	AllExperts > Ireland
	Search

Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions

Home · More Ireland Questions · Answer Library

· Encyclopedia ·

Ireland - Pharmacy

Expert: Hugh O'Rourke - 11/4/2009

Question
H'lo there, Hugh.

I'm a student pharmacist, and I'm intrigued by the Emerald Isle, despite being born and raised in sunny California. So my question to you is perhaps two-fold--
1) Given what you know of California and so forth, what insights would you have to give to someone like me contemplating emigrating there? What differences should I be particularly aware of?
2) If I do move there I'll almost certainly be wanting to work as a pharmacist, seeing as I'll have the degree and all--so what more will I have to do to transfer my expertise? I know the UK has this program called OSPAP--it's a one-year thingamajig that educates overseas pharmacists as to the practice of pharmacy in the UK, thus prepping them for practice--but I've so far been unable to find anything conclusive about the requirements of Ireland per se. What can you tell me about this? And on an aside, what are your thoughts on the viability of seeking work there as a pharmacist? Also, seeing as I'm hoping to teach at college or university level some day, do you think there would be opportunities for that as well?

Apologies for the long-windedness of my inquiry, but I'm a more-than-slightly curious individual. I look forward to hearing from you!

Answer
Hi Miles
Thank you for your interest in Ireland.
It will take me a couple of days to find out the details of how a license to practice Pharmacy in Ireland can be obtained by a non-citizen.

While I look up that, you might consider whether there are industrial opportunities for people qualified in pharmacy within American companies who have operations already established in Ireland. Merck,Sharpe and Dohme is an example.

Ireland is very much cooler than California and very much wetter and greener. I will look up the temperature and precipitation statistics.

Work in Ireland is very difficult to obtain right now even for well qualified natives. Basically a very challenging time to consider any career in Ireland. When do you finish your current studies?

will respond in a couple of days

FOLLOW_UP DETAILS
+++++++++++++++++++

Sorry for the delay but here is the detail of the procedure required by the Pharmaceutical society of Ireland. This body has CGovernment recognition and you must satisfy them. You can see from the enclosed that there are detailed steps to be completed.

Development of a Non EU/EEA Route of Registration

1   Introductory Background

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has been awaiting the introduction of new pharmacy legislation to operate a Non-EU/EEA Route of Registration. The purpose of this Route is to enable individuals who hold pharmacist qualifications obtained outside of the EU/EEA to register as a pharmacist in Ireland with the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. The Route also applies to persons holding pharmacist qualifications who do not have rights to free movement under the EU Treaties.

The PSI’s responsibility for patient protection, as well as its duties under the Pharmacy Act 2007 and EU Directive 2005/36/EC, require that all routes of registration must ensure that every pharmacist practising in Ireland meets the necessary standards to provide safe and effective pharmacy care to the public. Therefore, to facilitate development of the Non EU/EEA Route of Registration, significant research was conducted to identify best practice in the area of registration of pharmacists and other health professionals.

In developing a Non-EU/EEA registration system, the PSI had regard to a number of key considerations. Firstly, the PSI was concerned to ensure that it would properly fulfil its statutory role in the protection of public health, welfare and safety by putting in place a robust registration system.   The PSI was also concerned to ensure that the registration system would be fair and proportionate in the interests of applicants.

A further key consideration of the PSI in developing this Route was the principle that all applicants should be treated equally. It is the PSI’s view that a standard system for Non-EU/EEA registration should apply to all applicants, irrespective of their nationality, country of qualification or country of origin. The PSI is concerned to ensure that the Non-EU/EEA registration procedure would not, and could not, be perceived to be inequitable or discriminatory.

Compliance with EU law was also a key consideration of the PSI. Under Directive 2005/36/EC on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, Member State competent authorities, must recognise “third country” pharmacist qualifications, in accordance with the EU Minimum Training Requirements. Therefore as a competent authority, the PSI must ensure that its procedures for the recognition of Non-EU/EEA pharmacist qualifications are in accordance with best EU practice, especially where Ireland is the point of first entry to the EU/EEA.

Comparability of the registration process in line with EU and international practice, as well as issues of fraud prevention, were also considerations in developing this registration process.

This document details the development of the Non EU/EEA Qualification Recognition and Registration process including an overview of the relevant research conducted. Section 3 outlines the various stages of the final process and the specific function of each element.

2   Development of the Proposed Non EU/EEA Qualification Recognition & Registration Process

2.1   Research conducted on both Domestic and international ‘Overseas’ Applicant Registration Procedures

The first phase in the development of a procedure for the recognition of pharmacist qualifications obtained outside of the EU/EEA was to review the international practice, and standards applied by other professional regulators for the recognition of professional qualifications. In carrying out this review, information regarding registration procedures for overseas applicants was requested from the registration authorities set out below.

