Washington, D.C. – The results of the April/May 2021 BPS certification and recertification examinations were announced today by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), the premier post-licensure certification organization serving the pharmacy profession. A total of 2,740 out of 4,539 candidates successfully passed certification and recertification examinations in the twelve specialties currently offered by BPS: Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Cardiology Pharmacy, Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy, Critical Care Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, Oncology Pharmacy, Pediatric Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, and Psychiatric Pharmacy.
“I am impressed by both the strong interest in BPS board certification as well as the dedication of pharmacists around the world to prepare to meet this rigorous standard.” stated BPS Executive Director, William M. Ellis, MS, RPh.
2021 BPS Chair, Hal E. Richards, PharmD, BCNSP, stated, “The growth of BPS board certification is significant and illustrates how pharmacists’ specialized roles are evolving.”
Spring 2021 Certification and Recertification examination results by specialty:
| Specialty | Initial Certification | Recertification |
|---|---|---|
| Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) | 248 of 437 (57%) candidates | 17 of 25 (68%) candidates |
| Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist (BCCP)* | 64 of 114 (56%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacist (BCSCP)* | 176 of 224 (79%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP)* | 239 of 330 (72%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) | 123 of 251 (49%) candidates | 18 of 29 (62%) candidates |
| Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP)* | 144 of 214 (67%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP) | 6 of 6 (100%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP) | 83 of 87 (95%) candidates | 8 of 8 (100%) candidates |
| Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) | 215 of 347 (62%) candidates | 25 of 32 (78%) candidates |
| Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS)* | 101 of 154 (66%) candidates | — |
| Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) | 1,126 of 2,058 (55%) candidates | 85 of 122 (70%) candidates |
| Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) | 51 of 88 (58%) candidates | 11 of 13 (85%) candidates |
* The initial cohort of certificants in new specialty areas will be eligible to recertify by examination in year 7 of the certification cycle (i.e., BCCCP and BCPPS in 2022, BCCP and BCIDP in 2025, BCSCP in 2026).
About the Board of Pharmacy Specialties
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) was established in 1976 as an autonomous division of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The mission of BPS is to improve patient care by positioning BPS Board-Certified Pharmacist Specialists as integral members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge, and skills for pharmacists in the United States and internationally. Board certification is a recognized credential for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels given the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification. BPS currently recognizes more than 51,500 pharmacist certifications across 14 specialties.
BPS Contact
Alexander Jean-Baptiste
Senior Manager, Content Marketing & Social Media
AJeanbaptiste@aphanet.org
(202) 760-3836
