Community Pharmacist Pathway · The Diamond Bridge

Week 1 3 lessons 1 mandatory live workshop Personalised plan

PSI & GPhC Registration — Step-by-Step Guide

This is the platform's flagship module. No other Irish careers platform walks an internationally trained pharmacist through registration. Get this right and word-of-mouth carries the platform.

Learning Outcomes

Describe the full PSI Equivalence Examination process and the GPhC OSPAP route end-to-end
Identify which documents they personally need to gather and from where
Sequence their adaptation period decisions (where, how long, with whom)
Plan their OET/IELTS preparation timeline (if non-EU)
Submit Module 1 of their PSI/GPhC application with confidence

1.1

The PSI Equivalence Examination Pathway (Ireland)

Video · 30–35 min

Talking Points (PSI Specialist Required for Accuracy)

Three categories of applicant: EU/EEA-trained, UK-trained, third-country
The Equivalence Examination structure: Step 1 (qualification), Step 2 (written exam), Step 3 (adaptation), Step 4 (registration)
Document requirements: degree certificates, transcripts, prior registration certificates, good standing letters, English evidence
Translation and apostille requirements — what HSE accepts and what it doesn't
Realistic timeline: 6 months minimum, 36 months realistic worst-case
Costs: examination fees, document fees, adaptation period income, OET fees
Common rejection reasons and how to avoid them
Where to get help: PSI registration team, Crosscare Migrant Project, Nasc

Required Reading

PSI Equivalence Examination guidance documents
One worked-through case study: an Indian-trained pharmacist's full registration journey
The Diamond Bridge's PSI Registration Master Checklist (PDF, 4 pages)

Exercise · Personalised

Personal Registration Plan. Learner completes a structured template with their own information: where they trained, when they qualified, what documents they have, what's missing, projected timeline. The AI Coach references this throughout the rest of the programme. SME-validated for accuracy.

1.2

The GPhC OSPAP Pathway (UK Great Britain)

Video · 22–25 min

Talking Points

The OSPAP (Overseas Pharmacists' Assessment Programme) — who needs it, who's exempt
The four GPhC-accredited OSPAP universities: Aston, UCL School of Pharmacy, Robert Gordon, Sunderland
OSPAP duration: typically 1 academic year full-time. Cost: £7,000–£10,000+
Pre-registration training year requirement after OSPAP
The GPhC Registration Assessment exam structure
Funding pathways: NHS pre-reg salaries, self-funded, sponsorship
IELTS / OET requirements for GPhC
The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) — separate process for NI

Exercise

Country and Pathway Decision. Learner writes a structured 300-word decision document: Ireland or UK first, why, with realistic financial and timeline analysis. Saved to profile for AI Coach reference.

1.3

Building Adaptation Period Strategy (Ireland)

Video · 18 min

Talking Points

What the adaptation period actually is — supervised practice in an Irish pharmacy under a designated supervisor
Duration: usually 6 months for those who pass the Equivalence Exam first time
Where to find adaptation positions: PSI's list, IPU member directory, direct outreach to Boots, McCabes, Hickey's
The supervisor's role and what they sign off
Salary expectations during adaptation (typically below qualified pharmacist rate)
Geographic considerations — Dublin saturated, regional opportunities better
Combining adaptation with OET preparation — practical scheduling

Exercise

Adaptation Period Targeting. Learner builds a target list of 10 Irish pharmacies they would approach for adaptation, with rationale and outreach plan. The Diamond Bridge Jobs board surfaces adaptation-friendly employers.

Live Workshop · Mandatory · 90 min

Registration Q&A with PSI-registered International Pharmacist. Genuinely high-value session. A pharmacist who has been through the PSI Equivalence process recently (within last 24 months) walks through their journey, mistakes, and recommendations. Open Q&A. Recorded. Cohort kick-off feel.

Week 2 4 lessons 1 quiz · 75% pass

Irish & UK Pharmacy Law and Practice

Pharmacy Act 2007, HMR 2012, Misuse of Drugs Acts, and the Irish/UK prescription scheme architecture. The legal toolkit a community pharmacist must operate within every working day.

