Critical Care Pharmacy Certification (BCCCP®)
Target Population: Pharmacists who have met the eligibility criteria and who design, implement, monitor, and modify pharmacotherapeutic treatments for
critically ill patients across the continuum of care.
Program Purpose: To validate that the critical care pharmacist has the advanced knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to optimize safety and outcomes for critically ill patients across the continuum of care.
Currently, there are more than 4,520 BPS Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacists.
Critical Care Pharmacy Specialty Council Members
The purpose of the BPS Specialty Councils is to develop standards and eligibility requirements for board certification, develop examinations and passing standards for certification, and review and approve professional development programs for recertification of board-certified pharmacists. Specialty council members are at the heart of the peer-reviewed and peer-developed nature of BPS Board Certification.
Broussard is an Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences and Certificate Coordinator for Medication Therapy Outcomes at Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. After graduating from the University of Houston, Broussard completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency and a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy Residency at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas, within the Texas Medical Center. He currently practices in Critical Care and Nutrition Support at San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland, California. Broussard’s interests include critical care and nutrition support education and management of sepsis and septic shock.
Ty Kiser is a Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the University of Colorado Hospital. Dr. Kiser received his Pharm.D. at the University of North Carolina. He completed a pharmacy practice residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a Critical Care Residency and Critical Care/Infectious Diseases Fellowship at the University of Colorado. Dr. Kiser served as the chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology section and as chair of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) critical care practice and research network. He previously served on the board of regents for ACCP and the critical care specialty council for the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS). His research has focused on optimizing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pharmacologic agents in critically ill patients with organ dysfunction and has resulted in over 150 peer reviewed publications. He has been a speaker over 75 times at national and international conferences and has directly trained over 25 PGY2 critical care residents.
Dr. Christy Forehand is a Clinical Pharmacy Manager at Piedmont Health System in Augusta, Georgia and an Adjust Clinical Associate Professor with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and completed a PGY1 and PGY2 critical care residency at MCG Health in Augusta, Georgia. Her interests include infectious diseases, critical care pharmacy practice advancement, medication safety, electrolyte disorders, continuous renal replacement therapies, and post-graduate pharmacy residency training.
Dr. Ammar serves as a Senior Neurocritical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Campus. Dr. Ammar earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University and completed his Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Cleveland Clinic. Additionally, he is an Affiliate Clinical Faculty Member at St. John’s University. Dr. Ammar actively participates in several professional organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Neurocritical Care Society, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. His research interests focus on anticoagulation reversal, the management of status epilepticus, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Brittany Bissell Turpin, PharmD, PhD, FCCM, BCCCP is the Senior Clinical Content Consultant of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Wolters Kluwer within the Clinical Effectiveness Division and a Clinical Pharmacist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Turpin received her PharmD at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona and her PhD in Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Kentucky. She completed a pharmacy practice residency at University of Florida Health Jacksonville and a Critical Care Residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bissell served as a member-at-large of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology section and as chair of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy pulmonary practice and research network. She has previously served as the chair of the SCCM Scientific Review Committee. She was the founding chair of the Critical Care Assembly Clinical Pharmacist Working Group of the American Thoracic Society.
Dr. Scott Bolesta is a tenured Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy at Wilkes University. He has a critical care clinical practice associated with his academic appointment at Commonwealth Health’s Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Wilkes University. Dr. Bolesta completed a PGY 1 residency at the University of Arizona Medical Center and a PGY 2 critical care residency at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. He is a Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist and is a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Bolesta is a former Chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Research Section and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy’s Critical Care Practice and Research Network. His research interests include iatrogenic withdrawal and cardiovascular science, specifically the prevalence, assessment, and prevention of iatrogenic withdrawal in critically ill patients and postoperative atrial fibrillation in cardiac surgery patients.
