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Foundation trackTherapeutics by system
Twelve modules covering the conditions you will meet most often, from Pharmacy First and respiratory to children and travel health.
Who it's forFoundation trainee pharmacists and prescribers refreshing core therapeutics.
PriceIncluded in the Foundation track: £299 for the training year.
Clinical reviewReviewed by GPs and specialist pharmacists in each area.
StatusOpening in stages from early 2027. Waitlist members get early access and founding prices.
12 modules
Open a module to see what you will be able to do by the end of it.
T1Pharmacy First and common infectionsThe NHS England Pharmacy First pathways, the PGD and prescriber routes, and when to refer instead of treating.
By the end of this module you can:
- Describe the three parts of the NHS England Pharmacy First Advanced Service and name the seven clinical pathways with their age and sex criteria.
- Apply the gateway point, inclusion and exclusion criteria of each clinical pathway before offering a supply under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) or, where your pharmacy is live for NHS prescribing, a prescription.
- Use FeverPAIN, NICE CKS and the pathway algorithms to choose between self-care, a PGD supply or prescription, and onward referral at the right urgency.
- State the first-line PGD medicines, doses and durations for each pathway, and the alternatives for penicillin allergy.
- Recognise red flags, including sepsis and NEWS2 triggers, and escalate to the right service with the right urgency.
- Explain the difference between the PGD route and the prescriber route, and how independent prescribing within the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (England, from autumn 2026) changes, and does not change, your responsibilities.
- Record, communicate with the GP practice and safety-net in line with the service specification.
T2RespiratoryAsthma and COPD diagnosis and treatment under current UK guidance, including AIR and MART, inhaler technique and attacks.
By the end of this module you can:
- Outline how asthma and COPD are diagnosed in the UK, including the role of FeNO, blood eosinophils and spirometry in the 2024 BTS/NICE/SIGN joint asthma guideline (NICE NG245) and NICE NG115.
- Choose the right asthma treatment step for adults and young people aged 12 and over, using anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) and maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) with ICS/formoterol.
- Choose the right asthma treatment step for children aged 5 to 11, including the MART and non-MART routes.
- Choose inhaled therapy for COPD, deciding between LAMA/LABA and ICS-containing regimens using asthmatic or steroid-responsive features and exacerbation history.
- Assess control, adherence and inhaler technique, recognise SABA over-reliance and other risk markers for asthma death, and act on them.
- Manage acute exacerbations in primary care, including oral corticosteroid and antibiotic choices, and know when to refer urgently.
- Counsel on inhaler technique, personalised action plans, steroid safety and the environmental impact of inhalers.
T3Diabetes and endocrineType 2 diabetes treatment choices, hypoglycaemia and sick-day planning, plus thyroid and other common endocrine conditions.
By the end of this module you can:
- Describe the February 2026 update to NICE NG28 and choose first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, including metformin MR with an SGLT2 inhibitor, and the triple therapy route for established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
- Match treatment to the person's comorbidity track (obesity, CKD, heart failure, ASCVD, early-onset, frailty) and agree individual HbA1c targets through shared decisions.
- Prescribe and monitor SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, tirzepatide, DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas and basal insulin safely, including renal dosing and MHRA warnings.
- Give clear sick day rules and hypoglycaemia advice, including DVLA rules.
- Diagnose and treat primary hypothyroidism with levothyroxine, adjust the dose using TSH, and manage key interactions.
- Recognise the risks of antithyroid drugs (carbimazole, propylthiouracil) and the safety counselling they need, and know when to refer.
- Recognise adrenal insufficiency risk with steroids and give steroid emergency card and sick day advice.
T4Women's healthContraception, emergency contraception, menopause and HRT, and the rules for teratogenic medicines.
By the end of this module you can:
- Use UKMEC categories to decide whether a contraceptive method is safe for a named patient, and explain the decision to them.
- Choose and supply the right emergency contraception, taking into account timing, body weight, enzyme-inducing drugs and recent progestogen use.
- Start, adjust and review HRT in line with NICE NG23, including endometrial protection and the risks you must discuss.