Learning Outcomes

Apply the Pharmacy Act 2007 and PSI Regulations to daily community practice
Apply the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (UK) to UK community practice
Navigate the Misuse of Drugs Acts (IE and UK) for controlled drug supply
Operate confidently within the Medical Card / GMS / DPS / LTI / HTS schemes
Process NHS FP10 prescriptions including FP10MDA, FP10HP, and FP10CN variants

2.1

The Pharmacy Act 2007 and PSI Regulations

Video · 25 min

Talking Points

The structure of the Pharmacy Act 2007 — what it covers and how it's enforced
The PSI as regulator: powers, sanctions, registration enforcement
Statutory roles: Superintendent Pharmacist, Supervising Pharmacist — definitions and accountabilities
Pharmacy ownership rules in Ireland (the body corporate structure)
Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 — generic substitution rules
Recent and pending legislation: PSI's modernisation agenda, technician regulation timeline

Exercise

Statutory Role Mapping. 8 dispensary scenarios — learner identifies which statutory role has the responsibility (Superintendent / Supervising / dispensing pharmacist / locum) plus the relevant section of the Act. AI coach reviews against model.

2.2

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (UK)

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

HMR 2012 structure — the operating manual for British community pharmacy
Classification: POM, P, GSL — what each means at the counter
The Responsible Pharmacist requirement (UK)
UK MHRA role and how it differs from HPRA
Brexit impact: FMD divergence, parallel imports, supply considerations
Pharmacy First (England) and Independent Prescribing legislation evolution
The General Pharmaceutical Council Standards for Pharmacy Professionals applied

Exercise

Cross-jurisdictional Comparison. Learner produces a 1-page table contrasting six common scenarios under PSI vs GPhC frameworks. Self-assessed against model.

2.3

Controlled Drugs in Community Practice

Video · 28 min

Talking Points

The Five Schedules under Misuse of Drugs Acts (IE) and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (UK)
Schedule 2 CD prescription requirements: five legal elements, signature, date validity (28 days), instalment dispensing
Schedule 3, 4, and 5 differences: storage, register, supply
The Methadone Treatment Programme (Ireland) and FP10MDA (UK)
Buprenorphine, opioid substitution, controlled drug stewardship
CD register management: handwritten vs electronic, what must be recorded
CD destruction: who can authorise and witness, FP55 (UK), Form X (IE)
The Pharmacist's role in identifying suspected forgery, drug-seeking behaviour, and onward reporting

Exercise

CD Validity & Forgery Spotting. 12 controlled drug prescriptions; learner identifies which are valid, which are invalid, and flags 2 that show signs of potential forgery with reasoning. AI coach + SME review.

2.4

Irish Prescription Schemes & UK NHS Prescription Systems

Video · 24 min

Irish Schemes (in depth)

GMS — eligibility, what's covered, claim submission via PCRS
DPS — €80/month cap, family registration, common patient queries
LTI — the 16 conditions, what's free, what's not
HTS — high-cost drugs, the dispensing fee structure
Methadone Treatment Programme — instalment dispensing, daily supervised consumption

UK NHS Systems

FP10 (England), WP10 (Wales), GP10 (Scotland) — devolved differences
FP10MDA for opioid substitution, FP10HP for hospital, FP10CN for community nurse/midwife
The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) — what's automated and what's not
Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and the technician/nurse role

Exercise

Scheme Application Lab. 20 prescriptions across IE and UK schemes; learner classifies each, calculates the patient charge if any, identifies any errors, and submits clarifications. Mix of MCQ and short-answer.

End of Module Quiz · The Most Extensive

Pharmacy Act · HMR 2012 · Misuse of Drugs Acts · Irish + UK schemes

Pass mark
75%

Week 3 5 lessons 1 quiz · 75% pass

Clinical Therapeutics — Primary Care Focus

The clinical week. Five disease areas: hypertension, diabetes, respiratory, pain/mental health/polypharmacy, and OTC therapeutic reasoning. SME may want to split this across 2 weeks.

