Part C is the 20-minute Problem Solving and Communication component of the pharmacy oral examination. It uses a prescription-based scenario and may involve communication with the patient or agent and other healthcare professionals.
What is pharmacy oral exam Part C?
Part C is the longest component of the oral examination and focuses on problem solving and communication. The candidate is given a prescription and the pharmacy's patient dispensing medication history, then needs to obtain other relevant information through appropriate history-taking.
The current candidate guide describes Part C as role-play that may involve the patient or agent and prescriber or other healthcare professionals. The central task is not simply to spot a problem: you need to decide what to do, communicate that decision appropriately and demonstrate safe professional judgement.
What kind of issues can appear?
The official guide lists examples including drug interactions, contraindications, inappropriate medicines or doses, duplication and unintended dose changes. Candidates should therefore practise a systematic review rather than trying to predict one narrow topic.
- patient factors such as age, allergy, pregnancy, comorbidities or symptoms
- dose, indication, contraindication and interaction problems
- duplication or unintended changes in treatment
- communication with the patient, prescriber and other healthcare professionals
- clear counselling, monitoring and follow-up
Can you use references in Part C?
Yes, under the current candidate guide references may be used in Part C when instructed by an examiner. Hard-copy, electronic and online references may be brought into the examination, but current rules prohibit internet search engines and AI-based search functions. No extra examination time is provided for looking things up.
That makes familiarity with your chosen references important. See our pharmacy oral exam references guide for the current rules in more detail.
How should you practise Part C?
- Read the scenario once. Identify the information that changes your decision.
- Take a structured history. Ask only questions that are relevant to the clinical problem.
- Make a decision. State what you would do, not just what might be wrong.
- Communicate professionally. Explain the issue differently to a prescriber and a patient.
- Close the loop. Include counselling, monitoring, referral or follow-up where relevant.
- Review and repeat. Compare with a model answer, identify omissions and give the answer again aloud.
Our free sample gives you the prescription and patient information on the page. Work through it aloud before downloading the model answer.
How much time do you get?
Part C is allocated 20 minutes under the current candidate guide. It follows Part A (10 minutes) and Part B (5 minutes), making the oral examination 35 minutes in total. Read our exam timing guide for the full breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Part C of the pharmacy oral exam?
The current candidate guide allocates 20 minutes to Part C.
Can you use references in Part C?
Yes, references may be used in Part C when instructed by an examiner. Current rules prohibit internet search engines and AI-based search functions.
Is Part C role play?
The current guide describes Part C as role play that may involve the patient or agent and other healthcare professionals.
Practise Part C with a complete worked scenario.
Try one realistic prescription scenario free. Answer it aloud first, then download the model answer, counselling script and independent study rubric.
Try the free Part C question