The face to face element of the course is at Scottish Masters (SHEM) level 5 throughout. It's delivered through two face-to-face periods that are taught at the University of Strathclyde.

The first face-to-face period of five days includes four classes, worth five credits each:

• therapeutics from a choice of cardiovascular, respiratory disease, diabetes, substance misuse, renal medicine and co-morbidities
• communicating with patients & colleagues
• prescribing & public health
• care planning

Full attendance during the face-to-face period is essential.

The second face-to-face period (one day) will normally take place approximately 12 weeks after the first face-to-face period. It involves peer review sessions designed to demonstrate clinical and ethical practice.

The aim of the period of learning in practice is to provide you with opportunities to develop competencies in prescribing. This period focuses on the patient group(s) in which you'll be expecting to prescribe. The PLP starts after the first face-to-face period.

The PLP is made up of a series of sessions (combination of full and/or half days) that involve prescribing and clinical activities. This should equate to a minimum of 12 days (90 hours), but is subject to decision by the pharmacist and their supervisor based on the challenges of the individual prescribing roles being adopted by different pharmacists.

This PLP time will be used to develop clinical skills including:

• accurate assessment
• history-taking
• recognition and response to common signs and symptoms
• formulation of a working diagnosis

During this period you'll be supervised by a designated prescribing prescriber (DPP) who will be responsible for confirming your competence to practice.  The DPP must be a registered healthcare professional in Great Britain or Northern Ireland with legal independent prescribing rights, who is suitably experienced and qualified to carry out this supervisory role, and who has demonstrated CPD or revalidation relevant to this role. Although an applicant may be supervised by more than one person, only one prescriber must be the DPP. The DPP is the person who will certify that successful pharmacists are competent to practise as independent prescribers.

A portfolio providing evidence that the required time has been spent and the learning outcomes achieved will be submitted along with a statement of assessment from the designated medical supervisor.

The assessment will confirm the pharmacist's clinical competence in the area(s) for which they intend to prescribe.

The period in practice will normally be completed within 12 months of the face-to-face course.