PCWA 500 HOUR TRAINING

The delay in the introduction of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for health professionals has led to confusion amongst both pharmacists and students in relation to 500 hour training. When the NRAS is introduced in WA (anticipated to be in October 2010) the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) will be responsible for setting nationally consistent standards and requirements for pre-registration training. The PBA’s pre-registration training requirement is 1824 hours – all to be undertaken after graduation.   There is no PBA requirement for students to complete pre-graduation training such as 500 hours. Students who have completed pre-graduation training hours, such as 500 hours, will not receive any credit towards the required 1824 hours by PBA. However until WA joins the national scheme the current requirement of 2500 pre-registration training hours remains in force. This means that WA pharmacies are still able to employ a 500 hour student.   In fact, pharmacies’ rights to employ students will remain unaffected.   It is the students’ right to have those hours counted towards pre-registration training that is affected. Council encourages pharmacy students to undertake pre-graduation work in a pharmacy.  Significant benefits such as improving product knowledge, familiarisation with standard pharmacy procedures and requirements and networking opportunities all make for a valuable experience whether it is required by law or not. For further information, please contact Rebecca Cusack at the Pharmacy Council of WA via email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 9388 2886. Information about the PBA requirements for supervised practice is available on their website www.pharmacyboard.gov.au Information on wage rates is available from the Pharmacy Guild for Guild members and from Wageline (1300 655 266) for students and non-Guild members.

 

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