The College of Pharmacy Practice and the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association are to establish a joint scheme to encourage students to commit themselves to continuing professional development at the beginning of their careers.
Initially, the BPSA had proposed that the CPP should have a student section, but the CPP took the view that such a formal link could become bogged down in the college’s articles of association.
Instead, the college is to accredit a specific range of activities, details of which are to be submitted by the BPSA. The BPSA will present completion certificates bearing professional development points to qualifying members. The college will then issue professional development certificates to those BPSA members who have accumulated sufficient points each year.
Announcing the scheme on August 3, the college’s chief executive (Mr Michael Lucas) said: “It is never too early to begin planning one’s professional development. We are pleased to be able to help instil in undergraduates a firm commitment to CPD at such an early stage in their careers.”
The BPSA president (Mr Jonathan Burton) added: “We believe that this scheme will encourage many students to dip their toes into the pool of CPD during their undergraduate years.”