GPhC Registration Explained
GPhC registration is the legal requirement to practise as a pharmacist in Great Britain. The General Pharmaceutical Council maintains the register, and you join it by completing an accredited course of study, 52 weeks of foundation training, and the GPhC registration assessment, then meeting the fitness-to-practise requirements. There is no way to practise as a pharmacist in England, Scotland or Wales without being on this register.
Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
The steps to join the register (UK route)
- 1
MPharm degree (four years)
UK-based students complete a four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree accredited by the GPhC.
- 2
Foundation training year (52 weeks)
Graduates complete 52 weeks of GPhC-approved foundation training in a hospital, community or other approved setting.
- 3
GPhC registration assessment
Trainees must pass the GPhC registration assessment to demonstrate they meet the standards for safe, effective practice.
- 4
Join the GPhC register
On passing and meeting fitness-to-practise requirements, they apply to join the GPhC register and can then practise as a pharmacist.
Qualified outside the UK?
If you trained as a pharmacist overseas, you reach the same GPhC register through the Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) route. In outline that means:
- Confirm your eligibility with the GPhC. The GPhC first assesses whether you are eligible to begin the route. It reviews your overseas pharmacy qualification, your work experience, your fitness to practise, and your English language competency. You must be registered — or eligible to register — as a pharmacist in the country where you qualified.
- Complete the OSPAP (a one-year postgraduate diploma). The Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) is a one-year, full-time GPhC-accredited postgraduate diploma delivered by a small number of UK universities. It converts your overseas training to the standard expected for practice in Great Britain and prepares you for foundation training.
- Complete 52 weeks of foundation training. After the OSPAP you complete 52 weeks of foundation training (previously called the pre-registration year) in a GPhC-approved workplace in England, Scotland or Wales. Foundation training places are recruited through the National Recruitment Scheme and managed by your Statutory Education Body.
- Pass the GPhC registration assessment, then register. Finally you sit and pass the GPhC registration assessment and meet the GPhC’s fitness-to-practise and character requirements. You must complete all of these steps and apply to register within four years of starting your OSPAP course.
English language, fitness to practise and standards
English language competency
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency — for example an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 in each of the four sections, or an equivalent such as OET Grade B. The accepted tests and scores are set by the GPhC and can change, so always confirm the current requirement on the GPhC website before booking a test.
Fitness to practise and character
Registration is not only about passing an exam. Applicants must satisfy the GPhC that they are fit to practise, which covers health, conduct and character. The GPhC publishes the criteria it applies and can refuse or place conditions on registration where its standards are not met.
Standards are being reformed
Training standards for pharmacists in Great Britain are being reformed so that newly registered pharmacists qualify as independent prescribers at the point of registration, and these standards are being extended to the overseas route. Because the detail is changing year to year, treat this as background and check the GPhC for the position that applies to your cohort.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GPhC?+
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the independent statutory regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and registered pharmacies in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). It sets the standards for education, conduct and practice, and it maintains the register of professionals allowed to practise.
Do I legally have to be GPhC-registered to work as a pharmacist?+
Yes. To practise as a pharmacist in Great Britain you must be on the GPhC register and use a legally protected title. Practising or presenting yourself as a registered pharmacist without being on the register is an offence. Northern Ireland is regulated separately by the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
What does the GPhC registration assessment test?+
The registration assessment is the exam every trainee must pass to demonstrate they can apply pharmacy knowledge safely and effectively in practice — including calculations and clinical decision-making. It is sat towards the end of foundation training.
What are the fitness-to-practise and character requirements?+
Alongside passing the assessment, applicants must satisfy the GPhC that they are fit to practise — this covers health, conduct and character declarations. The GPhC publishes the detailed criteria it applies; check its website for the current requirements.
What English language evidence does the GPhC require?+
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency — for example an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 in each of the four sections, or an equivalent such as OET Grade B. The accepted tests and scores are set by the GPhC and can change, so always confirm the current requirement on the GPhC website before booking a test.
How much does it cost?+
There are several fees across the route, including course tuition, the GPhC application/eligibility assessment fee for the overseas route (£783, non-refundable, as of 2025), the registration assessment, and the GPhC’s annual registration fee once you join. Amounts change — see the GPhC fees information for the current figures.