Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australian
Pre-registration Training Programme 2008

The Pharmaceutical Council of Western Australia conducts a training programme for intern pharmacists based on the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003.

Successful completion of this programme is required for registration as a Pharmaceutical Chemist in the State.

The aim of this workplace-based, hands-on practical training programme is to enable the intern pharmacist to apply in practice the academic and theoretical knowledge acquired during the undergraduate course. Competence in practice is essential to ensure the safety of the public. The programme also aims to foster an awareness that graduates in pharmacy are to become members of a profession, and to develop further a professional attitude and sense of responsibility.

These aims will be met by achieving the following objectives:

¨ Giving intern pharmacists the opportunity to apply in practice the knowledge acquired during the undergraduate course

¨ Developing the responsible attitude the public is entitled to expect of a health professional

¨ Developing an acceptable level of competence in pharmacy practice

¨ Developing the skill to communicate clearly with members of the public and with members of other health professions

¨ Instilling an appreciation of the pharmacist's role in Commonwealth and State health services and within the community

¨ Promoting recognition of the need for lifelong learning

¨ Increasing awareness of the spectrum of pharmaceutical services, including promotion of the proper use of medications and the promotion of healthy lifestyle

¨ Developing an awareness that professional decisions must be confined to areas of current competence

¨ Developing an understanding of the function of the various organisations which govern and support pharmacy

Intern pharmacists are employed in community or hospital pharmacy for 2500 hours of supervised practical training. 500 of these hours may be completed during years two, three and four of the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree course or at any time during a two year Masters degree course, but the remaining 2000 hours may be commenced only after all requirements of the degree course have been successfully completed.

Intern pharmacists must:

· attend two 2-day seminars during the year which include instruction on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, privacy issues and code of ethics as well health information, infant nutrition, paediatric problems and illicit drugs.

· meet on four occasions during the year in groups of approximately 10 with a practising pharmacist as facilitator. Discussions include health topics and practice issues.

· attend a minimum of 3 face-to-face continuing professional development activities during the year. The could include Continuing Education lectures presented by the Council for pharmacists.

· prepare and present a talk on health issues to a community group, staff of a nursing home or hostel, school children, conduct a staff training seminar in a pharmacy or prepare a health promotion project in a pharmacy e.g. for National Heart Week or Diabetes week; or, in hospital practice, a case study is presented to a clinical meeting, which is attended by pharmacists from the department.

· complete a portfolio of evidence, consisting of reports of case studies from their own pharmacy practice and which include case reports of extemporaneous prescriptions, prescription drugs, and primary health care problems. Patient care reviews are completed for two patients by interview and follow-up

· present for the Australian Pharmacy Competency Assessment Tool (APCAT), a 120 multiple choice question written examination paper.

· complete a multiple choice questionnaire to assess competency in some units of PSA’s Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia.

Preceptors must :

· prepare a training programme based on the Competency Standards for Pharmacists in Australia 2003.

· submit the training plan to the Council within 2 weeks of the commencement of the intern pharmacist’s practice hours. The plan must ensure that a wide experience of pharmacy practice is available to the intern pharmacist and may include identifying avenues outside the preceptor’s practice that may be of benefit to the intern pharmacist.

· submit to the Council appraisals of intern pharmacists’ achievements in the workplace and in the competencies at 13-week intervals three times during the year.

The final assessment before registration is the Viva Voce, an oral examination during which practice-based scenarios are presented to candidates who are assessed on knowledge, application of knowledge to practice, communication skills and attitudes. A practical and logical approach to problem solving with safe and effective outcomes for the consumer is expected.

A current Senior First Aid certificate is a requisite at the time a graduate applies for registration as a pharmacist and this is also usually completed during the year.