Washington, D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) announces updates to examination format and administration that will begin in 2024.
The BPS Board of Directors has approved a standardization in examination length across all BPS examinations. Beginning January 1, 2024, all BPS Examinations will consist of 150 items, which includes 125 scored and 25 unscored items. Administration time allotted for all BPS Examinations will be 3 hours and 45 minutes.
“With an eye toward an even tighter focus on assessing the critical competencies associated with each pharmacy specialty area, moving to examinations of equivalent length for all BPS certification and recertification examinees helps us promote consistency while maintaining a high standard of assessment.” – Senior Director of Psychometrics, Amin Saiar, PhD
BPS is also pleased to announce that eight more pharmacy specialty certifications will begin the transition to continuous testing administration in 2024. BPS introduced continuous testing in 2023 with the Cardiology Pharmacy, Nuclear Pharmacy, Psychiatric Pharmacy, and Oncology Pharmacy specialty certifications. Beginning in March 2024, Critical Care Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, and Pediatric Pharmacy specialty certifications will offer continuously available certification and recertification examination administration. In September 2024, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy specialty certifications will offer continuously available certification and recertification examination administration.
“The transition to continuous testing administration across all specialties represents an ongoing commitment to being responsive to candidate and certificant needs by increasing access to BPS examinations” stated BPS Executive Director, William M. Ellis, MS, RPh, ICE-CCP.
| Specialty | Availability of Continuous Testing Administration |
|---|---|
| Cardiology Pharmacy (BCCP) Nuclear Pharmacy (BCNP) Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP) |
April 3, 2023 – Available Now |
| Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP) | August 28, 2023 |
| Critical Care Pharmacy (BCCCP) Nutrition Support Pharmacy (BCNSP) Pediatric Pharmacy (BCPPS) |
March 25, 2024 (Registration will open on January 3, 2024) |
| Ambulatory Care Pharmacy (BCACP) Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP) Infectious Diseases Pharmacy (BCIDP) Pharmacotherapy (BCPS) Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy (BCSCP) |
September 24, 2024 (Registration will open on July 8, 2024) |
Registration for March 2024 examination administrations opens on January 3, 2024; and closes on February 23, 2024 for examinations administered in window mode.
Registration for September 2024 examination administrations opens on July 8, 2024; and closes on August 23, 2024 for examinations administered in window mode.
Questions and comments should be submitted through this form. For more information and responses to frequently asked questions, visit this page.
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 interprofessional 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 57,600 active pharmacist certifications across 14 specialties.
BPS Contact
Alexander Jean-Baptiste
Senior Manager, Content Marketing & Social Media
ajeanbaptiste@aphanet.org
(202) 760-3836