Course Overview

This RCN accredited 6-month Contraception and Sexual Health programme is designed for registered healthcare professionals working in Primary Care who wish to develop the advanced knowledge, clinical competence, and professional confidence required to deliver high-quality contraceptive and sexual health services.

This comprehensive programme combines structured teaching, supervised clinical practice, and formal assessment to support nurses and pharmacists in developing competence in contraceptive provision, sexual health assessment, and patient-centred care. The course is aligned with current NICE, CoSRH, and UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC 2025) guidance, ensuring participants develop safe, evidence-based clinical practice.

Delivered by experienced Primary Care clinicians and educators, the programme supports healthcare professionals to develop the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to provide holistic contraceptive care, support patient choice, and work safely within Patient Group Directions (PGDs), prescribing frameworks, or local governance structures.

This programme is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and provides robust portfolio evidence to support expanded clinical roles within contraception and sexual health.

Who Should Attend

This programme is suitable for:

Registered Nurses working in Primary Care

Practice Nurses

Nurse Practitioners and Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Pharmacists working in Primary Care or community pharmacy settings

Healthcare professionals expanding their role to include contraceptive provision

Participants must have access to appropriate clinical supervision and mentorship within their workplace.

Programme Structure

This 6-month programme combines theoretical learning, supervised clinical practice, and formal assessment.

Participants will complete:

Approximately 35 hours of taught teaching sessions

A minimum of 36 hours of supervised clinical practice

Guided private study and completion of reflective portfolio work

Workplace mentorship and competency development

Teaching includes lectures, workshops, case-based discussion, and clinical skills development to support safe and effective practice.

What This Course Covers

The programme provides comprehensive education in:

All contraceptive methods, including combined hormonal contraception, progestogen-only methods, injectable contraception, and long-acting reversible contraception

Application of UKMEC guidance to support safe contraceptive provision

Emergency contraception

Sexual health assessment and history taking

Patient-centered contraceptive counselling

Clinical decision-making and risk assessment

Working safely within PGDs, prescribing frameworks, and professional scope of practice

Supporting diverse patient populations

Professional, legal, and ethical considerations in contraception and sexual health care

Assessment and Competency Requirements

Successful completion of the programme requires participants to complete and pass all course components, including:

Reflective clinical diary and portfolio

Clinical competency assessment signed by mentor

Viva (oral assessment)

Final written assessment

All elements must be successfully completed to achieve certification.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

Provide safe, evidence-based contraceptive and sexual health care within Primary Care

Conduct comprehensive contraceptive and sexual health assessments

Apply UKMEC guidance to support safe clinical decision-making

Demonstrate competence in contraceptive counselling and provision

Work safely within PGDs, prescribing frameworks, or professional scope of practice

Support patients to make informed choices about their reproductive health

Demonstrate professional accountability in contraception and sexual health practice

Programme Format

6-month structured programme

Blended learning approach combining taught sessions and supervised clinical practice

Workplace mentorship and competency assessment

Portfolio-based learning and formal assessment

Accreditation and Certification

This programme is accredited by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Participants who successfully complete all programme requirements will receive an RCN accredited certificate and portfolio evidence supporting competency in contraception and sexual health provision.

RCN accredited until 22nd September 2026. Ref: GA 7862 93-25.

Accreditation applies only to the educational content, and not to any product. RCN cannot confirm competence of any practitioner.

RCN Accredited Contraception and Sexual Health in Primary Care