The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has communicated limited details about the date for this year’s registration exam. They have said that the exam will take place in the first quarter of 2021 and have assured those involved that the exam will not happen in the first two weeks of January.
The GPhC has also stated that it remains important that a registration exam goes ahead this year. They said that the registration assessment is a vital way in which we provide assurance to patients and the public that the pharmacy professionals on our register have the knowledge and skills needed to practise safely and effectively.
The GPhC has assured everyone that more details will follow in October and that there will be a webinar to set out the way forward.
In an email this afternoon GPhC Director of Education and Standards Mark Voce commented:
“I wanted to update you, as promised, on the progress towards rescheduling the registration assessment.
“It has taken us some time to appoint the supplier for the online registration assessment, as we needed to carry out a thorough and compliant procurement process to make sure that we can hold an online assessment that meets our rigorous requirements for quality, security and accessibility.
“I am pleased to say we have now identified a preferred supplier and are currently in contractual discussions with them. We expect to be able to provide further details in the near future.
“We fully understand that you want to know when the assessment will be held as soon as possible, to help you prepare.
“Now that we have identified a supplier, we can confirm that we are intending to hold the registration assessment on a date in the first quarter of 2021 while avoiding the first two weeks of January.
“We understand that many of you would have wanted the assessment to be held at an earlier date and we are sorry this has not been possible. This is the earliest feasible time to hold the assessment, as we need to carry out extensive testing to make sure that the online registration assessment will work well for all candidates. This includes testing the provider’s systems for verifying identity, invigilating the sitting and providing adjustments to candidates.
“We will now work with the supplier to identify an exact date for the next registration assessment and the detailed arrangements for the sitting, including how and when to start the application process, adjustment arrangements and the assessment specification. We will give you more information about progress in our October update.
“The registration assessment is a vital way in which we provide assurance to patients and the public that the pharmacy professionals on our register have the knowledge and skills needed to practise safely and effectively.
“The stakes for the registration assessment are much higher than for many other assessments or exams, as only those who pass can become a registered pharmacist and take on the significant responsibilities for people’s health that this role involves. This is why it is so important that we hold a robust and fair assessment.
“Thank you for your continued patience as we work to make sure that the assessment is a robust and fair test of your ability to apply your skills and knowledge.”
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