- Manage common HRT problems: bleeding, breakthrough symptoms and side effects, and know when unscheduled bleeding needs a suspected cancer referral.
- Apply the MHRA rules for valproate and topiramate, and the general principles for other teratogens such as isotretinoin and mycophenolate.
- Identify drug interactions that make hormonal contraception fail, and advise on additional or alternative methods.
- Recognise when to refer: pregnancy of unknown location, suspected VTE, red-flag bleeding, and complex contraception needs.
T5Mental healthDepression and anxiety treatment, switching antidepressants safely, suicide risk, and lithium and clozapine safety.
By the end of this module you can:
- Classify depression as less severe or more severe and match treatment options to NICE NG222, including when an antidepressant is appropriate.
- Choose a first-line antidepressant for a named patient, taking account of age, comorbidity, interactions and patient preference, and state standard BNF doses.
- Plan review, continuation, switching and stopping of antidepressants, including recognising and managing withdrawal symptoms.
- Apply the stepped-care approach for generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and explain why benzodiazepines are not used long term.
- Describe the safety monitoring for lithium and clozapine, recognise toxicity, and know what a primary care prescriber must and must not do.
- Apply MHRA safety advice on SSRIs and SNRIs: QT prolongation, bleeding, hyponatraemia, suicidality in young people and postpartum haemorrhage.
- Assess suicide risk at a basic level and refer urgently when needed.
T6Pain and musculoskeletalAcute and chronic pain, safer NSAID and opioid prescribing, tapering, and gout and other musculoskeletal conditions.
By the end of this module you can:
- Distinguish chronic primary pain, chronic secondary pain and neuropathic pain, and choose management in line with NICE NG193 and CG173.
- Prescribe NSAIDs safely by assessing gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal risk, and choosing the right drug, dose and gastroprotection.
- Start, review and taper opioids safely, calculate oral morphine equivalents, and counsel on dependence, constipation and driving.
- Write a legally valid prescription for pregabalin or gabapentin under Schedule 3 controlled drug rules.
- Treat acute gout and start treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy in line with NICE NG219.
- Apply MHRA safety advice on opioids, gabapentinoids and NSAIDs in pregnancy.
- Recognise red flags in back and joint pain and refer appropriately.
T7Gastrointestinal and liverDyspepsia and H. pylori, IBS, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and prescribing in liver disease.
By the end of this module you can:
- Manage uninvestigated and functional dyspepsia and GORD in line with NICE CG184, and recognise red flags needing a suspected cancer referral.
- Test for and treat Helicobacter pylori using the UKHSA primary care regimens, including the correct PPI and antibiotic washouts before testing and when to retest.
- Choose drug treatment for irritable bowel syndrome by symptom subtype, and use low-dose amitriptyline and linaclotide appropriately.
- Recognise inflammatory bowel disease flares and the safety monitoring for aminosalicylates, thiopurines and methotrexate.
- Select laxatives in a stepwise way for chronic and opioid-induced constipation.
- Adjust prescribing for patients with liver disease, using Child-Pugh status and recognising drugs that can cause bleeding, encephalopathy, fluid retention or liver injury.
- Manage long-term PPI use safely, including deprescribing and the clopidogrel interaction.
T8RenalChronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, renal dose adjustment and individual sick-day plans.
By the end of this module you can:
- Classify chronic kidney disease (CKD) by eGFR category (G1–G5) and albuminuria category (A1–A3) and say what each means for prescribing.
- Choose and monitor renin–angiotensin system (RAS) blockade and SGLT2 inhibitors in CKD in line with NICE NG203 and the relevant technology appraisals.
- Recognise acute kidney injury (AKI) and the medicines that cause or worsen it, and agree an individual written sick-day plan with restart advice.
- Decide when to use eGFR and when to calculate creatinine clearance (CrCl) with Cockcroft–Gault, as set out by the MHRA.
- Calculate CrCl correctly and use it to adjust doses of DOACs and other renally cleared drugs.
- Identify when a person with CKD or AKI needs referral to nephrology or urgent same-day assessment.
T9NeurologyEpilepsy and valproate safety, migraine, time-critical Parkinson’s medicines and dementia treatments.
