Do ever think to move from Italy to the UK to work as a pharmacist?
As the UK is part of the European Union the freedom to work across the EU means the UK recognises European Pharmacist qualifications. To be eligible to apply you must have completed an appropriate pharmacy course and must be registered or eligible to register as a pharmacist in your Member State of qualification.
I chose to move to the UK 2 years ago and I’m now working as a Consultant Pharmacist and I’m able to be a Locum Pharmacist.
I would like to share my experience to help any other new pharmacists that are always thinking about coming to the UK to work, but they are afraid with all procedures that need to be followed, and the papers that need to be signed, sent and certificated.
After my graduation in Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy obtained in, Sicily, Italy. I decided to move away from Italy due to the lack of opportunities available to young Pharmacists for work or to carry out further post-grad studies.
The beginning is always hard, but when you understand clearly what is required the process is much simpler than first thought. Be prepared it can take a few months because one of the required documents needs to be issued from the Health Ministry of Rome (and of course they take all the time possible to source it).
Anyway the first step to work as a pharmacist in the UK is to be registered with the GPhC in the UK.
You need, indeed, to translate all your documents with an authorised translator.
I decided to go to the “post lauream polo” to find an authorised translator. Luckily they did that at a reasonable price. Of course, as we are in Italy, all the documents need to have a tax stamps be prepared there are a lot of Documents required.
The documentation that you need to send to the GPhC for Pharmacist registration are:
- Certificated Copies
- Completed application form
- Photo form
- Evidence of your date of birth
- Evidence of your identity
- Payment
When you have all these documents they just need to be sent by post.
Let’s start Step by step
- Certificated copies they simply are the true copy of the originals and you can get it from the municipality of your city. All Degree Certificates are:
- Graduate certificates
- History of your graduation
- Achieved Qualification to practice as a Pharmacist
- Good Standing Certificate issued by the Health Minister of Italy (based in Rome by filling up the Model G, this once received and checked from the Minister it will be send by post directly to the GPhC)
- Application form filled in clearly with black ink
- Photo form (you will need a passport one, this it should be certified photograph, signed and dated on the back with the handwritten words. ‘I certify that this is a true likeness of (give the applicant’s full name and title)’.
- Certificated copy of your date of birth
- Certificated copy of your identity
- All fees to be paid are:
Scrutiny fee £105 to be paid with initial application
Application for registration fee £102
First entry fee £240
Hopefully that will help you! I wish you good luck
Deborah Biondi
For more information regarding this process feel free to contact me, Deby at Pharmacy Consulting on 01252 302342