Developing and recognising advanced practitioners in australia: An opportunity for a maturing profession?

The need to ensure patient safety through assured professional competence needs little justification. The National Competency Standards Framework for Pharmacists in Australia (NCSFPA) outlines the key competencies required by registered pharmacists to successfully practice to the desired minimum standard. Professional development is clearly a necessary requirement for continued competence, which in turn is essential to ensure sustained and effective performance. The use of competency standards together with practitioner development tools (such as the General Level Framework) can significantly improve the consistency of a pharmacist's performance..