General Pharmaceutical Council

General Pharmaceutical Council

Overview

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the statutory regulator of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain. Established to protect public health and maintain professional standards, the GPhC maintains a register of eligible professionals and sets the standards of conduct, ethics and practice that pharmacy professionals must meet. As the regulatory body for the pharmacy profession, it plays a central role in ensuring that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians across England, Scotland and Wales meet consistent standards of competence, professionalism and public accountability.

Who Should Join?

Registration with the GPhC is not optional membership but a legal requirement for anyone practising as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician in Great Britain. All practising pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must maintain active registration to legally deliver pharmacy services.

Who can register includes:

• Qualified pharmacists with relevant qualifications and training
• Qualified pharmacy technicians with appropriate accreditation
• International-qualified professionals seeking to practise in Great Britain

The GPhC maintains separate registers for each profession. To register, individuals must meet defined qualification requirements, demonstrate fitness to practise, and comply with the GPhC's standards for professional conduct and performance. Registration is a prerequisite for lawful practice rather than a discretionary membership option.

Why Register?

Registration with the GPhC provides professional legitimacy and legal authority to practise pharmacy in Great Britain. It signifies to employers, patients and the public that a pharmacist or pharmacy technician meets recognised national standards of competence and conduct. For the individual, registration provides clarity about professional expectations, access to regulatory guidance and support, and the assurance of practising within a regulated framework that protects both professionals and the public.

Maintaining registration requires continuing professional development and adherence to professional standards, which supports career progression and demonstrates ongoing competence to employers and service users. Registration also connects pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to a regulated profession with established career pathways and opportunities across diverse healthcare and industrial settings.

Regulatory Standards & Professional Accountability

The GPhC sets and maintains the Standards of Conduct, Ethics and Practice that all registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must follow. These standards cover professional competence, ethical behaviour, patient safety, confidentiality and public protection. The Council also oversees fitness to practise, investigating complaints and taking action where professionals fall below expected standards.

Registration with the GPhC means accountability to an established regulatory framework designed to protect public health. The Council maintains a public register where patients, employers and the public can verify that a pharmacist or pharmacy technician is appropriately registered and in good standing.

Continuing Professional Development

Registered professionals must engage in continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain their registration. The GPhC provides guidance on CPD requirements and publishes standards that help professionals plan and evidence their ongoing learning and development relevant to their practice.

Professional Guidance & Standards

The GPhC publishes detailed guidance on professional standards, ethics, prescribing, medicines management and other key areas of pharmacy practice. These resources help registered professionals understand regulatory expectations and deliver safe, effective patient care. The GPhC also engages with the wider pharmacy profession to develop policies and standards that evolve with changes in healthcare and pharmacy practice.

Industry Role & Professional Standing

The GPhC is the statutory regulator for pharmacy in Great Britain, appointed under pharmacy legislation to protect public health and ensure professional standards. It works with government, the NHS, other healthcare regulators, pharmacy professional bodies and international regulatory authorities to ensure that pharmacy services remain safe, effective and responsive to public health needs.

As the regulatory authority, the GPhC plays a central role in shaping pharmacy policy, standards and professional practice across Great Britain. The Council's register provides a definitive record of who is authorised to practise as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician, offering transparency and public assurance.

Registration with the GPhC is the foundation of professional standing for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Great Britain, signifying to employers, colleagues, patients and the public that an individual meets the standards required to practise safely and ethically within the regulated profession.

Address: 25 Canada Square, London, E14 5LQ, UK
Website: www.pharmacyregulation.org