EU Pharmacy Registration / Regulatory Authorities
-   Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
-   Pharmaceutical Society of Denmark
-   Swiss Society of Public Health Administration and Hospital Pharmacists
-   Swiss Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
-   Royal Dutch Society for the promotion of Pharmacy

With regard to the EU pharmacy registration authorities requests for information were sent to a large number of competent authorities. Regard was had, in particular, to those countries which experience significant immigration of pharmacist professionals seeking recognition of their qualifications, also to countries where information was forthcoming with regard to their recognition procedures.

Non-EU Pharmacy Registration / Regulatory Authorities
-   USA: American Pharmacists Association, Illinois Pharmacists Association, Pharmacists Society of the State of New York
-   Canada: National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, Canada, Alberta College of Pharmacists, Manitoba Pharmaceutical Association, College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
-   Australia: Council of Pharmacy Registering Authorities, Australia, Pharmacy Board of Queensland, Pharmacy Board of New South Wales
-   New Zealand: Pharmacy Council of New Zealand

The procedures operated by some Non-EU pharmacy registration authorities for the recognition of pharmacist qualifications were also considered. Again, particular attention was paid to the procedures operated by countries that experience significant immigration and large volumes of applications for pharmacist qualification recognition.

Other Health Professional Registration / Regulatory Authorities
-   Irish Medical Council
-   An Bord Altranais

Regard was also had to the procedures operated nationally by other health professional competent authorities.

On the basis of the information received from the Authorities above or available through web-based research, it was evident that all of these Authorities had processes which comprised of similar core elements. Registration procedures across the board involved the following core components:
-   Initial assessments of eligibility,
-   Periods of practical in-service training completed in the host country,
-   Examinations of knowledge, skills and competence. The form of these examinations ranged from multiple choice questions to objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE).

It was observed that minimum timeframes for completion of the registration process did not fall below one year, and in the vast majority of cases, the same system applied to all applicants irrespective of where their qualification was obtained. [The exceptions to this were: Trans-Tasman arrangements between Australia and New Zealand and truncated registration processes in both of these countries for applicants who hold qualifications from Ireland, UK, Canada and the US.]

A Summary of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain’s Adjudication Route

As the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) have a significant number of common applicants and due to open land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the RPSGB’s Adjudication Route is specifically outlined below. The RPSGB Adjudication Route of Registration is of two years duration and comprises the following steps:

Step 1 - Preliminary Consideration
In summary, this comprises of the recognition of qualification process and confirmation of the applicant’s linguistic competency.

Step 2 - Formal Interview
This is necessary only if the applicant’s qualifications and work experience may have the desired degree of equivalence but there is not sufficient evidence to determine this.
Step 3 - Overseas Pharmacist Assessment Programme
Applicants must undertake and pass all components of a one year Overseas Pharmacists Assessment programme provided by Schools of Pharmacy at Sunderland, Aston and Brighton Universities.

Step 4 - Pre-Registration Training
Pre-Registration training must comprise a period of 12 months of practical training. Appraisal forms and tutor declarations are submitted every 3 months during the pre-registration training period.

Step 5 - Registration Examination
The applicant may only apply to undertake the Registration Exam having completed 45 weeks of pre-registration training. An applicant is allowed three attempts to pass the registration exam.

Step 6 - Application to Register
On passing the Registration Examination the applicant is eligible to apply to register.

2.2   Development of a Non-EU/EEA Qualification Recognition & Registration Process by the PSI

The findings of this research were factored into development work on a Non-EU/EEA Route of Registration, which was approved in principle by the Council of the old Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland at its meeting of November 2006.

A summary of the proposed process and rationale for each step is set out in Section 3 below. It is intended that the applicant will complete this process and then simply apply for registration via a system that will be comparable to both the national and EU systems.

Each step of this process has been designed to ensure that successful applicants meet the national and EU standard, having the necessary education, qualifications and training and are fit and proper persons to provide safe and effective pharmacy care and treatment to patients. In addition, the process has been developed to ensure that all persons registered under this Route meet the EU minimum training requirements in compliance with the Ireland’s obligations under Art 2.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC.

3   Summary of Process for the Recognition of Pharmacist Qualifications under the Non-EU/EEA Route

3.1   Stage One - Confirmation of Eligibility (Application Stage)

The purpose of the Confirmation of Eligibility Stage is as follows:

§   To confirm, in broad terms, that the applicant is eligible to apply for recognition of their qualification and that they have submitted a complete application for recognition.
§   To confirm the identity of the applicant and general information relevant to their application (e.g. language competence, professional character and standing, good health and legal entitlement to be resident in Ireland etc.).
§   To ascertain whether the qualification held by the applicant is one which entitles them to practise as a pharmacist in the country in which they obtained it.
§   To ascertain whether the pharmacist qualification held by the applicant could be considered to meet the EU minimum training requirements.

As part of the Confirmation of Eligibility Stage, applicants will be required to submit a completed application form together with the following types of documentation:
-   Evidences of identity,
-   Evidence of qualification as a pharmacist,
-   Evidence of the applicant’s legal entitlement to be in Ireland ,
-   A Curriculum Vitae,
-   Completed Health Declaration form,
-   Completed Statutory Declaration form,
-   Evidence of criminal clearance,
-   Non-refundable application fee.

