Public consultation on changes to PSI Education and Training Rules

One of the core functions of the PSI is to set the standards for education and training for pharmacists. It is our responsibility to ensure that those qualifying in Ireland, and anyone seeking to practise here as a pharmacist, meet the minimum standards required under Irish and EU law.  These requirements are contained in our education and training statutory rules. We need to update these rules, which will create some changes for pharmacy education and training in Ireland.  

Why are these changes happening? 

Recently, European Union (EU) rules about how pharmacists are trained in the EU have changed. Ireland must transpose these, which will update the training and education for those studying to become a pharmacist. This will ensure those who qualify in Ireland continue to meet high standards and remain in harmony with pharmacy programmes across the EU.  

These changes come from a Delegated Directive (EU 2024/782) that modernises the existing harmonised training requirements (EU Directive 2005/36/EC). Ireland is required to transpose the new requirements with updates to our education and training statutory rules.

What are the key changes? 

The updates will change some of the curriculum requirements, updating the minimum skills and knowledge that pharmacy students need to qualify as pharmacists. These changes are transposed into the draft PSI (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) (Amendment) Rules 2026 that are now available for review.

About the legislation 

If you want to know more about the relevant legislation in this area: 

EU Law 

• The EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications (EU Directive 2005/36/EC) sets out the minimum training requirements for a number of professional qualifications in the EU, including pharmacy.
• This has been amended by the Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2024/782 of 4 March 2024, which updates the minimum training requirements for pharmacists. 

Irish Law 

• The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course) Rules 2014 (as amended) provide the existing rules for MPharm programmes in Ireland.
• Draft Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Education and Training) (Integrated Course)(Amendment) Rules 2026 contain the required changes to the 2014 Rules arising from the need to transpose the Delegated Directive into Irish law. 

How to provide your feedback

This public consultation provides the opportunity to raise awareness about the required changes. We welcome your review of these changes in the rules provided. You can send us your observations/feedback by 5pm on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.

• Online: You can complete our quick questionnaire.  
• Email: Write to us at consultation@psi.ie

If you have any questions about this consultation, please email us.

What happens next?

After the consultation closes, we’ll review all feedback and prepare a report for our Council. This report, along with the updated rules, will be published on our website.  

Data Protection and Freedom of Information 

The information provided to PSI consultations will be stored in a secure and confidential manner by the PSI, it will only be used for the purposes outlined and it will be deleted in line with the PSI’s record retention policy. After each public consultation we publish a consultation report on this website that contains a summary of comments received, the PSI response to those, and a list of any organisations that have given their feedback, where provided. Please note that submissions made to the PSI as part of public consultations are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.