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What is the Short Specialisation Course LX? 

The Short Specialisation Course Learning Experience (LX) is an Endorsed LX that can be used to document completion of a course or training program that aims to expand a pharmacist's skills and/or knowledge in a chosen area of practice.

This LX aims to support self-reflection on the impact of this training on their current practice, and to help pharmacists set relevant and useful developmental goals.

Choosing an appropriate course for this LX 

A short specialisation course differs from attendance at a continuing professional development (CPD) seminar in that it includes an assessment-based component that indicates competency in certain skills or knowledge. It also assesses and documents what the pharmacist knows, understands and can do (e.g. via an OSCE or exam).

A short specialization course typically awards accreditation to the pharmacists to allow them to carry out additional professional activities above that of general registration pharmacy practice. These are typically longer and more involved than a standard continuing professional development seminar. See examples below. 

Examples

• Micro-credential 

• Mental Health First Aid training 

• Medicines Administration Course

• Board Certification

• UTI training 

• Immunisation training 

• MMR accreditation

Short Specialisation Course Process 

Learning Experience Details

The Endorsed Short Specialisation Course LX requires the pharmacist to document the following information:

Date

Document the date that the course was completed.

Brief Description

Provide a brief description of the experience. Some examples of the type of information that may be included in this section are:

• The course duration

• The mode of learning (e.g. online)

• A summary of the course structure

• The mode of assessment

• A summary of the additional pharmacy activities that the pharmacist is approved to deliver/perform and/or

• The specific enabling competencies that apply to this experience (see practice recognition level section below).

Course Name

Document the name of the course completed.

Educational Institution

Document the name of the university, professional body or higher education provider that the qualification was obtained through.

Area of Practice

Provide details of the area of practice associated with the course. This is a free text area which allows subspecialities or multiple areas to be documented. However the areas documented may align with the ANZCAP speciality areas of practice.

Practice Recognition Level 

The pharmacist should indicate in the LX which of the three levels of recognition (Pharmacist Resident, Pharmacist Registrar or Pharmacist Consultant) they are currently practicing at. When determining which level of recognition aligns with their experience, they are encouraged to refer to the ANZCAP recognition definitions and descriptors.

The Short Specialisation Course Learning Experience is mapped to:

• Domain 1 & 5 of the National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia 2016. Please note that not all the domain 1 & 5 indicators listed in this document may be relevant to this Learning Experience. 

• Domain 1, 2 and 4 of the Competence Standards for Pharmacists in Aotearoa New Zealand Pharmacists, 2023. Please note that not all the Domain 1, 2 and 4 behaviours listed in these competence standards may be relevant to this Learning Experience.

Reflection & Goal Development

The purpose of this LX is to support self-reflection on how the experience has influenced current or future professional practice, and to help the pharmacist set developmental goals for future contributions or application of the learning from this course.

Key Learnings

The pharmacist is asked to independently reflect and document on the key learnings that they have obtained while completing the course. This may include identifying strengths and areas for development.

Impact on future practice or development goals

The pharmacist is asked to summarise what impact the key learnings of the course have had on their current or future professional practice.

Alternatively the pharmacist may utilize the SMART goal technique to set learning or development goals as are identified from their reflection upon this experience.

Collaborator

Pharmacists may engage in discussion with professional peers, mentors or managers to encourage reflective practice. However, this is an Endorsed Learning Experience (LX) and therefore the LX should be completed independently by the pharmacist without collaboration. 

Supporting Evidence

The Short Specialisation Course LX is an Endorsed LX therefore supporting evidence is mandatory (indicated by the *). Examples of supporting evidence that should be included in this LX include:

• Certificate of course completion (provided by the university, professional body or higher education provider)

LX Documentation

Evidence of the short specialisation course is documented directly into the ANZCAP digital platform as an Endorsed Short Specialisation Course LX. The LX is an electronic template which allows you to directly document all of the required information and attach the required supporting evidence.

For further step by step instructions on how to do this please refer to the How to complete a Learning Experience article.

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