In addition, the following documents will be required to be submitted to the PSI directly by the issuing competent authority:
-   Evidence of qualification as a pharmacist, including an academic transcript and the syllabus of the course of studies completed by the applicant.
-   A certificate from the appropriate registration / regulatory authority from the country in which the applicant obtained their pharmacist qualification confirming that it is a qualification which entitles them to practise as a pharmacist in that country
-   Evidence of character / professional status as a pharmacist or any other healthcare or social care profession, practice or occupation.
-   Professional references.

The complete application will be reviewed to ascertain whether the applicant’s qualification is a pharmacist qualification.

On successful completion of the Confirmation of Eligibility Stage, applicants will be eligible to apply to undertake the Non-EU/EEA Route Equivalence Examinations. The Non-EU/EEA Route Equivalence Examinations cannot be undertaken without first successfully completing the Confirmation of Eligibility Stage.

3.2   Stage Two – Completion of Equivalence Examinations

The purpose of the Equivalence Examination is to:

-   Independently assess the standard of education, training, examinations passed and qualifications undertaken by the applicant in a Non-EU/EEA country which led to their qualification as a pharmacist.
-   Confirm that the applicant’s pharmacy education and training, examinations passed and qualifications obtained are of a standard not lower than the standard necessary for practise as a pharmacist in Ireland and in line with the EU Minimum Training Requirements.

The Equivalence Examinations will be conducted by an academic institution(s) in Ireland which will be accredited by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. Schools of Pharmacy accredited to provide the Equivalence Examinations and details of the syllabus of study in preparation for the Equivalence Examinations will be available to applicants from the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. It is envisaged that the Equivalence Examinations will be undertaken over 2 to 3 days and will involve MCQ / short question type examinations and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).

In line with academic practice, candidates will have a maximum of four opportunities to pass these Examinations. An examination fee will be payable by applicants to the academic institution administering the Equivalence Examinations.

Applicants who are successful in the Equivalence Examination will then be eligible to proceed to Stage Three – Completion of a Period of Practical In-Service Training.

3.3   Stage Three – Completion of 6 Months Practical In-Service Training in Ireland

The purpose of the Practical / In-Service Training Stage is to:

-   Ensure that applicants under a non-EU/EEA Route meet the national and EU legal requirements regarding the completion of 6 months practical in-service training in community or hospital pharmacy in the EU/EEA,
-   Applicants gain the competencies required to practise safely as an independent and professional pharmacist in Ireland,
-   Applicants gain the knowledge and skills required to exercise the independent legal, professional, and ethical responsibilities of a pharmacist in Ireland.

It is proposed that applicants under the Non-EU/EEA route would be required to complete a period of 6 months practical in-service training in community or hospital pharmacy in Ireland (in line with the EU Minimum Training Requirements). Applicants who did not complete a minimum of 6 months of practical in-service training in the country in which they obtained their pharmacist qualification will be required to complete 12 months of practical training in Ireland in order to meet the national and EU standards for pharmacy education and training.

The practical training will be in accordance with the requirements laid down at that time for pharmacy graduates of Irish Schools of Pharmacy for the purposes of their Pre-Registration Training Programme.
The successful completion of the period of practical in-service training will then allow the applicant to proceed to Stage Four – the Pharmaceutical Licence Examination – Final Examination.

3.4   Stage Four – Completion of the Pharmaceutical License Examination

The purpose of the Pharmaceutical Licence Examination (and its future formats) will be to:

-   Finally assess and confirm that the examinee possesses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and competencies appropriate to become a registered pharmacist in Ireland and, therefore, to be awarded the entitlement to independently practise the profession of pharmacy in Ireland.

Having completed all Stages of the Non-EU/EEA Route of Qualification Recognition, the applicant will be issued with a Statement of Qualification Recognition. Possession of this Statement will allow the applicant to apply for registration as a pharmacist in Ireland. A standard process of registration will apply to all applicants whether they hold qualifications recognised under the National, EU and Non-EU routes.

4   Conclusion

In conclusion, it is the view of the Registration & Qualification Recognition Committee of the PSI that the proposed model for Non-EU/EEA Registration is in accordance with the provisions of the Pharmacy Act 2007, and obligations under Directive 2005/36/EC regarding the recognition of Third Country qualifications. In addition as outlined above, in developing the proposed Non-EU/EEA registration process regard was had to best practice in other Member States and countries with regard to the recognition of pharmacist qualifications.

In developing this registration process the PSI has been concerned to ensure that an appropriate balance is maintained between the PSI’s duty to put in place a registration system which, on one hand, is robust and in line with best practice in the interest of public protection, and on the other hand, is fair and proportionate in the interests of potential applicants.

kind regards

hugh

Add to this Answer Ask a Question