Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice

The University of Sydney offers a Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice, which incorporates the NAPE Intern Training Program (ITP). This program is also offered at Monash University and the University of South Australia.

Pharmacy interns who successfully complete the two units of study that make up the ITP will be able to complete a further two units of specialised study in order to achieve the award of the Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice.

The program provides a clear extension and continuation of the cross-disciplinary, integrated approach to learning and teaching undertaken in the Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy programs offered at Sydney.

Pharmacy graduates are also required to complete 1,824 hours of supervised practical training in addition to this course, prior to registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia. Please see the FAQ section on the AHPRA website for further information.

About the Intern Training Program

The NAPE ITP is a competency-based program, developed to address the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia, 2010 in accordance with the Accreditation Standards for Australian Pharmacy Intern Training programs 2010. The program is intended to provide interns with experiential learning so that at the completion of the program they can apply the required knowledge, attributes and skills to demonstrate competence in the required standards. The program has been developed not only to address the competence required by the standards, but with a focus on a program that is relevant to contemporary pharmacy practice. The multiple modes of delivery engaged in the program will enhance the learning experience.

The NAPE ITP is the only ITP that also provides intern pharmacists with an opportunity to build on the base program to obtain formal postgraduate qualifications in pharmacy practice and clinical pharmacy.

Program Objectives

1. To provide high quality, multimodal, comprehensive learning experiences, so, at the completion of the program, interns have the “knowledge, skills and attributes which meet all functional areas described in the current National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia necessary to commence unsupervised practice as a competent registered pharmacist”
2. To provide comprehensive support to interns to assist them as they progress from intern to registered pharmacist
3. To immerse interns in the experience of lifelong learning and provide an opportunity for pharmacists to obtain formal postgraduate qualifications in pharmacy practice.

Entry Requirements:

To be eligible to enrol in the ITP components of the Graduate Certificate offered at The University of Sydney, interns must:

• comply with the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 sections 62 and 63
• provide evidence of eligibility to graduate with a BPharm or MPharm (University of Sydney students will not need to provide this evidence as it will be available internally)
• have a Pharmacy Board of Australia approved work placement and preceptor prior to commencement of the course (i.e. by January 30, 2012)

How to Apply:

You must have completed or be in the final year of a Bachelor of Pharmacy or a graduate entry Master of Pharmacy course at an Australian university.

To enrol in the Graduate Certificate Training in Pharmacy Practice, please submit your application via this link:

Apply now..

Seminar dates

All seminars are held at the University of Sydney. The dates for 2012 are as follows:

Seminar 1 February 6 & 7 (Monday/Tuesday)
Seminar 2 April 28 & 29 (Saturday/Sunday
Seminar 3 July 6 & 7 (Friday/Saturday)
Seminar 4 September 23 & 24 (Sunday/Monday)

Program format and components

The program uses a flexible teaching model involving face-to-face as well as external delivery. The program will be delivered by both University of Sydney faculty staff and practising pharmacists and focuses on small-group interaction and online learning via a single website portal for the program. Face-to-face and online learning is supplemented by learning portfolio activities to further develop and demonstrate required competencies.

All courses have online supported core materials available (e.g. self-paced study material, template documents, lecture material and presentations, references, bibliographies). All text-based written work will be submitted using online assignment management systems, and all quizzes will be online.

The key components of the ITP are:

• four compulsory two day seminars
  - with a focus on small group interactive formats
  - designed to provide interns with opportunities to interact with each other and experts in the profession
• small group online discussion forums moderated by experienced practicing pharmacists;
• open discussion forum
• online pharmaceutical calculations, law quizzes and examination;
• learning portfolio activities, including continuing professional development (CPD) activities
• ongoing assistance to preceptors and interns to enhance the development of intern competencies

Course Content:

The Graduate Certificate program and its Units of Study has clear links to the Faculty’s research themes of cancer, cardiovascular and diabetes, healthy ageing, mental health and respiratory disease.

All units of study will require students to complete assignments or case studies for marking. A workload of 6 credit points equates to between 9 -12 hours a week.

Course fees and availability

The University of Sydney has allocated 110 Commonwealth Supported Places for the Graduate Certificate. Course fees are therefore covered by CSP for those students who are eligible. The ITP is not available to international applicants.

Pharmacy Board of Australia Requirements

Interns and preceptors are advised to refer to the Pharmacy Board of Australia website.

Further Information

You can contact the Intern Placements Manager with any queries at .