Accredited Pharmacists Network

SHPA’s Accredited Pharmacists Network is dedicated to supporting and empowering pharmacist expertise for every patient, at the bedside, clinic or home.
 

Further update on accreditation - March 2023

SHPA has received the following update from the Department of Health and Ageing in response to questions asked by one of the professional bodies.

1. All existing Accredited Pharmacists (to be now known as ‘Credentialed Pharmacists’) who have successfully completed accreditation training with AACP, PSA or ACP will be grandfathered into the new ‘Credentialed Pharmacists’ arrangements and will continue to be eligible to participate in the RMMR and HMR programs into the future.
As you are aware the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) are currently in the process of developing accreditation standards. Please note that while the APC are developing the standards, AACP Medication Review Numbers (MRNs) that were valid as of 31 December 2022 will remain valid until 30 June 2023 within the Pharmacy Programs Administrator (PPA) Portal. This date is likely to be extended. This will ensure currently Accredited Pharmacists may continue to utilise their existing AACP Accreditation details to deliver 7CPA pharmacy programs facilitated by the PPA.

All existing accredited pharmacists, and those accredited prior to the new arrangements taking effect, will be grandfathered to become credentialled pharmacists for delivering RMMR and HMR services. Should the APC identify a gap between the previous standard for accreditation and the new standard for credentialling then a transitional period may be needed for grandfathered pharmacists to complete a small bridging module or demonstrate their ongoing professional development activities satisfy the requirements. The Department will be guided by the advice from APC and the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) on this matter.

2. Once the new ‘Accreditation Standard’ being developed by the Pharmacy Council is published, education training providers will have two months to update their training to the new ‘Accreditation Standard’ (anticipated to be in July 2023).

Once the Accreditation standards have been developed and published by the APC (anticipated to be in July 2023) education training providers will need to update their training programs, preferably as soon as possible. Specific details of an expected time frame for training providers to update their training packages to the new standard have yet to be finalised, and will be informed by APC’s EAC and Consultation process. This will be communicated by the APC and Department in due course, at the earliest possible time.

3. As soon as one education training provider has demonstrated to the Pharmacy Council that its ‘Credentialed Pharmacists’ training has met the new ‘Accreditation Standard’, the old, accredited training programs will cease to be a valid pathway to being a ‘Credentialed Pharmacist’ and training providers will need to transition their learners to a new APC approved ‘Credentialed Pharmacists’ training program.

I confirm that it is the Department’s intent for all previously offered accredited training programs to cease being a valid pathway to being a Credentialed Pharmacist once the new standard is in effect. To be considered a Credentialed Pharmacist for the purpose of 7CPA Pharmacy Programs, and other future measures requiring a Credentialed Pharmacist, relevant training must be completed through an APC approved training provider. To be considered an APC approved training provider, organisations must offer accreditation training courses that have been confirmed by APC as aligning with the new standards. It will be the responsibility of training providers to ensure they meet the standards and obtain this approval from APC. From a pharmacist’s perspective, once the standards are in place, the only valid way to become a credentialed pharmacist will be to complete Credentialed Pharmacists training that complies with the standards, through an approved training organisation.

Important update on accreditation - February 2023

The Department of Health and Aged Care has engaged the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to develop accreditation standards and an accreditation system for training programs that will credential pharmacists to work in aged care and/or conduct medication management reviews. The APC expects to have the accreditation system developed by July 2023.

As a consequence of this, SHPA will defer the launch of our new credentialing pathways until after the release of the accreditation standards. This will allow us to be sure they meet the standards and therefore don’t create additional work for pharmacists undertaking the course.

SHPA is currently unable to provide any information on whether the existing BCGP/BCPS pathway to accreditation will meet the new accreditation standards. Pharmacists currently working towards either of these certifications as a pathway to accreditation are advised to contact the SHPA accreditation team on mmr@shpa.org.au.

SHPA has been invited to be part of the Expert Advisory Group for these standards and will work with our Transitions of Care and Primary Care and Geriatric Medicine Speciality Practice Leadership Committees along with our Accredited Pharmacist members to ensure their views are represented in the development process.

Pharmacists accredited with AACP who wish to transfer their accreditation to SHPA are still welcome to do so – there are no changes to the current process.

Also in 2023, SHPA will extend our national awards program, establishing new honours for established and emerging Accredited Pharmacists, plus a third honour for outstanding practice in residential aged care.

If you have any questions, contact our accreditation team via email mmr@shpa.org.au

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As Australia’s only continuously accrediting body, and pre-eminent scientific and patient-centred pharmacy organisation, SHPA reaffirms its commitment to supporting the unique expertise of Accredited Pharmacists, and the crucial role they play upholding quality use of medicines and medication safety for patients who are at risk of medication-related harm and hospitalisation:

• As of 1 July 2022, SHPA will waive our annual re-accreditation fees (a saving of $170 for members, and $220 for non-members)
• AACP members who moved their accreditation to SHPA will no longer be required to sit the 3-yearly MCQ exam
• SHPA accredited pharmacists who are BCPS or BCGP certified will no longer be required to maintain this certification to remain accredited (original certification still required)
• All accredited pharmacists will be required to provide evidence of 60 CPD credits relevant to their scope of practice annually
• Any SHPA members who let their accreditation lapse since 1 July 2019 can pay a one off fee of $165 to reinstate their accreditation (regardless of whether their BPS certification is still in date)
• We extend an invitation to all accredited pharmacists to join SHPA, through which we recognise your existing accreditation and confer the postnominal ‘AcSHP’.
   

JOIN SHPA TODAY

SHPA remains proudly independent and patient-centred, guided by clinical evidence and the experiences of our members, who provide care directly to Australia’s most vulnerable and acutely unwell.­­

SHPA represents the needs of pharmacists with medicine expertise who work as part of interdisciplinary teams to improve the safety and quality of care for older Australians in hospitals, residential aged care facilities and in the community.

• View Geriatric medicine and pharmacy practice: a historical perspective by Dr Rohan Elliott, BPharm, BPharmSc (Hons), MClinPharm, CGP, FSHP, in SHPA's Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR).

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SHPA Recognition Process for AACP Accredited Pharmacists

Please see FAQs below for information on SHPA membership and transferring and retaining your accreditation.