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You can expect that a practising pharmacist will be qualified, registered and competent in their area of practice. This means that he/she:

• Holds a qualification which has been approved.
• Has met the standards set by the Pharmacy Council.
• Is registered with the Pharmacy Council as a pharmacist or intern pharmacist.
• Holds an Annual Practising Certificate.

Approved Qualifications 

The current qualification in New Zealand is a four year BPharm degree which can be obtained at either Auckland or Otago University. Pharmacists who qualified in New Zealand prior to the BPharm degree being introduced, and who are practising, are deemed to have an equivalent qualification. Pharmacists who have obtained their qualifications at an approved school in Australia are also considered to have equivalent qualifications to those who hold a BPharm obtained in New Zealand.

Pharmacists who have qualified in the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA and Canada are required to pass an examination before being considered for registration.  Pharmacists with qualifications obtained in all other countries are required to meet established criteria and also sit an examination before being considered for registration. 

New Zealand qualified pharmacists and those from countries other than Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, USA and Canada are required to undergo a period of practical training through an intern training programme.  Pharmacists from Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, USA and Canada who are accepted for regisration are required to complete an initial period of supervised practice.

What is the InternTraining Programme?

After gaining a BPharm if the graduate wishes to register as a pharmacist they must first register as an intern pharmacist and complete the Intern Training Programme of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. This is a competence based training programme which is undertaken while the intern is working in a pharmacy under the guidance of a supervising pharmacist. The objectives of the programme are for interns to develop judgement and management skills, which will enable them to apply the academic knowledge they have gained during their degree. Intern pharmacists learn the skills that relate to the dispensing of medicines and gain skills in communicating with doctors, other healthcare providers and patients. Qualified pharmacists from countries other than Australia and the United Kingdom are also required to undertake a period of intern training before they can apply for registration.

For more information about pharmacist training see the careers information published by the Pharmacy Industry Training Organisation.