Learning Outcomes

Manage common chronic conditions encountered in community pharmacy
Apply OTC therapeutic reasoning within the pharmacist's expanded scope
Recognise polypharmacy risks and apply STOPP/START principles at counter
Perform structured medication review for complex patients
Integrate Irish/UK prescribing guidelines with patient-centred care

3.1

Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care

Video · 28 min

Talking Points

Current ESC/ESH (2023) and ICGP hypertension guidelines applied to Ireland
BP measurement: pharmacy BP services, when to refer, ambulatory BP monitoring
First-line therapies: ACE-I / ARB, calcium channel blockers, diuretics
Compelling indications: post-MI, heart failure, diabetes, CKD
Adherence challenges: side effects, polypharmacy, why patients stop
Cardiovascular risk counselling: lifestyle, statins (NICE / NCPE thresholds), aspirin
Atrial fibrillation: anticoagulant counselling — DOACs vs warfarin

Exercise · Clinical Cases

HTN Patient Case. Three patient profiles (young adult stage 1, diabetic stage 2, elderly on 8 medications). Learner outlines management plan, counselling priorities, and red flags for each.

3.2

Diabetes Management in Community Pharmacy

Video · 30 min

Talking Points

Type 1 vs Type 2 — clinical distinction and practical pharmacy implications
Current Type 2 algorithm: metformin first-line, then SGLT2i / GLP-1 / DPP-4i / SU
HbA1c targets: HSE/ICGP standards, individualisation
Insulin types and devices: basal, prandial, mixed, premixed analogues — pen counselling
The GLP-1 era: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro — patient counselling, supply issues, weight-loss off-label use
SGLT2 inhibitors: cardiovascular and renal benefits, sick-day rules, DKA risk
Hypoglycaemia management at counter: when to refer, when to manage

Exercise

Insulin Counselling Role-Play. A 64-year-old Polish patient newly started on Lantus. Learner produces a counselling script: storage, injection technique, hypoglycaemia, sick days, when to call GP.

3.3

Respiratory Disease: Asthma and COPD

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

Asthma: GINA-aligned stepwise treatment, the move away from SABA-only therapy, ICS-formoterol as PRN/MART
COPD: GOLD groups, LABA/LAMA combinations, when ICS is appropriate
Inhaler types: pMDI, DPI, soft-mist, breath-actuated — patient suitability
Inhaler counselling: the technique that determines outcome
Smoking cessation as therapeutic intervention — bupropion, varenicline, NRT
Pharmacy's role in COPD reviews and exacerbation prevention

Exercise

Inhaler Technique Demonstration. Learner records 60-second videos demonstrating pMDI, DPI, and soft-mist inhaler technique. AI coach reviews video transcript and provides feedback.

3.4

Pain, Mental Health, and Common Polypharmacy Cases

Video · 26 min

Talking Points

Acute pain: paracetamol, NSAIDs (and who can't), short-course opioids — when to escalate
Chronic pain: opioid stewardship, the role of pharmacist conversations
Neuropathic pain: gabapentinoids, the abuse potential, the new prescribing rules
Depression and anxiety: SSRI counselling, withdrawal awareness, suicide ideation safety nets
Polypharmacy in older adults: the average 70-year-old's 7+ medication burden
STOPP/START criteria practical application
The High Risk Medications: warfarin, insulin, opioids, methotrexate, lithium, digoxin
Falls risk assessment at counter: medications that increase falls

Exercise · Complex

Polypharmacy Review. 78-year-old female on 11 medications presenting with falls. Learner produces a structured medication review identifying potentially inappropriate prescribing, drug interactions, and recommendations for the GP. SME-reviewed.

3.5

OTC Therapeutic Reasoning and the Pharmacist's Expanded Scope

Video · 18 min

Talking Points

Where OTC ends and prescription-only begins — the legal lines
The Pharmacy First (England) services: minor ailments the pharmacist can manage independently
HSE Common Conditions Service (proposed/emerging) — the Irish equivalent direction
Pharmacist Independent Prescriber qualification — what it unlocks
The Patient Group Direction (PGD) framework

Exercise

Scope Decision Tree. 15 patient presentations. Learner classifies: pharmacist OTC management / pharmacist signpost / Pharmacy First (UK) / GP referral / urgent referral.

