Accuracy Checking for Dispensing Assistants Revalidation

They must revalidate every two years to demonstrate that they can continue to carry out final accuracy checks safely and accurately. If the ACDA moves from one workplace to another in the same setting specified on their certificate, whilst the certificate will still be valid, they will be expected to complete a 200-item checking log in line with revalidation requirements to ensure they are safe to work in their new workplace with a different set of SOPs.

The revalidation paperwork must be signed by a practice supervisor who may be a pharmacist or an accuracy checking pharmacy technician (ACPT), who works alongside the ACDA in their checking role and are qualified to complete final accuracy checks in the same area. The practice supervisor must record their GPhC registration number on the paperwork.

Buttercups Training offers an ACDA revalidation service for £36 (Exc VAT). This supports ACDAs by offering guidance through a structured process, with templates to record the relevant information. ACDAs are not GPhC registrants, they will be guided through a revalidation process that reflects the GPhC revalidation requirements for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in terms of continuing professional development (CPD) and peer discussions in relation to their accuracy checking role.

From the 1st February 2023 you should use the workbooks available to download at the top of the page.

Full re-accreditation requirements for ACDAs reinstated from 1st October 2022

In 2020 re-accreditation requirements were eased to allow ACDAs to submit just one reflective account for their re-accreditation applications. This was implemented to reduce the pressures on pharmacy staff during the pandemic as they worked hard to protect patients and the public.

In line with the GPhC's revalidation requirements for pharmacy technicians, notification that as of 01.10.22 full re-accreditation requirements has be reinstated for ACDAs when submitting their re-accreditation application.

Our ACDA Revalidation Workbook contains monthly revalidation logs for 23 months, with one log to be completed by the ACDA each month for submission in month 24, before their current ACDA certificate expires.

The revalidation paperwork must be signed by the candidate’s practice supervisor who may be a pharmacist or an accuracy checking pharmacy technician (ACPT), who works alongside the candidate in their checking role and are qualified to complete final accuracy checks in the same area. The practice supervisor must record their GPhC registration number on the paperwork.

To apply for revalidation of their ACDA certificate, candidates need to submit the following documents for the 24-month revalidation period:

• Monthly revalidation logs for each of 23 months which are signed and verified by the practice supervisor. Each monthly log covers details for each month: the number of hours of checking they have completed. Candidates will need to complete additional checking logs if they have checked for less than eight hours per month the number of checking errors made, including a supplementary form to detail the checking error made and a corresponding unplanned CPD entries to reflect on each checking error made the titles of any CPD entries completed in that month whether they have changed their work environment, or changed to work under a different SOP or setting. Candidates will need to complete a 200-item checking log if they have changed their work environment and SOP/setting.
• Declaration that a minimum of eight CPD entries have been completed. Two of these should be planned learning and two should be unplanned learning
• A peer discussion relating to their checking role
• Corresponding records of any checking errors they have made and the unplanned CPD entries to reflect on these checking errors
• Additional checking portfolios that need to be completed due to a break in their checking role or a change in work environment
• A copy of their original ACDA certificate, including any previous revalidation/re-accreditation certificates issued since their original. If their ACDA certificate has already expired, they will have to complete additional checking logs depending on how long their certificate has expired for. All certificates need to be certified as genuine by the practice supervisor signing the application pack.

If a candidate was certified for an ACDA course that did not meet the GPhC IET (2020) requirements, a top up Revalidation Witness Testimony must be completed by their practice supervisor to show that the candidate demonstrates the GPhC learning outcomes in the IET at Does level for 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 16 and 17.

If a learner was certified on an ACDA course that meets the GPhC IET (2020) requirements, such as our Level 2 Support Staff Course for Dispensing Assistant (DA) or Healthcare Assistant Course (HCA), the Revalidation Witness Testimony is not required.

After Buttercups has received the relevant paperwork, we will validate the evidence and issue an ACDA revalidation certificate valid for two years.