10. July 2026

Newly Qualified Pharmacist Independent Prescriber? Start Small, Stay Supported, and Grow with Confidence

The transition from trainee to pharmacist independent prescriber is an exciting milestone. From summer 2026, newly qualified pharmacists are joining the register as independent prescribers from day one, bringing tremendous opportunities to improve patient care and access to treatment. Recent guidance from the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) emphasises a simple but crucial message: prescribe within your competence, seek support, and develop your practice progressively.

Read the new guidance here.

While many newly qualified IPs feel eager to put their prescribing qualification into practice, it's important to remember that safe prescribing is not about prescribing everything from the start. It is about knowing your limits, recognising when to refer, and gradually expanding your scope as your knowledge, skills and confidence develop

Find a Mentor and Build Your Support Network

One of the most valuable things you can do as a new prescriber is find an experienced pharmacist independent prescriber who can act as a mentor. This might be someone within your own workplace, a clinician within your health board, or a contact from your wider professional network.
Think back to the clinicians and supervisors you worked alongside during your Learning in Practice (LIP) period. These individuals already understand your development journey and can often provide invaluable support as you begin prescribing independently. The GPhC specifically highlights the importance of seeking support and mentorship as prescribing practice develops.

 
Connect with Other Independent Prescribers

Being part of a wider prescribing community can be incredibly reassuring when you’re developing your confidence. Many pharmacist prescribers across Scotland join the Community Pharmacy Scotland Independent Prescriber WhatsApp group, which offers a space to share experiences, discuss resources and learn from real‑world cases. 

Health board peer‑review events or workplace peer‑review groups can add another layer of support, giving you structured opportunities to reflect on practice, sense‑check decisions and learn from colleagues with different clinical backgrounds.

These networks should never replace formal clinical governance, but they can make a huge difference to how supported you feel day to day. When you’re starting out, having trusted peers to turn to for encouragement, perspective and practical advice can help you grow safely and confidently as a prescriber.

Invest in Your Clinical Assessment Skills

Strengthening your clinical assessment skills is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your practice. Explore the Turas CPPE basic clinical skills video library alongside the advanced clinical skills resources and physical assessment checklists to build confidence in structured examination techniques. For deeper, step‑by‑step guidance, Geeky Medics’ OSCE clinical examination pages offer exceptional detail on every major system, helping you refine both your approach and your accuracy.

If you’d prefer a refresher delivered in a more interactive, hands‑on format, consider attending a ScotPharm training day. Simply fill out the Contact Us form on our website to register your interest. Our sessions cover a wide range of topics including respiratory, ENT and dermatology, and go far beyond the physical exam — incorporating tailored history taking, clinical decision‑making, differential diagnoses, red flags and real‑world case studies to support safe, effective practice.

Take Advantage of the Resources Available

Many pharmacists also benefit from attending a Teach and Treat Hub. These sessions provide access to experienced prescribers who can offer real-time coaching, answer questions and discuss clinical cases in a supportive environment.

Teach and Treat Hubs are helping pharmacists build confidence in applying prescribing knowledge to real clinical practice. Maxine McCabe and Kirsty Hamilton are Teach and Treat Hub Leads within their respective health boards, supporting pharmacist prescribers in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. 

Take a look at the Teach and Treat page on TURAS for more information. Near the bottom, you’ll find webinars on winter illnesses and acute eye conditions designed for independent prescribers. The page also includes Clinical Reasoning Cycles—helpful mind maps covering common Pharmacy First Plus conditions, many of which were written by Maxine. 

Create your own prescribing guide

Creating your own prescribing guide is one of the most useful steps for new prescribers, and it starts with defining a clear scope of practice. Decide which conditions you will manage—such as sinusitis, otitis externa, otitis media or acute sore throat—and which you will refer, setting out referral pathways and red flags early so your decisions stay consistent.

Outline the medicines you intend to prescribe and base your choices on trusted sources like your local health board formulary, NICE CKS, SPCs and local prescribing guidance. Many formularies are available as apps, making them easy to access quickly.

As you build familiarity with your chosen medicines, make sure you understand key details such as age restrictions, contraindications, cautions and interactions. Beginning with a limited scope isn’t a weakness; it’s a sign of safe, thoughtful professional practice.

Expand Gradually

As your experience grows, your scope can grow too. The GPhC's advice recognises that newly qualified prescribers should expand their practice progressively as competence develops.

Rather than trying to manage every condition immediately, focus on becoming highly competent in a small number of areas first. Over time you can add new conditions, patient groups and therapeutic areas in a planned and supported manner.

Use the RPS Prescribing Competency Framework

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Competency Framework for Prescribers remains one of the most useful resources available to support ongoing professional development.

The framework helps prescribers reflect on areas such as:
• Consultation skills
• Clinical assessment
• Shared decision making
• Safe prescribing
• Professional accountability
• Prescribing governance

Regularly reviewing the framework can help you identify strengths and areas for development, supporting gradual expansion of your prescribing scope in a structured and safe way.

Strengthening Your Referral Pathways 

New prescribers often feel pressure to prescribe outside their comfort zone, whether from patients, colleagues or service demands. It’s important to remember that declining to prescribe and choosing to refer is not a failure—it’s often the safest and most professional decision. One of the best ways to feel confident in that choice is to build a strong referral network. Get to know the local GP practices, advanced nurse practitioners and experienced pharmacist prescribers you’ll be working alongside. When you have established relationships and clear communication channels, referrals become smoother, quicker and far less stressful. Effective pathways protect patients, support your clinical judgement and allow you to work comfortably within your competence.

Final Thoughts

Every experienced independent prescriber was once a nervous beginner. The key messages from the new GPhC guidance are clear: work within your competence, seek support, access mentorship, and develop your prescribing practice gradually.

By building a strong support network, using the wealth of educational resources available, attending Teach and Treat Hubs and expanding your scope in a structured way, you can develop into a safe, confident and effective independent prescriber.

Remember—confidence comes from competence, and competence develops through practice, reflection and support.