Jeremiah is a Pharmacist Specialist for Research & Outcomes at UC Davis Health. He served as a critical care pharmacist (~20 years) and residency program director (15 years) before pivoting to focus on research and quality improvement. Dr. Duby is also a Clinical Professor for UCSF School of Pharmacy and Associate Clinical Professor for Touro University College of Pharmacy (TUCOP). He received his doctor of pharmacy degree from Washington State University and then completed residencies in general practice (PGY-1) and in critical care (PGY-2) at the University Medical Center (UMC), University of Arizona.
Payal K. Gurnani, PharmD, FCCM, BCPS, BCCCP is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Surgical-Liver Intensive Care Unit at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. Dr. Gurnani received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Saint Louis College of Pharmacy in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her pharmacy practice and critical care residencies at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Gurnani served as the co-chair of the ICU Liberation Committee and chair of the Communications Committee of the Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. She currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Critical Care PRN Section. Her research interests include shock states/hemodynamics, sedation/analgesia, antimicrobial resistance, and complications of cirrhosis.
Dr. Michael Kenes is a Clinical Associate Professor and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and Medical ICU at Michigan Medicine. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Illinois Chicago and completed his PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at the Cleveland Clinic and PGY2 Critical Care Residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is active within multiple organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.
Dr. Courtney McKinney is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in the Trauma ICU at Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center where she also serves as the Pharmacy Practice Residency Program Director. She earned her PharmD from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah and completed a pharmacy practice residency followed by critical care specialty residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to her Critical Care certification she also holds certifications in Pharmacotherapy and Nutrition Support Pharmacy. Her practice and research interests include thrombosis and hemostasis, fluid and electrolyte disorders, nutrition support in trauma, interprofessional education, and pharmacy workforce resilience.
Dr. Stephanie Tchen, PharmD, BCCCP is a Clinical Transplant ICU pharmacist at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. She is board certified in critical care. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, she went on to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy. Following graduation, Stephanie completed a PGY1 Pharmacy residency at St. Peters Hospital in Albany, NY and a PGY2 Critical Care Pharmacy residency in with the Community Medical Center – RWJ Barnabas Health in Toms River, NJ. In her current role, she dedicates the majority of her time to clinical practice. Outside of her clinical responsibilities, Stephanie actively participates in research and teaching. Her interests include outcomes research, solid organ transplantation, sepsis, anticoagulation, and medication safety.
Dr. Antonia Vilella is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida. She received her PharmD from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Pharmacy (now Jerry H Hodge School of Pharmacy) in Amarillo, Texas and went on to complete her PGY1 residency with TTUHSC and the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas and her PGY2 in critical care with the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her practice and research areas of interest include sepsis, electrolytes and fluid stewardship.
Eligibility Requirements for BCCCP
An applicant for board certification in Critical Care Pharmacy must demonstrate all of the eligibility requirements listed below. All practice and education eligibility requirements must be met before submitting the application. Once all of the requirements below are met, an applicant will be deemed eligible to sit for the Critical Care Pharmacy specialty certification examination. If an applicant achieves a passing score on the Critical Care Pharmacy specialty certification examination, they may use the designation Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacist, or BCCCP.
Refer to the Critical Care Pharmacy Examination Content Outline here for details on eligibility requirements, effective dates, and more.
The rationale for the appropriateness of the requirements for BPS certification programs are based upon the following:
- BPS recognizes individuals who graduate from a recognized school or college of pharmacy within the candidate’s jurisdiction. Those jurisdictions recognize and evaluate programs on the extent to which it accomplishes its stated goals and is consistent with the concept that pharmacy is a unique, personal service profession in the health science field. In the United States, the responsibility for recognizing schools and colleges of pharmacy falls to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
- The rationale for requiring licensure or registration of pharmacists within their jurisdiction is based upon the fact that for public protection, all pharmacists must be licensed or registered. This is considered a baseline requirement to be a pharmacist specialist. In the United States, BPS recognizes the licensure process administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) aims to ensure the public’s health and safety through its pharmacist license transfer and pharmacist competence assessment programs. NABP’s member boards of pharmacy are grouped into eight districts that include all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and all 10 Canadian provinces.
