BPS Announces Updates for 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) announces several updates to certification and recertification processes happening in 2025. These changes reflect BPS’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the certification experience for pharmacists and maintaining appropriate standards.

1. Continuous Testing Administration for Specialty Certifications
12 certification programs will continue administration via the continuously available testing format. Pharmacists may register at any point in the year and select a testing session within their eligibility period. Continuously available testing sessions are available for the following certification programs:

• • • Ambulatory Care Pharmacy (BCACP)
    • Cardiology Pharmacy (BCCP)
    • Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy (BCSCP)
    • Critical Care Pharmacy (BCCCP)
    • Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP)
    • Infectious Diseases Pharmacy (BCIDP)
    • Nuclear Pharmacy (BCNP)
    • Nutrition Support Pharmacy (BCNSP)
    • Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP)
    • Pediatric Pharmacy (BCPPS)
    • Pharmacotherapy (BCPS)
    • Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP)

Emergency Medicine Pharmacy (BCEMP) will transition to continuously available testing in Q1 of 2025. Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy (BCTXP) will transition to continuously available testing in Q3 2025. Certification candidates who wish to take either examination in 2025 will be required to wait for the launch of continuous testing administration for that specialty. More information will be provided in late 2024.

2. Launch of Pain Management Pharmacy
BPS is developing the first Pain Management pharmacy examination and more information regarding the first pain management pharmacy certification examination will be provided in late 2024.

3. Continuous Testing Eligibility Period Update
Effective January 1, 2025, the certification examination eligibility period will go from 365 calendar days to 200 calendar days. The updated policy is as follows:

1. 1. Certification Examinations:
      1. For authorizations to test (ATT) issued before January 1, 2025: Examinees in the continuous testing format will be able to apply at any point in the year and will have 365 calendar days to sit for an examination.
      2. For authorizations to test (ATT) issued after January 1, 2025: Examinees in the continuous testing format will be able to apply at any point in the year and will have 200 calendar days to sit for an examination.
   2. Recertification Examinations:
      1. There is no change to the recertification examination eligibility period for examinations in the continuous testing format. Examinees will have until October 15 to sit for an examination in order to achieve a passing score before the December 31 recertification deadline.

4. Forward-Only Examination Navigation
As of August 1, 2024, all BPS examinations will follow a forward-only navigation format. Examinees no longer have the option to return to items previously viewed or backtrack during the exam. This change is designed to enhance exam security and adhere to accreditation standards.

5. Updated Examination Retake Policy
Effective January 1, 2025, the examination retake policy will reflect an eligibility period of 90 to 200 calendar days. The updated policy is as follows:

1. 1. Certification Examinations:
      1. For authorizations to test (ATT) issued before January 1, 2025: Examinees who fail their first examination attempt may apply for a retake examination and pay the discounted fee of $300 USD. Examinees will be allowed up to two retake examinations (three attempts total), with a minimum of 90 calendar days and a maximum of 365 calendar days between each attempt. If a passing score is not achieved after the third attempt, the examinee must wait 12 months from the date of their final attempt to submit a new application, pay the application fee of $600 USD, and begin the process again.
      2. For authorizations to test (ATT) issued after January 1, 2025: Examinees who fail their first examination attempt may apply for a retake examination and pay the discounted fee of $300 USD. Examinees will be allowed up to two retake examinations (three attempts total), with a minimum of 90 calendar days and a maximum of 200 calendar days between each attempt. If a passing score is not achieved after the third attempt, the examinee must wait 12 months from the date of their final attempt to submit a new application, pay the application fee of $600 USD, and begin the process again.
   2. Recertification Examinations:
      1. Examinees who fail their first examination attempt may apply for a retake examination and pay the discounted fee of $200 USD. Examinees will be allowed up to two retake examinations (three attempts total), with a minimum of 90 calendar days and a maximum of 200 calendar days between each attempt.

6. Multi-Certified Pharmacist Annual Fee Policy

Effective January 1, 2025, multi-certified pharmacists in a recertification year who do not complete recertification requirements for a specialty they decide not to renew are required to pay the annual certification maintenance fee for the remaining active credential(s).

E.g., If a pharmacist with two or more active certifications lapses one certification in 2024, they will be assessed $250 USD in their MyBPS Profile in 2025, accounting for an annual maintenance fee of $125 USD for 2024 and a fee of $125 USD for 2025 because they chose not to pay the $400 USD recertification application fee in 2024.

It is important to note that there are no fee increases in the updated examination retake policies or in the updated multi-certified pharmacist annual fee policy.  

These updates are part of BPS’s ongoing effort to improve and strengthen processes, to continue offering value to certificants, and to maintain compliance with accreditation standards. 

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 has currently issued more than 60,900 certifications held by pharmacists across 15 specialties.

BPS Contact
Alexander Jean-Baptiste
Senior Manager, Content Marketing & Social Media
ajeanbaptiste@aphanet.org
(202) 760-3836