Accreditation
Accrediting pharmacy programs ensures that graduates are ‘suitably trained and qualified’.
We accredit programs by reviewing them to confirm that they meet clear, evidence-based standards. This ensures that program graduates can practise pharmacy safely and effectively.
A big effort by our accreditation team saw 10 education providers undergoing reaccreditation in 2021. To overcome the challenges created by the pandemic, we developed an Accreditation Virtual Site Visit Procedure that allowed us to successfully conduct 7 of the site visits virtually. The remaining 3 visits were able to be undertaken face to face.
Director Accreditation and Assessment, Kate Spencer, has expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the team to all programs and assessors for their continued contributions amidst COVID disruptions.
“We are grateful that technology has allowed this important work to continue so that we can assure quality in pharmacy education,” she said.
“We really appreciate your contribution this year and look forward to working with you again in the future.”
Calmer days are in sight with reaccreditation returning to typical numbers in 2022. We’ve now appointed all assessors to Accreditation Assessment Teams (AATs), of whom we hope to work face-to-face with next year. We are grateful for the knowledge and experience of the subject matter experts who participate as assessors on our AATs.
APC accredits:
49 degree programs delivered by 20 program providers*
6 intern training programs (ITPs)
4 CPD accrediting organisations
In 2021-2022, 7 degree programs and 3 ITPs underwent a full re-accreditation process.
This included a written submission against the standards, a full Accreditation Assessment Team (AAT) visit, an AAT report and recommendations and then the accreditation decision from our Accreditation Committee. For our full process see here Pharmacy Program Accreditation Guide.
* including bachelor, bachelor with honours, and masters degrees
Snapshot data
Number of of APC meetings held
Number of accreditation matters considered
Number of ITP Liaison Group meetings held
Where are the accredited degree programs?
Who makes the decisions?
The Accreditation Committee met several times during the year to make accreditation decisions about pharmacy degree programs, Intern Training Programs (ITPs) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accrediting organisations. The Committee ensures the continual delivery of high-quality pharmacy training.
How do we accredit degree and intern training programs?
The Accreditation Committee uses a risk-based decision making framework to make their accreditation decisions.
What is an Accreditation Assessment Team?
Accreditation Assessment Teams (previously called Site Evaluation Teams (SETs)) include qualified and experienced pharmacy academics and practitioners.
We run an expression of interest process every 3 years to identify suitably qualified and experienced individuals to include on our Assessor Register. They must complete our Assessor Training to maintain their competence.
How do we monitor accredited programs?
Our accreditation processes are cyclical. Australian degree and intern training programs are able to be accredited for a maximum of 6 years, and CPD accrediting organisations for a maximum of 3 years.
During the accreditation cycle, we monitor programs via:
- reporting against program conditions and monitoring requirements
- annual reporting
- formal/informal feedback.
Program providers were required to provide information as part of their annual reporting in 2021-22 on how their pharmacy programs were responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. With closed international borders, restrictions within states, increased online and blended learning models and adaptations to clinical placements, there has been a need for flexibility in program delivery. Our team has been available to support education providers to continue to meet the accreditation standards during this time.
New ‘integrated’ pharmacy programs
This year saw us receive applications from pharmacy program providers for accreditation of new ‘integrated‘ pharmacy programs: i.e. a combined degree and intern training . Graduates of these programs will be eligible to apply for provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
When we developed our 2020 Accreditation Standards for Pharmacy Programs, for the first time they applied to both degree and intern training programs. We also published a Performance Outcomes Framework that describes the requirements of the profession for individuals at two milestones on their journey to registration. This has allowed program providers to develop programs that incorporate both the degree program, the intern training program and the supervised practice hours required for Pharmacy Board of Australia registration. Our role as the accrediting authority continues be to assess and accredit the education program. For new integrated programs, as for graduates of separate degree and intern training programs, the PharmBA is responsible for assessing the location and duration of supervised practice hours.
CPD Accrediting Organisations
Pharmacists are required to complete continuing professional development (CPD) each year on identified areas of professional need as part of their registration requirements for PharmBA. The accreditation of CPD activities against our Accreditation Standards for Continuing Professional Development Activities is an important process to ensure quality in pharmacist CPD. We accredit CPD accrediting organisations to accredit CPD activities on our behalf against the standards. Accredited activities are then able to display the APC Accredited CPD logo.
We have commenced a project to review the current CPD activity standards, and to develop a set of formal standards for the structure and processes of CPD accrediting organisations. The project is being undertaken by an external consultant and incldues consultation with key stakeholders, including CPD accrediting organisations.