GPhC peer discussion and the pharmacy CPD and revalidation changes

As of 15 October 2026, GPhC peer discussion is still a required part of annual revalidation. According to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), every pharmacist and pharmacy technician on its register submits four CPD records, one peer discussion record and one reflective account record each year when they renew. The main recent change we found is to the reflective account: for submissions on or after 1 January 2026 you can reflect against any of the nine standards for pharmacy professionals, rather than choosing from three the GPhC selected.

This guide sets out what is current, what has changed, and what has not. It is written for registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, and for employers and superintendents who support them. It covers the GPhC register only.

Current GPhC revalidation requirements at a glance

That is six records in total: four CPD, one peer discussion and one reflective account. Pharmacy technicians complete the same record types as pharmacists, and the GPhC's FAQs have no separate technician-specific rules.

What has changed, and what has not

Changed: the reflective account (from 1 January 2026)

The GPhC announced in November 2025 that, for renewals submitted on or after 1 January 2026, you can base your reflective account on any of the nine standards for pharmacy professionals. Before that, you had to choose from three standards selected by the GPhC. The GPhC describes the change as part of a continuing review of the revalidation framework. The requirement itself is unchanged: you still reflect on one or more standards and give real examples from your practice.

For context, the GPhC's earlier guidance (published in May 2022) said that for submissions between 1 October 2022 and 31 December 2024 the standards on offer were 1, 2 and 5, with the selection reviewed every two years after that. The change from 1 January 2026 removes the need to pick from a short list.

Changed: historic records in myGPhC

The GPhC said it would begin deleting revalidation records submitted before 2021 from 1 September 2025, on a rolling basis, so that your account shows the most recent four years. This does not change what you must submit now, but if you want a copy of old records you should have saved them.

Not changed: peer discussion

We found no announced change to the peer discussion requirement. The GPhC's page on the 2026 reflective account change states that each annual renewal still requires one peer discussion record, and that there is no change to CPD record numbers either. The GPhC's revalidation framework document linked from its pages is dated January 2018, and its peer discussion guidance for pharmacy professionals, peers and employers is dated April 2018.

One caveat: we could not open the GPhC's July 2026 Council papers, so we cannot rule out proposals that are being discussed but have not yet been announced as changes. Check the GPhC website before you plan your submission.

How peer discussion works

The GPhC describes peer discussion as a development activity that encourages you to reflect on your learning and practice with others. Its FAQs say:

• It should be an open and honest conversation with someone you trust and respect.
• Your peer can be anyone who understands your practice.
• It can take place in person, by phone, by video call or by webchat, and the peer does not need to be UK-based.
• Your peer must agree to be named in your record and to be contacted if your records are selected for review.
• With consent, a virtual discussion can be held over more than one session.

The GPhC also publishes example peer discussion records for a range of sectors and roles, including community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, primary care, locum work, superintendent pharmacists and pharmacist independent prescribers. These are a useful guide to the level of detail expected.

CPD records: what to know

You must complete four CPD entries a year, and at least two must be planned, such as attending a training course or reading relevant resources. The rest can be unplanned, such as identifying learning when attending a meeting. The GPhC suggests noting activities in your myGPhC account during the year, or using its downloadable forms and transferring the content later.

The GPhC's requirement is framed as a number of records, and the pages we checked do not set a number of CPD hours. If you are comparing regimes, see our piece on how another health regulator's CPD audit works.

Renewal timing and fees

Registration renews every year. The GPhC says you must renew and submit your revalidation records at least two months before your registration expires, and that if you miss this you will be removed from the register and cannot practise. It recommends submitting your record as soon as your renewal window opens in myGPhC. Renewing without submitting records can lead to a notice of intention to remove your entry from the register.

On fees, the GPhC's renewal page shows £310 for pharmacists and £146 for pharmacy technicians. A GPhC fees FAQ says these reflect a 6% increase from September 2026, and that the new fees apply to registrants whose registration expires on 14 December 2026, who needed to renew by 14 October 2026. Because the fee you pay depends on your renewal date, check your own expiry date in myGPhC.

If you cannot meet the requirements

The GPhC says to use myGPhC to tell it as early as possible. Extensions and reductions are possible with evidence. If you have worked for more than three months in the previous year and you request a reduction, you are expected to submit at least one planned CPD entry and one completed reflective account. The GPhC also says long periods of holiday or intermittent part-time locum work do not count as exceptional circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

Is peer discussion still required for GPhC revalidation?

Yes. One peer discussion record is required with each annual renewal, according to the GPhC.

How many records do pharmacists and pharmacy technicians submit?

Six: four CPD records, one peer discussion record and one reflective account record.

Can I choose any standard for my reflective account?

For renewals on or after 1 January 2026, you can reflect against any of the nine standards for pharmacy professionals, according to the GPhC.

Who can be my peer?

Anyone who understands your practice and whom you trust and respect. They must agree to be named and contacted, and they do not need to be UK-based.

Does the GPhC set CPD hours?

Not on the pages we checked. The requirement is stated as four CPD records a year, at least two planned.

What happens if I do not submit?

The GPhC says revalidation is needed to remain registered and continue to practise. Not submitting can lead to removal from the register.

Next steps

Check your renewal date in myGPhC, book your peer discussion early, and record CPD as you go. For wider learning resources, the Learnsignal CPD hub is a place to start, though you should judge whether any activity is relevant to your own practice.

This article is general information, not regulatory, legal or professional advice. The GPhC can change its requirements, so always check the current guidance on the GPhC website for your own situation.