Washington D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), the premier post-licensure pharmacist certification agency, issues a call for petition in veterinary pharmacy. In February 2025, the BPS Board of Directors reviewed an exploratory job analysis in veterinary pharmacy and concluded the results warrant further exploration of veterinary pharmacy as a potential specialty certification.
For a new specialty to be recognized by BPS and established as a certification program, the petition must address, in detail, each of the following criteria: need, demand, number, time, specialized knowledge, specialized functions, education, training, and transmission of knowledge.
“The call for petition in veterinary pharmacy underscores the ongoing dedication BPS has to exploring emerging areas of specialized knowledge and expertise. We look forward to reviewing a petition by the veterinary pharmacy community,” said Gary C. Yee, PharmD, FCCP, FAPhA, BPS Board of Directors Chair.
“The advancement of veterinary pharmacy requires pharmacists practicing in this area to be well versed in a variety of competency areas to provide the best veterinary care. We appreciate the many pharmacists who engaged in the job analysis panel and validation survey and shared their expertise and knowledge with the BPS Board of Directors,” said Brian Lawson, PharmD, ICE-CCP, BPS Interim Executive Director.
If a petition to recognize veterinary pharmacy as a new certification program is received, BPS will review the materials and open the information for public comment. After a review from the public, the BPS Board of Directors will review the petition and public comments to render a decision within six months. If veterinary pharmacy is approved as a certification program, an inaugural specialty council will be established to work with BPS to establish eligibility criteria and begin examination development.
For more information on the consideration of a new pharmacy specialty, individuals should review the BPS Petitioner’s Guide for Recognition of a Pharmacy Practice Specialty document.
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 62,250 certifications held by pharmacists across 15 specialties.
BPS Contact
Alexander Jean-Baptiste
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ajeanbaptiste@aphanet.org
(202) 760-3836