PG Cert Independent Prescribing and Clinical Decision Making
- Entry year:
- 2026/27
- Start date:
- January
- Study mode:
- Part-time
- Course duration:
- 52 weeks
- Campus:
- City
Why study this course with LJMU?
Our Postgraduate Certificates (PgCerts) enable you to study masters level modules in a specific area of practice relevant to your specialism or chosen area of development.
Our PgCerts are ideal if you:
- Would like to experience level 7 study in a particular area of practice without the commitment to a full Masters award
- Are looking for specific areas of professional development or training
- Already have a master's degree and are looking to focus on specialist practice
- Want to undertake a masters eventually and gain some credits that can be transferred into the masters award.
The PgCert in Independent Prescribing and Clinical Decision Making is a comprehensive package of essential knowledge, skills and tools to enhance your professional development within this area of practice.
About this course
A comprehensive package of essential knowledge, skills and tools to enhance your professional development within this area of practice.
The PGCert Independent Prescribing and Clinical Decision Making is designed for registered healthcare professionals who want to develop their clinical reasoning, assessment and prescribing practice at master’s level.
You will build the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply pathophysiology to patient presentations, undertake safe and holistic clinical assessments, formulate differential diagnoses and make evidence-informed decisions within your scope of practice.
The course also prepares you to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively in line with legal, professional and regulatory requirements. This includes developing your understanding of medicines optimisation, accountability, person-centred care and the professional responsibilities of independent and supplementary prescribers.
The programme is particularly relevant if you are seeking to develop enhanced or advanced level capabilities, extend your professional scope of practice, or support service development within your clinical area.
The course is delivered part-time over 52 weeks and comprises three 20 credit modules.
Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
The course is delivered through a combination of face-to-face teaching, practical workshops, online learning and supervised practice-based learning. Teaching is designed to help you apply theory to your own area of practice and develop as an autonomous, evidence-informed practitioner.
7008NAPPG - Applied Pathophysiology
15 weeks, from January to April.
You will explore the applied pathophysiology of a range of commonly presenting conditions across body systems, including respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, mental health, haematological and immunological conditions.
Using patient presentations and clinical cases, you will develop a deeper understanding of abnormal physiological and pathological processes. You will also consider how genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease, and how therapeutic interventions can influence symptoms, disease progression and patient outcomes.
7002NAPPG - Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
15 weeks, from April to July.
You will develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for safe, systematic and holistic clinical assessment. Learning will include history taking, physical examination, advanced communication skills, interpretation of diagnostic investigations, clinical judgement, risk, referral and differential diagnosis.
The module is delivered through a blend of lectures, practical workshops and practice-based learning. You will apply learning to your own clinical setting and identify opportunities to develop assessment and decision-making skills within your scope of practice.
7100NPAPP - Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
15 weeks, from September to January.
You will prepare to prescribe safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as an independent and supplementary prescriber. The module supports development across the Royal Pharmaceutical Society competency framework and meets the professional requirements for eligible NMC and HCPC registrants.
Learning will include pharmacology, prescribing governance, consultation and decision-making, medicines optimisation, legal and ethical aspects of prescribing, clinical accountability, documentation, prescribing within a multidisciplinary team and prescribing for different patient groups.
You will also complete supervised practice learning and develop evidence to demonstrate your competence as a prescriber within your area of practice.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Applied Pathophysiology
20 credits
20 credits
This module will allow students to
- Explore the applied pathophysiology of commonly presenting mental health conditions, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal and urological, neurological, haematological and immunological diseases.
- Understand how and genetic and environmental factors affect physiological mechanisms that lead to disease
- Develop understanding of how therapeutic interventions can change underlying pathophysiology and reduce the impact of disease
Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
20 credits
20 credits
Module content will include:
- History taking and holistic assessment of physical and mental health,
- Advanced communication skills,
- Pathophysiology,
- Physical examination,
- Interpretation of routine diagnostic investigations
- Clinical decision making incorporating therapeutic interventions.
- Safe, high quality and evidence based patient-centred care
- Typical and complex patient presentations
- Clinical judgement, risk and referrals
- Differential diagnosis
- Therapeutic and person-centred approaches
Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
20 credits
20 credits
Aimed at healthcare professionals registered with the HCPC & NMC, this module enables you to prescribe, safely, appropriately and cost-effectively as independent and/or supplementary prescribers, in accordance with both legal and professional requirements.
The module will prepare you to:
- complete an assessment of a patient/client/service users whilst developing a management plan in relation to their diagnosis/differential diagnosis.
- complete an episode of care through prescribing or deprescribing safety
All students who wish to undertake Independent & Supplementary Prescribing also known as V300 Non-Medical Prescribing will have to complete an additional 'North West Non-Medical Prescribing Application form' which will be approved by the prescribing programme team prior to commencement on the independent and supplementary prescribing programme.
Your Learning Experience
An insight into teaching on your course
The course uses a variety of teaching and learning approaches designed to engage and inspire you. These may include lectures, seminars, group work activities, simulation and tutorials, and may involve both on-campus and online learning. Teaching is typically scheduled for half a day to one day per week and may vary between modules.
As you progress through the PgCert, you will develop and use progressively higher-order and mastery-level skills, as well as further developing subject-specific knowledge. This will support you to become an inquiring and confident learner, fostering independence in the acquisition, and application of, theoretical knowledge.
