Mental Health Therapeutics

The Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health Therapeutics at Aston University is a distance learning course that is written, taught and assessed by specialist mental health pharmacists. The Programme aims to enable students to demonstrate and apply the knowledge and skills to validate, recommend and critically appraise the use of medicines in a mental health context in a person-centred manner.

This qualification is often a requirement for specialist clinical mental health positions in the NHS. Completing this qualification allows progression to the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Pharmacy (formerly Psychiatric Pharmacy).

Our Mental Health Therapeutics modules integrate aspects of the five domains of practice outlined in the RPS Foundation and Core Advanced Curricula. These domains include:

1. person-centred care and collaboration
2. professional practice
3. leadership and management
4. education
5. research

This structured approach supports career development by fostering the necessary competencies for those who are new to specialist mental health practice

1. Be able to explain the meaning and relevance of the aetiology, presentation, diagnosis and prognosis to the care of people living with a range of mental health conditions, incorporating the use of rating scales and the major classification systems used in mental health
2. Develop the knowledge and expertise to critically appraise and apply clinical information, including clinical trial data, treatment guidelines and tertiary reference sources, to be able to explain the place of different therapeutic strategies for the treatment of a range of mental health conditions
3. Demonstrate ability to use scientific knowledge (including pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and affinity data) alongside national guidelines and trial data to make evidence-based and person-focused treatment recommendations for the management of a range of mental health conditions in novel situations as might be required in clinical practice
4.  Critically reflect on treatment strategies used in the management of a range of mental health conditions, including nonpharmacological approaches where appropriate, to identify their relative risks and benefits and thus make rational treatment recommendations as might be required in clinical practice

We may update our courses to reflect best practices and academic developments. If we do, we’ll let you know of any changes at the earliest opportunity by updating our course webpages. If you have already received an offer, we’ll write to you directly to let you know of the changes.

Undergraduate degree

A good honours degree (minimum lower 2nd class) from a recognised university in a relevant subject. See below for more details

Alternative qualifications

An equivalent qualification as agreed with the Programme Director and Pharmacy Technicians without a degree but with extensive relevant experience will also be considered.

• We welcome applications from candidates interested in our course who have the skills and capability to excel. All candidates are considered on an individual basis based on their qualifications, experience, references and motivation.
• Applicants would usually possess a good honours degree (minimum lower 2nd class) from a recognised university in one of the following subjects (or an equivalent qualification as agreed with the Programme Director; Pharmacy Technicians without a degree but with extensive relevant experience will also be considered):
  • Pharmacy
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
     
• The information contained on this website details the typical entry requirements for this course for the most commonly offered qualifications. Applicants with alternative qualifications may wish to enquire with the relevant admissions teams prior to application whether or not their qualifications are deemed acceptable. For less commonly encountered qualifications this will be judged on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the academic admissions tutor.

Course fees

Bursaries are awarded to members of the College of Mental Health Pharmacy (CMHP) according to the need and merit on application to the Treasurer of the CMHP.