Accessibility statement

Independent & Supplementary Prescribing for Non-medical Prescribers (V300)

(Approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) and Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Subject to approval by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Completing chart

Overview

Our Non-Medical Prescribing programme is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council for Registered Nurses and Midwives and the Health Care Professions Council for Allied Health Professionals (dieticians, paramedics, physiotherapists, chiropodists/podiatrists and radiographers). and is subject to approval by the General Pharmaceutical Council. 

The programme prepares nurses, midwives, pharmacists, paramedics, podiatrists and physiotherapists to prescribe as independent and/or supplementary prescribers, and dieticians and radiographers as supplementary prescribers through achievement of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society standards. 

Places on this programme are limited to those registrants who fulfil all the entry criteria defined by the Department of Health Sciences and the Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs). 

Please note that attendance on this programme does not infer the right to prescribe. You may only prescribe once your prescribing qualification has been annotated on the relevant professional body register. When this has occurred, you may only prescribe from the formulary you are qualified to prescribe from and within your competence and scope of practice.

Access to the programme is by formal application, where we will be looking at whether you fulfil the requirements to access the programme set out here and the relevant Professional Regulatory Statutory Body.

Level 6 - Degree

  • Non-medical prescribers: Independent and Supplementary prescribing (nurses, midwives and allied health professionals) - level 6 
  • Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Pharmacists - level 6 

If you successfully complete this programme at Level 6, you will be awarded 30 credit points by the University of York. For cost information, please visit www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/ssprd/funding/.

Level 7 - Masters

  • Non-medical prescribers: Independent and Supplementary prescribing (nurses, midwives and allied health professionals) - level 7 
  • Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Pharmacists - level 7 

If you successfully complete this programme you will be awarded 30 credits at level 7 by the University of York. For cost information, please visit www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/ssprd/funding/.

To apply

To apply please contact dohs-ssprd@york.ac.uk for an application pack.

Entry requirements

The programme is open to:

  • Registered nurses and midwives with two years post-registration experience, of which the year immediately preceding application to the programme must have been in the clinical field in which you intend to prescribe.
  • Pharmacists with at least two years appropriate, patient-orientated experience in a hospital, community or primary care setting following their pre-registration year.
  • Allied health professionals, with at least three years relevant post-qualification experience, who can demonstrate that they are currently working at an advanced practitioner level (or equivalent).

All applicants must:

  • Demonstrate an ability to study at the required level. This will be evidenced through having successfully achieved credit bearing modules. If not you will be asked to write an academic essay focused on a topic agreed with the programme team.
  • Be employed within a position which requires you  and will enable you, to prescribe upon completion of the programme.
  • Have the support of a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) for the duration of the programme who fulfils the criteria for Practice Assessor/Practice Educator. You will also require another DPP to act as Practice Supervisor. In exceptional circumstances this may be the same person but this will need to be discussed and agreed with the programme team. 

Self-employed and non NHS applicants

Self-employed and non NHS applicants must be able to demonstrate appropriate governance arrangements to support the compulsory practice element. Therefore, when an application form is received by a self-employed applicant the programme team will look to ensure that the placement area is appropriate for student learning. This will be achieved in one of two ways.

  1. The placement area is on the Practice Assessment Record & Evaluation (PARE) system and is being accessed by pre-registration healthcare students https://onlinepare.net/.
  2. Checking the Care Quality Commission https://www.cqc.org.uk/ for reports. If the placement area has received a rating of outstanding or good, it can be agreed that the placement area meets the requirements for an appropriate area for learning. If the placement area has received 'requires improvement' report it will be considered by looking at the area with a view to placement learning (using PARE evaluation domains). An area that receives inadequate rating or no rating/under appeal/rating suspended would not be appropriate.

Decisions will remain with the programme team and at all times the interests and safety of the public will be considered and are priority. An explanation will be given to you to explain the outcome and advice given. 

Areas to be explored by the programme team in conjunction with the applicant are:

  • What indemnity arrangements are in place?
  • Who will be the Designated Prescribing Practitioners who will be taking the roles of Practice Assessor, Practice Supervisor or Practice Educator (depending on PSRB requirements)?
  • Is there evidence of service user engagement and feedback?
  • Are there any reciprocal arrangements in place to access supervision and support?
  • Is there evidence to demonstrate care delivery meets local and national standards and this is reflected in the students/learner’s educational experience?

Before you start your application, you should ask yourself the following questions

  1. Do I have a job role where prescribing will enhance my practice?
  2. Have I been qualified long enough?
  3. Have I been working in the area I intend to prescribe for long enough?
  4. Do I have the support of my manager?
  5. Do I have a designated prescribing practitioner who can act as a supervisor?
  6. Do I have a designated prescribing practitioner who can act as my assessor?
  7. Do I have appropriate governance arrangements in place?
  8. Do I have evidence of recent study?
  9. Do I have support from my manager who has agreed to the time allocation? 

If you answered no to any of the questions you may not be ready to apply and the programme team will be happy to answer any questions and offer support.

Start dates and timetable

  • September 2021
  • February 2022 (tbc)

Handbooks 2020/21

Allied Health Professionals

Handbook for Designated Prescribing Practitioners, Practice Educators Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for
Non-Medical Prescribers (Allied Health Professionals only) V300

Registered Nurses and Midwives

Handbook for Designated Prescribing Practitioners, Practice Assessors and Practice Supervisors Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for Non-Medical Prescribers (Registered Nurses & Midwives only) V300