You will be:
- Empowered to acquire knowledge through supported, independent learning. This will include being directed to scholarly activities that will prepare you for scheduled teaching activity.
- Supported in engaging in online asynchronous activity. Examples include tutorial discussions, tutor-facilitated discussion boards and collaborative or individual projects, such as wikis, padlets, blogs and e-portfolios. Dedicated and experienced academic staff will actively, iteratively and directly engage with you to facilitate and guide your learning.
RPEL opportunities within this programme may be available in part (up to 60 credits) for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice programme within LJMU.
For advice and guidance about RPEL or credit transfer at LJMU please visit the academic framework pages for more information and guidance https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/public-information/academic-quality-and-regulations/academic-framework
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
Assessment across the programme is designed to reflect the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities required in contemporary healthcare practice. You will complete a range of assessments that allow you to demonstrate applied knowledge, clinical reasoning, practical skills and professional competence.
7008NAPPG - Applied Pathophysiology
You will undertake a 2-hour written examination that allows you to demonstrate your understanding of disease processes and apply pathophysiological knowledge to patient presentations, including why disease develops, how it may progress and how interventions can support symptom control and disease management.
7002NAPPG - Clinical Assessment and Decision Making
This module is assessed through a practical examination and practice-based competency evidence. The practical examination assesses your ability to apply clinical assessment and decision-making skills in a simulated practice context. All required elements of the practical examination must be passed.
You will also complete Mini-CEX assessments in practice. These allow you to demonstrate clinical assessment and decision-making capability within your own clinical setting.
7100NPAPP - Independent and Supplementary Prescribing
This module is assessed in line with NMC and HCPC requirements for registration as a prescriber.
Assessment includes a pharmacology and law examination, a numeracy examination, a prescribing portfolio and a clinical assessment document. The portfolio includes reflective work, a personal formulary, a record of practice hours and a learning needs assessment.
Your clinical assessment document demonstrates achievement of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society competency framework for all prescribers.
Where you will study
The School of Nursing and Advanced Practice is based within Tithebarn Building in the heart of Liverpool and close to rail and bus public transport connections. It adjoins the City Campus Library, which offers a wealth of learning and study support resources.
Course tutors
Mark Vann is an advanced practitioner and paramedic with experience in walk-in, community and urgent care services, as well as paramedic practice.
Mark has worked as a senior lecturer in higher education since 2021. His academic experience includes teaching across postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in advanced clinical practice, paramedic practice and nursing practice.
His interests include applied pathophysiology, clinical assessment and decision-making, advanced practice development and the use of digital technologies in healthcare and education.
Postgraduate research opportunities
At LJMU, you can take the next step in your academic journey with a PhD or MPhil, available on a full-time or part-time basis. International students also have the option to study remotely.
- PhD duration: Up to 4 years full-time, or up to 7 years part-time
- Funding options: Choose between funded projects (with supervisors already in place) or self-funded study
Our Doctoral Academy is here to support you every step of the way—from your first enquiry through to successful completion—working closely with Schools, Faculties, and Professional Services.
For more details on postgraduate research and full details on how to apply, visit the Doctoral Academy website.
Career paths
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 97% of our postgraduates in work or further study fifteen months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025). Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
The knowledge, skills and clinical understanding developed through this course are highly relevant to enhanced, specialist and advanced clinical practice roles. The programme supports registered healthcare professionals who want to develop higher-level assessment, decision-making and prescribing capabilities within their area of practice. It may also support progression into roles with greater clinical autonomy, responsibility and contribution to service development.
Tuition fees and funding
- Fee:
- £3,200
Fees
The fees quoted cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- Library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to programme-appropriate software
- Library and student IT support
- Free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Funding
Opportunities for funding may be available through your workplace employer or alternatively through the Postgraduate Masters Loan scheme. More information can be found https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as library membership and student IT support with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources including programme-appropriate software and on campus wifi.
Financial Support
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages. The University offers a range of financial support for students. You'll find all the information you need on our specialist financial support pages including details of the Student Support Fund and other activities to support with the cost of living.
Additional Costs
In addition to fees, students should also keep in mind the cost of:
- Accommodation
- Travel costs and field trips unless paid for by LJMU
- Stationery, IT equipment, professional body membership and graduation gown hire
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
BA/BSc (Hons) in relevant field at 2:2 or above, or evidence of potential to study at Masters Level.
Additional requirements
-
Relevant work experience
Applicants must be registered with either NMC as a Nurse (level 1)/Midwife/SCPHN, or HCPC with a minimum of 1 years post registration experience in the clinical field in which they are intending to prescribe.
Applicants must be able to facilitate the achievement of the assessment of competency required with an appropriately qualified supervisor and within an appropriate clinical setting.
Further information
-
DBS Requirements
Confirmation of satisfactory references and DBS checks are also required and recorded via completion of the NWNMPEG application form.
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
We are looking for practitioners within healthcare who embody the core NHS values and constitution, have the drive to enhance practice and innovate to effect positive change for patients are carers, in the role and speciality within which they work.
Applicants must be able to meet the entry requirements for the programme and the additional professional requirements for the Clinical Assessment and Decision Making and Independent and Supplementary Prescribing modules.
For the Independent and Supplementary Prescribing module, eligible applicants must also complete the North West Non-Medical Prescribing application form. This will be reviewed by the prescribing programme team before the prescribing module begins.
Applicants must have access to an appropriate clinical setting and appropriately qualified supervision to support practice-based learning and assessment.
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The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.