New Accuracy Checking for Dispensing Assistants Course

Buttercups Training has relaunched the Accuracy Checking for Dispensing Assistants (ACDA) course and we are excited to announce that the course is now accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

The scope of the course is to train qualified dispensing assistants to carry out the final check of listed dispensed items clinically approved by a pharmacist. For settings that do not operate under the supervision of a Responsible Pharmacist, we offer a non-GPhC accredited version of the ACDA course.

What has changed?

• The ACDA course is now accredited by the GPhC and will sit alongside Buttercups’ current suite of accredited support staff courses
• The course now includes the core modules from the support staff courses (completed as part of all GPhC accredited level 2 qualifications) followed by technical modules specifically relating to accuracy checking, and accuracy checking activities
• The term ‘revalidation’ will be used instead of ‘reaccreditation’ and learners will be required to revalidate their ACDA qualification every two years
• Learners will be issued with a certificate which specifies the pharmacy setting they have completed the training in e.g. community, hospital outpatients, internet pharmacy. This information will be requested on enrolment and once learners have completed their course, they will be qualified to check within the environment they trained in. If they move to a new environment, they will be required to revalidate their qualification within the new setting
• Learners must complete their training and accuracy checking under the supervision of a Responsible Pharmacist. However, the nominated facilitator can be either a pharmacist or an Accuracy Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT). The facilitator will support the learner on programme and carry out an additional check on all items.
• As the GPhC requirements for the accreditation of the course state that accuracy checking must be completed under the supervision of a Responsible Pharmacist, and that the clinical and legal checks need to be completed by a pharmacist, we also offer a non-GPhC accredited version of the course to accommodate accuracy checking in other non-GPhC settings such as a dispensing doctors practice. If this applies to your organisation, the teaching content and assessment strategy remain the same for both courses with the exceptions below:
  • training will be completed under the supervision of a GMC registrant
  • final accuracy check will be under the supervision of a GP
  • clinical and legal checks must be completed by a GP
  • facilitator must be a GP, pharmacist, or accredited ACPT who will carry out final
  accuracy checks of dispensed medicines in the learner’s workplace, in the same area of work

What hasn’t changed?

• We continue to accept applications all year round and learners will be targeted to complete the course within 12 months of their enrolment date
• Learners will complete a 1,000 item checking portfolio dated within a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months
• Once the portfolio has been approved, learners will complete a probationary period, during which checked items will be subject to an additional check by the designated facilitator
• To meet the eligibility criteria for the ACDA course, applicants must:
  • hold a valid GPhC accredited dispensing assistant certificate
  • have been working in their current workplace for at least six months
  • have been declared to have the suitable experience and competence by their employer

What has changed?

The learner journey for the ACDA course is shown in the image below, which is also included in the course introduction.

How much does the ACDA cost?

The price for the new ACDA course is £170+VAT

Further information on the new ACDA course, along with details on how to enrol, can be accessed using the link below.

Accuracy Checking for Dispensing Assistants

Please use the ‘Ask a Question’ button on the course page to get in touch with any questions or queries.