Recognition as an EEA qualified pharmacist Information and ...

The translator must put their business stamp on each document translated and sign anddate the statement “ this is a true and accurate translation” and attach the translation tothe original language document or provide a list of the documents translated.4. Direct documentsThe GPhC requires that certain documents are sent directly from the issuing body / person. Ifthese documents are considered to have been supplied via yourself or any other third party theywill be rejected and you will be required to arrange for new documents to provide in the correctmanner.5. Inability to provide documentsIn general, your application will not be considered for recognition until all of the requireddocuments have been received and considered acceptable. If you cannot supply any documentsrequired you should provide a written explanation of why this situation has arisen. If yourexplanation is accepted you will be advised of how to proceed and what alternative documentsmay be considered.6. Data protectionThe GPhC is a data controller registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. TheGPhC makes use of personal data to support its work as the regulatory body for pharmacists,pharmacy technicians and retail pharmacy premises in Great Britain. Data may be shared withthird parties in pursuance of the GPhC's statutory aims, objectives, powers and responsibilitiesunder the Pharmacy Order 2010, the rules made under the Order and other legislation.Personal data may be processed for purposes including (but not limited to) updating theregister, administering and maintaining registration, processing complaints, compilingstatistics and keeping stakeholders updated with information about the GPhC. Informationmay be passed to organisations with a legitimate interest including (but not limited to) otherregulatory and enforcement authorities, NHS trusts, employers, Department of Health,universities and research institutions. Please note that the GPhC will not share your personaldata on a commercial basis with any third party.7. The GPhC reserves the right to request additional documents at any time during theapplication process.February 2013

Documents required from the applicant:1. FeesPlease note your application will be returned to you immediately on receipt if you do notinclude the scrutiny fee with your initial application.Scrutiny fee £105 to be paid with initial applicationApplication for registration fee £102 to be paid on request by GPhC with application forregistration form.First entry fee £240 to be paid on request by GPhC with application for registration form.This is the fee for your name to be on the register ( providing you remain in good standing)for 12 months from the date you first join the registerPlease note that fees are reviewed annually.Payment of Fees:You should pay the fees by credit or debit card using the payment forms provided to you. You mayuse a card that is not in your name providing you have the permission of the cardholder to use it.2. Completed questionnairePlease ensure you:Write clearly in black inkInclude a legible email address where possible. This will enhance the communicationprocessProvide a UK postal address where possible.Complete ALL sections of the questionnaire3. Diploma / Degree CertificateYou must provide a certified copy of your diploma / degree certificate. If your certificate has notbeen issued by the time of your application for recognition, you must provide an original letterfrom your university confirming that you have been awarded the qualification and that yourcertificate has not yet been issued to you.4. Licence to PracticeIf you have a licence to practice from your qualifying Member State you should provide a certifiedcopy of that certificate.February 2013

5. Passport/ Proof of nationalityYou should provide a certified copy of your passport identity page ( including the photograph).Please note that you do not have to include all the blank pages of your passport in the copy. Weneed to see the identification pages and any validity extension page.It may be acceptable for you to provide a certified copy of your identity card. This must be theidentity card that proves your nationality and enables you to travel between Member States.6. Birth / Marriage / Civil Partnership certificateYou should provide a certified copy of your birth certificate where possible ( translated asnecessary). If you are not able to provide a birth certificate you should completedeclaration A of the statutory declaration enclosed with this pack.If you have changed your name by marriage ( female applicants) you should provide acertified copy of your marriage certificate ( translated as necessary).Please note that UK birth certificates, UK marriage certificates and UK Civil Partnershipcertificates cannot have certified photocopies made.If you have a UK birth certificate, a UK marriage certificate or a UK Civil Partnershipcertificate you will need to apply for a duplicate from the General Register Office.Website: www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages/register-officesOn line applications: www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificatesPLEASE DO NOT SEND THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE YOU HAVE AS IT WILL NOT BERETURNED TO YOU. ONLY SEND A DUPLICATE FROM THE GRO.6a. Change of name other than by marriageIf you have changed your name other than by marriage you should complete declaration Bof the statutory declaration enclosed in this pack.6b. Names different on documents7. PhotographYour name should be exactly the same on all documents provided. If your name appearsdifferently to that on your birth or marriage certificate on any of your documents youshould complete declaration C of the statutory declaration enclosed with this pack.You must supply 1 recent passport style photograph attached to the photograph form as follows:Requirements for the photographThe photograph must be:Recent (taken within the last month)In colourTaken against an off-white, cream or light grey plain background so that your features areclearly distinguishable against the backgroundFebruary 2013

