In November, trainee pharmacists and some re-sitters sat their assessment exam; the results will be announced on 17 December 2024.
The PDA has once again reviewed its membership arrangements, adjusted internal systems, and undertook significant work with underwriters to ensure that whether a trainee or a re-sitter, there is a PDA membership policy available for everyone.
Early Careers membership categories
Student and trainee membership – FREE
Supporting future pharmacists with free student and trainee membership continues to be a key objective for the PDA. Therefore, membership for pharmacy students is FREE for all four years of study.
FREE trainee pharmacist membership is also given to the incoming cohort of new graduates who become trainees (commencing training in 2024 to end in 2025).
Potential pharmacist membership – FREE
There are a variety of circumstances in which individuals may find themselves no longer a student, not currently on a foundation training scheme, but still working towards becoming a pharmacist. For example:
- Unsuccessful in the November 2024 examinations.
- Eligible but have chosen not to sit the autumn assessment.
- Waiting to re-sit the exams after a previous attempt or having never sat the exam since being signed off the training scheme (including in Northern Ireland).
The PDA refers to individuals in these circumstances as ‘potential pharmacists’ to differentiate them from those currently on a formal training scheme. The ‘potential pharmacists’ membership category was created to support members with benefits that match those of trainee pharmacists.
Newly Qualified (NQ) membership – FREE
The PDA’s newly qualified membership provides up to 3 months of membership FREE for those who join immediately after they have successfully passed their assessment examination. This helps to alleviate the financial pressure for new registrants at a time when they are paying the costs of an exam, registration, etc. Those who have passed the autumn 2024 assessment can join the PDA as NQ members from now until 28 February 2025 (Fixed period runs from 1st December 2024 – 28th February 2025 regardless of when you join).
First-year Qualified (FYQ) membership – £99
After 28 February 2025, or at the expiry of a newly qualified membership, PDA members can renew as first-year qualified members for a reduced price of just £99 for their first full year of membership. This offer now includes newly qualified pharmacists working in a GP Surgery (who are not involved in any prescribing or diagnosis work).
If you are a newly qualified pharmacist working in a GP Surgery and you are involved in prescribing or diagnosis work, you will need the primary care pharmacist scheme as an intern, or the state backed scheme (England only). If you are unsure of the right category of membership at the FYQ application stage, please contact the PDA Support Centre.
Membership for those that passed the assessment
Those that passed the assessment should apply for FREE newly qualified membership.
The membership scheme will expire on 28 February 2025 at which time you will need to renew to a first-year qualified policy.
Membership for those that did not pass the assessment
If you are currently on a trainee pharmacist policy, please apply for the potential pharmacist policy. You will also have access to PDA Education’s support for your future assessment re-sit.
Not yet a member?
If you passed
- You should apply for the FREE newly qualified membership scheme which will be valid until 28 February 2025.
If you did not pass
- Join the PDA as a potential pharmacist now. Membership is FREE and includes access to PDA Education’s support for your future assessment re-sit.
Learn more
- PDA student membership
- PDA trainee pharmacist membership
- PDA potential pharmacist membership
- PDA newly qualified membership
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists, and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.