GPhC Registration Assessment June 2026: Complete Guide for OSPAP Graduates
If you are an OSPAP graduate who has applied for the June 2026 GPhC Common Registration Assessment, the clock is now ticking. The exam takes place on Tuesday 16 June 2026 — roughly eight weeks away — and results are released on 21 July 2026. The application deadline closed on 14 April, so if you submitted, it is time to shift fully into revision mode.
This guide is written specifically for overseas pharmacists who completed OSPAP and are now in their foundation training year. While plenty of general CRA guides exist, very few address the particular challenges that OSPAP graduates face — especially around UK pharmacy law, BNF conventions, and the 2026 framework changes that no one is talking about yet. We cover all of that here.
June 2026 Key Dates at a Glance
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 14 April 2026 (now closed) |
| Eligibility notification sent | 21 April 2026 |
| Exam day | Tuesday 16 June 2026 |
| Results released | 21 July 2026 |
The assessment is computer-based, delivered at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK. There are two sittings per year — June and November — giving you up to three lifetime attempts in total.
What Has Changed for 2026: The LO37 Update Every OSPAP Graduate Must Know
The most important change to understand for the June 2026 sitting is the exclusion of LO37 — the learning outcome covering independent prescribing content. For the first time, the GPhC has removed independent prescribing-specific content from the Common Registration Assessment entirely.
Why does this matter for OSPAP graduates? Under the current OSPAP route, you do not automatically qualify as an independent prescriber upon registration — that is a separate post-registration qualification. Under previous CRA frameworks, some IP-specific content appeared in the exam regardless of your training route. From 2026, the GPhC has standardised the assessment so that all trainees — whether UK-trained or OSPAP graduates — sit exactly the same exam, with LO37 content excluded for everyone.
The practical effect: you are not disadvantaged for not having completed independent prescribing training before sitting in June. Focus your preparation entirely on the three remaining content domains.
Exam Structure: Part 1 and Part 2
Part 1 — Pharmacy and Healthcare Calculations (40 questions, 2 hours)
Part 1 is a standalone calculations paper. You are given 2 hours for 40 questions — averaging 3 minutes per question. You type your numerical answer directly into the screen; units are stated both in the question and next to the answer box.
Topics tested include:
- Displacement values for reconstituted medicines
- IV infusion rates and drip rates
- Weight-based and body-surface-area paediatric doses
- Dose from concentration calculations
- Unit conversions (micrograms to milligrams, mmol to mg, etc.)
- Creatinine clearance-based renal dose adjustments
You may bring an approved calculator (check the GPhC's published permitted models list) or use the onscreen calculator. No BNF is permitted in Part 1.
June 2025 pass mark: 24 out of 40. Despite this seemingly low threshold, 16% of candidates failed Part 1 alone — forfeiting their entire sitting, since you must pass both parts in the same sitting. There is no compensation between parts. Treat calculations as a dedicated skill requiring daily timed practice, not an afterthought on the day before the exam.
Part 2 — Safe and Effective Pharmacy Care (120 questions, 2.5 hours)
Part 2 tests clinical knowledge and professional judgement across three domains:
- Clinical therapeutics — pharmacology, drug selection, dose adjustments, drug interactions, adverse effects, and patient counselling aligned to BNF and NICE guidelines
- Law, governance and regulation — UK-specific legislation covering prescriptions, controlled drugs, responsible pharmacist requirements, clinical governance, and professional standards
- Pharmacy and healthcare calculations — integrated calculation questions embedded within clinical scenarios
The 120 questions comprise 90 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions and 15 Extended Matching Question (EMQ) sets. SBAs present five options; you choose the single best answer. EMQs use a shared eight-option list across a group of linked questions. You have 75 seconds per question on average — enough time if you have drilled the material, insufficient if you are reading topics for the first time.
June 2025 pass mark: 79 out of 120. Overall pass rate: 77%. Approximately one in four candidates did not pass on their first attempt. Understanding why — and making sure it does not apply to you — is what good preparation achieves.
The OSPAP Graduate's Biggest Blind Spot: UK Pharmacy Law
If you qualified as a pharmacist in Pakistan, India, Nigeria, or any other country outside the UK, your home qualification covered the pharmacy legislation of your home country — not the UK. The CRA tests UK-specific legislation only, and this is where OSPAP graduates consistently find themselves underprepared compared to UK-trained trainees who have studied this law throughout their four-year MPharm degree.
Key legislative areas you must know thoroughly before June 16:
- Medicines Act 1968 — legal classification of medicines (GSL, Pharmacy-only, POM), labelling requirements, wholesale dealing restrictions
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 — Schedule 2, 3, 4 and 5 controlled drugs; safe custody requirements; controlled drug registers; destruction procedures; emergency supplies of CDs
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 — valid prescription requirements, emergency supplies, unlicensed medicines, patient group directions, exemptions
- Responsible Pharmacist Regulations 2008 — the responsible pharmacist notice, the pharmacy record, absence from pharmacy premises
- GPhC Standards for Pharmacy Professionals — the nine standards and their application to real-world clinical scenarios
Allocate at least two full weeks of your revision plan specifically to UK pharmacy law. This content cannot be acquired through clinical experience in the dispensary — it must be studied deliberately.