End of Module Quiz

Chronic disease management · OTC therapeutic decisions · polypharmacy red flags

Pass mark
75%

Week 4 4 lessons Mid-programme assessed milestone

Medicines Counselling & Patient Communication

Structured technique, motivational interviewing, plain language for low health literacy, and safety messaging that informs without alarming. Mid-programme video assessment.

Learning Outcomes

Conduct structured medicines counselling sessions to PSI/GPhC standards
Apply motivational interviewing basics for adherence and behaviour change
Adapt communication for low health literacy, language barriers, and complex emotional contexts
Deliver clear safety messaging without alarming patients
Lead an assessed counselling session via video submission

4.1

Structured Counselling Technique

Video · 24 min

Talking Points

The Calgary–Cambridge framework adapted for pharmacy
The IMSSS structure: Indication, Mode of Action, Side Effects, Storage, "What If" scenarios
Open-ended questions: "Tell me what your GP told you about this"
The first 90 seconds: rapport, privacy assessment, agenda-setting
Handover phrasing: "Just to make sure I've explained this clearly..." (teach-back)

Exercise

Counselling Script Build. For three medications (atorvastatin start, semaglutide start, salbutamol inhaler refresh), learner builds a complete 5-minute counselling script using the IMSSS structure. SME-reviewed.

4.2

Motivational Interviewing for Pharmacy

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

What MI is and isn't — adapted for the 5-minute pharmacy interaction
The four processes: engaging, focusing, evoking, planning
OARS: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries
The "righting reflex" — why telling patients to take their medicine doesn't work
Adherence conversations: smoking cessation, weight management, statin reluctance

Exercise

MI Role-Play Transcripts. Three scenarios: patient who stopped statins, patient resistant to flu vaccination, patient struggling with adherence to antidepressants. Learner writes the dialogue using OARS.

4.3

Health Literacy, Language, and Adapted Communication

Video · 20 min

Talking Points

Health literacy in Ireland: 30%+ have limited HL — the practical impact
Plain English principles: short sentences, no jargon, active voice
Pictograms, written summaries, the takeaway leaflet
Communicating with non-native English speakers — and being one yourself
HSE interpreter services: how to access, when to insist
Cultural competence: Ramadan and medications, alcohol-containing preparations, gelatine

Exercise

Plain-Language Rewrite. Three medical messages provided in clinical language; learner rewrites each in plain English, ESL-accessible language, and pictogram-supplemented form.

4.4

Safety Communication Without Alarm

Video · 18 min

Talking Points

How to handle "rare but serious side effects" without scaring patients off life-saving medication
The teratogenicity conversation: methotrexate, isotretinoin, valproate
The black triangle and yellow card: involving the patient in pharmacovigilance
Handling drug recalls with patients: the calm, clear explanation
Medical errors: the duty of candour — what to say (and not say)

Exercise

Safety Conversation Script. Three scenarios: starting isotretinoin, explaining a medication recall, telling a patient there's been a dispensing error. Learner writes the script for each.

★

Mid-Programme Milestone · Pass / Refer

Assessed Counselling Video

10-minute counselling video. Scenario: starting a 58-year-old newly-diagnosed Type 2 diabetic on metformin and atorvastatin. Reviewed by SME pharmacist with structured rubric: rapport, technique, accuracy, safety messaging, teach-back, closing. Refers must redo before Module 6.

Week 5 3 lessons 1 quiz · 75% pass

Dispensing Quality & Safety Systems

SOPs, human factors, near-miss management, and the Responsible Pharmacist's daily compliance functions. The systems behind the safety record.

Learning Outcomes

Operate a dispensing quality system at PSI/GPhC standards
Apply human factors thinking to error prevention
Lead a near-miss analysis and produce corrective action recommendations
Perform the responsible pharmacist role's daily compliance functions
Document incidents in line with regulatory expectations

5.1

The Dispensing Quality Management System

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

SOPs in community pharmacy: legal expectation, practical reality
The pharmacy SOP architecture: dispensing, CD handling, cold chain, complaints, errors, near-misses
Daily, weekly, monthly compliance routines
The Responsible Pharmacist role (UK) — sign-in, sign-out, day-to-day decisions
The Supervising Pharmacist role (IE) — equivalent responsibilities
Quality indicators: error rates, patient satisfaction, time-to-dispense, near-miss reporting rate
Internal audit and PSI inspections: what the inspector looks at first

Exercise

SOP Audit. Given a community pharmacy's current SOP set with 8 deliberate gaps, learner identifies missing or weak SOPs and proposes additions.

