Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Restriction: Complete period of supervised practice for pharmacists
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Restriction: Complete period of supervised practice for pharmacists

National Restrictions Library 2.0: This restriction applies to restictions imposed or accepted from 16 September 2024. For restrictions imposed or accepted before this date please see the National Restrictions Library 1.0.

Restriction description

A registered practitioner must directly supervise practitioners with this restriction. The supervisor must have the training, experience or qualifications needed to provide the required supervision.

Supervision involves overseeing the practitioner’s practice before they are granted general registration. 

This type of restriction usually applies when a pharmacist is granted provisional or limited registration to complete the eligibility requirements for general registration, or to complete a period of supervised practice in accordance with the requirements of the Board’s Registration standard: Recency of practice.

We must approve the supervised practice arrangements to ensure that the nominated preceptor and locations meet the requirements.

The practitioner might have to complete oral exams within a specified timeframe.

The public register will show the approval date of the supervised practice arrangement.

We monitor compliance by checking that:

  • the practitioner meets all required timeframes
  • the supervisor supervises as required
  • the practitioner completes the minimum number of supervised practice hours
  • the practitioner successfully completes any required exams.

Full text of restriction

  1. From #start date#, the practitioner must not practise as a pharmacist other than in accordance with an approved supervised practice arrangement and under the supervision of an approved pharmacist (preceptor).
    #A supervised practice arrangement was approved on #date# / No supervised practice arrangement is currently approved.# 
  2. The practitioner must:
    1. provide acknowledgement, that they have read and understood the requirements of this condition within #timeframe# of the #start date # or as otherwise required 
    2. cease practice if no supervised practice arrangement is approved, the approval of the supervised practice arrangement is not published above, or if no approved preceptor or other registered pharmacist is on site to provide the required level of supervision at any time
    3. complete a minimum of #number of hours# of supervised practise hours by no later than #completion date 1#
    4. practise in accordance with the National Board’s Registration standard: Supervised practice arrangements.
  3. On completion of the minimum number of hours of supervised practice, the practitioner must provide a record of supervised practice hours, using form SPWR-60. 
  4. <include if required> The practitioner must successfully complete an #oral examination (pharmacy practice)/oral examination (pharmacy law and ethics)/oral examinations (pharmacy practice and pharmacy law and ethics)# in accordance with the National Board’s Registration standard: Examinations for eligibility for general registration by no later than #completion date 2#.

'Practise' is defined as any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a pharmacist. 'Practise' in this context is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge (working) in a direct non-clinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on the safe, effective delivery of services in pharmacy profession.

‘Supervised practice hours’ are defined as the hours spent practising under an approved supervised practice arrangement with the supervision of a pharmacist who holds general registration (the preceptor or another supervising pharmacist), while pharmacy services are provided in pharmacy premises or in other premises and circumstances determined by Ahpra.

You will receive a monitoring plan that details contact information, due dates, and the information you will need to provide to show that you are complying with your restrictions.

Forms

Please contact your case officer for more information. 

For general information see our Frequently asked questions about Monitoring and compliance page

If you have not yet received contact details for your case officer, please email your enquiry.

We are here to support and guide you through your compliance. 

The contact details for your case officer are included on all our correspondence with you.

We also encourage you to use independent support services, including those provided on our Practitioner support services page.

You can also contact your legal representative or professional union to support you.

Generally, we will provide a further opportunity to nominate a different supervision arrangement, or to address any shortfalls in the nomination. 

If you do not have an approved supervised practice arrangement, and/or the approval date has not been published on the public register you must cease practise and must not recommence practise until such times as the approval of a supervisor has been published on the public register.

Contact us as soon as possible using the details provided in your monitoring plan.  

You may be able to apply for a change in your restrictions, or an extension of the date of commencement of the requirement for supervision. Circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis.

You must not commence practise or recommence practise until after we have assessed and approved a supervised practice arrangement and the approval has been published on the public register. 

We will consider any practise in these circumstances a breach of the restrictions and may take further regulatory action, even if your nominated supervisor is subsequently approved.

Contact your case officer or team as soon as possible using the details provided in your monitoring plan.

 
 
 
Page reviewed 9/10/2024