Field Health
Review of Pharmacy New Zealand Qualifications
Reviewed qualifications
|
Ref |
Version |
Qualification Title |
Credits |
|
1886 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3) |
40 |
|
1887 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 4) |
60 |
|
1888 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Core) (Level 4) |
75 |
|
1889 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Advanced) (Level 5) |
65 |
|
4410 |
1 |
New Zealand Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Specialist) (Level 6) |
120 |
Review information
|
Qualification Developer |
Toitū te Waiora Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council |
|
Reason for the development/review |
Scheduled review |
|
Review date |
May 2025 |
|
Outcome date |
August 2025 |
|
Next review date |
August 2030 |
|
Summary of review and consultation process |
|
A steering group was formed with wide sector representation from both community and hospital pharmacy. Early engagement included consultation with key stakeholders. Ongoing sector consultation was structured through separate groups for each qualification under review, with online meetings, targeted engagement. Outcomes were shared regularly with stakeholders Overall, the qualifications were revised to reflect current practice, clearly show the differences between hospital and community pharmacy, embed cultural competence in the general conditions, and stay flexible enough to adapt to future changes in regulation and the sector. |
|
Main changes resulting from the review process |
|
The New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 3) [Ref: 1887] will be discontinued, without replacement. All other qualifications: · Language: Qualifications will use sector-neutral language to better reflect practice across both hospital and community settings. · Cultural Competence: Instead of standalone graduate outcomes, cultural competence will be embedded in the General Conditions to acknowledge its importance without increasing credit values. This approach also responds to current debates and future regulatory change. · Supervision Terminology: Strong feedback from hospital pharmacy highlighted the need to review outdated legal language, such as “under supervision.” The qualifications will remain aligned to current legislation to allow flexibility as the scope of practice changes. · Learning Pathways and Content Alignment: Stakeholders want clearer learning pathways to higher qualifications and better alignment between theoretical knowledge and applied practice. Existing qualifications meet these needs while the sector works through potential regulatory change. · PSNZ Position: The Pharmaceutical Society supports minimal change at this time, given legislation reviews, national discussion around technician regulation, and sector reform. Flexibility is needed to ensure qualifications can evolve alongside legislation and workforce development initiatives. |
Review outcome
|
Ref: |
Version |
Qualification Title |
Outcome category |
New qualification ID/version (as applicable) |
|
1886 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3) |
B |
1886-3 |
|
1887 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 4) |
D |
1887-3 to expire |
|
1888 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Core) (Level 4) |
B |
1888-3 |
|
1889 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Advanced) (Level 5) |
B |
1889-3 |
|
4410 |
1 |
New Zealand Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician - Specialist) (Level 6) |
B |
4410-2 |
Qualification review outcome categories
|
Outcome |
Result |
Category |
|
Minor changes to the qualification |
Qualification version number and ID (Ref) remain the same. New review date is required. |
A |
|
Moderate changes to the qualification |
New qualification version number. Ref/ID remains the same. New review date is required. |
B |
|
Significant changes to the qualification |
New replacement qualification with a new Ref/ID The existing qualification will expire. |
C |
|
The qualification is no longer required by industry |
The qualification will expire with no replacement. |
D |
Transition information
|
Ref: |
Version |
Qualification Title |
Last date of entry* |
Last date of assessment |
|
1886 |
3 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Introduction to Pharmacy Practice) (Level 3) |
N/A |
31 December 2027 |
|
1887 |
2 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 4) |
30 September 2025 |
31 December 2025 |
|
1888 |
3 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Core) (Level 4) |
N/A |
31 December 2027 |
|
1889 |
3 |
New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Advanced) (Level 5) |
N/A |
31 December 2027 |
|
4410 |
2 |
New Zealand Diploma in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician – Specialist) (Level 6) |
N/A |
31 December 2027 |
*only required for outcome category C or D
Any additional information, including Qualification Developer contact details.
|
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Toitū te Waiora Workforce Development Council at the address below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Toitū te Waiora Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council PO Box 445 Wellington 6140
Website:www.toitutewaiora.nz Phone: 04 909 0356 |