PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANT ADVISORY GROUP AND PANEL
Welcome to this dedicated space for pharmaceutical assistants. We will use this space to share important updates about the evolving Continuing Professional Development (CPD) landscape for pharmaceutical assistants.
Recent regulatory changes mean that pharmaceutical assistants will be included in the ePortfolio Review process. The IIOP has been tasked with developing and managing this review system. Although pharmaceutical assistants will not be required to submit CPD cycles until 2028, preparatory work is already underway to ensure the necessary systems, supports and resources are in place.
To ensure this work is undertaken in partnership with the profession, the IIOP has established two new structures that will help guide and inform this work:
- A Pharmaceutical Assistant Advisory Group, which provides advice to the IIOP on the development and implementation of the new CPD review system.
- A Pharmaceutical Assistant Panel, who will support activities such as standard setting, peer review, pilot testing, and peer support.
We issued a call for expressions of interest from pharmaceutical assistants who wished to be involved. The call for expressions of interest closed in April 2026.
The Pharmaceutical Assistant Advisory Group has now been established and has met on a number of occasions to provide feedback and guidance on the development of the new system. The IIOP continues to work closely with the Advisory Group and liaise with the Pharmaceutical Assistant Panel to ensure that the views and experiences of pharmaceutical assistants inform this work as it progresses.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
As part of the preparations for the introduction of ePortfolio Review for pharmaceutical assistants, the IIOP hosts webinars titled ‘Navigating the CPD System for Pharmaceutical Assistants’.
These webinars provide an overview of:
• The CPD requirements for pharmaceutical assistants.
• How to record a CPD cycle within your personal profile on the IIOP ePortfolio system.
• How the CPD Themes for Pharmaceutical Assistants can be used to plan and record learning effectively.
• The supports, guidance and resources available to help pharmaceutical assistants engage confidently with the new CPD system.
• Key project timelines and what pharmaceutical assistants can expect as the new CPD requirements are introduced.
We encourage all pharmaceutical assistants to attend. The webinars provide an opportunity to learn more about the changes ahead, ask questions, and gain confidence in using the ePortfolio system to record your CPD.
WEBINAR RECORDING
A recording of the webinar held on 12 October is available to view below:
'Navigating the CPD System for Pharmaceutical Assistants' Webinar Recording'
Pharmaceutical assistants who were unable to attend the live webinar, or who would like to revisit the information presented, are encouraged to view the recording.
REGISTERING FOR THE NEXT WEBINAR:
The next webinar will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 9 November.
To book your place; log in to your IIOP account and go to "All Courses & Events" page here.
Select the "Pharmaceutical Assistant Webinars" tab. Click the "Book me to this event" on the webinar with your preferred date.
SUPPORT FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANTS
The IIOP is committed to supporting pharmaceutical assistants as they engage with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and use the ePortfolio system.
To help you get started, the following support videos are available:
Getting Started with the IIOP Website
This video provides an overview of how to access and navigate the IIOP website, including how to log in, locate information and resources, and manage your account settings. You can watch the video here:
Using the IIOP ePortfolio System
This video demonstrates how to access your ePortfolio and create a CPD cycle, helping you to get started with planning and recording your learning. You can watch the video here:
Additional support resources, including step-by-step user guides and other helpful materials, will be added to this page over time.
The infographic below outlines the planned timeline for the introduction of ePortfolio Review for pharmaceutical assistants and highlights key stages on the journey towards the first review cycle in 2028.
CPD THEMES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANTS
The CPD Themes for Pharmaceutical Assistants are available on the PSI website. You can access them here.
Please note, communications from IIOP will be sent to the email address on your IIOP account. If you wish to check the email address on your account and update it, please see this guide. If you have any questions, please do get in touch by emailing info@iiop.ie