A Documentary of My OSPAP Journey so far

One of my goals for 2022 was to start My OSPAP Programme. The question now will be, Was it achieved?

The answer is a Yes and a No. Yes, because I got admitted into the programme in 2022, and No because I did not start in 2022. 

 If you are planning to practice as a Pharmacist in the UK based on your acquired pharmacy degree, the Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP), a PgDip/MSc course that lasts for 9 months is mandatory. 

A Master’s degree in the UK will not give you the license to practice as a pharmacist.

Of course, the first step to starting the course is to apply to the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council). This is the pharmaceutical body in the UK that assesses your eligibility for the OSPAP course. 

In December 2021, I listed all I needed to apply to the GPhC. The details are available on the GPhC website

For me, the first step was getting the required IELTS grade. I gave myself one month to prepare for it while going to my daytime job as a Pharmacy Assistant/ Pharmacy Aseptic Operator. I had to get at least a band 7 in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. I got materials for it, joined a telegram group, and used youtube for my tutorials. Youtube was a tool for learning. I subscribed to 5 different youtube channels and practiced daily. Finally took the exam in January and passed with a band 8.

In January 2022, I started making plans to get a letter of good standing from the pharmaceutical council in Nigeria, requested that my transcript be sent to GPhC in the UK, did a Naric assessment, and got an academic and a work reference. These took some time and money. 

Fortunately, the documents were ready in march. The application form and other documents certified by a legal practitioner were completed and sent within 1-2 days. 

The application form and all the documents got to GPhC and I finally received my adjunction letter which is the GPhC decision regarding my OSPAP Programme in May.

As a Pharmacist applying for the OSPAP course, information is key. Communicating with friends and joining groups on WhatsApp and telegram will help you through this journey. Oftentimes, you get information from colleagues going through the same process.

 According to the letter, GPhC says it will expire within two years of getting it.

 The letter also explains that the four universities in the UK will contact you when the application process starts. However, the UK has become so populated and the course is highly competitive. There are only four universities accredited for the OSPAP course in the United Kingdom. The University of Sunderland, University of Brighton, University of Hertfordshire, and Aston University. These four universities are only allowed to admit between 40-60 students per session. 

With the influx of pharmacists in the UK, this is a tough call. The universities use other means such as interviews, pharmaceutical calculation tests, and personal statements in selecting candidates. Also, you have to apply within a particular time frame before you can be selected for an interview or a test.

In 2022, applications for the 2023/2024 session were opened for only three universities. Fortunately, a friend called to ask if I got the interview link for one of the schools. I was surprised to hear this because I thought I would be sent an email regarding the application. 

By October, I knew I only had two universities left. I had to apply and do everything to be selected. I joined WhatsApp and telegram groups, called and emailed the schools regularly, and kept reading for the interviews and tests. At this point, I was losing hope. I kept praying and believing in a divine intervention from God. I didn’t want to wait till 2024. 

By November, I was left with only one university which was believed to be the toughest because the university only admits 35 candidates. I started working on a plan B, considering a career change and other degrees. This was such a frustrating time for me.

By December, Aston University, which was the last university, reached out and gave me the offer to start my course in 2023. I can boldly say, It was one of the best news in 2022. I deserved it.

This summarizes my journey in achieving that one goal I had for 2022. It was full of struggles but I knew I wanted it. Pray for me, there’s a lot to do in 2023. 

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