Undamaged, for example, by creases from paperclipsOf you on your ownIn sharp focus and clearThe photograph must also show:No shadowsYou facing forwards, looking straight towards the cameraA neutral expression, with your mouth closed (no obvious grinning, frowning or raisedeyebrows)Your eyes open and clearly visible (with no sunglasses or heavily tinted glasses and no hairacross your eyes)No reflection or glare on your glasses, and the frames should not cover your eyesYour full head, without any head covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs or medicalreasonsNothing covering your face. Please ensure that nothing covers the outline of your eyes,nose or mouth.The counter signatory (person who signs the photograph) must:be a professional person, or a person of standing in the community. Examples include apharmacist, your university lecturer, a UK registered solicitor or the legal equivalent inyour Member State or a licensed Medical Practitioner. The person providing thecountersignature must not be related to you by birth or marriage. Neither should they bein a personal relationship with you nor live at your address.Have known you for at least 2 yearsCertify, sign and date the back of the photograph with the handwritten words. ‘I certifythat this is a true likeness of (give the applicant’s full name and title)’.“I certify this is a truelikeness of ”Your full name & titleSignature of countersignatory and the date.Complete and sign the section overleaf, ‘Section to be completed by counter signatory’.February 2013

PHOTOGRAPH CERTIFICATION FORMSection to be completed by counter signatoryThis section must be completed by the person who signs the back of the photograph with theirdetails. They must sign the photograph and the form with the exact same signaturePlease complete in block capitalsFirst names:Family names:(please indicate Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)Address:Telephone Number:OccupationEmail address:By countersigning this application, you agree that the GPhC may contact you to verify theinformation that you have provided.I declare that I have signed the photograph enclosed and that I have known________________________________________________ _____________(include full name of applicant)for _______years and that the information I have provided is correct.Signature:________________________________________________Date:________________________February 2013

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUPPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE GPHC FROM THE ISSUING BODY1. Evidence of Registration and Good StandingThis must be an original document from your professional authority which confirms yourregistration and good standing with that authority. This document must be sent direct to theGPhC by your professional authority. The professional authority must confirm that you havenot been the subject of any disciplinary proceedings and that there are no disciplinaryproceedings pending against you.If you are not registered with a professional authority you are required to provide a letterfrom the relevant professional authority confirming that if you wished to register with thatauthority there is nothing adverse known about you which would prevent your registrationand ability to practise as a pharmacist in your Member State of qualification and an up to dateclear police record from your Member State. Without an acceptable letter of good standingor clear police record your application for recognition cannot be complete.Under Article 50 of Directive 2005/36/EC your letter of good standing has a validity of 3months. Your application must be submitted within 3 months of the date of issue of yourletter of good standing .You are strongly advised not to delay sending in your application onceyou have requested your letter of good standing to be sent.If you are registered with more than one professional authority and/or have worked in anadditional country during the last 5 years, evidence of good standing from the relevantauthority(s) will be required.2. Compliance with DirectivesWe require the original document from the Competent Authority which confirms that yourqualification or work experience complies with the relevant European Directives. Thiscertificate must be sent direct to the GPhC by your Competent Authority.Documents confirming compliance with Article 23 of Directive 2005/36/EC, i.e. the ‘acquiredrights’ certificate has a validity of 3 months. Your application must be submitted within 3months of the date of issue of this certificate. You are strongly advised not to delay sending inyour application once you have requested this certificate to be provided.You may be required by the GPhC to provide additional documentation to demonstrate yourcompliance with the Directives. For example, in order to comply with the requirementsintroduced by Directive 2001/19/EC pharmacists who started their qualification in Italy before1 November 1993 and completed this before 1 November 2003 are required to provideevidence that their qualification does indeed comply with the Minimum TrainingRequirements of Article 44 of Directive 2005/36/EC.Your route to registration will depend on how the Competent Authority describes yourqualifications and/or experience in relation to the Directive.There are 2 possible routes which are outlined as follows:February 2013

