THE Australasian College of Pharmacy (ACP) this morning announced it will offer accreditation training for all pharmacists from 2023 onwards.
The ACP is the latest organisation to take up the accreditation training mantle, following the news that the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy (AACP) will be formally wound up at the end of the year (PD 26 Sep).
The AACP is jointly owned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, which last week announced it would launch its own pharmacist accreditation program (PD 08 Dec).
Today's announcement from Australasian College of Pharmacy President, Michelle Bou-Samra, confirmed that current pharmacists already undergoing accreditation with the AACP will be able to complete their training as a member of the ACP after AACP ceases operations.
"The College is dedicated to supporting all pharmacists to practice to their full scope and, as such, encourages all pharmacists to undertake accreditation training as a step towards this," Bou-Samra said.
"The College is dedicated to supporting the education needs of all pharmacists across Australia, including accredited pharmacists.
"Practising to full scope and equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills allows you to provide greater healthcare services for the patients in your community and throughout Australia," she said.
"Accreditation not only supports pharmacists to provide Home Medicines Reviews and Residential Medication Management Reviews, but the skills and knowledge required to do any type of medication reviews."
Bou-Samra said the College was also supportive of removing the re-accreditation requirements for accredited pharmacists, which was seen as a significant barrier.
"If you are already an accredited pharmacist, the College will support you in maintaining your accreditation status with the Pharmacy Programs Administrator," she confirmed.
"If you are not a member of the College, we encourage you to join to undergo accreditation and to gain access to the education and support needed to maintain your CPD requirements.
"Once again, the College recognises and acknowledges the work of AACP and the education services provided to accredited pharmacists...we continue to work closely with AACP to ensure the continuity of accreditation training and provision of support provided to current and upcoming accredited pharmacists," Bou-Samra said.
Pharmacists interested in accreditation are being urged to visit the College website at acp.edu.au and complete an expression of interest form, to be kept up to date when accreditation training enrolments open for 2023.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 13 Dec 22
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