned CPD (At least 2 entries)

This is learning you actively seek out before doing it. It starts with identifying a gap in your knowledge or skills and planning how to fill it.

Example: You notice an increase in patients asking about a new class of weight-management drugs (e.g., GLP-1 agonists). You decide to complete an online training module and read the latest NICE guidance to upskill.

Unplanned CPD (Up to 2 entries)

This is reflective learning that happens unexpectedly during your normal workday (learning by doing).

Example: A patient presents with a complex drug interaction query you have never encountered. You research the answer using specialist resources (like the BNF or SPS). Your CPD entry reflects on what you learned from this spontaneous event and how it improves your future practice.

The Golden Rule: For every entry, you must explain how the learning benefited the people who use your services (patients, colleagues, or the public).


2. The Peer Discussion

The peer discussion is a structured, confidential conversation designed to help you reflect on your practice with someone you trust. It is not an assessment or an appraisal.


Who can be your peer?

Your peer does not strictly have to be a pharmacist. They must simply be someone who understands your work and can offer an objective perspective. This could be:

  • Another pharmacist or pharmacy technician.

  • A healthcare colleague (GP, Nurse, etc.).

  • Your line manager.

  • A non-clinical colleague (if they understand your role and impact).


What to discuss

You can discuss a specific incident, a piece of CPD, a challenge you faced, or your career goals. The aim is to gain a new perspective.

Note: In your revalidation record, you do not write a transcript of the conversation. Instead, you record the process (who, when, how) and the benefit (what changed in your practice as a result).


3. The Reflective Account

The reflective account is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet the GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals in your daily work.


Which Standards to Use?

Unlike previous years where the GPhC mandated specific standards (e.g., Standards 1, 2, and 5), the GPhC currently allows you to choose one or more of the nine standards that are most relevant to your practice for that year (unless they issue a specific notification otherwise).


The 9 Standards are:

  1. Provide person-centred care.

  2. Work in partnership with others.

  3. Communicate effectively.

  4. Maintain, develop, and use their professional knowledge and skills.

  5. Use professional judgement.

  6. Behave in a professional manner.

  7. Respect and maintain diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds/confidentiality.

  8. Speak up when they have concerns or when things go wrong.

  9. Demonstrate leadership.

You will need to write a brief summary of your practice setting and then provide a real-life example of how you met the standard(s) you selected.


Top Tips for Staying Compliant

  • Record as you go: Do not wait until the deadline. Use the myGPhC portal or third-party apps to log CPD immediately after learning occurs.

  • Use the STAR Method: When writing your reflective account or CPD, structure your example using Situation, Task, Action, Result. This ensures you cover all necessary details.

  • Focus on Impact: The GPhC is less interested in what course you took, and more interested in how it improved outcomes for patients or service users.

  • Check your Deadline: Your revalidation submission is due two months before your registration renewal date. Mark this in your calendar.


Exceptional Circumstances

If you cannot submit your full records due to significant life events (e.g., maternity/paternity leave, long-term sickness), you may be eligible to submit a "Part Entry" or request an extension. You must contact the GPhC before your deadline to arrange this.


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