Consultation opens on proposed national standard for pharmacist prescribing

20 Apr 2026

The Pharmacy Board of Australia is inviting feedback on a proposed national qualification standard aimed at making pharmacist prescribing education more consistent across Australia.

With pharmacist prescribing already in place in many communities across Australia, a new proposal aims to bring consistent national training standards to the practice.

‘We want to make sure that if a pharmacist is prescribing, that they’re doing so safely and to the high standard the community expects of a trusted health professional,’ Pharmacy Board of Australia Chair Dr Cameron Phillips said.

The Endorsement for scheduled medicines for pharmacists would build on the skills pharmacists already have in gathering information, making recommendations, communication and advising on the best use of medicines and options for treating minor ailments.

The Board has asked the Australian Pharmacy Council to consult on the Accreditation Standards for Pharmacist Prescriber education programs. This would ensure that pharmacist prescribers have training in physical examination, diagnostics, clinical decision-making, communication, record keeping and referral to other health professionals. It would also ensure pharmacist prescribers have training in physical examination, testing, diagnosis, clinical decision-making, communication, recordkeeping and referral to other health professionals.

'It's important to remember that this proposal is not about allowing pharmacists to prescribe or not,' Dr Phillips said. 'It's about setting a nationally consistent standard to ensure that all pharmacists have the same level of education to do so safely.'

The public consultation is open until 15 June and builds on previous comprehensive discussions with practitioners, governments and stakeholders.

‘We want to hear from a broad range of voices,’ Dr Phillips said. ‘Consultation is critical to making sure any proposed standards support safe prescribing by pharmacists and works effectively within Australia’s healthcare system.’

The Board has developed the draft endorsement following a request from Health Ministers in June 2025. Following consultation, the final endorsement will be sent to Health Ministers for review and approval.

There are more than 40,000 registered pharmacists in Australia. The Board supports and regulates the profession through a series of standards, codes and guidelines, with a strong focus on public safety.