REGISTERING AS A
PHARMACIST IN
SOUTH AFRICA
GUIDELINES FOR PERSONS WHO HOLD QUALIFICATIONS
IN
PHARMACY OBTAINED OUTSIDE THE REPUBLIC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table
of Contents
- INTRODUCTION
- EVALUATION OF QUALIFICATIONS
- PHARMACY IN SOUTH AFRICA
- APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICES OF COUNCIL (CONTACT DETAILS) -
- DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A PHARMACIST:
- DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
- INFORMATION REGARDING THE REGISTRATION PROCESSES
- OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
- PHARMACEUTICAL ORGANISATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

INTRODUCTION
The South African Pharmacy Council has prepared this
brochure for the information and guidance of overseas-trained pharmacists who
wish to obtain recognition of their qualifications in South Africa. The
brochure is intended as a guide only, and is not legally binding on any of the
bodies listed. Although the information
contained in this brochure is believed to have been accurate at the time of
printing, registration requirements may vary from time to time.
The South African
Pharmacy Council may be contacted as follows:
Physical Address
|
Postal Address
|
591 Belvedere Street
|
Private Bag X 40040
|
Arcadia
|
Arcadia
|
Pretoria
|
Pretoria
|
0083
|
0001
|
Tel: 0861 SAPC 00/0861 7272 00 Fax: 27 12 321 1479/92
Email: customercare@sapc.za.org
Web: www.sapc.za.org
EVALUATION OF
QUALIFICATIONS
If you live outside
the Republic of South Africa and are a pharmacist with a qualification
gained outside South Africa and you intend to migrate and work in this
profession in South Africa, you should contact
the nearest South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate for information
regarding immigration requirements. All
qualifications obtained must first be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). They may be
contacted at:
South African Qualifications Authority
Postal Address:
Physical Address
Postnet Suite 248
SAQA House
Private Bag X06
1067 Arcadia Street, Hatfield
Waterkloof,
Pretoria
0145
Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications call
centre: 012 431-5070
Helpdesk: 086 010 3188
PHARMACY IN SOUTH AFRICA
As in most countries, the practice of a profession in South
Africa requires evidence of an appropriate level of education and practical
experience. The recognition of
qualifications in most health-related professions is the responsibility of a
registration authority established by government statute. To be able to work as
a pharmacist in South Africa, registration with the South African Pharmacy
Council is needed. The practice of
pharmacy by unregistered persons is punishable by law. The procedure to be followed to obtain
registration as a pharmacist in South Africa is explained in this brochure.
Pharmacists in South Africa are expected to:
• Organise the manufacturing, compounding and
packaging of pharmaceutical products;
• Organise the procurement, storage and
distribution of pharmaceutical products;
• Dispense and ensure the optimum use of medicine
prescribed to the patient;
• Provide pharmacist initiated care to the patient
and ensure the optimum use of medicine;
• Provide education and information on health care
and medicine;
• Promote community health and provide related
information and advice;
• Participate in research to ensure the optimal use
of medicine.
Most pharmacists practise in community pharmacies and in
hospital pharmacies in the public and private sector. A smaller number of pharmacists work in
manufacturing pharmacies, wholesale pharmacies, academic and government
institutions or the armed services.
Community and hospital pharmacists have a wide
range of responsibilities. These
include:
- The provision of pharmaceutical care by taking responsibility for the patient's medicine related needs and being accountable for meeting these needs, which include the following functions:
(a) Evaluation
of a patient's medicine related needs by determining the indication, safety and
effectiveness of the therapy;
(b) Dispensing
of any medicine or scheduled substance on the prescription of an authorised
prescriber;
(c) Furnishing
information and advice to any person with regard to medicine;
(d) Determining
patient compliance with the therapy and follow up to ensure that the patient's
needs are being met; and
(e) provision
of pharmacist initiated therapy;
2. Compounding, manipulation or preparation of medicines and scheduled substances;
3. Purchasing,
acquiring, keeping, possessing, using, supplying or selling of medicine or
scheduled substance;
4. Applications
for the registration of medicines or medical devices;
5. Re-packaging
of medicine;
6. Promotion
of public health in accordance with guidelines and standards including:
(a) The
provision of information and education regarding the promotion of human health;
(b) The
provision of immunisation, mother and childcare, blood pressure monitoring;
health education; blood-glucose monitoring; screening tests for pregnancy; family planning; cholesterol
screening tests; HIV screening tests; urine analysis; and visiometric and
audiometric screening tests;
(c) The
provision of animal health care services including:
- The compounding and dispensing of prescriptions written by veterinarians and ensuring the optimal use of veterinary medicines;
- The immunisation of animals;
- The handling of minor and/or self-limiting ailments in animals; and
- The provision of information and education regarding the promotion of animal health.