5.2

Human Factors and Dispensing Error Prevention

Video · 20 min

Talking Points

Why pharmacists make errors: cognitive load, fatigue, distraction, normalisation of deviance
The 4-eyes principle and its limits
LASA medications — systemic mitigations (tall man lettering, segregated storage, computer prompts)
Look-alike packaging — the regulatory tools
Shelving and workflow design that reduces errors
The technician-pharmacist partnership: who checks what, when
The "Swiss cheese" model of error

Exercise

Error Root Cause Analysis. Detailed case: a patient received metoprolol instead of methotrexate — adverse outcome. Learner conducts a structured RCA using the Five Whys framework and proposes systemic recommendations. SME-reviewed.

5.3

Incident Management and Regulatory Reporting

Video · 16 min

Talking Points

Defining the incident: error, near-miss, complaint, patient safety event
The first hour after an error is identified — patient safety, communication, documentation
Duty of candour: what you say to the patient, when, in writing
Internal escalation: Supervising Pharmacist, employer, insurer
External reporting: PSI complaint, HPRA pharmacovigilance, criminal matters
Insurance: professional indemnity, what's covered, what isn't
Working with PSI investigations: principles and practicalities

Exercise

Incident Response Plan. Given an unfolding scenario (dispensing error discovered 48 hours later, patient now reporting symptoms), learner writes a structured response: immediate actions, communications, documentation, regulatory steps.

End of Module Quiz

Quality systems · human factors · incident management

Pass mark
75%

Week 6 3 lessons 1 quiz · 70% pass

Business & Operations in Community Pharmacy

P&Ls, KPIs, GMS claims, ownership pathways. The commercial week. Includes the non-pharmacist owner pathway — relevant context for Diran's audience and any non-pharmacist investor.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the financial structure of an Irish/UK community pharmacy
Read and contribute to pharmacy KPI dashboards
Manage GMS / NHS claim submissions and reconcile rejections
Apply margin management principles within the dispensing role
Identify the path from staff pharmacist to supervising pharmacist to owner

6.1

The Financial Anatomy of a Community Pharmacy

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

Irish economic model: scheme dispensing fees + private margin + OTC + services
Dispensing fee tiers: GMS, DPS, LTI, HTS — what each pays per item
The High Tech Scheme: zero patient charge, dispensing fee model
UK NHS contract: global sum + activity-based payments + Pharmacy First / NMS / Hypertension Service unit fees
Operating cost lines: staff (largest), rent, software, locum cover, insurance
Net profit margins: typically 3–8% in community
Locum vs employed economics: who wins, who loses, when each makes sense

Exercise

P&L Interpretation. Given an actual (anonymised) community pharmacy P&L, learner identifies the three biggest opportunities for margin improvement and the three biggest risks. SME-reviewed.

6.2

KPIs, GMS Claims, and Daily Operational Excellence

Video · 20 min

Talking Points

KPIs that matter: items-per-day, dispense-time, basket size, return-customer rate, vaccine uptake, NMS conversion
The HSE PCRS portal: what claims look like, how rejections are handled
Common GMS claim rejections: incorrect coding, missing eligibility, prescription validity issues
Reconciling claims: the monthly cycle
Stock turn and the dispensary's working capital
Supply chain: ordering, returns, waste — the cost lines that disappear if you don't watch them
Patient services: what generates revenue, what generates loyalty, what generates both

Exercise

KPI Dashboard Build. Learner designs a 1-page weekly KPI dashboard for a 20,000-items/year community pharmacy. Specifies metrics, targets, and actions for off-target.

