How to become a pharmacist

Legal or regulatory requirement

GPhC registration as a pharmacist

GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council)

To practise as a pharmacist in Great Britain you must be registered with the GPhC and renew every year. Renewal is required by law; if you do not renew you are removed from the register and cannot practise.

Awarding body

General Pharmaceutical Council

Level

Professional registration after the MPharm and foundation training

Where it applies

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland has its own regulator.

Exams

One common registration assessment, sat during or after foundation training

Entry

• A GPhC-accredited MPharm degree (or OSPAP qualification)
• 52 weeks of foundation training
• A pass in the common registration assessment

Also required

• Submit revalidation records every year when you renew

Continuing development

Pharmacists submit revalidation records every year to stay registered.

Outside this area

Covers Great Britain. Pharmacists in Northern Ireland register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

Assessment and registration fees

• Fees are from the GPhC fee rules. The GPhC's renewal page shows £310 for pharmacists, while the rules set £311 from 1 September 2026 — your renewal notice gives the exact amount.

Membership and subscriptions

Optional or employer preference

Bachelor's degree (England fees and funding, 2026/27)

A degree is not required for every route. It can bring exemptions, graduate schemes, networks and broader learning. For solicitors, a degree or equivalent level 6 qualification is needed for admission.

Awarding body

Universities and other approved providers

Level

Level 6

Where it applies

England (fee rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)

Exams

Set by each university

Entry

• Universities set their own entry requirements, which vary by course.

Outside this area

Fees and student finance differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Assessment and registration fees

• These are maximums, from 1 August 2026. Not every course charges the maximum, and not every student takes a loan.
• TEF is the Teaching Excellence Framework. An access and participation plan is a provider's plan for widening access, agreed with the Office for Students.
• The standard full-time cap rises to £10,050 from 1 August 2027 (TEF + access and participation plan).