Pharmacists from Greece: Registering in the UK
A pharmacist who qualified in Greece — typically holding a five-year pharmacy degree and a licence to practise — can pursue GPhC registration in Great Britain through the EEA/EFTA recognition route rather than the OSPAP conversion diploma. Recognition of EEA/EFTA qualifications is available under current arrangements until September 2028.
This page is educational information for Greek pharmacists researching the route themselves; GeraClinic is not recruiting.
Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
Why Greek pharmacists do not sit the OSPAP
Most guides to UK pharmacist registration describe the Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP). That one-year conversion diploma is the route for pharmacists who qualified outside the EEA and EFTA. Because Greece is an EU member state and therefore part of the European Economic Area (EEA), a pharmacist who qualified there instead applies to the GPhC for recognition of their existing qualification — a different mechanism with its own steps, set out below.
The recognition of EEA and EFTA qualifications has been extended until September 2028. From that point, EEA-qualified pharmacists may instead need to go through the single route to registration that the GPhC is developing for internationally-qualified pharmacists, depending on decisions made by the UK government. Because this is changing, always confirm the route that currently applies to you directly with the GPhC before you start.
The recognition route, step by step
- 1
Apply to the GPhC for recognition of your qualification
Rather than the OSPAP conversion diploma used for non-EEA international pharmacists, EEA and EFTA-qualified pharmacists apply to the GPhC for recognition of their existing pharmacy qualification. The GPhC assesses your qualification against the standards required to practise in Great Britain.
- 2
Provide evidence of your English language skills up front
You must provide evidence of your English language competency in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The GPhC expects this evidence before you apply, so that it can be considered alongside your recognition application. The accepted tests and scores are set by the GPhC and can change — confirm the current requirement before booking a test.
- 3
The GPhC assesses your application (four-month contact window)
Under the UK–EEA EFTA agreement, the GPhC will contact you within four months of receiving a complete application. In some cases the GPhC may require you to complete an adaptation period — supervised workplace training — or to pass an aptitude test before your qualification can be recognised.
- 4
Apply to join the GPhC register within three months of success
Once the GPhC notifies you that your application for recognition has been successful, you are expected to apply to register as a pharmacist within three months. Only pharmacists on the GPhC register may practise in Great Britain.
The GPhC charges a fee to assess a recognition application. Fees change, so check the current amount on the GPhC website rather than relying on a figure quoted elsewhere.
Your starting point in Greece
Pharmacists in Greece typically qualify with a five-year university degree in pharmacy (Πτυχίο Φαρμακευτικής) followed by a professional licence to practise issued by the regional authority, regulated by the the regional Pharmaceutical Associations (Φαρμακευτικοί Σύλλογοι), coordinated by the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association (Πανελλήνιος Φαρμακευτικός Σύλλογος). The GPhC assesses each applicant’s qualification, experience, fitness to practise and English language competency individually, so being registered — or eligible to register — with your home regulator is part of the picture but does not by itself guarantee recognition.
Specific considerations for Greek pharmacists
Your degree and practice licence
In Greece you qualify through a five-year university pharmacy programme and then obtain a licence to practise (άδεια ασκήσεως επαγγέλματος). For the GPhC recognition route you will need to evidence both your degree and your professional registration, so gather your degree certificate, transcript and licence documentation early.
Certificate of good standing
You will normally need a certificate of current professional status (good standing) from your regional Pharmaceutical Association confirming you are registered and free of disciplinary restriction. Documents in Greek will usually need certified English translations for the GPhC.
Adaptation period or aptitude test
As with any EEA/EFTA applicant, the GPhC may require an adaptation period of supervised practice or an aptitude test where it identifies differences between Greek and British pharmacy practice. Whether this applies is decided on your individual application, not by a blanket rule.
English language
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency in all four skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — for example through an approved test such as IELTS Academic or OET, at the scores the GPhC sets. For the EEA/EFTA recognition route this evidence is expected before you apply. The accepted tests and required scores are published by the GPhC and can change, so verify them before booking.
Visas and the right to work
Registration and the right to work are separate. Since Brexit, Greek citizens who do not already hold EU Settlement Scheme status normally need permission to work in the UK — usually a Skilled Worker visa requiring a job offer from a licensed sponsoring employer. Immigration rules are set by the UK government and change regularly; check GOV.UK for the current position.
A note on what this page is — and is not
This is general educational information for pharmacists in Greece who are researching the UK registration process for themselves. GeraClinic is not a recruitment agency, does not place pharmacists into UK jobs, does not market UK vacancies to you, and does not charge you any fee — under UK law it is illegal for a work-finding agency to charge a jobseeker for finding them work. GeraClinic does not actively recruit health workers from any country, and in particular does not recruit from countries on the World Health Organization’s health workforce support and safeguards list. Recognition is granted by the GPhC, and any visa sponsorship is arranged by a UK employer. Always confirm the current process, fees and rules directly with the official sources below.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist who qualified in Greece register in Great Britain?+
Yes. Because Greece is an EU member state and therefore part of the European Economic Area (EEA), a pharmacist who qualified there currently applies to the GPhC for recognition of their qualification rather than sitting the OSPAP conversion diploma used for non-EEA international pharmacists. Recognition of EEA/EFTA qualifications is available until September 2028; the GPhC assesses each application individually and may require an adaptation period or aptitude test.
Do Greek pharmacists have to do the OSPAP?+
Not under the current arrangements. The OSPAP is the route for pharmacists who qualified outside the EEA and EFTA. EEA/EFTA-qualified pharmacists use the GPhC's separate recognition-of-qualification route. This may change after September 2028, when EEA-qualified pharmacists may need to use the single international route the GPhC is developing — so confirm the current position with the GPhC.
What English language evidence does the GPhC require?+
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency in all four skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — for example through an approved test such as IELTS Academic or OET, at the scores the GPhC sets. For the EEA/EFTA recognition route this evidence is expected before you apply. The accepted tests and required scores are published by the GPhC and can change, so verify them before booking.
Does GeraClinic recruit Greek pharmacists or arrange UK jobs?+
No. This is free educational information for people independently researching the route. GeraClinic is not a recruitment agency, does not place pharmacists into UK employment, does not market UK vacancies and does not charge applicant fees. Recognition is granted by the GPhC, and any employer you later work for handles matters such as visa sponsorship where one is needed.
Do I need a visa to work as a pharmacist in the UK?+
Registration and the right to work are separate. Since Brexit, Greek citizens who do not already hold EU Settlement Scheme status normally need permission to work in the UK — usually a Skilled Worker visa requiring a job offer from a licensed sponsoring employer. Immigration rules are set by the UK government and change regularly; check GOV.UK for the current position.
Related information
Sources
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) — EEA/EFTA-qualified pharmacist registration
- GPhC — EEA-EFTA country-qualified pharmacists (recognition route and requirements)
- GPhC — registering as a pharmacist (overview of all routes)
- NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay scales 2024/25
- GOV.UK — Skilled Worker visa