The Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007

Preregistration requirements for pharmacy technicians in respect of qualifications and additional education, training or experience

23.—(1) For the purposes of article 22(1)(a)(i), a person is “appropriately qualified” if—

(a) he has a qualification awarded in England or Wales which has been approved by the Society as attesting to a standard of proficiency which, in the Society’s opinion, indicates that he has reached an adequate level of understanding for practising as a pharmacy technician;

(b) he is an exempt person and he has a right to practise as a pharmacy technician by virtue of the Second General System Regulations (having successfully completed any adaptation period or aptitude test that he may be required to complete pursuant to those Regulations); or

(c) he has, elsewhere than in England or Wales, undergone training as a pharmacy technician, and—

(i) he holds a qualification which has been approved by the Society as attesting to a standard of proficiency which, in the Society’s opinion, indicates that the person has reached an adequate level of understanding for practising as a pharmacy technician, or

(ii) he holds a qualification which—

(aa) in the case of an exempt person who does not have the right to practise referred to in sub-paragraph (b), taken together with his additional education, training or experience acquired elsewhere than in England or Wales (but at least in part within the European mutual recognition area) indicates, in the Society’s opinion, that he has reached an adequate level of understanding for practising as a pharmacy technician, or

(bb) whether or not he is an exempt person, taken together with his additional education, training or experience that the Society requires him to undertake pursuant to article 22(1)(a)(iii), indicates, in the Society’s opinion, that he has reached an adequate level of understanding for practising as a pharmacy technician,

having successfully completed any adaptation period or aptitude test that he may be required to complete pursuant to the Second General System Regulations.

(2) For the purposes of an application for entry in the Register of Pharmacy Technicians, the Registrar shall not require any exempt person to whom paragraph (1)(b) applies to meet any requirements as to additional education, training or experience, unless—

(a) the application is for restoration to the Register of Pharmacy Technicians; and

(b) in so doing the Registrar is acting in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the Treaties and the Second General Systems Directive.

(3) In formulating its opinion under paragraph (1)(c) in relation to an exempt person, the Society shall take into account—

(a) if the person holds a qualification granted outside the European mutual recognition area which has been accepted by another relevant European State as qualifying him to practise as a pharmacy technician in that State, the acceptance of that qualification; and

(b) all other qualifications, knowledge and experience, wherever acquired, which are relevant to the determination of the application.

(4) As regards any person to whom paragraph (1)(a) or (c)(i) or (ii)(bb) applies, for the purposes of meeting the requirements of article 22(1)(a)(iii), the Registrar may require him to meet requirements as to additional education which comprise or include reaching an adequate standard of proficiency in the knowledge and use of English, unless he is an exempt person.