ANZCAP is a landmark recognition program for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working across Australia and New Zealand, developed by Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) in partnership with the New Zealand Hospital Pharmacy Association (NZHPA) and are mapped to relevant competency standards for Australia or New Zealand.

ANZCAP offers recognition as a Pharmacist Resident, Pharmacist Registrar or Pharmacist Consultant (Fellow). Read more about the descriptions of the different recognition levels, including related specialty areas of practice and post-nominals.

Any registered pharmacist in Australia or New Zealand can access ANZCAP through Direct ANZCAP access, 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 Membership, and have not received your free access information, contact NZHPA.

ANZCAP offers two core programs, the Independent Pathway and Training Programs.

The Independent Pathway is open to all Australian pharmacists – and to Pharmacy Technicians in late 2024 – providing the full functionality of ANZCAP.

If you have been recognised already e.g. as a Pharmacist Resident or Pharmacist Registrar through the Foundation Program, you can continue your journey by building a recognition portfolio toward the next recognition via the Independent Pathway.

The Independent Pathway 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 Pathway 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 for Hospital Resident, Hospital Registrar and Community Pharmacy Resident are now available in ANZCAP, providing fast-track two-year recognition via structured, accredited workplace-based training programs, recorded and submitted via the ANZCAP platform.

All submissions for recognition are first reviewed by the ANZCAP team within 2-3 business days. If, after review, the team has questions about the information you have provided for recognition, you will be contacted to discuss or provide further information.

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 membership or Direct ANZCAP access) 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 40 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.

ANZCAP will also facilitate ‘fast-track’ structured programs across practice settings – Resident Training Programs and Registrar Training Programs – with a Technician Training Program coming in 2024.

Also in 2024, ANZCAP will facilitate networks based on each recognition level, supported with tailored social and networking events, webinars and other benefits.

Yes. While full AdPha and NZHPA members have ANZCAP access included in their annual membership, ANZCAP also offers a Direct ANZCAP access that gives access to this functionality only.

Fees for recognition validation and annual renewal are different between AdPha/NZHPA members and those with Direct ANZCAP access. See: Pricing schedule.

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.

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Snapshot: ANZCAP portfolio dashboard, mapping Learning Experiences (LX) with competency domains

No. Your Ahpra or PCNZ registration is separate to ANZCAP recognition.

ANZCAP is designed to empower participants with transferable recognition – via post-nominals and digital certification understood by employers and peers, healthcare colleagues and patients receiving care – broadening professional development and career options.

ANZCAP is founded on an advanced and customised portfolio-building IT platform enabling pharmacists and technicians to centrally and securely manage evidence of their career progression.

This platform represents a significant investment by AdPha and, as a for-purpose organisation, annual recognition payments will support this investment in the future of our profession.

ANZCAP is also supported by specialised staff who not only develop and implement recognition programs but ensure the ongoing robustness and sustainability of the ANZCAP framework via regular audits and dispute resolution.

ANZCAP has been designed to be more accessible and inclusive, with the Learning Experience (LX) Library supporting practitioners – from all career stages and care settings – to progressively accumulate evidence of their growing skills and experience over time.

While Advancing Practice ceased in 2020, practitioners who hold valid recognition from this program (credentials are valid for five years) can still use their previous postnominals until they expire, however they may also wish to be recognised by ANZCAP.

We recognise that not all specialty areas may be currently available. However, this list we will be regularly reviewed and updated as new specialty areas emerge. In the interim, consider your current role and what it involves – are there specialty areas that are listed that could fit what you do? Are you a generalist rather than practising in one specific area?

You can email us at anzcap@adpha.au if you would like us to consider adding a particular specialty in the future.