The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Pharmacy (PgD Specialty Pharmacy) is an advanced qualification designed for healthcare professionals seeking to specialise in the management of complex and high-cost medications. This programme equips learners with the knowledge, clinical expertise, and practical skills required to optimise therapy, ensure patient safety, and improve outcomes in specialty pharmacy practice.
This postgraduate diploma is ideal for pharmacists, clinical practitioners, and healthcare professionals who wish to enhance their career prospects, expand their professional knowledge, and actively engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Learners will gain advanced understanding of specialty medications, therapeutic protocols, patient assessment, adherence management, and clinical decision-making, enabling them to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary teams and deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Pharmacy are required to maintain rigorous standards of education and training. This includes employing competent and qualified staff, providing access to up-to-date learning materials, and ensuring all necessary facilities and resources are available to support learner success. By meeting these requirements, centres guarantee learners receive comprehensive instruction and practical experience essential for professional growth in specialty pharmacy.
By completing this diploma, learners will strengthen their clinical expertise, develop specialist skills in managing complex therapies, and position themselves as leaders in specialty pharmacy practice. This qualification empowers learners to enhance patient outcomes, ensure medication safety, and confidently progress to senior or specialist roles within healthcare services.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Pharmacy (PgD Specialty Pharmacy)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
600
Qualification #
LICQ2201235
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Pharmacy (PgD Specialty Pharmacy) , applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2201235-1 |
Advanced Principles of Specialty Pharmacotherapy |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201235-2 |
Clinical Assessment and Medication Management |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201235-3 |
Patient Safety, Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201235-4 |
Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Specialty Pharmacy |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201235-5 |
Ethical, Legal, and Professional Considerations |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201235-6 |
Advanced Therapeutic Interventions and Specialist Management |
20 |
100 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Advanced Principles of Specialty Pharmacotherapy
- Analyse pharmacology and pathophysiology relevant to specialty medications
- Evaluate pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in complex therapy management
- Review evidence-based guidelines for biologics, high-cost therapies, and orphan drugs
- Assess risks and benefits of polypharmacy and complex medication regimens
Unit 2: Clinical Assessment and Medication Management
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients requiring specialty therapies
- Perform medication reviews to optimise therapy and minimise adverse effects
- Integrate comorbidities, organ function, and patient-specific factors into treatment plans
- Apply principles of personalised medicine and shared decision-making
Unit 3: Patient Safety, Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance
- Identify and manage adverse drug reactions and medication errors in specialty pharmacy
- Implement strategies for safe prescribing, dispensing, and monitoring of complex therapies
- Apply regulatory frameworks and compliance standards for high-cost medications
- Promote patient safety, adherence, and quality assurance
Unit 4: Evidence-Based Practice and Research in Specialty Pharmacy
- Critically appraise research, clinical trials, and real-world evidence in specialty pharmacy
- Apply research methods to improve clinical decision-making
- Develop interventions to enhance patient outcomes
- Use data to support policy, protocol development, and evidence-based practice
Unit 5: Ethical, Legal, and Professional Considerations
- Examine ethical dilemmas in specialty pharmacy, including access to high-cost medicines
- Understand legal responsibilities in prescribing, dispensing, and counselling
- Analyse patient consent, confidentiality, and safeguarding issues
- Promote professional standards and reflective practice in complex therapy management
Unit 6: Advanced Therapeutic Interventions and Specialist Management
- Design individualised treatment plans for patients on complex or high-cost therapies
- Evaluate specialist interventions and monitoring strategies for high-risk patients
- Implement multidisciplinary approaches in specialty pharmacy care
- Monitor, review, and optimise therapy to improve clinical outcomes
This course is designed for healthcare professionals seeking advanced expertise in specialty pharmacy, aiming to enhance clinical skills, career prospects, and deliver safe, evidence-based patient care.
- Experienced pharmacists seeking to specialise in specialty and high-cost therapies
- Clinical practitioners aiming to improve patient outcomes in complex medication management
- Healthcare professionals involved in prescribing, monitoring, and counselling patients on specialty therapies
- Nurses, physician associates, and allied health professionals managing patients with complex or high-risk conditions
- Practitioners in multidisciplinary teams delivering specialised pharmacy care
- Clinicians applying evidence-based interventions and personalised medicine in specialty pharmacy
- Professionals seeking senior, specialist, or leadership roles in pharmacy and healthcare services
- Learners committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and professional advancement
- Individuals seeking internationally recognised postgraduate qualifications in specialty pharmacy
- Professionals dedicated to delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred complex therapy management
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Pharmacy must have qualified staff, up-to-date learning materials, practical facilities, and all necessary resources to ensure high-quality training and learner success.
- Centres must employ competent and qualified teaching staff with expertise in specialty pharmacy
- Access to current textbooks, clinical guidelines, and digital learning resources
- Availability of practical facilities or simulated environments to support applied learning
- Systems to provide learner support, mentoring, and academic feedback
- Compliance with international standards and regulatory requirements for postgraduate pharmacy education
- Access to reliable internet, online platforms, and research databases for study and assignments
- Capability to deliver evidence-based, high-quality training ensuring learners achieve all outcomes
- Procedures to monitor learner progress and assessment effectively
- Commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for staff and learners
- Adequate administrative and academic resources to manage enrolment, assessment, and certification
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
