Non Medical Prescribing CPD4904

Overview

Non-Medical Prescribing provides an exciting and challenging opportunity for Nurses, Midwives and eligible Allied Health Professionals to expand their roles to meet the needs of their patients and service to improve access to appropriate medication.

This level 7 module is designed to provide the practitioner with the knowledge and skills to prescribe safely and appropriately within their area of practice and current non-medical prescribing legislation.

Successful completion of the module enables the practitioner to annotate their professional registration with a prescribing qualification.

Module code:	CPD4904
Level:	7
Module credits:	40
Cost for new students:	£2120 for 2026/27 academic year

If you are an existing student who is undertaking this module as part of a programme, your fee will have been advised to you by email. You can also check your fees online. For any queries, please contact [email protected]

If your tuition fee is being paid by a sponsor or you are a sponsor paying a student’s fee, you are required to send a copy of a purchase order to [email protected].

For further guidance please visit: Sponsored students – Edge Hill University

Who is this module for?

The module is designed to meet the needs of Nurses, and eligible* Allied Health Professionals and their employers.

Before commencing the module, Nurses are required to have a minimum of 1-year post-registration clinical experience, and to be capable of safe and effective practice at a level of proficiency appropriate to the module and intended area of prescribing practice in the following areas:

• Clinical/health assessment
• Diagnostics/care management
• Planning and evaluation of care

*Before commencing the module, HCPC registrants require a minimum of 3 years relevant post-qualification experience in the intended area of prescribing practice working at advanced practitioner or equivalent level, and the eligibility to prescribe.

‘Edge Hill University is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council to prepare chiropodists/podiatrists, therapeutic radiographers, paramedics and physiotherapists as independent prescribers, and to prepare diagnostic radiographers and dieticians as supplementary prescribers.’

What are the key aims of the module?

• Provide opportunities for the practitioner to enhance existing knowledge and skills relating to non-medical prescribing
• Enable the practitioner to appraise the relevant sources of information advice and support available and apply them to make appropriate decisions in prescribing practice
• Examine from a critical perspective issues of professional accountability and responsibility as they relate to non-medical prescribing and work appropriately within this framework
• Utilise reflective and analytical skills to improve and develop prescribing practice.

How will I study?

This module normally requires attendance at 26 sessions, one full day session per week for 26 weeks, in addition to 12 days of practice placement learning. This will involve a combination classroom-based and of both synchronous and asynchronous online learning.

What will I study?

The principles of prescribing, national guidelines/directions, assessment and consultation in safe and appropriate prescribing, pharmacology including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, patient adherence and drug responses, professional accountability, record keeping, independent and supplementary prescribing, legal, policy and ethical aspects of prescribing, risk assessment and risk management, reflective practice.

How will I be assessed?

To obtain 40 credits at level 7 and record a prescribing qualification with your professional regulator (NMC or HCPC), you must submit a portfolio of evidence and pass both the theoretical and practical assessment components of the module. Regardless of previous learning or experience, in line with professional regulatory body requirements and University RP(E)L regulations, you must undertake all assessments.

The assessments include:

• A 90-minute unseen multiple choice and short answer Computer Based Examination (CBE), including calculations.
• A 4,000 word prescribing based patient case study that critically analyses and evaluates prescribing practice.
• Practice Assessment: Successful completion of the competencies contained in ‘A Competency Framework for all Prescribers’ (RPS 2021), assessed by way of continuous and collaborative approach involving the practitioner and their Practice Assessor (NMC registrants) or Practice Educator (HCPC registrants).
• A professional e portfolio via PebblePad that evidences the development of prescribing practice, achievement of required practice competencies and learning outcomes, and completion of 90 hours of learning in practice.

Study dates and venues

How to apply

Module availability varies from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Due to the popularity of some modules it may be that the module is fully booked when your application is received. We will include your details on a waiting list and allocate you a place on the next available intake.

We encourage you to apply as early as possible to give you the best chance to obtain a place on your preferred cohort, module applications will close as soon as the module is full. Applications received within two weeks of the start date may have to be considered for a later cohort.

Application for this module is a two-stage process, you should:
1. Complete a non-medical prescribing application form. Please ensure that the form is fully completed before submission. Failure to do so will result in your application form being returned to you for completion and a delay in your application.
2. Complete the University online module application form and attach the completed non-medical prescribing application form in the document upload section of this online form.

Important information: In addition, please refer to the Health & Education Co-operative information on Non-Medical Prescribing courses –Non-Medical Prescribing Courses – Page 2 of 4 – Health & Education Cooperative

Please see below for guidance on the type of experience an applicant should have before applying for the programme.
In Section 1: The personal statement is how the HEI assesses whether you have the required experience in your clinical area, as well as the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become a prescriber.  Please ensure you address the areas outlined in the instructions and consider the following points.  You must demonstrate that you:

• are working clinically in a patient-facing role
• are able to undertake medication reviews
• have the ability to consider the needs of service users
• have the ability to consult with service users
• have an area of intended prescribing practice
• have clinical experience in that area of intended prescribing practice
• have engaged in continuing professional development within the last 12 months
• reflect on your practice as a means of learning
• have an awareness of your own limitations and professional codes of conduct
• are able to communicate with a wide range of healthcare professionals.

Please see the guidance document for further information to support the Application Form for Non-Medical Prescribing: NMP-Application-Form-Guidance-FINAL-20230929.docx

For more details of how to apply, please visit the apply page.

For details on how to apply for funding for this module, please visit the Fees and finance page.

Applicants not employed by the NHS must clearly demonstrate:

• Current, robust, evidence based and appropriate policies and procedures in place in relation to governance and medicine management, including the safe prescribing & storage of medication.
• Appropriate liability insurance to a minimum value of £5 million.
• Safe effective practice at a level of proficiency appropriate to the prescribing programme and their intended area of practice in clinical/ heath assessment, diagnostic/ care management, planning and evaluation of care.

Contact us

For further information regarding module content, please contact:

• Rizvan Ahmed at: [email protected]

Or you can contact the Medical School on [email protected].

Pathways

This module can be studied on a standalone basis.

It is an optional module for the following programmes:

• MSc Advanced Clinical Practice