Internationally qualified pharmacists from non-EEA countries who wish to practice in Great Britain must complete the Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme (OSPAP) pathway regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). This rigorous route involves a comprehensive credential adjudication, a 1-year postgraduate university program, 52 weeks of supervised pharmacy foundation training, and passing the two-part national registration assessment.
Success Rate
2–3 Years
£11,500 – £20,000 GBP
Total Duration
Estimated Cost
Success Rate
Difficulty Level
Follow these steps to achieve your global medical career
Achieve a passing score on a GPhC-recognized English test. The GPhC strictly mandates an IELTS Academic score of at least 7.0 in each of the four areas (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking) or an OET score of at least Grade B across all four sub-tests, achieved in a single test sitting.
Submit a comprehensive qualification portfolio, certified university syllabus, transcripts, and home-country registration to the GPhC. Assessors review the depth of your pharmaceutical education to grant official eligibility for an OSPAP university seat.
Enroll in and successfully complete a one-year Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) or Master of Science (MSc) in the Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme at an accredited UK university to bridge theoretical and legal knowledge gaps.
Secure and complete 52 weeks of full-time, supervised foundation training (formerly pre-registration training) in an approved community, hospital, or split-sector pharmacy environment, monitored by an approved GPhC tutor.
Sit for and pass the national computer-based registration exam. The assessment comprises Paper 1 (40 complex pharmaceutical calculation questions in 2 hours, no reference materials allowed) and Paper 2 (120 clinical pharmacy, therapeutic management, and pharmacy law questions in 2.5 hours).
Submit your final registration application via the myGPhC online portal. This step requires formal confirmation of your 52-week training sign-off, a passing exam result, a comprehensive medical fitness declaration, and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record clearance.
Essential prerequisites for this pathway
Downloadable guides and references
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