This summer the 2021/2022 trainee cohort and some re-sitters sat the online examination in June 2022 with results announced on 29 July 2022, creating a whole new set of possible scenarios for their differing experiences.
The PDA has once again reviewed its membership arrangements, adjusting internal systems and undertaking significant work with underwriters to ensure that whether a provisional registrant, a trainee, or a re-sitter, there is a PDA membership policy available for everyone.
PDA membership for your early career
Student and trainee membership – FREE
Supporting future pharmacists with free student membership continues to be a key objective for the PDA, therefore membership for undergraduate 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 2022 to end in 2023).
Potential pharmacist membership – FREE
There are a variety of circumstances in which individuals may find themselves no longer a student and not currently on a foundation training scheme, but still working towards becoming a pharmacist soon. For example:
- Signed off from the trainee scheme after the deadline to sit the assessment in June 2022.
- Unsuccessful in the June 2022 examinations and not eligible for provisional registration under the GPhC criteria.
- Eligible but have chosen not to register as a provisional registrant.
- 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 PDA has created a ‘potential pharmacists’ membership category to support them with benefits that match those of trainee pharmacists.
Newly Qualified (NQ) membership – FREE
The PDA’s newly qualified policy 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 Summer 2022 assessment can join the PDA as NQ members from now until 31 October 2022.
First-year Qualified (FY) membership – £99
After 31 October 2022, or at the expiry of a newly qualified membership, PDA members (other than those in GP practice) can renew as a first-year qualified member for a reduced price of just £99 for their first full year of membership.
Newly qualified pharmacists who are practicing in GP practice should join a normal GP practice membership category.
What to do about your membership if you passed the assessment
If you passed the assessment, you should apply for FREE newly qualified membership.
The policy will expire on 31 October 2022 at which time you will need to renew to a first-year qualified policy unless you work in GP practice. The PDA will send you a reminder when it is time to renew your membership.
What to do about your membership if you did not pass the assessment
- If you are registered as a provisional pharmacist, you will also need to apply for FREE newly qualified membership.
- If you are not becoming a provisional pharmacist, you do not need to take any action now and can let your existing membership continue. If you have still not yet passed the exam by the time your annual membership is due for renewal, please renew as a potential pharmacist. Your membership will once again be FREE.
You will also have access to PDA Education’s support for your future assessment re-sit.
Not yet a member?
If you passed or are registering as a provisional pharmacist
- You should apply for the FREE newly qualified policy which will be valid until 31 October 2022.
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.
Provisional registration is only available from the GPhC and not the PSNI and is therefore not an option in Northern Ireland.
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.