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NHS England is to offer pharmacy contractors a training contribution of £31,010 for helping staff members qualify as registered pharmacy technicians through a publicly funded programme. 

The funding is available as £15,505 per apprentice pharmacy technician for each year of the two-year Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme (CPTAP). The offer is available only for individuals who have not yet enrolled on the programme. 

NHSE said the funding will support pharmacies to develop “an employer-led, work-based training programme” that will be completed “alongside the education, training and assessments set by the apprenticeship provider”. 

For successful applicants, funding will be available for one pre-registration trainee pharmacy technician (PTPT) per pharmacy group for each of the seven NHSE regions. 

Each NHSE region will have a fixed number of available places.

Applications open on April 27 and close on May 18, and successful applicants must have their PTPT enrolled on the programme by September 30.  

“This funding amount is based on the PTPT working full time and a minimum of 30 hours per week, inclusive of study time, as per apprenticeship funding rules,” said NHSE, adding that individuals working part-time for “will be considered on a case-by-case basis within regions” for pro-rata funding. 

This  represents a ‘transition’ phase as NHSE moves to “harmonise” the unit price of PTPT apprenticeships across England and put a stop to disparities in the funding amounts received in different regions. 

From April 2027, the harmonised unit price will be £15,505 per learner per year.

NHSE claimed the 2026 CPTAP scheme “will support the growth and transformation of the community pharmacy workforce” and help fulfil the Government’s health service reform agenda through improving skill mix in community pharmacy settings and boosting the number of pharmacy technicians available to provide some contracted services. 

Amerjit Singh, owner of training provider Skills4Pharmacy, commented: “The announcement of the Community Pharmacy Technician Apprenticeship Programme (CPTAP) is very welcome and represents one of the most meaningful workforce investments community pharmacy has seen in recent years.

“With £15,505 per trainee per year fully funded, the programme gives pharmacies a genuine opportunity to grow their teams or upskill existing staff without the financial strain that often prevents long‑term workforce planning.

For successful applicants, the real value of CPTAP is significant—exceeding the fiscal return achieved from delivering the mandatory Pharmacy First consultations—while also delivering sustainable operational and clinical benefits that extend well beyond a single funding cycle.

“Given that places are limited to one per pharmacy group per region, and with applications opening on 27 April and closing at midday on 18 May, contractors will need to act quickly. Although the application process has been simplified this year, priority being given to those who have not recently received CPTAP funding means early preparation will be key.

“From our experience, contractor confidence in the programme is growing. 

“Done well, CPTAP is not just a training opportunity—it is a strategic investment in the future resilience of community pharmacy, helping businesses build capable, skilled teams at a time when capacity pressures remain intense.”