Higher Education Institutions

Higher Education and Training Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF)

In terms of the Pharmacy Act (53 of 1974, Section 3), the South African Pharmacy Council (hereafter referred to as Council) is responsible for establishing, developing, maintaining and controlling universally acceptable standards in pharmaceutical education and training. Council implements the above responsibilities by developing scopes of practice and qualifications, accrediting providers and courses, quality assuring the delivery of the programmes, and ensuring consistency and quality across programmes.

Higher education and training in the South African context falls within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) [Government Gazette No. 30353: The Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF), the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997)]. The specific levels in the framework which apply to pharmacy education and training are:

• Level 5: Higher Certificate in Pharmacy Technical Support
• Level 6: Advanced Certificate in Pharmacy Technical Support
• Level 8: Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)

Council developed the Good Pharmacy Education standards (GPE-HEQSF) (X:\Professional Affairs\Providers\Accreditation and Monitoring Visits\Inspection tools\GPE_amended.docx) . The standards set out in this document provide benchmarks to guide the development, implementation and quality assurance of programmes leading to higher education and training (HET) qualifications in pharmacy.