Celebrating 50 Years of Pharmacist Certification in 2026!

Join us as we celebrate the achievements of BPS and board-certified pharmacists over the past five decades.

In 2026, we proudly celebrate 50 years of pharmacist board certification. This is a golden milestone that honors half a century of excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient care. 

Since the development of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in 1976, board certification has become a powerful symbol of distinction, expertise, and lifelong learning.

Over the decades, it has helped shape the profession, elevate standards of practice, and improve health outcomes for patients across the globe.

 

Our Milestones

This celebration isn’t just about the milestone, but it’s about the people behind it. We honor every pharmacist who has earned board certification, maintained their certification, mentored others, and helped the community of board-certified pharmacists grow.

We also look to the future. Board certification continues to evolve to match the expectations of each specialty area, as well as expanding to offer new certification programs to empower pharmacy practitioners to improve the lives of patients.

In 2026, we proudly celebrate 50 years of pharmacist board certification. This is a golden milestone that honors half a century of excellence, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient care. Since the development of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in 1976, board certification has become a powerful symbol of distinction, expertise, and lifelong learning. Over the decades, it has helped shape the profession, elevate standards of practice, and improve health outcomes for patients across the globe.

This celebration isn’t just about the milestone, but it’s about the people behind it. We honor every pharmacist who has earned board certification, maintained their certification, mentored others, and helped the community of board-certified pharmacists grow.

We also look to the future. Board certification continues to evolve to match the expectations of each specialty area, as well as expanding to offer new certification programs to empower pharmacy practitioners to improve the lives of patients.

Active Certifications
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International Certifications
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Years of Excellence
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Learn Why BPS Board Certification Matters!

Since the development of BPS in 1976. the pharmacy profession has grown in scope, recognition and value thanks to dedicated pharmacists worldwide. 

As BPS celebrates the milestone of 50 years, we invite pharmacists, employers, students, and patients to take part in the celebration and share why BPS Board Certification is important to various audiences.

Request a BPS Presentation

Interested in receiving a presentation to share with students or colleagues about board certification? Fill out the form below to request a presentation!

Explore this sample presentation as a reference to the materials BPS may provide. Only completed presentation requests will be considered. For other inquiries, visit the BPS Contact Us page.


History of BPS

BPS Specialties by Date
  • 1973 – American Pharmacists Association (APhA) created the Taskforce on Specialties in Pharmacy
  • 1976 – BPS is established as an autonomous division of APhA
  • 1978 – Nuclear Pharmacy is approved as the first BPS Specialty Certification
  • 1988 – Pharmacotherapy and Nutrition Support Pharmacy launched
  • 1994 – Psychiatric Pharmacy launched
  • 1996 – Oncology Pharmacy launched
  • 2001 – BPS celebrates 25 years with five certification programs: Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, Psychiatric Pharmacy, and Oncology Pharmacy. 
  • 2016 – BPS celebrates 40 years with eight certification programs, the three newest being: Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Critical Care pharmacy, and Pediatric Pharmacy.
  • 2017 – BPS acquires the Certified Geriatric Pharmacist Credential and creates the BCGP certification program.
  • 2026: BPS celebrates 50 years of pharmacist board certification with 16 certification programs, the eight newest being: Cardiology Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy, Solid Organ Transplantation, Emergency Medicine Pharmacy, Pain Management Pharmacy, and Pharmacy Informatics.
 
 


BPS Awards & Milestones Timeline

Warren E. Weaver, PhD

Warren E. Weaver was appointed by APhA to the Taskforce on Specialties in Pharmacy, which led to the establishment of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties—now the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). Weaver went on to serve BPS from 1975 to 1981 and was elected the first chairman, serving in that role from 1976 to 1979.

1975

Samuel H. Kalman, RPh, MS 

Samuel H. Kalman became secretary of the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) and was involved in pharmacist certification activities, including developing the Taskforce on Specialties in Pharmacy and Collaborative Study on Competence Assessment.

1997

William M. Ellis, RPh, MS, ICE-CCP

William M. Ellis served following Richard J. Bertin, serving BPS as the Executive Director from 2011-2025. 

2016

BPS Seed Grant

BPS announced a research seed grant, initially for PGY2 applicants but later expanded to any U.S.-based investigator, to highlight the impact of pharmacist board certification on patient outcomes, healthcare systems, interprofessional collaboration, and pharmacist employment, professional development, and/or wellbeing.

2021

Beacon & Rising Star Awards

BPS debuted two new awards: 

The BPS Beacon Award recognizes national and local patient care organizations that have made outstanding voluntary contributions to the advancement of BPS board certification of pharmacists.

The BPS Rising Star Award recognizes pharmacists who have made outstanding early career contributions to the advancement of BPS Board Certification.

 
2024

Brian E. Lawson, PharmD, ICE-CCP

Brian E. Lawson served following William M. Ellis, serving BPS as the Executive Director from 2025 to present day.

1973

Richard P. Penna, PhD 

Richard P. Penna served as the APhA staff member assigned to the Taskforce on Specialties in Pharmacy in 1973, and he went on to assume responsibility as the first secretary/executive director of BPS in 1975.

1985

Richard J. Bertin, RPh, PhD

Richard J. Bertin became the first full time executive director of BPS, serving until 2010. 

2011

Weaver Penna Award

The Warren E. Weaver/Richard P. Penna Award was established during the 40th Anniversary of BPS and honors the visionary work accomplished by the first BPS Chairman, Warren Weaver and the organization’s first staff member, Richard Penna. 

2018

BPS Ambassdor Program Launched

BPS launched it's Ambassador Program to showcase BPS Board-Certified Pharmacists advancing practice in their communities and improving patient care.

2023

BPS/FIP Foundation Research Grant

BPS in collaboration with the International Pharmaceutical Federation Foundation for Education and Research (FIP Foundation) debuted a research grant to support international investigators with research projects focused on the impact of pharmacist board certification on specialization and advanced practice.

2025

Testimonials

Share your story of BPS Certification!

With more than 63,400 active certifications in 60+ countries, each board-certified pharmacist has their own journey with board certification.

Submit an entry to the form below to share your story of obtaining, maintaining, and celebrating your board certification!

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