ANZCAP FAQs
What is ANZCAP?
The Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP) is a landmark initiative recognising the career progress and specialisation of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working across Australia and New Zealand, mapped to relevant national competency standards and developed by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) in partnership with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA).
ANZCAP recognition confers the use of professional post-nominals, and recognition portfolios at Registrar and Consultant level can be mapped to one or two of 46 areas of specialty pharmacy practice. View guidelines on the use of ANZCAP post-nominals.
What are the levels of ANZCAP recognition?
ANZCAP offers recognition as a Resident Pharmacist, Registrar Pharmacist or Consultant Pharmacist (Fellow). Read more about the descriptions of the three recognition levels, including related specialty areas of practice and post-nominals, and associated pricing schedule for portfolio validation and annual renewal.
How do I access ANZCAP?
Any registered pharmacist in Australia or New Zealand can access ANZCAP through Direct ANZCAP Membership ($120 per year), register and login at anzcap.org.
If you have a currently active AdPha Membership, you can access ANZCAP at no cost via your Member Dashboard.
If you have a currently active NZHPA Affiliate Membership, and have not received your free access information, contact NZHPA.
How does ANZCAP work?
ANZCAP comprises two pathways to build towards recognition.
Independent Pathway
The Independent Pathway is open to all Australian and New Zealand pharmacists – and to Pharmacy Technicians in late 2024 – providing the full functionality of ANZCAP.
If you have been recognised as a Resident Pharmacist or Registrar Pharmacist through the Foundation Program, you can continue your journey by building a recognition portfolio toward the next recognition via the Independent Pathway.
ANZCAP is based on managing your Learning Experiences (LX) Library.
LXs are types of workplace-based assessment that can be planned, drafted and then completed through one of three forms of LX validation:
- Autonomous: independently documents the LX, self-evaluate and self-reflect on your professional learning experience.
- Collaborative: engage with professional peers to document evaluation, feedback and guided reflection on your professional experience.
- Endorsed: autonomously document and self-reflect on your professional learning experience that has an established peer review or peer recognition process as part of the activity.
In the Independent Program you allocate validated LXs to your currently active Recognition Portfolio.
Your portfolio is ready for submission when 40 LXs have been completed and allocated: a minimum of 10 Core LXs / maximum of 30 Elective LXs.
Core LXs and Elective LXs are required to ensure an appropriate spread of competency domains are covered in the composition of your recognition portfolio, enabling you to submit for recognition.
Don’t worry about keeping track of Core and Elective LXs; the ANZCAP platform does this for you, with progress dials showing how far you have to go!
Training Programs
Training Programs provide fast-track two-year recognition at Resident Pharmacist and Registrar Pharmacist level via structured, AdPha accredited workplace-based pathways, recorded and submitted via the ANZCAP platform.
What are the benefits of ANZCAP recognition?
ANZCAP empowers pharmacists and technicians as they advance in their careers or move between workplace settings, by recognising their growth in experience and expertise.
Access to ANZCAP (through AdPha/NZHPA Affiliate membership or Direct ANZCAP membership) unlocks access to the intuitive digital platform that enables pharmacists and technicians to seamlessly plan and record evidence of their practice progression.
Users can collate portfolios aligned with one or two of 46 specialty disciplines and submit for recognition and/or export for personal and professional use.
Upon recognition, ANZCAP provides digital assets through which your achievement can be displayed, including via certificate, post-nominals, email signature and social media tile, which can be shared with colleagues or used in CVs, professional profiles and for job applications.
Also in 2024, ANZCAP will facilitate networks based on each recognition level, supported with tailored social and networking events, webinars and other benefits.
Can I gain ANZCAP recognition without AdPha or NZHPA membership?
Yes. While full AdPha and NZHPA members have ANZCAP access included in their annual membership, ANZCAP also offers a Direct ANZCAP Membership that gives access to this functionality only.
Fees for recognition validation and annual renewal are different between AdPha/NZHPA Affiliate members and Direct ANZCAP members. See: Pricing schedule.
Are ANZCAP recognitions industry recognised in Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. All ANZCAP recognition portfolios are mapped to the National Competency Standard Framework for Pharmacists in Australia, 2016 and the Competence Standards for Aotearoa New Zealand Pharmacists, 2023.
Where do I begin?
Once you have access via Direct ANZCAP Membership, or AdPha/NZHPA Affiliate membership, familiarise yourself with key concepts and processes via our explainer video:
View a range of detailed article and how-to guides via the ANZCAP Info Hub + Help Centre.