The OSPAP: Route for Internationally-Qualified Pharmacists
The Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) is a one-year GPhC-accredited postgraduate diploma, and the first stage of the route to GPhC registration for pharmacists who qualified outside the UK. After the OSPAP you complete 52 weeks of foundation training and pass the GPhC registration assessment. The GPhC charges a non-refundable £783 eligibility-application fee (as of 2025), and requires you to finish everything within four years of starting the course.
Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
The four stages of the overseas route
- 1
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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 requirement
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.
A realistic timeline
Every applicant is different, but as a rough mental model the route often looks like this once you have your English language evidence and eligibility confirmed:
- Eligibility assessment: weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly you gather documents and the GPhC’s processing time.
- OSPAP: one academic year, full-time, at an accredited university.
- Foundation training: 52 weeks in a GPhC-approved workplace.
- Registration assessment: sat towards the end of foundation training, then application to register.
The GPhC’s four-year window (from the start of the OSPAP to applying for registration) is the hard deadline to plan around.
This page is general information for people independently researching the OSPAP route. GeraClinic does not deliver the OSPAP, arrange training places, place pharmacists into UK jobs, or charge fees to individuals. Confirm every step, deadline and fee with the GPhC and your chosen university before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the OSPAP?+
The Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) is a one-year, GPhC-accredited postgraduate diploma. It is the first stage of the route to GPhC registration for pharmacists who qualified outside the UK, converting overseas training to the standard expected for practice in Great Britain and preparing you for foundation training.
Who is eligible for the OSPAP?+
The OSPAP is for people who hold a pharmacy qualification from overseas and are registered — or eligible to register — as a pharmacist in the country where they qualified. Before you can apply, the GPhC assesses your qualifications, work experience, fitness to practise and English language competency to confirm you are eligible.
What happens after the OSPAP?+
After completing the OSPAP you complete 52 weeks of foundation training in a GPhC-approved workplace in England, Scotland or Wales, then sit and pass the GPhC registration assessment. Only then, having also met fitness-to-practise requirements, can you apply to join the GPhC register.
How long do I have to complete everything?+
The GPhC requires you to complete the OSPAP, foundation training and the registration assessment, and to apply to register, within four years of the date you start your OSPAP course.
How much does the OSPAP route cost?+
Costs include the GPhC eligibility-application fee of £783 (non-refundable, as of 2025), OSPAP tuition fees set by the university, an English language test, the registration assessment, and the GPhC’s annual registration fee once you join. University tuition is the largest single item and varies between the accredited providers, so budget carefully and check current figures with each university and the GPhC.
Which universities run the OSPAP?+
The OSPAP is delivered by a small number of GPhC-accredited UK universities. The list of accredited providers is maintained by the GPhC and changes over time, so check the GPhC website for the current, accredited course providers before applying.
Does GeraClinic run the OSPAP or find me a training place?+
No. GeraClinic does not deliver the OSPAP, does not arrange foundation training, and is not a recruitment agency. This is educational information only. The OSPAP is run by accredited universities, foundation training is recruited through the UK’s National Recruitment Scheme, and registration is granted by the GPhC.