General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registration for trainee pharmacists will undergo a number of changes from January 2016.

The changes to the registration assessment reflect “significant” changes to pharmacy since the assessment was introduced 21 years ago, after being approved by a board of independent assessors

Registration to the GPhC is to be reformatted to complement the current learning standards for trainee pharmacists, which were introduced in 2011.

Calculators are now allowed to be used in one of the exams and all open book material will be replaced with examples from clinical practice for candidates.

A new multiple type question format will be introduced with multiple completion and assertion reason questions removed.

Chief executive of the GPhC, Duncan Rudkin, said: “The scope of pharmacy practice and its role in healthcare have changed significantly since the assessment was first introduced in 1993.

“The changes agreed by the board of assessors will enable trainees to demonstrate their ability as more clinically competent pharmacists.”

The GPhC holds the registration assessment twice a year for all pharmacists who want to register in the UK.

Further details of the changes will be announced to stakeholders in early 2015.