Washington, D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) is pleased to announce the first examination in the Pain Management Pharmacy (BCPMP) specialty area will begin in 2025. Registration for the certification examination will open July 7, 2025. Registration will close August 25, 2025. The first testing administration window will be open from October 1, 2025 to October 22, 2025.
“We are pleased to introduce the latest BPS Specialty Area for pharmacists interested in earning their board certification in pain management pharmacy. We look forward to celebrating the first cohort of Board-Certified Pain Management Pharmacists (BCPMP) after the inaugural examination window in 2025,” said William M. Ellis, MS, RPh, ICE-CCP, BPS Executive Director.
The purpose of the BCPMP certification program is to validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to optimize the safety and effectiveness of pain pharmacotherapy and supportive care.
“I’m very excited that the pain management pharmacy specialty certification exam will be offered starting in 2025. There is growing recognition of the important role that pharmacy specialists serve on pain management teams, and this certification will allow pharmacists to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, and expertise in delivering safe and high-quality pain care,” said Paige Mathew, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, Chair of the BPS Pain Management Pharmacy Specialty Council.
The eligibility requirements for the Pain Management Pharmacy specialty certification are:
- Graduation from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or a program outside the U.S. that qualifies the individual to practice in the jurisdiction.
- A current, active license/registration to practice pharmacy in the U.S. or another jurisdiction.
- Demonstration of practice experience1 in one of three ways:
- At least four years of Pain Management Pharmacy practice experience after licensure/registration as a pharmacist1 within the past seven years, with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY1 pharmacy residency2 within the past seven years, plus at least two years of Pain Management Pharmacy practice experience after licensure/registration as a pharmacist1 with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY2 pharmacy residency2 in Pain Management and Palliative Care Pharmacy within the past seven years.
1All practice experience must be completed post-licensure/registration as a pharmacist. All applicants intending to demonstrate eligibility for any BPS certification examination utilizing the practice experience pathway must provide an attestation from their employer, on company letterhead, that verifies this experience accurately represents at least 50% of time spent in some or all of the activities defined by the applicable certification content outline. In addition, this practice experience must have occurred within the seven years immediately preceding the application. For more information, click here. A sample employer verification letter is available here.
2Residency programs must be accredited by or deemed candidate status by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) for PGY1, PGY2, and International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programs, or accredited by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) for year-1 programs.
More information on the Pain Management Pharmacy specialty certification can be found here.
For information on certification examinations offered by BPS, candidates can 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 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