Route A – Standard RouteYou would be eligible to apply for registration via this route if you eitherorHold a qualification in pharmacy from a Member State of the EEA which is listed in Annex V, section5.6.2 of Directive 2005/36/EC (or if not listed is regarded as comparable to the qualification listed inthe Annex) and which complies with all the Minimum Training Requirements described in Article 44of Directive 2005/36/EChave a qualification in pharmacy from a Member State of the EEA which was started before thereference date specified in the Annex for that Member State and have worked in a Member State inan activity referred to in Article 45 of Directive 2005/36/EC (which is also an activity regulated bythat Member State) for at least 3 consecutive years during the five years preceding the award of thecertificate. These are the ‘acquired rights’ provisions of Article 23 of Directive 2005/36/EC.Once you have supplied all the required evidence and your eligibility to apply for registrationthrough route A is determined, your application will receive a final check. If everything is in orderyou will be sent the application for registration and payment forms to complete and return to theGPhC.You would need to complete the application form using the guidance notes and return it to theGPhC with the appropriate registration fee and 1 st entry fee. (Please see fee section for furtherdetails).Once the application form and fee are received providing everything remains in order, your file willbe passed to Registration and your name will be put on the Register. You will then receiveconfirmation of your registration by letter. This may take some time although your name will appearon the GPhC live Register on the website (www.pharmacyregulation.org ) as soon as you areregistered.Please note that you must not work as a pharmacist or present yourself to be a pharmacist in GreatBritain until your name appears on the GPhC Register.Route B - Comparative Assessment RouteFees:In addition to the £105 scrutiny fee paid with your initial application you will be required to pay:£102 application fee for registration£376 evaluation feeOnce your Route B application has been evaluated and you have satisfactorily completed any requiredadaptation training you will be required to pay the following fee:£240 first entry fee. This is the fee for your name to be on the register ( providing you remain ingood standing) for 12 months from the date you first join the registerYou would be required to apply through this route ifyour pharmacy qualification from a Member State was started before the reference date in theDirective for that Member State and you have not worked for 3 consecutive years in the last 5 yearsas a pharmacistFebruary 2013

your pharmacy qualification from a Member State was started after the reference date but theCompetent Authority has confirmed that your qualification does not comply with the minimumtraining requirements of Article 44 of Directive 2005/36/ECyour pharmacy qualification was obtained outside the EEA or Switzerland but it has been recognisedby a Member State and you have been permitted to practise as a pharmacist in that State.Once you have supplied all the required evidence and your eligibility to apply forregistration through route B is determined, you will be provided with an ‘application forregistration as a pharmacist through the non-compliant EEA route’ form, which will be sentto you via the address you have provided.You would then need to complete the application form using the guidance notes and returnit to the GPhC with the relevant application fee (see fees at the beginning of this section).You would also need to provide all the documents specified in the guidance notes thataccompany the form.This procedure enables the GPhC to make a comparative assessment of your pharmacyqualifications and work experience as a pharmacist against the national requirements forregistration, ie the UK MPharm degree, 12 months preregistration training and the GPhCregistration assessment.Should any substantial gaps between your qualifications and experience and the nationalrequirements for registration be identified, you may be required to complete a period ofadditional education, training or experience before passing to Registration. Each applicationis assessed on a case-by-case basis.All documents should be sent to:International ApplicationsGeneral Pharmaceutical Council129 Lambeth RoadLondonSE1 7BTTel: 0203 365 3550Email: international@pharmacyregulation.orgFebruary 2013

Questionnaire for recognition as an EEA qualified pharmacistFirst names:Family names:(please indicate Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)Address:Telephone Number:Mobile Number:Email address:Date of Birth: dd/mm/yyyyUniversity from which degree was obtained:Title of degree:Date degree started:Date finished:Have you registered with a Professional Authority: Yes NoPlease arrange for the Professional Authority to provide you with a certificate confirming yourregistration, if relevant, and good standing and current professional status with that authority. (Thisincludes any other health profession authority that you may be registered with either in the UK orelsewhere)Details of any full-time experience since you first acquired the right to practise as a pharmacist inyour member state.Date started Date finished Name & Addressof premisesCommunity / hospital /industry (please state)No. of hours perweek workedNationalityHave you previously applied for registration with the RPSGB / GPhC? (Tick appropriate box)YES NOIf YES, State date of application: ______/___________________/_________Day Month YearI declare that the information provided is, to the best of my knowledge, correct.Signature:________________________________________________Date:________________________If you wish to provide any additional information, please do so overleafFebruary 2012

Application for recognition as an EEA qualified pharmacistPAYMENT FORM11.1 Name of applicantPlease indicate whether you are paying byDebit card Credit card Payment by credit card will incur a11.2 Type of card Please tick onesurcharge of 2% from 1 Sept 2011 onwardsMastercard Visa Visa Purchasing Visa DeltaMaestroSolo11.3Card number(insert the exact amount ofdigits in your card number only)CSC number(The last 3 digits on the backof the card)Valid From Date / Expiry Date / Issue numberIssue number for Maestro or Solo cards only. If your card does not have an issue number please enter ‘NA’ inthe boxes.Name of cardholderThe name exactly as it appears on the debit or credit cardAddress of cardholderPost codePlease charge this card with the sum(s)Application fee £105We will take your application fee when start processing your applicationSignature of cardholderDate (dd/mm/yy)