- The experiential component is required to help assure practical application of components of the specialty knowledge being certified. There are multiple pathways to meet the practice experience requirement. The faster eligibility pathways recognize accredited residencies through the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The ASHP residency accreditation program identifies and grants public recognition to practice sites having pharmacy residency training programs that have been evaluated and found to meet the qualifications of one of the ASHP’s residency accreditations standards. Thus, accreditation of a pharmacy residency program provides a means of assurance to residency applicants that a program meets certain basic requirements and is, therefore, an acceptable site for postgraduate training in pharmacy practice in organized health care.
- Passing the BPS pharmacy specialty examination helps assure knowledge consistent with the validated content outline for the BPS specialty.
The appropriateness of the BPS program requirements are consistent with the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy’s Resource Paper titled: Scope of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice: Roles, Responsibilities, and Functions of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.
Upcoming Deadlines for Certification Examinations
Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the BCCCP® examination can find more information about examination dates and fees for certification examinations here.
Candidate's Guide
The Candidate’s Guide is intended for use by pharmacists who are interested in becoming certified as specialists by BPS in any of the BPS-recognized specialty practice areas. To review critical information for BPS Certification Examinations, visit this page.
Content Outline for BCCCP® Examinations
Refer to the Critical Care Pharmacy Examination Content Outline here for details on eligibility requirements, effective dates, and more.
The examination content outline is a product of a job analysis, also known as a role delineation study, that includes discussions with a panel of 15-20 subject matter experts who represent the specialty area. These experts determine the competencies required for safe and effective pharmacy practice in the specialty area and engage board-certified pharmacists through a validation survey for their endorsement of the identified competencies. The job analysis process is conducted every 5 years to help ensure that the competencies in the examination content outline reflect current pharmacy practice in the specialty area.
Important Resources
Preparing for the BCCCP® Examination
Certification is a significant differentiator, and the rigorous exam process requires concentrated study. Successful candidates are well prepared, and a number of available resources can assist pre-qualified applicants.
Suggested preparation for the examination might include:
- The study of journal articles, textbooks or other publications related to the Content Outline.
- Attendance at continuing education programs and courses in specialized pharmacy practice.
- Participation in study groups and examination preparation courses.
- Reviewing the sample examination items provided in order for candidates to familiarize themselves with the various item formats which are presented on the exam. Sample question performance should not be interpreted as an indicator of exam performance.
To maintain its strict, independent standards for certification, BPS does NOT provide review information, preparatory courses, or study guides. However, such materials are available from outside organizations, state or local professional associations and colleges of pharmacy. Potential applicants may contact the professional associations noted below for additional study resources.
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties provides the following program listing for informational purposes. This list is not an exhaustive list of options available for examination preparation. BPS does not endorse or provide preparatory courses for Board Certification Examinations.
Critical Care Pharmacy
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy
(913) 492-3311
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
(866) 279-0681
https://www.rxcertifications.org/critical-care-pharmacy
BPS partners with Pearson to provide the examination. BPS does not have any other partnerships for the certification or recertification application process. BPS partners with professional development program (PDP) providers to provide continuing pharmacy education (CPE) for recertification and the relationship is noted here. Any organization claiming a relationship with BPS for the application process or providing CPE labeled ‘BPS-approved’ outside of the organizations listed should be reported to BPS immediately.
Certification for Applicants Outside the U.S.
BPS would like to offer some helpful tips to candidates outside of the United States in order to make their application experience easier. To learn more about applying for board certification as a pharmacist outside of the U.S., visit this page.
Apply for ADA Accommodations
BPS complies with the relevant provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For applicants looking to request special accommodations in their application process, more instructions can be found on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
After review of the BPS Candidates Guide and specialty certification page, some applicants may still have questions. Visit this page to see frequently asked questions from pharmacists pursuing board certification like you!
