Purpose

The NPA’s market leading Medicines Counter Assistant (Interact) course meets the minimum training requirements outlined by the GPhC for staff working on the medicines counter. This fully accredited course provides essential knowledge required to sell medicines over the counter and provide appropriate healthcare advice. Interact provides flexible learning at a pace that suits the pharmacy and the learner. Every learner has their own copy of the complete course materials, empowering them to study, learn and have their own personal reference source of information when supporting customers and patients.

Outcomes

  • Supports the learner to improve product knowledge and develop confidence on the medicine counter.
  • Course materials can be used as a personal reference source when supporting patients.
  • All course materials are sent together, providing flexible learning at a pace that suits the pharmacy and the learner.

“The University of Portsmouth has successfully set up clinical placements for their undergraduate students in our Day Lewis pharmacies. The placements are supplemented by the NPA’s Medicines counter assistant course - both provide students with excellent underpinning knowledge and help to build their confidence and competence in a community pharmacy setting. This experience is invaluable as the students participate and practise skills alongside multi-professional teams which prepares them for their foundation training year, registration assessment and beyond.”

Dr. Tim Rendell, Head of pharmacy, Day Lewis

Suitability

This course is suitable for any member of staff wishing to work on the medicines counter.

 

Delivery

Distance learning course consisting of practice-based activities and two assessments comprised of multiple choice questions covering the following topics:

  • Pain
  • Colds, coughs and hay fever
  • Indigestion, heartburn and constipation
  • Women’s health and child health
  • Skin, feet and men’s health
  • Eyes, ears and mouth
  • Holiday healthcare and healthy living
  • Veterinary medicines

This course is available in blended and e-learning formats. More details of the NPA Learning Academy, the NPA’s e-learning platform can be found here.

Assessment

The estimated study time for this course is 55 hours. This course can take between 6–12 months to complete. The assessments include:

  • Modules 1 and 2: Online multiple choice questions at the end of each module, marked in real time
  • Completion of Competency booklet

The NPA reserves the right to request randomly selected students’ course work to ensure you have completed the activities and multiple choice questions in each module.

Please refer to our FAQs for further information around our most recent course updates.

To understand the difference between the journey of an eLearning student from that of a blended student, view our Guide to the Student Journey on the NPA Learning Academy flowchart here.

View our short video that introduces the Competency booklet.

N.B. The NPA now offers a combined level 2 course called Medicines counter and dispensing course – details can be viewed here.

Qualification

Upon successful completion of Modules 1 and 2 and the upload of completed Competency booklet, an end of course e-certificate will be provided from the NPA.

Duration

6 - 12 months

Start Date

Applications accepted throughout the year.

Members benefit from 10% cashback on all level 2 courses.

Course Fee

Blended

Member
£95 + VAT

Non-Member
£95 + VAT

e-learning

Member
£59 + VAT

Non-Member
£59 + VAT

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