Professionalism and Professional Standards for Pharmacists

Professionalism and Professional Standards for Pharmacists is a CPD-accredited online course designed specifically for pharmacists working in the United Kingdom. The course supports pharmacists in understanding, applying, and reflecting on professional standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

It is particularly relevant for pharmacists facing complaints, investigations, or fitness-to-practise processes, as well as those seeking to strengthen professionalism, accountability, and patient-centred practice in everyday pharmacy work.

Professionalism underpins safe, ethical, and effective pharmacy practice. Concerns relating to professional conduct, boundaries, honesty, communication, or competence are a common cause of complaints and regulatory scrutiny.

The GPhC expects pharmacists to act with integrity, maintain trust, work within their competence, and prioritise patient welfare at all times. This course provides clear, practical guidance on meeting professional standards, recognising lapses early, and responding constructively through reflection and remediation where concerns arise.

This course is suitable for UK-based pharmacists, including:

• Pharmacists working in community, hospital, primary care, and specialist settings
• Pharmacists working in the National Health Service and the independent sector
• Professionals regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Pharmacists facing complaints, investigations, fitness-to-practise proceedings, or remediation
• Pharmacists seeking CPD evidence for appraisal, revalidation, employer review, or regulatory submissions

The course explores:

• What professionalism means in modern pharmacy practice
• Core principles of professionalism, including patient-centred care, integrity, honesty, accountability, and teamwork
• Effective communication, empathy, respect, and cultural sensitivity
• Maintaining professional boundaries with patients and colleagues
• Confidentiality, privacy, and information governance
• Working within limits of competence and maintaining clinical skills
• The GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals and how they are applied in practice
• Recognising breaches of professional standards and their consequences
• Responding to complaints, concerns, and fitness-to-practise processes
• Reflective practice, insight, and remediation
• Developing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) to demonstrate learning and improvement

On successful completion of this course, participants will receive:

• CPD UK certified accreditation
• An accredited CPD certificate
• CPD evidence suitable for appraisal, revalidation, remediation, and professional portfolios

This course is aligned with the General Pharmaceutical Council’s Standards for Pharmacy Professionals and related guidance.

It supports pharmacists in demonstrating professionalism, insight, accountability, and fitness to practise — particularly where concerns have been raised about conduct, boundaries, communication, or ethical behaviour.

This online course is relevant to pharmacists working across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in both National Health Service and independent healthcare settings.