The Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Prescribing is designed for pharmacists in Northern Ireland who wish to train and qualify as non-medical independent prescribers.
The Postgraduate Certificate can be undertaken as a stand-alone course or can be combined into a larger programme of study (see Advanced Pharmacy Practice course).
If you are employed as a pharmacist in Great Britain and wish to train as a non-medical independent prescriber, please visit our PG Cert in Prescribing for Pharmacists.
Independent Prescribing highlights
World Class Facilities
The School of Pharmacy at Queen's is consistently ranked as one of the leading centres for pharmacy education and research in the UK.
Internationally Renowned Experts
The School of Pharmacy at Queen's is acknowledged as a leading centre for Pharmacy teaching and research in the UK, consistently featuring at or near the top of league tables for the subject.
Student Experience
There are live workshops to accompany this course which help students to build a network of support which they can utilise when they begin to prescribe.
Professional Accreditations
This course is accredited by the both the Pharmacy Regulator in GB (GPhC) and the Pharmacy Regulator in NI (PSNI).
Teaching is delivered via a combination of online learning, live workshops and work-based learning. A timetable of workshops related to this course is available on the NICPLD website.
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities associated with this course are outlined below:
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At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.
On the Postgraduate Certificate in Independent Prescribing we do this by providing a range of learning experiences that enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies that enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners.
Assessment
Assessments associated with the course are outlined below:
Each module has one or more assessments associated with it. A general overview is provided below:
Person-centred care & collaboration (10 CATS) - assessment is via a consultation skills OSCE.
Disease management (10 CATS) - assessment is via submission of a treatment plan in each clinical/ therapeutic area.
Clinical skills (10 CATS) - assessment is comprised of two elements: Direct Observation of Clinical Skills (DOCS) carried out at QUB, and a DOCS assessment carried out by the DPP.
Professionalism (10 CATS) –assessment is the submission of a written assessment.
Learning in practice (20 CATS) – assessment is the submission of a practice portfolio.
The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2024/25). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.
Students study material that enables them to prescribe safely within a legal and ethical framework with due regard to their role in relation to safeguarding and human rights.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Understand and meet their legal responsibilities under equality and human rights legislation and respect diversity and cultural differences
• Recognise their own role as a responsible and accountable prescriber who understands legal and ethical implications
• Recognise and manage prescribing and medication errors
• Understand the clinical governance of the prescriber, who may also be in a position to supply medicines to people
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the prescriber in working in partnership with people who may not be able to make fully informed decisions about their health needs
• Identify and respond to people’s need when prescribing remotely
• Utilise current and emerging systems and technologies in safe prescribing
• Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
• Apply relevant legislation and ethical frameworks related to prescribing, including remote prescribing and the handling and sharing of confidential information
• Recognise their own role and responsibilities, and those of others, in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Recognise other professionals’ practice and raise concerns related to inappropriate or unsafe prescribing by other prescribers
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Students will undertake a period of learning in practice under the supervision of a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) documenting and compiling evidence within their practice portfolio. Students will undertake e-learning and self-directed learning alongside 90 hours of learning in practice in a clinical setting.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
• Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice
• Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
• Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
• Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
• Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
• Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Decision-making
• Clinical and diagnostic skills
• Patient consultation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
Prior to commencing the course, students are required to identify their clinical or therapeutic area(s) of practice in which they intend to prescribe. They identify personal learning outcomes relevant to their chosen therapeutic areas and undertake self-study that enables them to prescribe and modify therapy for identified disease conditions. Students study self-teaching material relating to evidence-based practice and the development of a Treatment Plan as part of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Apply local, regional and national guidelines, policies and legislation related to healthcare
• Reflect on and develop their own prescribing practice to ensure it represents current best practice
• Apply an understanding of health economics when making prescribing decisions
• Apply evidence-based decision making in all aspects of prescribing
• Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
• Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
• Recognise when and where to refer people appropriately
• Demonstrate the application of pharmacology in relation to their own prescribing practice
• Identify relevant investigations and interpret results and data in their prescribing practice
• Apply the principles of effective monitoring and management to improve patient outcomes
• Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice.
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
Students receive instruction and are assessed on their ability to perform basic physical examination skills.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate clinical and diagnostic skills in clinical settings appropriate to their scope of practice.
• Outline the general principles of physical examination
• Assess general appearance
• Describe how to assess vital signs
• Outline the specific anatomy and physiology concepts that underpin clinical examination skills for the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems
• Demonstrate examination of the cardiovascular, respiratory and abdominal systems
Students study material relating to the influences on, and psychology of prescribing. They gain understanding of the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people and how to manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions. They will learn about their role in caring for patients, including how to undertake a consultation, take an accurate history and subsequently manage the patient, including when and where to refer them appropriately.
Learning Outcomes
On completion the student will be able to:
•Demonstrate appropriate history-taking techniques through effective consultation skills
•Demonstrate appropriate consultation skills to get information from individuals who are either unaware of or guarded about their health needs, to inform safe prescribing
•Recognise when to seek guidance from another member of the healthcare team or an appropriate authority
•Demonstrate a critical understanding of their own role and the role of others in multi-professional teams
•Create and maintain appropriate records which ensure safe and effective care and align with relevant legislation
•Work collaboratively with others to optimise individuals’ care, understanding their roles in the prescribing process
•Recognise when and where to refer people appropriate
•Recognise the psychological and physical impact of prescribing decisions on people
•Collaborate with people to encourage them to take responsibility for managing care
•Manage the risks and benefits associated with prescribing decisions
•Recognise the public health issues in promoting health as part of their prescribing practice
•Recognise and manage factors that may influence prescribing decisions
•Support individuals to make informed choices that respect people’s preferences
•Take responsibility for ensuring that person-centred care is not compromised because of personal values and beliefs
Skills
• Time management and prioritisation
• Oral and written communication to professional and non-professional audiences
A primary degree in Pharmacy (minimum Bachelor degree) from an institution approved by the University. Additionally all students must:
• be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
• be in good standing with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and/or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and any other healthcare regulator with wwich they are registered.
• must have relevant experience in a pharmacy setting and be able to recognise, understand and articulate the skills and attributes required by a prescriber*
• must identify an area of clinical or therapeutic practice on which to base their learning*
• have a designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) who has agreed to supervise their learning in practice*
* Further guidance on the type of experience needed and DPP requirements is provided on the NICPLD website: https://www.nicpld.org/courses/ip2/
Note: this programme is only open to students who are resident in Northern Ireland.
Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible and ideally no later than 31st July 2025 for courses which commence in late September. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.
International Students
Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.
This PG Certificate in Independent Prescribing enhances the opportunities for pharmacists in Northern Ireland to progress their career through annotation on the pharmacy register as an independent prescriber.
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
There are no specific additional costs associated with this course.
All Students
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.
Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.
Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.
If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.
Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.
There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.