Courses by Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland plays an important role in assuring high standards of education and training in pharmacy. The PSI is responsible for the accreditation and approval of educational programmes. Most noteworthy, this includes the three Bachelor pharmacy degree programmes in Ireland the Masters in Pharmacy degree.
PSI Accreditation
The PSI’s role includes ongoing recognition and accreditation of pharmacy degree programmes. In addition, they assess of applications from new schools of pharmacy.
The Pharmacy Act 2007 made accreditation of pharmacy degree programmes a requirement. Therefore, it is the PSI’s to review the education and training provided by each of the three schools of pharmacy. It does this within a five-year period. Pharmacy degree programmes are assessed against the PSI’s approved accreditation standards. Consequently, the PSI assures consistency across the pharmacy degree programmes in Ireland. the The Council of the PSI accredits new and existing programmes.
The PSI and continuing professional development
The PSI ensures that registered pharmacists undertake appropriate continuing professional development (CPD). Since 2007 CPD is mandatory for pharmacists in Ireland. As a result, all pharmacists must complete a declaration on an annual basis that they undertake to ‘maintain appropriate experience in the practice of pharmacy, keep abreast of continuing education and professional developments in the profession of pharmacy and undertake appropriate continuing professional development relevant to the practice of pharmacy’.