6.3

The Career Path: Staff → Supervising → Owner

Video · 18 min

Talking Points

The Irish ownership landscape: independent vs chains, the body corporate structure
The Supervising Pharmacist role: legal status, employer expectation, daily reality
The Pharmacy Owner role: the gap between supervising and owning
Buying a pharmacy: Irish market dynamics, valuations (typically 1.0–1.5× turnover), financing
Locum vs employed vs ownership: the income / responsibility / freedom triangle
Multi-site ownership: when the model breaks and what to do about it
The exit: succession, sale to chains, sale to independent
The Diran factor: non-pharmacist ownership pathways — corporate structure, Supervising Pharmacist relationship, governance separation

Exercise

Ownership Pathway Plan. Learner produces a personal 5-year plan from staff pharmacist post-registration to either supervising pharmacist or owner. AI coach references country-pick from M1 and registration timeline.

End of Module Quiz

Pharmacy economics · KPIs · ownership pathway

Pass mark
70%

Week 7 3 lessons 1 quiz · 70% pass

Public Health Services — Vaccinations, NMS, MURs

Vaccinations, medicines optimisation services, smoking cessation, weight management. The pharmacy as public-health frontline.

Learning Outcomes

Deliver pharmacy vaccination services (flu, COVID, travel, RSV) to PSI/GPhC standards
Conduct New Medicine Service (NMS, UK) and structured medication reviews
Operate Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) and equivalent IE services
Provide smoking cessation, weight management, and minor ailments services
Identify and develop new pharmacy-led service opportunities

7.1

Vaccination Services in Community Pharmacy

Video · 25 min

Talking Points

Pharmacist vaccinator training in Ireland (PSI-approved courses) and UK (PGD-based)
Irish flu and COVID vaccination programme: HSE protocols, eligibility, contraindications
Travel vaccinations: pharmacy's expanded role, yellow fever centre certification
RSV vaccines (recently added in IE/UK): Abrysvo, Arexvy, the eligible cohorts
Vaccination consent and documentation
Anaphylaxis preparedness: the legal kit, the response protocol, post-event reporting
Cold chain integrity in vaccine handling
The economics: dispensing fee per vaccination, the operational time cost

Exercise

Vaccination Service Audit. Pharmacy currently delivers flu only; learner produces a business case to add COVID, travel, and RSV vaccinations. Includes setup costs, revenue projections, training requirements, marketing plan.

7.2

Medicines Optimisation Services: NMS, MUR, SMR

Video · 22 min

Talking Points

NHS New Medicine Service (NMS), England: which medications, three-stage structure, patient outcomes
UK pharmacy contract activity-based payment for NMS
Medicines Use Reviews (MUR) — the legacy service, where it sits now
Structured Medication Review (SMR) — the GP practice pharmacist role, increasingly community pharmacy too
Irish equivalent landscape: what's emerging, where IPU is advocating
Patient identification: who benefits most, who declines (and why)
Documentation: service entries, GP communication, PCR/PCRS implications

Exercise

NMS Consultation Build. Learner conducts a simulated NMS consultation (provided patient profile: newly started on amlodipine for HTN). Records dialogue, completes documentation, drafts GP communication.

7.3

Smoking Cessation, Weight Management, and Public Health

Video · 20 min

Talking Points

HSE QUIT smoking cessation in pharmacy: pharmacotherapy + behavioural support
NRT, varenicline, bupropion, the e-cigarette evidence
Weight management: the GLP-1 era, when pharmacy is appropriate vs GP referral
Methadone Treatment Programme: the pharmacist's stewardship role
Needle exchange in community pharmacy (Irish public health programme)
Sexual health services: emergency hormonal contraception, chlamydia testing
Brief alcohol intervention: the SBIRT model
Mental health first aid: the technician/pharmacist's role

Exercise

Service Portfolio Pitch. Learner produces a 5-minute video pitch (or written equivalent) for a Community Pharmacy Services Portfolio targeting their employer. Includes 5 services, business case, regulatory requirements.

End of Module Quiz

Vaccination protocols · NMS structure · public health services

Pass mark
70%

Weeks 8–10 2 core lessons Mandatory masterclass Final project

Career Preparation, CV & Employer Insight

CV, LinkedIn, interview prep with clinical scenarios, salary negotiation. Three real applications submitted plus registration progress documented by Week 10.