By the end of this module you can:
- Describe NICE NG217 first-line antiseizure medicine (ASM) choices by seizure type and by sex and childbearing potential.
- Apply the current MHRA rules for valproate and topiramate, including the Pregnancy Prevention Programme, two-specialist rule and advice for men.
- Manage common ASM issues in primary care: brand consistency, interactions with contraception, rescue medicines and when to refer.
- Choose acute and preventive treatment for migraine in line with NICE CG150 (updated June 2025) and recognise medication overuse headache and red-flag headache.
- Explain why Parkinson's medicines are time critical and plan for nil-by-mouth or missed doses.
- Prescribe and monitor cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in dementia, and avoid harmful drugs such as antipsychotics and high anticholinergic burden.
T10Dermatology, eyes and ENTEczema, acne and isotretinoin, psoriasis basics, red eye and ear, nose and throat problems, with urgent referral criteria.
By the end of this module you can:
- Build a stepped plan for atopic eczema using emollients and topical corticosteroids of the right potency, and calculate quantities using fingertip units.
- Choose acne treatment in line with NICE NG198 and explain the MHRA isotretinoin safety requirements, including the October 2025 and January 2026 updates.
- Outline first-line topical treatment of plaque psoriasis (NICE CG153) and when to refer.
- Manage infective and allergic conjunctivitis and recognise red-eye red flags that need same-day eye assessment.
- Manage acute otitis media and otitis externa, including within NHS Pharmacy First where relevant, with safe antibiotic choices.
- Give clear counselling on application technique, side effects and safety (for example emollient fire risk and topical steroid withdrawal).
T11ChildrenDosing children safely by age and weight, fever and serious illness, common infections and liquid formulations.
By the end of this module you can:
- Use the BNF for Children (BNFC) to choose a dose by age band, weight or body surface area, and check it against the adult maximum.
- Calculate weight-based doses and convert them to measurable volumes of oral liquids accurately.
- Assess a feverish child under 5 using the NICE NG143 traffic light system and decide on safety-netting or same-day referral.
- Manage common childhood infections in line with NICE antimicrobial guidance and NHS Pharmacy First, including when not to give antibiotics.
- Choose suitable formulations, avoiding harmful excipients and drugs contraindicated in children (for example codeine, aspirin).
- Counsel parents and carers on measuring doses, timing, maximum daily doses and when to seek help.
T12Travel health and vaccinesTravel risk assessment, vaccines and the Green Book, malaria prevention and managing anaphylaxis.
By the end of this module you can:
- Carry out a structured travel health risk assessment (itinerary, traveller, activities, timing) and turn it into a written plan.
- Select travel vaccines using the UKHSA Green Book, including schedules, live vaccine spacing and key precautions such as yellow fever vaccine in people aged 60 and over (individual risk–benefit assessment).
- Apply the ABCD approach to malaria prevention and choose, dose and counsel on atovaquone–proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or chloroquine using UK malaria prevention guidance.
- Explain the legal difference between a prescription, a Patient Group Direction (PGD) and a Patient Specific Direction (PSD), and state when each can be used in a pharmacy travel clinic.
- Recognise and manage anaphylaxis after vaccination, including the correct intramuscular adrenaline dose by age.
- Know when to refer: pregnancy, immunosuppression, complex itineraries, and the returning traveller with fever.
Each module includes teaching content, worked cases, a 10-question quiz with explanations, a one-page prescribing summary and a short video. Courses support your learning and CPD; they do not confer prescribing rights.
Other courses
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Calculations and Part 2 technique for the GPhC Common Registration Assessment, aligned to the framework for sittings in 2026.
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The consultation, examination, reasoning and governance skills your designated prescribing practitioner will sign off during the foundation year.
Professional practice
Pharmacy law and ethics, patient safety and governance, and the communication, portfolio and wellbeing skills that get you to registration.
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Six modules on the cardiovascular prescribing decisions you will actually face, led by a consultant interventional cardiologist.
Join the waitlist
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Tell us where you are on your path. We will open the first modules to waitlist members early in 2027.