As part of the PDA’s ongoing support for trainees, the PDA wants to remind candidates of the two options that are available, should they have any difficulties prior to or during the assessment.
If candidates feel that their performance will be, or has been, significantly affected, they have two options.
1. Choosing to withdraw
Candidates can apply to withdraw provided they did not attempt the assessment. This means that they can withdraw at any time from the date they apply to the start of the assessment, including on the day of the assessment itself.
To withdraw, candidates must:
- Complete a Notification of Withdrawal form to notify the GPhC that they would like to withdraw. This includes if they withdraw on the day or do not turn up to the sitting.
- Send the completed form to withdrawals@pharmacyregulation.org by 5 pm on Tuesday 4 July 2023.
- Ensure they receive confirmation of receipt of their withdrawal form.
If candidates do not formally withdraw from the assessment, they will forfeit that sitting and the fee and it will count as one of their assessment attempts.
2. Applying for nullification
If candidates experience something which significantly affects their performance during the sitting, they can apply for nullification.
To apply for nullification candidates must:
- Make their invigilator and the GPhC staff member (if present) aware of the incident during the assessment and/or prior to leaving the test centre.
- Formally apply to request a nullification within 5 working days of the assessment.
- Provide suitable evidence to support their request.
There is no official guidance on what evidence can be submitted, but if a candidate has a medical problem then evidence from their GP or the person who treats their problem should be submitted. If a candidate experienced technical problems, they should keep a time log of what happened when and the impact of those problems.
The invigilator will complete a report which will be sent to the GPhC. The Board of Assessors will consider whether to grant the result.
Note, the candidate will not be informed of their assessment result.
Complete the form and submit it with the evidence to regexam@pharmacyregulation.org.
Kate Kensington, Head of Education at the PDA said, “The PDA would like to stress to members who are preparing to sit the assessment that if you are aware of anything that may adversely impact on your preparation or performance on the day, that you do not sit the assessment and you wait until the next sitting.”
Further guidance and advice from the PDA about when to withdraw and when to nullify can be found here.
PDA supports revision and exam preparation
There’s still time for PDA members to apply for the FREE PDA revision programme which will include:
- Practice revision questions and case studies
- Two one-hour timed mock exams
- Tips for revising successfully
- A discussion forum to share your questions, thoughts, and concerns.
Learn more
- Understanding when to withdraw and when to nullify for the June 2023 assessment
- Sitting the registration assessment in June 2023
- Revision programme for those sitting the June 2023 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.