Learning Outcomes

Produce a tailored Irish-format and UK-format CV for community pharmacist roles
Construct a LinkedIn profile that surfaces in community pharmacy recruiter searches
Prepare for and perform competently in pharmacist interviews including clinical scenarios
Identify three real, currently-open positions and apply with platform support
Negotiate salary effectively for community pharmacist roles
Plan the next 12 months of CPD and progression

8.1

Community Pharmacist CV: Ireland and UK Formats

Video · 30 min

Talking Points

The Irish community pharmacist CV: PSI registration status front-and-centre, education, clinical experience, services delivered
The UK community pharmacist CV: GPhC pin, the personal statement, services
Translating non-Irish/UK pharmacy experience: the equivalence narrative
Positioning the adaptation period as experience
The skills section: clinical, services, business, communication
ATS-friendly formatting: keywords (PSI, GPhC, MUR, NMS, vaccination, IPP)
Common CV failures: passive language, generic objectives, the "duties" trap

Exercise

CV draft v1. Learner produces a first draft of their own CV in The Diamond Bridge template. Submitted by end of Week 8. AI coach provides line-by-line feedback. SME review (paid tier).

8.2

Interview Technique for Pharmacist Roles

Video · 28 min

Talking Points

The structure: typically two rounds, often clinical scenarios in second round
"Tell me about yourself" — the 2-minute pitch
"How do you handle a Schedule 2 prescription that's missing the prescriber's signature?"
"Walk me through a vaccination consent process"
"A patient is angry that their medication isn't ready — how do you handle it?"
The clinical scenario question — STAR adapted for clinical answers
Salary discussions: Irish market rates, locum vs employed positioning
The Boots / McCabes / Hickey's interview process specifics
The HSE process: competency-based, structured, public sector cadence

Exercise

Mock interview. Pre-recorded 8-question interview run by AI coach (5 standard + 3 clinical scenarios). Learner records video or audio responses. Repeat allowed.

Live Masterclass · Mandatory · 90 min

Pharmacy Owner / Superintendent Pharmacist. A working community pharmacy owner OR Superintendent Pharmacist from a major Irish chain walks through what they actually shortlist, the clinical scenario questions that decide everything, common CV/interview mistakes for international pharmacists, salary negotiation insights. Suggested speakers: IPU board member, Boots Ireland Superintendent, McCabes senior pharmacist, independent pharmacy owner.

Final Project · By Week 10

Three real applications + registration in motion.

By the end of the programme, the learner submits:

Final CV (IE or UK format)
LinkedIn profile (or export)
Three completed job applications to currently-open community pharmacist roles, with cover letters tailored to each (8+ live roles per week available)
A documented PSI/GPhC registration progress update — where they are in the process, next steps, target completion date

The learner walks away with applications submitted and registration in motion, not just theoretical knowledge.

12 months Continuing Professional Development plan

Your 1-Year CPD Plan.

Your first 12 months as a registered Irish pharmacist set the tone for the next 30 years of practice. This plan is built around PSI/IIOP CPD compliance, the Common Conditions Service rollout, and progression toward Superintendent or ownership.

Months 1–3

Register and stabilise

Complete PSI registration. Set up IIOP CPD account. Pass employer's first-90-day clinical review. Document first three case-based reflections in your CPD logbook. Attend one Common Conditions Service training session.

Months 4–6

Specialise and lead

Take ownership of one Service: Methadone, Common Conditions, Vaccination, or Pharmacy Independent Prescribing (where credentialed). Mentor one technician or pre-reg student. Complete one Quality Improvement project documented for IIOP review.

Months 7–9

Network and influence

Join the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) if not already. Attend one major conference: PSI, IIOP, or IPU. Contribute to one local pharmacy network meeting. Begin scoping ownership pathway (E1) if interested — the Business Plan Builder is open to alumni.

Months 10–12

Plan year 2

Review your IIOP CPD logbook ahead of the annual review. Choose your year-2 specialism: clinical (Independent Prescriber), operational (Superintendent), commercial (ownership), or academic (post-grad / lecturer). Apply for one stretch role or training.

