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Practice Certificate in Independent Prescribing (Allied Health Professionals)

  • Key information

    Course length
  • Part Time, 6 Months
    		•
  • Entry requirements
    • Prerequisites and Admissions Process
      Admission to the NMP Programme is achieved through a comprehensive process, that meets all GPhC, HCPC or NMC standards as applicable.  As part of this process, applicants are required to complete an online application and to submit an additional Supporting Admissions Form (SAF) (See Downloads box on the right-hand side, or downloaded from section - 'Independent and/or Supplementary prescribing within application) that provides the team with the evidence that applicants have:
    • Met the essential entry criteria for the programme required by their regulatory body (GPhC, HCPC or NMC) outlined below.
    • Identified an intended scope of prescribing practice.
    • The appropriate and required support available to enable them, to successfully develop as safe and appropriate prescribers within their intended scope of prescribing practice.
    • The SAF needs to be downloaded and completed and signed with handwritten signatures.
    • Your application will be rejected without a fully completed SAF.

    The following documents are critical to your application:

    • Supporting Admissions Form (SAF) signed with handwritten signatures (please clearly name the uploaded document)
    • Copy of your passport (please clearly name the uploaded document)
    • Copies of your professional qualification(s) (please clearly name the uploaded document(s).
    • Current Enhanced DBS (dated within the last 3 years).
      Applications will not be progressed until applicants have completed their online application and submitted their fully completed and signed SAF.

    Please ensure that the correct sections have been completed and signed with handwritten signatures.

    Criteria for Entry to the NMP Programme for Allied Health Professionals
    1.Registration with the HCPC in one of the relevant allied health professions.
    2. Professionally practising in an environment where there is an identified need for the individual to regularly use independent /supplementary prescribing (physiotherapists, podiatrists, and therapeutic radiographers only) or supplementary prescribing (diagnostic radiographers and dietitians).
    3. Ability to demonstrate support from their employer/sponsor including confirmation that the entrant will have appropriate supervised practice in the clinical area in which they are expected to prescribe.
    4. Ability to demonstrate medicines and clinical governance arrangements are in place to support safe and effective supplementary and / or independent prescribing.
    5. Written confirmation of support to undertake the prescribing programme from their employer, including NHS and non-NHS employers. The support available must include time to attend scheduled study days at the University, access to appropriate learning opportunities in practice and protected time to engage in practice development activities with an identified Practice Educator.

    • Written confirmation from their employer that the applicant can demonstrate safe and effective practice within their intended field of prescribing practice in relation to:
    • Clinical/health assessment
    • Diagnostics/care management
    • Planning and evaluation of care
    • If the applicant is self-employed a comprehensive professional reference must be provided which details the applicant’s level of proficiency in practice. A separate statement must be provided by the applicant confirming the arrangements made for practice supervision and assessment.

    6. Practice Educators must be a qualified prescriber, on the register of their statutory regulator with annotation(s) for prescribing where applicable and with the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience to support safe and effective learning. Practice Educators for Supplementary prescribing students (dietitians and diagnostic radiographers) must be a Doctor.

About the course

  • To prescribe safely, appropriately and cost effectively and to prescribe medications within your field of competence.
  • On successful completion you will be awarded a Practice Certificate and be recommended to the relevant Professional Board as an independent or supplementary prescriber.

The Programme Certificate in Independent and/or Supplementary Prescribing Programme consists of four 30 credit modules (students’ study one of the available four modules dependent upon their discipline) which have been accredited by either the GPhC, HCPC or NMC, they are:
• AHP Independent Prescribing Module (Physiotherapists, Paramedics, Podiatrists & Therapeutic Radiographers)
• AHP Supplementary Prescribing (Dietitians & Diagnostic Radiographers)
• Nurse and Midwife Independent Prescribing (V300)
• Pharmacist Independent Prescribing

Currently Diagnostic Radiographers and Dietitians can only prescribe as a Supplementary Prescriber.
In accordance with regulatory body requirements students are required to complete 26 mandatory days of blended theoretical learning incorporating a combination of:
• 3-4 interprofessional taught days either on-campus or online (Hybrid) at either our College Lane or De Havilland Campuses in Hatfield, Hertfordshire
• 10 live online interprofessional days delivered between 09.30-16.00 on Wednesdays (September 25 and May 26 Cohorts) or Thursdays (January 26 Cohort)
• Monthly online small group tutorials led by an identified Personal Tutor
• 1 live online assessment and diagnostic development day (Pharmacist students only)**
• 1 on-campus physical skills development day in a simulation laboratory on our College Lane Campus (Pharmacist independent prescribing students only)**
• Guided study days
* Requirements of at least 85% monitored attendance at live sessions which amounts to a maximum of 2 permitted absence days.
** Pharmacist students are required to attend the mandatory assessment and diagnostic skills day, and students will not be able to complete the programme unless these days have been attended.


Assessment
In accordance with regulatory body requirements students are required to successfully complete the following five assessments to complete the programme:
• Online Numeracy assessment (pass or fail with a minimum pass mark 100%).
• Direct observation of practice assessed in practice by your PA/PE/DPP and write up of this consultation with an example FP10 (pass or fail).
• Prescribing Essay written assignment, (minimum pass mark 50 (level 7) - the mark for this element determines the overall grade for this module.
• Unseen 1 hour 15-minute Applied Pharmacology Examination (pass or fail with a minimum pass mark 80%).
• Prescribing Practice Portfolio (incorporating demonstration of the student’s achievement of the competences outlined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) A Competency Framework for All Prescribers) (pass or fail)
The length of registration for this module is normally one year and therefore each of the five assessments should be completed by this point other than in exceptional circumstances.

 

Prescribing Practice, Practice Supervision and Assessment
Alongside theoretical sessions students are also required to complete an additional compulsory additional period of 90 hours of supervised prescribing practice learning supported by a:
Practice Educator (PE) for AHP Students
Practice Supervisor and Practice Assessor (PS/PA) for Nurse and Midwife Students
Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) for Pharmacist Students

Virtual Consultations: The amount of virtual consultation (telephone or video) allowed in supervised practice are limited to a maximum of 5 hours with the DPP/PA/PE and 25 hours in total.

Dates

2025

Start DateEnd DateYearLocationLink
04/09/202530/04/20261UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)
15/01/202631/07/20261UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)
29/04/202631/10/20261UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)

2026

Start DateEnd DateYearLocationLink
04/09/202630/04/20271UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)
15/01/202731/07/20271UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)
29/04/202731/10/20271UH Hatfield CampusApply online (Part Time)

Course fees

Fees 2025

UK Students

Part time
  • £915 per 15 credits for the 2025/2026 academic year