FARBPRA Pre-registration Training Course description

Through practical training at a pharmacy, the students will gradually develop a basis for mastering the professional role of pharmacist with a bachelor's degree. The main focus is to solve issues related to pharmaceuticals in active contact with the pharmacy's users and health personnel. The practical training period will allow the students to practise applying their knowledge and to acquire skills that can only be learnt through practice. This will contribute to promoting health and quality of life for individuals and society through active use of their expertise as pharmacists.

The student must have passed all the courses from the first year of study and may lack a maximum of one passed course from the second year.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can demonstrate broad knowledge of the pharmacist’s role in the core areas of the pharmacy
• can demonstrate broad knowledge of handling of drugs in the pharmacy
• can explain the pharmacy’s quality and internal control systems
• can describe and explain how requisition and the use of veterinary pharmaceuticals can contribute to ensuring good animal health and food safety
• can explain the use of relevant medical equipment
• can describe the national strategies for supply of medicinal products and medicinal product preparedness

Skills

The student

• can make independent assessments and dispense pharmaceuticals based on prescriptions or requisitions in accordance with laws and regulations
• masters guidance and professional advice that contributes to responsible and medically correct use of pharmaceuticals, based on evidence-based drug information
• can identify and solve problems related to pharmaceuticals
• can give advice about self-medication and inform users about the influence of lifestyle factors on health in dialogue with pharmacy users
• can carry out pharmaceutical services at a pharmacy
• can assess when self-care is sufficient and when a patient should be referred to other health personnel
• can use and follow up internal control systems, including the pharmacy’s procedures and non-conformity system
• can communicate pharmaceutical knowledge with confidence, both in writing and verbally, to all relevant groups of customers and health personnel

General competence

The student

• has insight into and an understanding of how medicine monitoring, quality systems and quality and preparatory work contribute to safe use of pharmaceuticals and increased patient safety
• has insight into and an understanding of his/her own limitations, can reflect on and be conscious of his/her own work and profession and the pharmacist’s role in the pharmacy, society and in cooperation with other health personnel
• has insight into and can identify, reflect on and handle ethical issues in pharmaceutical professional practice, showing respect for users of pharmaceutical services and providing guidance that safeguards the integrity and rights of users
• can reflect on the quality and validity of the information provided by different information sources
• has digital competence and can use digital tools and maintain digital security

The course comprises a four-month placement in a pharmacy. The work and teaching methods also comprise lectures and seminars where students work on assignments. Digital learning resources will be made available for the students in advance.

Discussion between the programme lecturers, practical training supervisors and students is facilitated via digital tools. Students will be closely followed up by a supervisor at the pharmacy and have regular supervisory sessions. During the practical training period, students work individually on written assignments related to the practical training.

The following must be approved in order to pass part 1 practical training:

• Written assignments related to the practical training, as set out in the practical training compendium

The written assignments are assessed by the practical training supervisor or lecturer from the programme. The students have up to three attempts to have the assignment approved during the practical training period. If a written assignment is not approved, it must be revised and re-submitted. A student who receives the assessment "not approved" on the first or second attempt will receive individual feedback and advice om what needs improvement to meet the requirements. If the third attempt at a written assignment is also not approved, practical training will be registered as "failed". This counts as one (1) attempt to pass practical training.

Note that there is an attendance requirement for practical training (90 percent). For more information about the attendance requirement for practical training, see ‘Assessment of external practical training’ in the main section of the programme description.

Combined assessment:

Part 1 Practical training:

Assessment of practical training. The minimum attendance requirement for the practical training period is 90%. For more information about the attendance requirement for practical training, see ‘Assessment of external practical training’ in the main section of the programme description.

Part 2 Exam

Individual oral/practical exam, up to 120 minutes.

Parts 1 and 2 must both be approved to pass the course. A pass is required in part 1 practical training to be able to take part 2 the practical exam. If the student fails part 1 (practical training period), they must normally retake the whole practical training period.

Calculator.

Relevant online reference works.

Pass/fail

Part 1 Practical training

The midway and final assessments are carried out by the practical training supervisor and the person responsible for the course at the university. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

Part 2 Exam

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

• 20 credits overlap with the course FARMAPRA10 Pre-registration Training