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NHS England has announced it is accepting applications from pharmacists for fully funded places on independent prescribing courses with start dates in the coming academic year. 

Courses are being offered at 27 universities, with start dates ranging from June 2025 to March 2026 and a number of universities accepting cohorts over multiple start dates. Course lengths differ depending on the provider. 

P3pharmacy understands that a total of 3,300 funded places are available. 

The funding “only extends to the course fees,” NHSE clarified, adding that “no payment will be available for the employer and/or the designated prescribing practitioner (DPP) to undertake the supervision” of the candidate completing the course.

Supervision by a DPP is necessary for a candidate on an IP course to complete their qualification. Candidates are “expected to have suitable supervision arrangement sin place prior to applying for training,” said NHSE. 

Many pharmacists have reported significant difficulties accessing a DPP, resulting in the National Pharmacy Association’s suggestion last year that some independent pharmacies may need to withdraw from the 2025-26 Oriel trainee pharmacist placement programme.

In September last year, General Pharmaceutical Council chief executive Duncan Rudkin said the regulator would “place obligations” on NHSE to ensure candidates on IP courses have access to a DPP. 

In addition to organising a DPP, community pharmacists who wish to undertake IP training must demonstrate, at a minimum:

• That they have an appropriate, practice-based learning environment where clinical support is available
• That they meet the eligibility criteria for the university they are applying to
• A commitment to use their prescribing skills within their area of competence and expertise. 

Pharmacists who don’t have a patient-facing role may apply for the course, but they will need a DPP who is patient-facing and has “up-to-date patient-facing, clinical and diagnostic skills” and is competent in an area of practice relevant to the trainee.