About This Course
This is a blended learning, level 6 short course in Independent Prescribing, and is open to registered nurses only.
If you are interested in the Level 7 Independent Prescribing course, please click here: Independent Prescribing (NHS-4258).
The course will start on 18 September, 2025.
Aspects of the teaching will be delivered in conjunction with the Prescribing for Pharmacists course. The multi-professional nature of the short course provides a valuable opportunity for experienced professionals to share their knowledge and skills and develop different perspectives on prescribing practice. Interprofessional learning will encourage a collaborative team-orientated approach to learning and working. Based on this, you will be expected to take an active role in interprofessional learning during the programme by sharing your expertise and professional perspective.
The course will ensure that you are familiar with and can apply the general principles of prescribing practice which you must utilise within your own area of clinical expertise. Topics will be delivered in a generic style and the speakers will refer to their own clinical experience to provide clinical examples, however the principles discussed can be applied to all areas of practice. The course will allow you to expand on your existing knowledge and apply these to the principles of prescribing. This will provide a strong foundation for your development as a newly qualified independent/supplementary prescriber.
Who is this course for?
This level 6 Prescribing short course is for registered nurses with no recent, or limited evidence of academic study who wish to become independent prescribers.
The suitable academic level will be discussed with you at interview.
This course is aimed at registered nurses who have identified how becoming an independent prescriber will benefit patient care.
Why study this course?
This challenging but rewarding short course will enable the understanding of the clinical, legal and ethical responsibilities of an independent prescriber. The knowledge and skills learned on this course will empower you to adopt a person-centred approach to prescribing within your identified scope of practice.
Through learning with, and from, other healthcare professionals such nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, paramedics, and pharmacists, you will be empowered to facilitate a multi-professional approach to prescribing practice to improve patient care.
How long does this course take to complete?
This part-time course is spread over seven months.
Taught sessions will be delivered on the Bangor campus on Thursdays and spread between September 2025 and March 2026.
- · September 18th, 25th
- · October 2nd, 9th (remote), 16th
- · November 6th, 20th, 27th
- · December 11th
- · January 16th
- · February 12th
- · March 5th
You will be expected to complete a further 11 weeks of self-directed study to prepare for assignments.
The final assignment will be submitted in April 2026.
Students are also required to complete a minimum of 90 hours in clinical practice under the supervision of a Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP)
Please note that this may be subject to change following an ongoing revalidation process.
Tutor
Ffion Simcox
Ffion is the lead for the prescribing courses at Bangor University, as well as the lead for the MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice. Ffion is also the deputy chair of the Welsh Advanced Practice Educators’ Network (WAPEN). Ffion qualified as a registered nurse in 1996 and as an independent prescriber in 2011. She completed her MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice in 2012 and worked as an ACP in acute medicine for 6 years prior to joining the University.
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
This is a blended learning, level 6 short course in Independent Prescribing, and is open to registered nurses only.
If you are interested in the Level 7 Independent Prescribing course, please click here: Independent Prescribing (NHS-4258)
The course will start on 19 September, 2024.
Aspects of the teaching will be delivered in conjunction with the Prescribing for Pharmacists course. The multi-professional nature of the short course provides a valuable opportunity for experienced professionals to share their knowledge and skills and develop different perspectives on prescribing practice. Interprofessional learning will encourage a collaborative team-orientated approach to learning and working. Based on this, you will be expected to take an active role in interprofessional learning during the programme by sharing your expertise and professional perspective.
The course will ensure that you are familiar with and can apply the general principles of prescribing practice which you must utilise within your own area of clinical expertise. Topics will be delivered in a generic style and the speakers will refer to their own clinical experience to provide clinical examples, however the principles discussed can be applied to all areas of practice. The course will allow you to expand on your existing knowledge and apply these to the principles of prescribing. This will provide a strong foundation for your development as a newly qualified independent/supplementary prescriber.
This challenging but rewarding short course will enable the understanding of the clinical, legal and ethical responsibilities of an independent prescriber. The knowledge and skills learned on this course will empower you to adopt a person-centred approach to prescribing within your identified scope of practice.