7. Conducting
of pharmaceutical research and development;
8. Provision
of primary care drug therapy with prior authorisation from council;
9. Any
other health service as may be approved by council from time to time.
Pharmacists in manufacturing pharmacies are
involved in:
(1) Manufacturing
of medicine and scheduled substances;
(2) Purchasing,
acquiring, keeping, possessing, using, supplying or selling of any medicine or
scheduled substance;
(3) Furnishing
of information and advice to any person with regard to medicine manufactured;
(4) Applications
for the registration of medicines or medical devices;
(5) Formulation
of medicine for the purposes of registration as a medicine;
(6) Distribution
of medicine or scheduled substances;
(7) Repackaging
of medicine in accordance with the Medicines Act;
(8) Initiation
and conducting of pharmaceutical research and development;
(9) Any other health service as may be
approved by council from time to time.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE
OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICES OF COUNCIL (CONTACT DETAILS) -
• Telephone,
using the following number: 0861
72 72 00 and asking for the customer care; or
• Fax, using
the following number: (012) 321-1479/92)
• Requesting
the appropriate forms in writing from:
The Registrar, P O Box 40040,
Arcadia, 0007; or
Downloading the appropriate
forms from the Council's website at www.sapc.za.org
DOCUMENTATION TO BE
SUBMITTED BY THE APPLICANT IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AS A
PHARMACIST:
In terms of the Regulations relating to the registration of
persons and the maintenance of registers, any person who has a qualification in
pharmacy obtained outside the Republic and who applies for registration as a
pharmacist must –
(1) Submit
to the registrar:
- Aduly completed application on a form as approved and provided by council;
- A certified copy of his or her identity document or passport;
- Acceptable documentary evidence of
- The qualification in pharmacy obtained outside the Republic which entitles him or her to practise as a pharmacist in the country in which the institution or examining body that awarded such qualification is situated;
- The fact that he or she is registered as a pharmacist in the country in which the institution or examining body that awarded such qualification is situated;
- The fact that he or she is a fit and proper person and in good standing as a pharmacist with the relevant registration authority;
- The practical training which he or she has undertaken and completed, if any; and
- The fact that he or she has passed an examination(s) or other evaluation as approved by council, if applicable;
- Documentary evidence of proficiency in the English language where applicable and;
(2) Pay
the registration fee as determined by the council.
All applications are considered by the Education Committee
of Council. Each application is
considered on merit. After an
application has been evaluated, Council
may decide, that if the applicant complies with all the requirements and has
passed the necessary examinations he/she may be registered either as a
pharmacists’ assistant, pharmacist intern for purposes of undergoing practical
training or register the applicant as a pharmacist for purpose of performing
pharmaceutical community service. If the
applicant is eligible for registration as a pharmacist he/she must provide
evidence of the public health facility or complex of health facilities where
he/she will perform community service in South Africa.
All persons who wish to register as pharmacists in South
Africa must pass the full professional examinations. In order to qualify to
enter the Professional examinations candidates must be in possession of:
• A Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, in pharmacy (evaluated by the South
African Qualifications Authority as being equivalent to a South African
Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree), which is prescribed in terms of the Pharmacy Act,
1974 for purposes of registration as a pharmacist.
• Proof
of having completed at least twelve months of practical training;
• A working knowledge of the English language which is essential for the practice
of pharmacy in South Africa;
• For
applicants who obtained their qualification in any other language except
English, a certificate from the International English Language Testing System
(IELTS) demonstrating their English proficiency at overall Band Score 6.
