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 6: Diploma in Pharmacy Technician
• Level 8: Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
• Level 9: Specialist in Pharmacy (Radiopharmacy and Pharmacokinetics)