Through learning with, and from, other healthcare professionals such nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, paramedics, and pharmacists, you will be empowered to facilitate a multi-professional approach to prescribing practice to improve patient care.
What will attendees get out of the course?
You will be taught by experienced independent and medical prescribers from different professional backgrounds. Teaching is supported by expert clinicians to ensure that the content is relevant and applicable to clinical practice.
By the end of this course, learners will be able to appreciate, understand and demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to become a safe and effective independent prescriber, with an emphasis on individualised care, as outlined in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Competency Framework for all Prescribers (RPS, 2019).
On successful completion of this short course, students will be able to register their independent/supplementary prescribing status with their regulatory body.
Course Cost
The funding for the prescribing course for NHS employees is administered on behalf of the Welsh Government (HEIW) by BCUHB. You must apply to BCUHB for funding if:
- you work within BCUHB
- you work in a BCUHB-managed GP practice
- you work in an independent GP practice in North Wales
To apply, please contact BCU.EducationACP@wales.nhs.uk.
All other applicants should source alternative funding.
Entry Requirements
NMC registrants:
- Registered nurse, midwife or SCPHN.
- Registered with the NMC for a minimum of 1 year prior to application.
Have identified a suitable Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor to perform the Designated Prescribing Practitioner (DPP) roles on application
Please note:
- Students will need access to a computer and internet connection as well as a calculator
- The student's employer / location of practice-based learning may undertake a criminal record check in accordance with their own policy and procedures to ensure that the trainee prescriber meets their criteria, including an Enhanced DBS check. Any DBS check cost will be the responsibility of the employer or the trainee prescriber.
Application
Please contact contact Helen Charles (hsp23f@bangor.ac.uk) or Ffion Simcox (f.simcox@bangor.ac.uk) to obtain a detailed guide on how to complete the full application.
Please make sure you read and follow the step-by-step application guide as this will specify which sections of the application form are compulsory for the type of course you want to apply for and save you time.
Please prepare the following information (in a Word document):
- Current employment details;
- Years of experience, and employment history (where relevant)
- Name of staff member and organisation that have approved your funding for this module.
This will speed up the process of completing the application form.
To apply for this course, you need to create an account in our APPLICANT PORTAL
You will need access to the email address you specify while creating your account to confirm it.
After creating an account, you will see a homepage with several tabs:
- Personal
- Programme
- Info
- Contact
- Education
- Employment
- Language
- Finance
You need to complete all sections before submitting your application.
When a section is complete, a ‘tick’ symbol will appear below it.
- Click on ‘Non-graduating applications / Stand alone Modules’, then select ‘Non-graduating Undergraduate’.
- In the next section, select Non-Graduating Taught Modules in Health(NGU/HS) Click Save and Continue.
- On the next page, the default for the first question is Full Time. You need to change this to ‘Part time’:
- You now need to input the module code. Independent Prescribing the code is NHS:3212. This section must be completed for your application to be processed.
- You also need to state the start date. Please make your selection, then click ‘Save and Continue’.
- IMPORTANT: You do not need to write a personal statement to apply for this course. Instead, please upload the document including employment, experience and education information that you have created prior to starting the application that contains the name of your current employer, the number of years of experience you have, and your highest qualification to date. Click Save and continue.
You only need to enter the details of your highest qualification to date, e.g. if you have a postgraduate qualification, please only only include this.
You will be asked for evidence of the qualification. Please either upload a copy of your qualification if it's easily accessible, or upload the Word document again (that you prepared earlier).
(details not required as you've already prepared this)
Please scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘I have no employment history’ (as you have already provided this in your Word document).
If you are HEIW / Health Board funded, please answer the questions as follows:
- How will you finance your studies? Sponsored
- Exact name of funding authority: Health Board
- Country: United Kingdom
- Give details of the amount of the award? Fully funded.
- Sponsorship will cover: Tuition Fees
- Have you been awarded this funding? Please select ‘yes’ * Note that you will be required to upload evidence of the funding. If you wish to confirm ‘yes’ to this question, but do not have any written confirmation to upload, you can upload your Word document here again.
If you are self-funding, please provide all details as appropriate.