The following terms and conditions are in accordance with the APTUK Standing Orders, a full copy of which can be found here: APTUK Standing Orders

1. Subscription membership:

1.1. The Standing Orders, developed by the Board of Directors, under Article 10 and 39, inform on pharmacy technicians’ APTUK subscription membership.

1.2. All members, on applying for membership or renewal of membership, agree to undertake, that as long as they are members, they will observe the current APTUK Articles, Standing Orders and Regulations.

1.3. All subscription members will be bound by the Standing Orders, Policies and procedures of the Association and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) Standards for Pharmacy Professionals.

1.4. The Board of Directors shall have absolute discretion in deciding whether a person shall or shall not be admitted to membership of the Association.

1.5. Subscription members will be subject to the Professional Conduct Procedure for any alleged breaches and/or will have their continuing membership of the Association considered by the Board of Directors.

1.6. Should any subscription member commit any serious or persistent breach of these Standing Orders or the Professional Conduct Procedure and/or be guilty of any act or conduct or actions contrary to the standards set out by the GPhC, the Board of Directors may at their discretion expel such a member from the Association following due process.

1.7. Upon membership acceptance, subscription members will be issued with a membership number.

1.8. The Association will hold a membership database of pharmacy technician subscription members that will contain the names, postal addresses, email addresses, contact numbers, sector of work, and category of membership and dates of becoming and ceasing to be a subscribed member of APTUK.

1.9. The Association will not pass personal details onto a third party unless this is in the subscription members’ best interest, e.g. Pharmacy Technician Journal printers, Annual Professional Conference organisers, Website provider.

1.10. Confirmation of registration with the GPhC will be sought. (Except for applications from Northern Ireland non-registered pharmacy technicians, where proof of qualification will be sought).

1.11. In the case of Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (PTPTs), confirmation of participation on a suitable academic programme will be sought. In addition to the information collected for pharmacy technician membership, details of the applicant’s line manager or tutor name and associated email address will be held on the database.

2. Subscription Membership Categories:

Membership of the Association shall be open to:

2.1. Full member (including Early Careers membership)

Pharmacy technicians registered with the GPhC or pharmacy technicians working in Northern Ireland who meet the qualifying requirement for registration with the GPhC.

2.2. Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technician (PTPT) member

Validated trainees undertaking the approved qualifications and work experience determined by the GPhC for entry onto the register. In the absence of registration in Northern Ireland, the same GPhC principles will be applied. On qualifying, the PTPT member must inform the Association of their qualification and change their status to an early career member.

2.3. Fellows

Fellowship is awarded to a pharmacy technician subscription member who has been nominated by full subscription members or a Fellow of the Association and endorsed by the Board of Directors in recognition of professional performance, outstanding contribution to the pharmacy profession and the Association.

2.4. Working ‘Fellows’ will pay the full membership subscription. Working ‘Fellows’ must inform the membership coordinator upon retiring to confirm their membership category is changed to that of a retired ‘Fellow’. Retired ‘Fellows’ will pay no annual subscription.

2.5. Post Nominals

2.5.1. Full and paid-up subscription Members are entitled to use the post nominal MAPharmT. #

2.5.2. Fellows are entitled to use the post nominal FAPharmT.

2.5.3. Subscription members found to be using the designatory letters when not permitted to do so or using them in a manner that is inconsistent with the right of use, and/or suggesting explicitly or by implication that the use of such letters represents a qualification of any kind, may have their continuing membership of the Association considered by the Board of Directors.

2.6. The Board of Directors may from time to time determine, add to, and amend, revoke or close subscription membership categories as are deemed necessary and inform full subscription members and Fellows at the Membership Business Meeting.

2.7. Only full and paid-up subscription members are entitled to nominate candidates for roles, vote or proposal matters concerning the Association. Such members must be on the APTUK database as active and paid-up members (where applicable) at the time of proposed elections and calls for proposals.

3. Honorary member

3.1. This membership category is open to one candidate per year, nominated by subscription members or Fellows and endorsed by the Board of Directors, for a non–pharmacy technician who has supported or advanced the profile of pharmacy technicians and is in recognition of their work with APTUK.

3.2. The awardee will be entitled to lifetime membership of APTUK and eligible to attend the Membership Business Meeting, however they will not be entitled to any voting rights. Only one “honorary membership” will be awarded each year.

4. Application for Membership

4.1. Shall be made by completing the official application process, by setting up a yearly payment, through the APTUK website or by completing the official application form and submitting with the appropriate subscription fee to APTUK.

