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The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has said a consultation on proposals to simplify the registration pathways for internationally qualified pharmacists revealed “significant concerns” over proposals to reduce the training requirement from two years to one.

A consultation that concluded in July this year received 1,255 responses, with 53 per cent expressing negative views towards the proposal for a one-year programme – which the GPhC said would be “more in line” with other countries and healthcare professions. 

In papers published for a council meeting held today (October 15), the GPhC said: “Concerns expressed in the feedback included the difficulties of fitting all the required training into one year and the need for more time in practice as well as more time to develop UK specific knowledge and skills.

“Respondents also expressed concerns about the variability in the content and standard of overseas training programmes.”

In support of the proposal, some argued a streamlined programme would help address workforce shortages - but others worried it could lead to "increased competition for jobs" and cause "downward pressure on salaries," the regulator reported. 

There was greater support for a proposal to allow universities to assess a candidate’s prior qualifications and experience to judge whether they might be exempt from certain components of the training programme, with 54 per cent of respondents supporting this and 40 per cent rejecting it.

The GPhC said the consultation responses “will form part” of its ultimate decision on revising the standards for internationally qualified pharmacists.

It added: “Once new standards are agreed – including any changes that arise as a result of this consultation – providers will need time to develop the new programmes and we will need to accredit them.

“We therefore expect the new programmes to run for the first time in the academic year 2028-29.”