Sample Examination Items
Sample Items for BCCCP® Examinations
The sample examination items for BCCCP® examinations are made available by BPS for the purposes of familiarizing certification candidates and other stakeholders with the structure and format of BPS Certification Examinations. This is not meant for use as a self-assessment. Performance on any of these items does not correlate with performance on the actual examination.
The content of these examples is meant to be illustrative of actual examination items, but these items do not appear on the certification examination and are not meant to identify the scope of the examination. For a more comprehensive indication of the scope of the certification examination, please refer to the BCCCP® Exam Content Outline.
Examination items are in multiple-choice format. The great majority of examination items are multiple-choice with a single response from among four options. Some examinations may include a small percentage of items that require selection of multiple (three or four) responses from among a larger set of available (up to eight) options. Examinations items may also be supplemented by an image.
View the examination items down below.
Which of the following acute or chronic conditions would significantly increases the risk of ICU delirium in a patient with dementia?
Correct!
Incorrect!
What is the initial step of the evaluation of a potential stroke patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A patient in the ICU with evidence of acute kidney injury is being evaluated. The patient's relevant laboratory results are as follows:
| Sodium | 135 mEq/L |
| Potassium | 4.2 mEq/L |
| Chloride | 101 mEq/L |
| Bicarbonate | 14 mEq/L |
| BUN | 21 mg/dL |
| Creatinine | 2.1 mg/dL |
| Glucose | 99 mg/dL |
| pH | 7.22 |
| pCO2 | 30 mm Hg |
| pO2 | 85 mm Hg |
| Serum osmolality | 330 mOsm/kg |
The patient's serum creatinine was 0.8 mg/dL 3 days ago. Which intravenous medication is most likely responsible for this patient's laboratory values and acute kidney injury?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which patient is succinylcholine contraindicated?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which medication can be administered via a postpyloric feeding tube?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 75-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is being resuscitated with intravenous crystalloids for severe sepsis. The patient initially demonstrated fluid responsiveness with improvements in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure variability, but is no longer responding appropriately to fluid challenge and has a persistently elevated lactate (5 mmol/L) with decreasing urine output.
Which treatment regimen is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 65-year-old patient, who is intubated and sedated, is started on intravenous antibiotics, famotidine 20 mg intravenously twice daily, and enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneously once daily. On day 2, blood-tinged fluid is observed in the nasogastric tube, and the patient's Hgb drops from 10.5 g/dL to 8 g/dL.
Which change to patient's current therapy is recommended?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which is an accurate statement regarding tranexamic acid?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which is an appropriate rapid-sequence intubation recommendation for a patient with stage 3 chronic kidney disease experiencing worsening respiratory distress secondary to septic shock?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A pharmacist is designing a study in which the primary end point will be the number of patients with an accurate and complete medication history within 36 hours of hospital admission. A total of 100 patient charts will be evaluated, with 50 prior to implementation and 50 after implementation. Which is the most appropriate statistical test to evaluate the primary end point?
Correct!
Incorrect!
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Recertification Requirements for BCCCP®
Pharmacists who earn the designation Board-Certified Critical Care Pharmacist® (BCCCP) are required to maintain their certification over a seven-year period by completing one of the following recertification pathways:
Option One: Recertification Examination
- For BCCCP with certification beginning January 1, 2023 or earlier: Achieve a passing score on the recertification examination administered by BPS.
- For BCCCP with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later:
Achieve a passing score on the recertification examination administered by BPS and self-report up to 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD). Assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) from BPS-approved professional development programs can also satisfy this requirement. For more information on CPD, review the FAQ. To maintain an active certification in good standing, a minimum of two units of assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs or self-reported CPD must be reported each year.