8. PhotographYou must supply 1 recent passport style photograph attached to the photograph form asfollows:Requirements for the photographThe photograph must be:Recent (taken within the last month)In colourTaken against an off-white, cream or light grey plain background so that your featuresare clearly distinguishable against the backgroundUndamaged, for example, by creases from paperclipsOf you on your ownIn sharp focus and clearThe photograph must also show:No shadowsYou facing forwards, looking straight towards the cameraA neutral expression, with your mouth closed (no obvious grinning, frowning or raisedeyebrows)Your eyes open and clearly visible (with no sunglasses or heavily tinted glasses and nohair across your eyes)No reflection or glare on your glasses, and the frames should not cover your eyesYour full head, without any head covering, unless it is worn for religious beliefs ormedical reasonsNothing covering your face. Please ensure that nothing covers the outline of your eyes,nose or mouth.The counter signatory (person who signs the photograph) must:be a professional person, or a person of standing in the community. Examples include apharmacist, your university lecturer, a UK registered solicitor or the legal equivalent inyour Member State or a licensed Medical Practitioner. The person providing thecountersignature must not be related to you by birth or marriage. Neither should theybe in a personal relationship with you nor live at your address.Have known you for at least 2 yearsCertify, sign and date the back of the photograph with the handwritten words. ‘I certifythat this is a true likeness of (give the applicant’s full name and title)’.“I certify this is a truelikeness of ”Your full nameSignature of countersignatory and the date.Complete and sign the section overleaf, ‘Section to be completed by counter signatory’.

Photograph Certification FormSection to be completed by counter signatoryThis section must be completed by the person who signs the back of the photograph with theirdetails. They must sign the photograph and the form with the exact same signaturePlease complete in block capitalsFirst names:Family names:(please indicate Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms)Address:Telephone Number:OccupationEmail address:By countersigning this application, you agree that the Council may contact you to verify theinformation that you have provided.I declare that I have signed the photograph enclosed and that I have known________________________________________________ _____________(include full name of applicant)for _______years and that the information I have provided is correct.Signature:________________________________________________Date:________________________February 2012

Statutory declarationRefer to guidance notes for completionYou must complete whichever declaration(s) on this side of the form is/are applicable foryour situation.You must complete BOTH boxes on the other side of this formDECLARATION A - Inability to provide a birth certificateI (Insert full name – this name must be identical to that on your Application for Recognition)First names__________________________________________________________Family Names______________________________________________________________Address: (insert home address)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Do solemnly and sincerely declare to the best of my knowledge and belief that I was giventhe name :……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………atmy birthon………………………………..at…………………………………………………………..in…………………………………..….(insert date of birth) ( insert name of town) (insertname of country)___________________________________________________________________________DECLARATION B – Using a name other than that on birth certificateI (Insert full name - identical to that given to you at birth)First names__________________________________________________________Family names______________________________________________________________of (insert home address)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________do solemnly and sincerely declare that since / /(insert date) dd mm yyyyI have used and in the future will be known by the name of___________________________________________________________________(insert full name you are now using – this name must be identical to that on your Applicationfor Recognition)Please see overleaf for Declaration C.

DECLARATION C – If name on any document differs from name on Application forRegistrationI ( name as on application for recognition)First names___________________________________________________________Family names_________________________________________________________of___________________________________________________________________(insert home address)_____________________________________________________________________declare that all documents submitted with my Application for Recognition relate to me andthat all versions of my name relate to one and the same person.THIS BOX TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANTI (insert full name you are now using. This name must be identical to that on your Applicationfor Recognition)First names____________________________________________________________Family names__________________________________________________________make the declaration(s) overleaf conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtueof the provisions of the Statutory Declaration Act, 1835.Signed: ___________________________________________________________Date:_____________________________________________________________DECLARATION BY SOLICITOR (to be completed by the solicitor)Declared at (insert full name and address of solicitor’s premises):This day of 20 _ _before me.I confirm that I am authorised to administer this oathSigned:(insert here solicitor’s stamp here)Instructions for completing the appropriate declaration(s)The appropriate declaration(s) on this form must be completed by the applicant in thepresence of a solicitor, who should then complete the ‘Declaration by solicitor’ (above)Declaration A: Unable to provide acceptable birth certificateDeclaration B: Change of name from that on birth certificate and not supported by marriagecertificateDeclaration C: Documents have different names to names given in A or B.Feb 2012