4.2. PTPT membership is free to legitimate trainees studying for the recognised GPhC initial entry qualification for a period of no longer than two (2) years or completion of the qualification. PTPT applications will be made by completing the official application process via the website and be verified with the employer.

4.3. A new member subscription is payable immediately upon becoming a member in accordance with these Standing Orders. The Executive Committee may from time to time determine and set subscription fees and other fees or payments to be made by subscription members.

4.4. Responsibility for renewal of yearly membership and any changes to member details rests with the subscription member and not with any member or members of the Executive Committee.

4.5. Any pharmacy technician subscription member who fails to renew their annual membership, shall be deemed lapsed and shall be removed from the database and mailing list of the Association.

Subscription membership payment terms and refund policy

The following section outlines the APTUK subscription membership payment terms and refund policy, based on the membership terms and conditions detailed above.

5. Membership payment terms:

5.1. APTUK full member subscriptions are deemed to be issued for 12 months. Early Careers member subscriptions for newly qualified pharmacy technicians are deemed to be issued for 18 months. Where the member is paying monthly, if membership is cancelled before the subscription membership term is complete, they will be liable for the remaining monthly payments.

5.2. PTPT membership is free of charge, therefore not eligible for any form of refund and can be cancelled at any time.

5.3. Any member has the right to have their name deleted from APTUK’s membership database at any time, but in this event, there would be no rebate of any part of the subscription.

5.4. If a member informs APTUK of their intent to cancel their membership at any time before the end of their current subscription period, unless the Membership Coordinator is informed otherwise, membership will remain open until the current subscription expiry date.

6. Refunds

6.1. The Board of Directors shall have absolute discretion in deciding whether a person is eligible for a refund

6.2. APTUK reserves the right to charge an administration fee of £10 for any refunds issued.

6.3. When an individual joins APTUK and pays for their first subscription membership, they will have a 14-day ‘cooling-off’ period during which time they have the right to cancel their subscription and receive a full refund, minus a £10 administration fee, which will be refunded within 30 days of cancellation. Members do not need to give a reason to cancel membership. If during the ‘cooling off’ period the individual has accessed APTUKs resources including the website, branch networks, or received copies of the PTJ, they will not be entitled to a refund.

6.4. Access to the member area of the APTUK website www.aptuk.org is governed by a unique member username and password, which will be de-activated if an APTUK membership is cancelled. Notwithstanding the above 14-day ‘cooling-off’ period clause, no refund will be issued if APTUK has reason to believe that a member has benefited by having had access to privileged member-only information, resources, educational content or receiving advice during the 14-day ‘cooling off’ period.

6.5. Members wishing to cancel their subscription within the 14-day ‘cooling-off’ period should email membership@aptuk.org.

Or write quoting their full name and membership ID to:

The Membership Coordinator
Ludgate House, 107-111 Fleet St, City of London, London EC4A 2AB
United Kingdom

6.6. Refunds will not be made to members who indicate that they could retrospectively have been in a lower cost subscription membership category through any circumstances, concessions, or promotions. The onus is on prospective members to inform the APTUK Membership Coordinator of any requirements at the time of their membership application or renewal.

6.7. Subscription membership will be renewed automatically on the expiry date of the subscription term. If a member does not wish to renew their subscription, the onus is on the member to cancel their payment. Failure to do so, resulting in payment being made to APTUK, will not be eligible for a refund.

6.8. APTUK must be informed of cancellation of any payments and requires at least 14-days notice to guarantee Direct Debit payment cancellation.

6.9. Refund of a subscription membership will be made in circumstances where because of APTUK error, e.g., in the case of Direct Debits, it has not been possible to prevent collection of a payment despite having been contacted by the member to cancel or amend their subscription prior to their renewal date.

6.10. Fellow members must inform the membership coordinator upon retiring to confirm their membership category is changed to that of a ‘Retired Fellow’. Retired Fellows are eligible for free APTUK subscription membership; however, refunds will not be given for the remainder of their current subscription.

6.11. If APTUK membership is withdrawn by the Board of Directors in Accordance with the APTUK Standing Orders, the member will not be eligible for a refund of membership subscription fees.

6.12. APTUK reserves the right to charge an administration fee (of up to £10) for any refunds issued.

6.13. Any refunds will be made by bank transfer

If you have any further questions about APTUK membership terms and conditions, or the subscription membership refund policy, then please contact us via email: membership@aptuk.org or operations@aptuk.org