This is the year – newly qualified pharmacists become independent prescribers

A lot is going to happen in pharmacy in 2026, but perhaps the most anticipated shift will be the first cohort of newly qualified pharmacists joining the register as independent prescribers (IPs) upon graduation.

Under the revised education and training standards, prescribing competence is now built into the undergraduate degree, foundation training year and registration assessment. As a result, new pharmacists qualify as independent prescribers at the point of registration, without the need for a separate postgraduate prescribing course.

Newly registered pharmacist prescribers will be legally able to prescribe within their area of competence, in line with other non-medical prescribers.

While prescribing rights begin at registration, the ability to use them effectively will depend on workplace readiness, local governance and clinical support, as well as the capacity of pharmacies to integrate, mentor and train new, albeit inexperienced, prescribers.

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