Five hundred pharmacists have applied to join the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's (RPS) faculty in the six weeks since its launch.  

The applicants have being given access to the faculty's learning tools to prepare them for the assessment process, which opened on Friday (July 19) when the website went live, before they are officially admitted to the professional recognition programme. 

RPS director of professional development and training Catherine Duggan said the first pharmacists could potentially join the faculty in October, when the first assessment panel is due to meet.

The first pharmacists could become faculty members in October, after passing the assessment process, the RPS said	More on the RPS RPS suffers £180,000 blow to fees income RPS says faculty will boost pharmacy's credibility Faculty programme looks to boost professional image MORE NEWS
	The faculty aims to boost pharmacy's credibility among commissioners and patients and would provide a "quality mark" to those outside the profession, faculty head Professor Peter Kopelman said at the launch last month (June 5).

Ms Duggan told C+D on Friday (July 19) that the society was "delighted" with the response so far, adding that the launch of the faculty had seen an increase in the number of pharmacists joining the society.

Between June 2012 and June 2013, the RPS's membership grew 1,185 to 41,962, C+D reported in June. Despite the overall increase, driven by pre-reg graduates and students, there was a 7 per cent drop in the number of full members and fellows, resulting in a near £180,00 blow to the RPS' income in the past year.

Once pharmacists have joined the faculty, they will be given further tools and resources, including an advanced practice portfolio, professional development frameworks, professional curricula, mentoring and support from the RPS.

Once registrants have completed training, they will be able to take assessments to achieve one of three levels of qualification.

Assessments cost £300 and there is an annual fee to retain the use of postnominals, which will vary according to the level of qualification.