The IELTS contact details are:
Physical
Address Postal
Address
British Council
Dunkeld
Corner P
O Box 655
275 Jan Smuts Avenue Parklands
Dunkeld West 2121
Johannesburg
2196
Tel:
011 5609300
Fax: 011 5609301
Email: ssa.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
Web: britishcouncil.org/africa
Applicants must also have permanent residence in South
Africa or have permission to work in South Africa.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE
EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
The following documents must be submitted to the Office of
Council for consideration by the Education Committee of Council:
(a) A certified
letter of confirmation from the institution or examining body where the above
qualification was obtained stating that the above applicant was enrolled as a
student and qualified at that institution (submitted directly to Council by the
institution);
(b) An original
Letter of Good Standing issued by the registering authority of the country in
which the above qualification was awarded (submitted directly to Council by the
institution);
(c) A certified
copy of your identity document or passport;
(d) A recent colour photograph of yourself;
(e) A certified
copy of your qualification in pharmacy (degree/diploma);
(f) An original certificate of an evaluation of
the qualification from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) in
Pretoria
(g) Information
regarding the syllabus and curriculum of the qualification obtained from the
institution where training was undertaken;
(h) Documentary
proof of having completed at least 12 months of practical training prior to
registration as a pharmacist;
(i) A certified copy of proof of current
registration as a pharmacist in the country in which the above qualification
was awarded;
(j) An original letter of support from the Foreign
Workforce Management Program, obtained from the Department of Health (SA)
It is also important to note that you need endorsement by
the Foreign Workforce Management Programme prior to registration with the SAPC.
For further information regarding the endorsement letter, please contact the
Department of Health at Tel: 0027 12 312
0722; or at the following address:
The Director-General
Department of Health
Private Bag X828
PRETORIA
0001
(k) A certified copy from the
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Band 6
A fee to the amount of R972.04 (including VAT) is required for the
evaluation of credentials upon submission of all required documents. The fee is
reviewed annually. A certified copy of permission to reside and take up
employment in South Africa issued by the Department of Home Affairs is also
required.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE REGISTRATION
PROCESSES
There are two processes that could be followed by
candidates who wish to register for the first time with the SAPC:
1. Option
1
Submit all documents mentioned above to the Office of the
Registrar for evaluation by the Education Committee of Council. The Committee
will then make a recommendation to Council. The recommendation will first be
approved by Council or the Executive Committee of Council.
2. Option: 2
Submit all documents mentioned above to the Office of the
Registrar. Candidates may opt to be interviewed by the subject matter
specialist at a cost that will be determined by Council. After being successful
in the interviews the candidate will then be allowed to register as an intern
whilst he/she undertakes the professional examinations and the pre-registration
evaluation. The purpose of the interview is to enable the candidate to enter
the workforce as an intern whilst awaiting to successfully completing Council‘s
examinations.
Once the application is approved, the candidate will be
allowed to write the applicable examination and will be informed accordingly.
The Professional Examination takes place in June and October
each year.
Venues are determined by the South African Pharmacy
Council.
Dates and examination centres for examinations/evaluations
are announced at least two months prior to the holding of an
examination/evaluation. Council reserves the right to cancel any
examination/evaluation at an announced venue in the event of an insufficient
number of candidates applying to write the examination/evaluation. Any such
cancellation will be announced at least one month before the
examination/evaluation is to be written.
All applications for admission to the professional
examinations must be submitted to the Registrar of the South African Pharmacy
Council at least two months in advance of the examination date. The examination fee payable for each
examination must be paid to Council in full at least one month prior to the
examination. All fees are subject to
annual revision and therefore subject to change without prior notice.
Format of the Examination
The examination papers are in the form of “open book”
examinations with the exception of the Test in the Laws pertaining to Pharmacy
Practice.
The Test in the Laws pertaining to Pharmacy
Practice is a written “closed book” examination, consisting of one
three-hour paper.
The full Professional Examination consists of
the following four examination papers:
Pharmaceutical Sciences
The examination in this study area consists of two three-hour
papers and is based on the broad field of pharmaceutical sciences. Two examination papers are written -
• Paper 1: Pharmaceutics
and Pharmaceutical Chemistry; and
• Paper 2: Pharmacology
and Toxicology
Professional Pharmacy Practice
The
examination in this field of study consists of two three-hour papers. Emphasis is placed on assessing the
candidate’s ability to apply knowledge and to exercise judgment in specific
situations, problems and patient medication regiments. Two examination papers are written -
• Paper 3: Test
in the Laws pertaining to Pharmacy Practice;
and
• Paper 4: Professional
Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Administration
After examination papers have been marked by Council’s
examiner(s), they are forwarded to the moderator(s) for moderation. The Education Committee of Council has to approve the
results before they can be made public.Letters are sent to candidates with the results of the examination. Council endeavours to have the results
available within 2 months of the date of the examination.
