For decades, community pharmacy practice in Nigeria has remained one of the most critical yet under-structured segments of the healthcare system. Despite being the most accessible healthcare professionals to the public, community pharmacists have long faced an undefined career pathway where a newly qualified pharmacist and a decades-experienced professional often share the same professional designation.

That narrative is now changing.

Enter the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI)—a pioneering, home-grown innovation designed to redefine professional growth, standardize excellence, and restore pride, structure, and global relevance to community pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

What Is CPACPI?

CPACPI—Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute, is a professional assessment and advancement platform established to promote excellence in community pharmacy practice through a structured, transparent, and competency-based system.

The Institute implements the Community Pharmacists Career Progression Scheme (CPCPS), a landmark framework that clearly defines career growth stages, professional expectations, and recognition for community pharmacists at every level of practice.

Backed by the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and driven by a multidisciplinary committee comprising pharmacists in practice, academia, regulators, implementing partners, and allied professionals, CPACPI represents a bold shift from stagnation to structured advancement.

Why CPACPI Matters?

For years, the lack of differentiation between entry-level and highly experienced community pharmacists has contributed to professional stagnation, low morale, and declining interest among young pharmacists in community practice.

CPACPI directly addresses this gap by:

Introducing clear career bands

Recognizing competence, experience, innovation, and impact

Encouraging continuous professional development

Standardizing community pharmacy practice using objective quality benchmarks

In essence, CPACPI restores meaning to professional growth.

Five Career Bands. One Clear Pathway.

Under the CPCPS, pharmacists progress through five clearly defined cadres:

Band 1: Community Pharmacist

Band 2: Senior Community Pharmacist

Band 3: Specialist Community Pharmacist

Band 4: Senior Specialist Community Pharmacist

Band 5: Community Pharmacy Consultant

Each band comes with clearly stated requirements, competencies, and expectations—ensuring fairness, transparency, and merit-based recognition.

Who Should Enrol?

While CPACPI is designed primarily for community pharmacists, it also benefits:

Pharmacists transitioning into community practice

Pharmacists seeking structured career recognition

Pharmacy owners and superintendent pharmacists

Early-career pharmacists seeking mentorship and clarity

Health professionals interested in community-based healthcare delivery and leadership

If you are passionate about patient-centred care, quality improvement, professional growth, and sustainable practice, CPACPI is built for you.

What CPACPI and CPCPS Offer

Participants in the scheme gain access to:

Interactive webinars and workshops

Structured mentorship opportunities

Exposure to local and global partner support

Periodic professional assessment and evaluation

Proper documentation of achievements and practice milestones

Formal recognition and certification at each stage of progression

This is not another school.

It is a career-defining professional ecosystem.

Mission and Vision

Mission:

To provide robust assessment tools, facilitate structured career progression, and support cutting-edge professional development programmes for community pharmacists.

Vision:

To be the leading authority and catalyst for excellence in community pharmacy assessment and career advancement globally.

What Participants Stand to Gain?

Clear career advancement

Professional recognition and credibility

Enhanced practice standards

Networking with peers, mentors, and partners

Improved patient care outcomes

Increased professional confidence and relevance

How to Get Started

Your journey begins online.

1. Visit www.cpacpi.ng

2. Review the requirements for each Band

3. Select the Band that aligns with your experience

4. Upload required documents on the platform or forward them to cpacpiinfo@gmail.com

5. Pay the ₦20,000 enrolment fee

(Paraphernalia fees apply only at investiture and decoration after qualification)

Enrollment is open 24/7.

A Home-Grown Innovation with Global Outlook

CPACPI is proudly Nigerian, yet globally aligned. Its long-term goal is to partner with relevant institutions nationally and internationally, ensuring that community pharmacists remain competitive, respected, and impactful in an evolving global healthcare landscape.

The Call to Action

Community pharmacy practice is changing.

The question is—will you grow with it or be left behind?

Join the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Scheme today.

A structured pathway. A respected identity. A future-ready profession.

CPACPI—Transforming Community Pharmacy Practice in Nigeria.