Health Education England has today said it will fund independent prescribing courses for another year.

The announcement of continued funding means pharmacists can apply for 3,000 places on courses between April this year and March 2024.

HEE said applicants will need to fulfil four conditions to secure a place; that they are supported by an identified designated prescribing practitioner; they have an appropriate practice-based learning environment in a prescribing setting that can offer appropriate clinical support; they can provide evidence they meet the course provider eligibility criteria; and commit to use skills within their area of competence and expertise for the delivery of NHS clinical services as they emerge.

HEE has published a list of universities running the courses and the General Pharmaceutical Council has published information on the eligibility criteria.

“From September 2026, all newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers on the day of registration, and this increase in the places for existing pharmacists including locums makes this crucial opportunity more widely available across the whole network,” said the deputy chief pharmaceutical Officer Bruce Warner.

Pharmacists who successfully apply to one of the universities listed will be given a fully funded place by that university and will not need to apply to HEE for funding separately.