Skip to content

Level 4 Enhanced Practice Programme for Pharmacy Technicians

This post‑registration programme enables pharmacy technicians to develop enhanced practice skills across all pharmacy sectors. Gain specialist knowledge and capabilities through a structured, blended programme that can be tailored to your role.

Accredited by Open Awards to ensure your learning meets nationally-recognised quality standards
Blended learning model, including online resources hosted on our state-of-the-art b-Hive platform
Support from a workplace training supervisor and dedicated Buttercups tutors - all registered healthcare professionals

Programme overview

The Level 4 Enhanced Practice Programme will equip you with the essential skills needed in advanced pharmacy roles to drive quality improvement, promote patient-centred care and lead with confidence through professionally-grounded, compassionate practice.

It includes mandatory and optional units, specialist pathways and blended learning designed to support progression into a range of clinically-focused and leadership‑aligned positions.

Who is the programme for?

The programme is for GPhC‑registered pharmacy technicians (or those qualified in Northern Ireland) working a minimum of 16 hours per week in a pharmacy environment and seeking to develop advanced skills for enhanced roles in the field. 

The programme supports a range of roles across all pharmacy sectors, including but not limited to: 

  • Dispensary and Pharmacy Manager

  • Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician

  • Technical Services Lead

  • Optimisation Pharmacy Technician

  • Pharmacy Procurement Pharmacy Technician

  • Pharmacy Educational/Supervisors/Lead

  • Manager

  • Specialist Pharmacy Technician

  • Pharmacy Service Lead

You'll require a pharmacy or healthcare professional to act as your workplace mentor during the course.

How the programme is delivered

We offer a ‘pick and mix’ unit format across the full programme and several role-specific pathways, allowing you to tailor the course to your position and professional development goals.

Learning is delivered through a blended model incorporating online learning via our b-Hive platform, independent research, individual and group tutorials, peer presentations and optional residential sessions, depending on chosen units. You will also engage with networks and communities of practice throughout the programme.

Course information

Duration
Full pathway: 24 months (part‑time)
See Pathways section for details of specific pathway durations

Start dates
Enrolments open for September cohort

Study modes
Blended learning (online activities, self‑directed study and live virtual classrooms via the b‑Hive)

Cost
See Programme Information Pack

Programme level
Level 4 (post‑registration)

Accreditation
Accredited by Open Awards

Course structure

Unit 01

Communication Skills in a Healthcare Setting

Includes consultation models, person‑centred care, OSCE preparation, communication methods, adapting communication, overcoming barriers, professionalism, conflict, legalities, confidentiality, action planning, and evaluating information resources.

Unit 02

Critical Thinking and Professional Judgements when Making Decisions

Includes critical thinking skills, reasoning, assumptions and evidence, decision‑making skills, professional judgement, problem‑solving approaches, debating skills, and collaborative decision processes.

Unit 03

Clinical Skills Development for Chronic Conditions

Includes guidelines for diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, medicines optimisation, information governance, case study skills, clinical decision making, and presentation skills.

Unit 04

Clinical Skills Development for Antimicrobial Stewardship

Includes antimicrobial guidelines, prescribing conventions, antimicrobial resistance, microbiology fundamentals, infective agents, stewardship principles, case study skills, and presentation preparation.

Unit 05

Clinical Skills Development for Elderly Care

Includes neurological, renal and musculoskeletal conditions, medicines optimisation in older people, diagnostic interpretation, case study skills, and presentation skills.

Unit 06

Consultation Skills in a Healthcare Setting

Includes MDT collaboration, personalised care, motivating change, enabling patient choice, social prescribing processes, OSCE preparation, and report writing skills.

Unit 07

Screening and Testing Patients in a Healthcare Setting

Includes screening and testing services, diagnostic imaging, chemical and cellular analysis, physical examinations, drug and alcohol testing, NHS checks, antibody testing, and sexual health screening.

Unit 08

Vaccination Services and First Aid in a Healthcare Setting

Includes first aid response, basic life support, immune system conditions, vaccination types, PSDs, PGDs, public health vaccination services, aseptic technique, consent, record‑keeping, and safe administration practices.

Unit 09

Research and Project Management Skills in a Healthcare Setting

Includes research methods, evidence evaluation, academic writing, project planning, governance, stakeholder roles, risk management, budgeting, presentation skills, and action planning.

Unit 10

Pharmacy Aseptic Services

Includes sterile product requirements, aseptic legislation and standards, quality assurance/control, evaluating issues in aseptic settings, and generating improvement solutions.

Unit 11

Pharmacy Procurement

Includes procurement legislation and standards, purchasing contracts, stock control, supplier management, audit requirements, medicine life‑cycle processes, reducing waste, and organisational/communication skills.

Course pathways

The course is delivered as a ‘pick and mix’ unit format across the full programme and several role-specific pathways. The full programme will take two years to complete on a part-time basis with a commitment of four to six hours of study per week.

The course includes 11 units (mandatory and optional), covering the full programme and six pathways.

Full programme

Duration: 24 months
Mandatory units: 01, 02, 09
Optional units: 03-08, 10, 11 *Three optional units must be selected
Residential: Unit 08
Price (incl. VAT): £3,900.00 (excludes accommodation)

 
Vaccination and First Aid Pathway

Duration: 10 months
Mandatory units: 01, 08
Residential: Yes (priority will be given for enrolment in the full programme)
Price (incl. VAT): £1,320.00 (excludes accommodation)

 
Support Provision of Health Services Pathway

Duration: 18 months
Mandatory units: 01, 06, 07
Optional units: 03-05 (one optional unit must be selected)
Price (incl. VAT): £2,640.00 (excludes accommodation)

 
 
 
 
 
Pharmacy Procurement Pathway

Duration: 10 months
Mandatory units: 02, 11
Price (incl. VAT): £1,560.00

 
Pharmacy Aseptic Services Pathway

Duration: 10 months
Mandatory units: 02, 10
Price (incl. VAT): £1,560.00 

 
 
 
 
 
Antimicrobial Stewardship Pathway

Duration: 12 months
Mandatory unit: 01, 04
Price (incl. VAT): £1,560.00

 
Research and Leadership Pathway

Duration: 18 months
Mandatory units: 02, 09
Price (incl. VAT): £1,560.00

 
 
 

Course features

Delivered through e‑learning, virtual classrooms, tutorials, independent study and residential sessions (where applicable) - supporting flexible part-time study
Flexible ‘pick and mix’ structure - select optional units and pathways to match your professional development needs
Support from a dedicated tutor, workplace mentor and peer networks through tutorials, discussion forums and communities of practice throughout the programme

How to apply

To apply for the Level 4 Enhanced Practice Programme, please first review the Programme Information Pack to understand the units, pathways, time commitment and study requirements. Speak with your workplace mentor or line manager to confirm that you will have access to the required workplace resources, a suitable learning environment and the ability to complete four to six hours of weekly study.

Once you are ready to proceed, complete the form below so your eligibility can be confirmed. After your enrolment is approved, you will receive details for your online induction and gain access to your first unit on the b‑Hive learning platform.

Get information about this course