University of Otago

What you'll study

The programme focuses on the knowledge, skills and professional judgement required for safe, competent pharmacist prescribing. Teaching covers clinical assessment and monitoring, applied therapeutics across common disease groups, pharmacology and adverse effect management, evidence appraisal and decision making, legal and ethical aspects of prescribing, and communication and shared decision making with patients and other health professionals.

Typical components include:

• Clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning — history taking, physical examination principles relevant to community and hospital practice, and clinical reasoning frameworks.
• Applied therapeutics — management of long‑term conditions (for example cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, infectious disease) and acute presentations commonly encountered in primary and secondary care.
• Safe prescribing practice — dose selection, monitoring, deprescribing, harm minimisation, interactions and adverse event management.
• Legal, ethical and professional contexts — prescribing legislation, professional standards, scope of practice and documentation requirements.
• Practice assessment and portfolio — workplace‑based learning, supervised prescribing practice, case portfolio and reflective practice.

The certificate is typically delivered part‑time with blended learning: online coursework and workshops combined with supervised clinical practice in the learner’s workplace. Assessment commonly comprises written assignments, case reports, objective structured clinical examinations or workplace‑based assessments, and a practice portfolio demonstrating competence against prescribing standards.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to be registered pharmacists with the appropriate national practising certificate (or equivalent international registration) and have recent clinical experience. Typical requirements include:

• Current registration as a practising pharmacist in the applicant’s jurisdiction.
• Relevant clinical experience — employers and the programme usually expect a minimum period of post‑registration practice (varying by individual circumstances) and evidence of competence in patient care.
• Workplace support — applicants generally need access to a clinical setting where supervised prescribing practice can be undertaken and a clinical supervisor or mentor to support workplace assessments.
• Application documents — an academic transcript or proof of prior qualifications in pharmacy, a current CV, and references or a statement of support from the employer or clinical supervisor.

Specific entry criteria and any requirements for international applicants should be confirmed with the University of Otago prior to application.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to take on recognised prescribing roles within their scope of practice. Typical career pathways include:

• Prescribing roles in community pharmacy, including medicines optimisation clinics and extended clinical services.
• Hospital pharmacist prescribers working on wards, outpatient clinics or specialised services.
• Primary care and general practice roles where pharmacists work as part of multidisciplinary teams to manage chronic disease and acute presentations.
• Advanced clinical practice, leadership roles in medicines management, and opportunities in clinical education, policy development and research related to pharmacotherapy and prescribing practice.

The qualification supports safe, evidence‑based prescribing and can strengthen career progression into advanced practice roles that require clinical autonomy and collaborative care capabilities.

Why study at University of Otago

The University of Otago’s School of Pharmacy has a long history of pharmacy education and research in New Zealand. The Graduate Certificate in Pharmacist Prescribing is delivered by academic staff with clinical and research experience and is closely linked with local health services, providing realistic workplace learning opportunities and access to clinical supervisors across primary and secondary care settings.

Students benefit from a blended learning approach that combines flexible online study with practical skill development through workplace‑based assessment and face‑to‑face workshops. The programme is designed to align with national professional standards for pharmacist prescribing and to support pharmacists seeking to expand their clinical role within multidisciplinary teams.