Pharmacists employed in primary care but not in specific PCN roles can apply for pathway equivalence to benchmark their training and experience against the PCPEP, so they and their employers can be assured that they are practising at least at the level of someone who has completed the pathway.

If there is anything that may affect your ability to complete this exemption application, please get in touch so we can make reasonable adjustments where possible. Please email primarycare@cppe.ac.uk and ask for a confidential discussion with the exemptions lead pharmacist.

Section one: Exemption guidance for those in PCN ARRS-funded roles

Applying for exemption from the whole pathway

Pharmacists whose employment is funded by the Primary care Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) must either be enrolled in, or have qualified from, one of the CPPE-commissioned training pathways (General practice pharmacist training pathway (GPPTP), Clinical pharmacists in general practice (CPGPE), Medicines optimisation in care homes (MOCH) or Primary care pharmacy education pathway (PCPEP)). Pharmacists must also complete a separate independent prescribing training course (also funded through the ARRS scheme) so they can practise and prescribe safely and effectively in a primary care setting in order to deliver the key responsibilities of the role. Please look at Annex B of the contract specification to understand what pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are expected to do.

A Pharmacy technician employed by a PCN under the ARRS must be enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from an approved training pathway, for example, the Primary care pharmacy educational pathway (PCPEP) or Medicines optimisation in care homes (MOCH) or courses approved by the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) as meeting the requirements of the UK-wide APTUK/PCPA National Competency Framework for Primary Care Pharmacy Technicians and accepted by NHS England.

Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians may have a range of prior experience, training and qualifications which can exempt them from some of or all the PCPEP. You will need to show how you are already practising at the level of someone who has completed some or all the pathway.

Please note that for pharmacy technicians enrolled on the pathway, possible exemption is currently limited to Module 4 (Leadership and management), unless they have completed the CPPE Medicines optimisation in care homes pathway.

Pharmacists who think they may be exempt from the whole pathway should apply for exemption before enrolling on the pathway. If you are unsure whether your training and experience will exempt you from the whole pathway, please email primarycare@cppe.ac.uk and ask to speak to one of the team for advice before enrolling. If you have already enrolled, the initial meeting with your pathway education supervisor will help you understand whether it is worth applying for exemption from the whole pathway. If so, you must apply for whole pathway exemption by the end of the first month of the pathway.

The deadlines for each cohort are shown below.

Download the guidance documents and the application form for whole pathway exemption so you can see what sort of information you need to provide when applying for whole pathway exemption.

• Frequently asked questions about pathway exemption
• Guidance on applying for whole pathway exemption
• Application form for whole pathway exemption

If you have any queries when you have read this information, please contact primarycare@cppe.ac.uk, with the subject PCPEP exemption enquiry

Applying for exemption from either Module 3 (Clinical assessment skills) and/or Module 4 (Leadership and management)

Pharmacists can apply for exemption from Module 3 (Clinical assessment skills) and/or Module 4 (Leadership) but you must wait until you are enrolled on the pathway to do this. Applications for exemption from Modules 3 and 4 before you are enrolled on the pathway will be automatically declined.

Please note that exemption for pharmacy technicians enrolled on PCPEP is currently limited to Module 4, unless you have completed or are taking part in the CPPE Medicines optimisation in care homes pathway.

You must apply before you start Module 3 or Module 4. The application deadlines are shown here.

To apply for exemption from Module 3 or Module 4, download the guidance documents and the application form and read them before applying for exemption.

• Guidance on applying for exemption from Module 3 (Clinical assessment skills)
• Application form for applying for Module 3 exemption
• Guidance on applying for exemption from Module 4 (Leadership and management)
• Application form for applying for Module 4 exemption

To help you decide what makes good evidence, we have put together guidance on how best to present your evidence to the panel, which you can find here.

Section two: Equivalence process guidance for those who are not in a PCN-ARRS-funded role

NHS England asked CPPE to develop a process to enable pharmacists who are not eligible for the CPPE Primary care pharmacy education pathway (PCPEP) to demonstrate whether their knowledge, skills and experience are at least equivalent to those of pharmacists who have taken part in one of the extended education pathways. This process is also intended to help PCN clinical directors to understand that their pre-PCN pharmacist workforce has the competence to carry out structured medication reviews. The process has two parts:

1. Create your Application Dashboard on the CPPE website so that you can upload relevant information to support your application.
2. Complete an application, providing more details about your role and how you are applying your knowledge, skills and experience in your primary care role.

How to apply for pathway equivalence

1. Please download the Guidance for applicants on showing equivalent learning and experience to the Primary care pharmacy education pathway June 2023 and use it to help you make your application. You can use Section 5b of this guidance as a self-assessment framework to identify what evidence you have for each criterion.
2. Please download the Pathway equivalence application form June 2023 to write your application.
3. Please download How to submit a successful equivalence application to see what a successful application looks like in each section of the application form, and What makes good evidence for an explanation of what to include in your evidence.
4. When you have completed the form and collected your supporting evidence, upload it to your application dashboard.

The diagram below shows the pathway equivalence application and assessment process.

If you have any queries about the equivalence process, please email generalpractice@cppe.ac.uk.

Starting the process

Step 1: Click here to create an application dashboard to help you apply for pathway equivalence. This will take you to a different page where you should click on the blue ‘Pathway Equivalence’ button to begin the process.

Creating your dashboard provides a portal for you to upload your supporting information, including your application form. It also collates information about your independent prescribing status and some details of your CPPE learning record to help the assessment panel when they review your application.

Step 2: Complete your Pathway equivalence Application form April 2023 and upload it to your application dashboard along with any other supporting documentation you wish to submit.

Please note: If you are already on a CPPE national pathway this is not the way to apply for exemption from some or all of the pathway. Please refer to section one of this page and discuss it with your education supervisor (if you have one).

If you have any queries about the equivalence process, please email generalpractice@cppe.ac.uk.