Non M.D.s

Training Programme for Non-medical University Graduates

Requirements for the Diploma of Clinical Pharmacologist SSCPT.

Version approved at the General Assembly of the Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology in May 1988. Last revised in May 2025.

A. Title and conditions of use

The Swiss Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology awards a title entitled: Clinical Pharmacologist SSCPT (respectively Pharmacologue Clinique SSPTC / Klinischer Pharmakologe SGKPT).

This title is awarded by the Committee on the proposal of the ad hoc commission. Qualifications will be assessed based on a detailed curriculum vitae, a list of publications and a scientific presentation at a meeting of the Society. The committee is responsible for assessing the equivalence of training and qualifications acquired abroad.

The title may only be used preceded by the official name of the holder's academic title, e.g. Doctor of Pharmacy/Sciences/etc./ Clinical Pharmacologist SSPTC.

B. Content of specialist training

Recognition as a specialist in Clinical Pharmacology is based on:
• completion of a university doctorate
• specialised knowledge
• practical experience in the field

under the conditions listed below.

The candidate must:
1. Hold a doctorate in science. The doctoral work must have been carried out in one of the biology disciplines (pharmacy, biology, biochemistry) or a medical discipline (human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, etc.)
2. Be able to demonstrate at least six years of specialized post-graduate training after the diploma/licence
3. During the six years of post-graduate training, have spent at least four years in a clinical pharmacology centre recognized by the ISFM/SIWF or deemed equivalent by the ad hoc commission (university hospital service or recognized pharmaceutical industry department)
4. During the six years of post-graduate training, to have spent at least one year in a university hospital clinical pharmacology centre recognized by the ISFM/SIWF or deemed equivalent by the ad hoc commission; in particular, he/she must have attended the department's clinical activities (discussion of therapeutic problems, participation in medical symposia, etc.)
5. Specialized training in clinical pharmacology must be attested by a detailed certificate, drawn up by the heads of the centres concerned, attesting to adequate knowledge in the major fields of clinical pharmacology:
• Pathology and comparative pathophysiology
• General pharmacology and toxicology
• Metabolism and pharmacokinetics in humans
• Measurement of drug effects in humans
• Drug analysis
• Informatics such as bibliographic research and data management
• Biomedical statistics, preparation and conduct of clinical trials, medical ethics
• Pharmacovigilance and epidemiology
6. Completion of at least 300 consilia as part of specific postgraduate training, 10-30% of which relate to evaluations in the field of pharmacovigilance and 10-30% to evaluations in the field of therapeutic monitoring
7. Training certificates issued by the heads of recognized centres must attest to practical experience in at least four of the major areas of clinical pharmacology (see point 5)
8. Active participation (co-investigator) in at least one clinical pharmacological study with patients and/or healthy volunteers
9. The candidate must have presented a scientific paper or lecture at an event organized by the Swiss Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
10. The candidate must have attended at least one post-graduate courses lasting four days or more in a major field of clinical pharmacology and a Good Clinical Practice course recognised by Swissethics
11. The candidate's scientific activity must be supported by at least four publications in clinical pharmacology, published in an editorial journal; the candidate must be the first author of these works, or, failing this, must have made a clearly identifiable major contribution
12. The candidate must be an ordinary or extraordinary member of the Society