Washington, D.C. – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) received a petition to recognize Pharmacy Administration and Leadership as a pharmacy specialty certification. BPS now opens the public comment period with this link and will close the comment period on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 5:00pm ET.
BPS received the petition, including the independently completed role delineation study (RDS; AKA job analysis), in June 2025 and conducted a preliminary review to determine if the petition addresses all criteria. The petition can be found here and is available for review and comment by the public and the profession.
The BPS Board of Directors will complete its review of the petition and public comments and render a decision within six months. If the petition is approved, an inaugural Pharmacy Administration and Leadership specialty council will be established to work with BPS and the psychometric staff to establish eligibility criteria and develop a bank of certification examination items.
The petition to recognize Pharmacy Administration and Leadership as a BPS specialty certification was submitted by the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy.
The petition submitted to BPS addresses, in detail, each of the criteria deemed necessary for a new specialty to be recognized by BPS. Those criteria include:
- Need
- Demand
- Number/Time
- Specialized Knowledge
- Specialized Functions
- Education and Training
- Transmission of Knowledge
Contributors to the petition on behalf of this organization were: Michael Stepanovic, PharmD, MS; Lori T. Armistead, PharmD, MA; Michael D. Wolcott, PharmD, PhD, BCIDP; Kathryn A Morbitzer, PharmD, MS; and Stephen F. Eckel, PharmD, MHA.
The petition definition for Pharmacy Administration and Leadership pharmacist specialists is as follows: “A pharmacy administration and leadership (PAL) specialist is a pharmacy professional who is responsible for overseeing the operations, management, and/or strategic direction of pharmacy services within various healthcare settings, including but not limited to hospitals, community pharmacies, health systems, ambulatory care centers, pharmaceutical companies, and/or professional organizations. This role can encompass a range of functions, such as operational management, strategic planning, policy development, financial oversight, quality assurance, and/or team leadership. A PAL may lead not only pharmacists but also other healthcare professionals such as physicians, nurses, technicians, or non-healthcare professionals practicing in a health care setting, such as accountants, fellow administrators, engineers, or other staff, highlighting the versatility of their leadership. They are tasked with roles such as ensuring efficient daily operations, developing long-term goals that align with organizational priorities, creating and enforcing policies, managing budgets, implementing quality improvement initiatives, and fostering a collaborative work environment. This role requires a strong foundation in pharmacy practice, management principles, and leadership skills, with a commitment to improving patient outcomes through effective pharmacy services.”
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. As of the end of 2024, BPS recognized more than 62,250 pharmacist certifications across 15 specialties.
BPS Contact
Alexander Jean-Baptiste
Associate Director, Digital Marketing and Communications
ajeanbaptiste@aphanet.org
(202) 760-3836