More training is needed to ensure pharmacists progress from "novice to expert" following a shortage of specialist pharmacists, the Modernising Pharmacy Careers (MPC) Board has warned.

An MPC review of existing pharmacy training identified supply shortages in certain areas of the workforce, including research and technical specialities, and warned of "a lack of structured career pathways", which were needed to enable pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to "move from novice to expert and beyond".

The board, set up in 2009 to advise the Department of Health (DH) on ways to improve the pharmacist workforce, also suggested more work needed to be done around leadership training to support the development of trust chief pharmacists and superintendents.

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	The report, which included eight proposals and was published last month, suggested Health Education England (HEE) develop "strategies to enhance the number of pharmacists accredited as Qualified Persons". The Advanced and Consultant Level Framework (ACLF) should also be extended into areas such as technical services and specialised practice.

"We propose that workforce planning and post-registration education and training commissioning for technical and other speciality pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is undertaken at a national level by HEE and builds on pre-registration and undergraduate training."

To encourage students to undergo this training, it suggested they be given the opportunity to undertake work experience and research projects in technical areas.

Medicines optimisation could also be improved by introducing "a standard assessment of core competencies... to inform the development of a flexible learning and development programme to up-skill pharmacists", it said.

"Post-registration career development within pharmacy needs to be more efficient and effective in preparing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to deliver safer, more efficient, patient-focused care, to meet the needs of a growing, older population with increased expectations about what the health services can deliver."

The MPC board will consider the next steps for progressing the proposals at its meeting in December.