The following rules apply to examination results:
• In order to pass, a candidate must obtain NOT less than 50% in each paper;
• Candidates who fail to obtain a pass mark, may
repeat the examination as many times as necessary after having paid the
applicable examination fee;
• Any application for special consideration on
account of illness or other special circumstance(s) which occur immediately
preceding or during the examination session, must be filed with the Registrar,
or invigilator as applicable before the examination has been completed.
Appeals by a candidate against the results or any other
matter relating to an examination/evaluation conducted by Council must be in
writing and addressed to the Registrar.
Such an appeal must be received within one month of the release of the
results of an examination/evaluation.
Examination Fees
The prescribed examination fee should be forwarded to
Council after approval to sit for the examination has been granted by the
Education Committee. The fees must be paid in full at least one month prior to
the examination date. The prescribed fee
may be paid in cash, by cheque or money order.
The applicable fee is:
• R1193.43 per paper (excluding VAT)
All fees are subject to annual revision and therefore, subject to
change without prior notice. Examination
fees for applicants residing in the Republic of South Africa should include an
additional 14% Value Added Tax (VAT).
All examination/evaluation fees include a non-refundable
portion of R50-00 per paper. Refund of the balance will be made only when a
candidate gives notice of the intention to cancel his/her entry to the
examination/evaluation at least two weeks prior to the date of the
examination/evaluation, or if he/she is unable to write the
examination/evaluation because of illness or for compassionate reasons.
Applications for refunds must be accompanied by appropriate documentary proof
of the reason(s) why the scheduled examination/evaluation was not written.
Previous examination papers can be obtained at
the Office of Council at a cost of R50.45
(including VAT) per paper.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
The South African Pharmacy Council is the statutory body
which regulates pharmacy in South Africa.
It is thus advisable to contact the Pharmaceutical Society of South
Africa at the address below for further information regarding the working
conditions (salary) benefits etc. of the pharmacy profession in the country.
In preparation for the examination in the legislation
relating to pharmacy in South Africa, the Compendium of Laws and Regulations
relating to Pharmacy may also be purchased from the Pharmaceutical Society of
South Africa at the following address:
The Executive Director
Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa
P O Box 26039
ARCADIA
0007
Tel: 0027 12 301 0352/4/5
The following pharmacy organisations can be contacted for
further information regarding pharmacy as a career, membership or services
offered.
PHARMACEUTICAL
ORGANISATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
A list of pharmaceutical organisations has been compiled to
acquaint candidates with the various professional bodies serving the pharmacy
profession in South Africa. The
information has been provided by the various organisations and is by no means
an exhaustive list. The following
organisations may be contacted for further information regarding membership or
services offered:
NAPM - National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
PO Box 32361, KYALAMI, 1684
Tel: (011) 312-6966
Fax: (011) 312-6966
E-mail: raseela@napm.co.za
Web: www.napm.co.za
NAPW - National Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers
PO Box 3069, HOUGHTON, 2041
Tel: (011) 442 0331
E-mail:
napw@mweb.co.za
PIASA- Pharmaceutical Industry Association of South Africa
P O Box 12123, VORNA VALLEY, 1686
Tel: (011) 805-5100 Fax: (011) 805-5105/9
E-mail: info@piasa.co.za
Web: www.piasa.co.za
PSSA - Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa
P O Box 26039, ARCADIA, 0007
Tel: (012) 301-0820 Fax: (012) 301-0828
E-mail: pssa@pharmail.co.za
Website: www.ppsa.org.za
SAAHIP - South African Association of Hospital & Institutional
Pharmacists
P O Box 26039, ARCADIA, 0007
Tel: (012) 301-0820 Fax: (012) 301-0836
Email SAAHIP Executive: exec@saahip.org.za
SAAPI - South African Association of Pharmacists in Industry
P O Box 26039, Arcadia, 0007
Tel: (012) 301-0820 Fax: (012) 301-0828
SAPSF - South African Pharmacy Students' Federation
Email: saps.pres@gmail.com
SACP - Community Pharmacists’ Sector of the PSSA
P O Box 26039, ARCADIA, 0007
Tel: (012) 301-0820 Fax: (012) 301-0828
E-mail: pssa@pharmail.co.za
Website: www.ppsa.org.za
SMASA - Self Medication Association of South Africa
P O Box 71351, The Willows, 0041, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)12 803-5955 Fax: +27 (0)12 803-3575
E-mail: smasa@telkomsa.net
Web: www.smasa.cc
Department of Health
Private Bag X828, Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 312-0285 Fax: (012) 325-5706/326-4382
Website: www.health.gov.za
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