Guidelines eliminate limbo between graduation and registration as a pharmacist

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) has published, for implementation, the Guidelines for registration of persons who hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree as pharmacist’s assistant post-basic through Board Notice 138 of 2020 in the Government Gazette, No. 43934 on 27 November 2020. The guidelines were promulgated to assist locally qualified graduates who have not completed pre-registration requirements and are unable to find an internship placement, and foreign-qualified candidates who have been approved to sit for the professional examination.

Though not widespread, Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) graduates who have not found an internship opportunity sometimes find themselves unemployed and unable to earn a living despite having the competence to operate at the level of pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic). This scenario is also common amongst foreign-qualified candidates who are approved to sit for the professional examination. These guidelines pave way for the SAPC to accept applications for registration as pharmacist’s assistants (post-basic) from these graduates, and those South African-trained graduates who wish to delay their registration as pharmacists. It is worth noting that persons registered as pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) in line with these guidelines would still be required to operate under the direct supervision of a pharmacist until such time that they have met the pre-registration requirements and are registered as pharmacist.

Conditions for locally qualified BPharm graduates

Persons who have completed their Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in South Africa but, are not able to find employment as pharmacist interns may be granted permission to practise the scope of practice of a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist in a pharmacy under the following conditions:

1. they must have completed their Bachelor of Pharmacy degree;
2. they must provide documentary evidence that they have applied for internship positions and their job application(s) have been declined;
3. they must apply for registration as a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), as permitted in Regulation 35 of the Registration Regulations;
4. the approval will be granted for 6 months renewable, to a maximum of two years;
5. they must pay the applicable registration and annual fee; and
6. should they obtain a post as a pharmacist intern, they must apply for voluntary deregistration as a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) and follow the normal application process for internship.

Conditions for foreign-qualified graduates

Persons who have obtained a BPharm degree or equivalent qualification outside South Africa, and have applied for registration as a pharmacist may be granted permission, in terms of Regulation 38(1) of the Registration Regulations, to register as pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) and, therefore, be permitted to practise the scope of practice of a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist in a pharmacy under the following conditions:

1. their qualification must have been found to be equivalent to the South African BPharm degree by the South African Qualifications Authority;
2. their application for registration as a pharmacist must have been evaluated according to the SAPC’s criteria and found satisfactory;
3. they must have been approved to write the professional examination by the Pre-registration Committee;
4. they must have written the professional examination and passed at least the Applied Pharmacy Practice within the Legal Framework paper; and
5. they must apply to register as pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) and pay the applicable registration and annual fee.

These persons will be retained in the special register of pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) until such time they are competent in the professional examinations and are released for registration as a pharmacist intern or until they have reached their maximum attempt at the professional examinations (i.e. 4th attempt) or a maximum of four (4) years from the date of approval of their application for registration as a pharmacist by the Pre-registration Committee.

The SAPC reserves the right to terminate the approval granted should it deem such termination necessary. If this happens, the applicant will be removed from the register of pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) and will no longer be permitted to perform services or acts pertaining to the scope of practice of a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), as this will amount to an offence that may lead to disciplinary action.

Conditions for South African-trained persons who voluntarily delay their progression and registration as pharmacist interns

Persons who have completed their BPharm degree in South Africa but chooses to delay progression and registration as a pharmacist intern may be granted permission to practise the scope of practice of a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), under the direct personal supervision of a pharmacist in a pharmacy under the following conditions:

1. they must have completed their BPharm degree;
2. they must inform the Registrar of their intention to delay registration as a pharmacist intern, where after they will be removed from the register of pharmacy students in terms of Regulation 6 of the Registration Regulations;
3. should they so wish, they must apply for registration as a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), as permitted in Regulation 35 of the Registration Regulations;
4. they must pay the applicable registration and annual fee; and
5. should they later wish to register as a pharmacist intern, they can apply for voluntary deregistration as a pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic) and follow the normal application process for internship.

These persons will be retained in the register of pharmacist’s assistant (post-basic), until such time as the person requests voluntary removal from the register, normally when they elect to commence with their internship.

These guidelines are subject to review as changes in legislation occur, especially as it relates to the registration of pharmacist technicians. The full guidelines may be viewed on the SAPC website by clicking here.