CPD Masters Certificate of Professional Development: Oncology Pharmacy Practice in Primary Care

Provides clinical knowledge and skills that are relevant to the needs of healthcare professionals working with medicines in oncology and to facilitate professional development, including fostering development of an enquiring, open-minded attitude, tempered with scientific discipline for oncology, which encourages lifelong learning. 

After completing the course you should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of common cancers and relevant treatments to select, or make recommendations on, appropriate use of medicines in oncology
• Assess and manage the particular safety issues and pharmacological care relating to oncology for some common cancers
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing advancement of own and others knowledge and understanding in Oncology pharmaceutical care and document continuing professional development in the field

The final award is Continuing Professional Development for Oncology Pharmacy Practice in Primary Care, 20 credits at Level 7.

You will have access to LJMU’s virtual learning environment Canvas and online library resources. Programme content is regularly updated on Canvas, including contemporary reading lists and references to journal articles. You will be assigned a Personal Tutor for support and guidance throughout the programme via email or online tutorials. You can also access the Module Leader via phone contact or email.

The course features a variety of teaching approaches chosen to meet the stated learning objectives, including:

• Online lectures
• Online practical cases
• Pre-reading materials
• Quizzes
• Webinars
• Work-based examples

Tutorials: You will guide the contact time with your distance learning tutor as directed in your learning contract. It is recommended that you attend the introductory webinar and to arrange, as a minimum, monthly contact time with your tutor throughout the course.

Formative online and in-class tests: Online self-assessment questions will test your knowledge throughout the course.

Course topics

The programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas: 

• Application of core knowledge of common oncology conditions, such as epidemiology, pathophysiology, signs and symptoms of cancer. Common cancers that may be covered include breast, lung, colorectal, skin and prostate.

• Practicalities around using medicines in cancer, such as:  
  • General therapeutics and treatment goals  
  • Patient adherence to oral chemotherapy  
  • Monitoring and management of common toxicities  
  • Symptom control

Course length

The study mode is part-time distance learning using LJMU’s virtual learning environment Canvas and lasts for 6 months. No attendance is required as all study is web-based.

Acquisition of knowledge and skills are achieved mainly through directed student-centred and work-based learning. The course is designed to give a degree of flexibility in student choice. The learning outcomes associated with these student-selected topics are achieved through open learning with you selecting the most appropriate resource material as applicable to your area of practice around the world. References and guidance for resources will be available on Canvas and you are supported to identify relevant documents as applicable to your practice.

Students entering the programme must be a registered Pharmacist with the relevant professional body in the UK, or with a professional body recognised to be of similar standing to the UK regulator bodies.

Where English is not your first language, we would normally require a score of 6.5 in the IELTS system (or equivalent), with scores of greater than 5.5 in each of the domains. This is to ensure you can complete the necessary reading, communication with the programme team and assessments, which must all be completed in English. There may be some exceptions to this requirement if you are from a majority English speaking country or you have completed studies in English language in the UK or another English speaking country, in which case, a recent high school diploma or equivalent course title may be sufficient.

Students must be working in an environment that will provide sufficient access to patients with cancer to provide opportunities to develop skills in applying knowledge to real-life cases and collect evidence for the professional practice portfolio. This may include placements, if the placement provider can confirm that sufficient access/involvement in care will be possible during the placement and that the placement duration is of sufficient length to allow full development of the relevant skills. The programme team will assess the suitability of the access an individual has prior to admission, but guidance can be obtained prior to application by contacting the programme administrator.

Download and complete the supplementary application form.

Complete the online application form, taking note of the below:

• Select the course that you would like to study from the drop-down menu. Please ensure you select the ‘Postgraduate Taught’ option under ‘Level of Entry’ and ‘Continuing Professional Development’ under ‘Mode of Study’. Select ‘Browse Courses’ and search for the course (Oncology Pharmacy Practice in Secondary Care or Oncology Pharmacy Practice in Primary Care), entry point (March or September) and year
• Ensure that you have provided details of your professional qualification and any other university qualifications (note, A-Level and GCSE/equivalent qualifications do not need to be listed) 

Upload the following documents to your online application:

• Certificate(s) for any qualifications listed in your application
• A copy of your IELTS certificate (if English is not your first language and you have not recently completed a university level qualification in English)
• A copy of the Purchase Order authorising payment of the course from your place of work

Please note: all documents must be attached to your application within 24 hours of submission – if you wish to attach documents after this date, you will need to email them to the School office: PBSOffice@ljmu.ac.uk

Application deadlines

Intake: March 2023

Deadline: 23 January 2023 23:59

Please note that six places are available on this course.

Start date

27 March 2023.

The course is mapped against some competencies, as detailed in the Expert Professional Practice Curriculum for Cancer Care framework, which was developed by the British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) and Faculty of Cancer Pharmacy (FCP).

Successful completion of the course will include a formal written examination (MCQ exam) and one piece of coursework (patient care plan) based on a work-based case to demonstrate competencies. Students will have an opportunity to provide a formative patient care plan (month three) prior to submitting the summative care plan so that their tutor can feed forward.

The final award is Continuing Professional Development for Oncology Pharmacy Practice in Primary Care, 20 credits at Level 7.

For further information, please contact the School office:

School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Liverpool John Moores University
Byrom Street Liverpool L3 3AF 
Tel: 0151 231 2248
Fax: 0151 231 2170
Email:PBS-Office@ljmu.ac.uk