The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) announced this week that 2,748 of the 3,326 candidates who sat the assessment on 16 June 2026 were successful, representing an overall pass rate of 83%. The pass rate for those undertaking the exam with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was 94%.
The results are particularly significant as they include the first cohort of trainee pharmacists whose education and training were delivered under the revised initial education and training standards introduced in 2021.
The GPhC described the assessment as a vital part of the journey to becoming a registered pharmacist, providing assurance that successful candidates can apply their knowledge appropriately and make professional judgements in practice.
A significant milestone for the profession
The results mark an important milestone as pharmacy continues its transition towards a more clinically focused workforce, with pharmacist independent prescribing becoming an increasingly central component of professional practice.
The PDA said those that passed and can now register as pharmacists should be proud of their achievement in completing a demanding programme of education, training, and assessment during a period of significant change for the profession.
However, the PDA has cautioned against assuming that registration alone equates to readiness to undertake all aspects of clinical practice immediately. Employers will need to give due consideration to supporting newly registered pharmacists to develop the experience necessary to be able to practice with confidence.
Supporting newly qualified pharmacist prescribers
As increasing numbers of pharmacists join the workforce with prescribing qualifications or prescribing-focused training, employers, regulators and others must ensure newly registered pharmacists are given the support, supervision and clinical governance arrangements needed to develop safely and confidently.
The PDA believes newly qualified pharmacists should:
- Practise within the limits of their individual competence.
- Have access to appropriate professional support and mentorship.
- Be provided with protected opportunities for learning and development.
- Not be expected to take on prescribing responsibilities beyond their experience and competence.
- Be supported by robust clinical governance arrangements.
While the profession’s role continues to expand, patient safety must remain paramount. The PDA has consistently maintained that professional judgement, adequate staffing levels and manageable workloads are essential if pharmacists are to deliver increasingly complex clinical services safely.
Workforce pressures remain
The announcement comes at a time when pharmacists across all sectors are experiencing growing demands on their time and expertise. Community pharmacy teams continue to play a larger role in the delivery of NHS clinical services with greater expectations from government, while those pharmacies face ongoing workforce and capacity challenges.
The PDA said newly qualified pharmacists represent a valuable addition to the workforce but warned that they should not be regarded as a solution to wider staffing shortages.
Instead, employers should recognise that the transition from trainee to registered professional is a crucial period in a pharmacist’s career and invest accordingly in induction, development and support.
Looking ahead
The PDA also recognises the disappointment and challenges faced by those who did not pass the exam. Information about the grounds for any appeal is available from the GPhC or PSNI in the first instance and PDA Education is available with resources to prepare for any resit on a future occasion.
With the first cohort trained under the new standards now entering the profession, the PDA said it will continue to monitor how changes to education and training translate into workplace practice and the experiences of newly qualified pharmacists.
The PDA wishes all successful candidates every success as they begin the next stage of their professional journey and looks forward to supporting them throughout their careers.
PDA has memberships available for foundation trainees, potential pharmacists (i.e. those pending a resit) and those who will now register and begin to practice. To request support from the PDA, individuals need to be members (membership fees are waived for students, trainees and potential pharmacists).
Learn more
- Appeals process for candidates that sat the registration assessment in June 2026
- Sitting the Common Registration Assessment
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.