Your 8-Week Revision Plan Starting Now
| Week | Focus Area | Daily Target |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | UK Pharmacy Law & Governance | Master all CD schedules, prescription requirements, responsible pharmacist rules; 20 law practice questions daily |
| Weeks 3–4 | Clinical Therapeutics — High-Weight Topics | Cardiology, respiratory, diabetes, CNS, infections, mental health (these represent 60–70% of Part 2) |
| Week 5 | Clinical Therapeutics — Medium-Weight Topics | Renal and hepatic dose adjustments, paediatric dosing (BNFC), NICE-specific pathways, recent MHRA drug safety updates |
| Week 6 | Calculations Intensive | 40 timed calculations per day; target under 90 seconds per question; focus on displacement values and renal dose adjustments |
| Week 7 | Full Mock Sittings | Complete two full mock exams (Part 1 + Part 2 consecutively); identify weak therapeutic areas from results |
| Week 8 | Targeted Review + Exam Logistics | Review every incorrect mock answer; confirm Pearson VUE test centre, permitted calculator, travel arrangements; reduce question volume, increase quality |
The BNF Is Your Foundation — Use It Like a UK Pharmacist
Every question in Part 2 is written with reference to the British National Formulary (BNF) and British National Formulary for Children (BNFC). These are not the references most OSPAP graduates used in their home countries. Four BNF habits to build before June:
- Use generic (INN) drug names throughout your revision — the BNF is generics-first, and the CRA follows suit. If you think in brand names, retrain yourself now.
- Learn NICE first-line treatment recommendations for common conditions — CRA questions test whether you know the UK first-line choice, which sometimes differs from international guidelines.
- Know MHRA drug safety alerts for high-risk medicines — anticoagulants, lithium, methotrexate, sodium valproate, and clozapine feature regularly in law and clinical governance questions.
- Practise BNF-based dose calculations during revision — calculating doses from BNF monographs for renally impaired patients is both a Part 1 and a Part 2 skill.
What to Expect on Exam Day
- Arrive at your Pearson VUE centre at least 30 minutes early with your GPhC eligibility notification email and a valid photo ID (passport or driving licence)
- All personal items — phone, notes, bags — go into a locker outside the exam room
- A whiteboard and marker are provided for working out calculations; you cannot bring your own rough paper
- The two parts are taken consecutively in a single day with a scheduled break between them; you cannot split them across days
- Results are released digitally on 21 July 2026 — you will receive an email from GPhC directing you to your online account
If You Do Not Pass: What Happens Next
You have a maximum of three lifetime attempts at the GPhC Registration Assessment. If June 2026 does not go as planned, the next sitting is November 2026 — approximately five months to prepare for a resit. Your Part 1 and Part 2 results from a failed sitting are provided to help you understand where to focus. No pass carries forward between sittings: you must pass both parts in the same attempt.
If you are approaching your third attempt, seek expert guidance well before the sitting. The consequences of exhausting all three attempts are serious, and targeted preparation with professional support significantly improves outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the June 2026 CRA the same for OSPAP graduates and UK-trained pharmacists?
Yes. From 2026, all trainees sit exactly the same assessment regardless of training route. The LO37 (independent prescribing) content is excluded for all candidates — meaning OSPAP graduates who have not completed IP training before the exam are not penalised.
Can I use the BNF during the exam?
No. Neither Part 1 nor Part 2 allows BNF access during the assessment. You may use an approved calculator — your own GPhC-permitted model or the onscreen calculator — in both parts.
What is the pass mark for June 2026?
Pass marks are set after the exam using standard-setting methods and are not published in advance. Based on recent sittings, Part 1 has been around 24/40 and Part 2 around 79/120 — but these vary. Do not aim for the pass mark. Aim to master the material.
I qualified as a pharmacist in Pakistan — does my home qualification affect my CRA preparation?
No. OSPAP is completed at a GPhC-accredited UK university regardless of your country of origin. Your CRA preparation is identical to that of any other OSPAP graduate. The main adaptation required is building strong knowledge of UK-specific pharmacy law and BNF-aligned clinical practice — areas that UK-trained pharmacists have covered over four years of their MPharm but that you must build deliberately during your foundation year and revision period.
Where can I find the official 2026 CRA framework?
The GPhC publishes the Common Registration Assessment framework for sittings in 2026 on their website. Download it and use it as your revision checklist — every learning outcome in the document is examinable content.
What happens if I miss my June 2026 exam slot?
If you cannot attend on 16 June, contact the GPhC and Pearson VUE as early as possible. Absent candidates generally use one of their three attempts unless exceptional circumstances are approved. Do not miss the sitting without contacting GPhC in advance.
How Global Pathways Can Help
At Global Pathways, we support internationally qualified pharmacists — including hundreds from Pakistan — through every stage of the UK registration journey. From OSPAP applications and UK student visas to foundation year placement support, we have guided pharmacists from Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad who are now sitting exactly this exam.
If you need support with any part of your registration journey — or if a parent or family member is planning to travel from Pakistan to be with you around results day — see our guide to the UK visit visa from Pakistan. And if you want expert guidance on registering as a pharmacist in the UK, our consultants are available for a free consultation.
Book a free consultation with Global Pathways today — no obligation, just expert guidance from people who have helped hundreds of pharmacists from Pakistan achieve UK registration.