Year-1 Certification Targets

IIOP CPD compliance (50+ documented hours)
Pharmacy Independent Prescribing scoping (if relevant)
First Aid / BLS refresh
Vaccination certification (if not already)

Certifications, costs & Irish funding

Course, cert & funding roadmap.

Registered Irish pharmacists must maintain IIOP CPD compliance and increasingly take on Common Conditions Service / Independent Prescribing roles. The cert stack here protects your registration and unlocks progression.

Required external certifications

Certification	Duration	Indicative cost	Notes
PSI Registration	Annual renewal	~€620/year	Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland — required to practise
IIOP CPD Logbook	50+ documented hours/year	Free with IIOP	Mandatory for PSI compliance
First Aid / BLS	1-day refresh annually	~€100	Required by most employers
Vaccination certification	1-day course	~€200–300	Required to deliver flu/COVID/HPV vaccines under the Service

Recommended for progression

Certification	Duration	Indicative cost	Notes
Pharmacy Independent Prescribing	Postgraduate certificate	~€2,500–4,000	RCSI / TCD / UCC offer; UK accredited routes also available
Common Conditions Service training	Modular online	Subsidised by HSE	Required to deliver minor-ailment service in your pharmacy
MSc Clinical Pharmacy	1–2 years part-time	~€8,000–14,000	For specialism or hospital-clinical track

Irish funding routes worth checking

Funding route	Indicative savings	Notes
HSE National Pharmacy Strategy funding	Subsidised certs	Specifically for Common Conditions Service rollout — confirm scheme details with your superintendent.
Springboard+	Free or 90% subsidised	Some MSc routes covered; eligibility-dependent.
IPU member rates	Discount on conferences and CPD	Irish Pharmacy Union membership unlocks reduced training rates.
Employer CPD budgets	Negotiable	Most chain pharmacies budget €500–1,500/year per pharmacist.

Costs and funding terms shift. Always confirm with the certifying body and the funding scheme before committing. We do our best to keep this current, but it's signposting — not a guarantee of price or eligibility.

Community PharmacistPathway.

Three personal introductions.

€100 cashback.

Talent over capital.

PSI & GPhC Registration — Step-by-Step Guide

The PSI Equivalence Examination Pathway (Ireland)

The GPhC OSPAP Pathway (UK Great Britain)

Building Adaptation Period Strategy (Ireland)

Irish & UK Pharmacy Law and Practice

The Pharmacy Act 2007 and PSI Regulations

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (UK)

Controlled Drugs in Community Practice

Irish Prescription Schemes & UK NHS Prescription Systems

Clinical Therapeutics — Primary Care Focus

Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care

Diabetes Management in Community Pharmacy

Respiratory Disease: Asthma and COPD

Pain, Mental Health, and Common Polypharmacy Cases

OTC Therapeutic Reasoning and the Pharmacist's Expanded Scope

Medicines Counselling & Patient Communication

Structured Counselling Technique

Motivational Interviewing for Pharmacy

Health Literacy, Language, and Adapted Communication

Safety Communication Without Alarm

Dispensing Quality & Safety Systems

The Dispensing Quality Management System

Human Factors and Dispensing Error Prevention

Incident Management and Regulatory Reporting

Business & Operations in Community Pharmacy

The Financial Anatomy of a Community Pharmacy

KPIs, GMS Claims, and Daily Operational Excellence

The Career Path: Staff → Supervising → Owner

Public Health Services — Vaccinations, NMS, MURs

Vaccination Services in Community Pharmacy

Medicines Optimisation Services: NMS, MUR, SMR

Smoking Cessation, Weight Management, and Public Health

Career Preparation, CV & Employer Insight

Community Pharmacist CV: Ireland and UK Formats

Interview Technique for Pharmacist Roles

Three real applications + registration in motion.

Your 1-Year CPD Plan.

Register and stabilise

Specialise and lead

Network and influence

Plan year 2

Course, cert & funding roadmap.

Programme metadata.

Tier 1 — Anchor Employer Partners

Tier 2 — Active Recruiters

Tier 3 — HSE & Public Sector

Tier 4 — UK Market Entry

Tier 5 — Independent Pharmacies

Certifications Signposted

AI Coach Configuration

Pricing & Schedule

Community Pharmacist
Pathway.