OR
Option Two: Professional Development Program
- For BCCCP with certification beginning January 1, 2023 or earlier: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units of assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs offered by:
- The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) in collaboration with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
- BCCCP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCCCP programs.
- For BCCCP with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units. Earn at least 80 units of assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) from a BPS-approved professional development programs and self-report up to 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD) by the end of the 7 year recertification cycle (assessed CPE can also satisfy this requirement).*
- The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) in collaboration with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).
- *A minimum of 2 units of CPD or BPS-approved, assessed CPE must be earned annually, regardless of recertification pathway.
- BCCCP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCCCP programs.
Click here to view a simplified comparison infographic to learn more about the differences between the CPE and CPD recertification frameworks.
| Year certified/recertified | New cycle start (begin earning recert units) | Cycle expiration (deadline to meet recert reqs) | Units required (PDP = professional development program) |
| 2019 | 1/1/2020 | 12/31/2026 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2020 | 1/1/2021 | 12/31/2027 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2021 | 1/1/2022 | 12/31/2028 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2022 | 1/1/2023 | 12/31/2029 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2023 | 1/1/2024 | 12/31/2030 | 100 units (80 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP + 20 units CPD) |
| 2024 onward | 1/1/2025 onward | 12/31/2031 onward | 100 units (80 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP + 20 units CPD) |
For full details regarding recertification, please refer to the BPS Recertification Guide.
Board–Certified Critical Care Pharmacists are required to pay the BPS Annual Certification Maintenance Fee of $125 each year for years one through six and the $400 recertification fee in year seven. Individuals with more than one BPS certification are assessed one BPS Annual Certification Maintenance Fee each year.
Upcoming Deadlines for Recertification
Candidates are required to recertify every 7 years. Certificants must submit their recertification application no later than the deadline of August 17. BPS encourages candidates to submit their recertification application as early as January 1 of their recertification year.
Candidates who intend to recertify via examination should note the availability of the recertification examination and related application deadlines. Candidates recertifying their BCCCP credential by examination can find more information about examination dates and fees here.
Candidates who intend to recertify via continuing pharmacy education (CPE) MUST submit their recertification application by the deadline date of August 17 even if they have not completed their CPE requirements.
The deadline to complete the required CPE for recertification is December 31 for all specialties. The board-certified pharmacist is responsible for submitting an application that is completely and accurately filled out. Incomplete and/or unpaid applications will not be processed.
Recertification Guide
CPE Providers
BCCCP® with certification beginning January 1, 2023 or earlier: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units of assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs offered by:
BCCCP® may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCCCP® programs.
BCCCP® with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units. Earn at least 80 units of assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) from a BPS-approved professional development programs and self-report up to 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD) by the end of the 7 year recertification cycle (assessed CPE can also satisfy this requirement).*
*A minimum of 2 units of CPD or BPS-approved, assessed CPE must be earned annually, regardless of recertification pathway.
BCCCP® may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCCCP® programs.
Content Outline for BCCCP Examinations
Refer to the Critical Care Pharmacy Examination Content Outline here for details on eligibility requirements, effective dates, and more.
The examination content outline is a product of a job analysis, also known as a role delineation study, that includes discussions with a panel of 15-20 subject matter experts who represent the specialty area. These experts determine the competencies required for safe and effective pharmacy practice in the specialty area and engage board-certified pharmacists through a validation survey for their endorsement of the identified competencies. The job analysis process is conducted every 5 years to help ensure that the competencies in the examination content outline reflect current pharmacy practice in the specialty area.
Important Resources
Logging CPD Activities (Video)
Watch a step-by-step video walkthrough of how to report CPD activities in MyBPS once a certificant begins a new certification cycle. For CPD categories and descriptions, see the “How will CPD activities contribute to recertification?” question in the CPD FAQs.
CPD Annual Reflection and Plan (ARP) Sample
Click here to view a sample Annual Reflection and Plan (ARP) to help guide formatting and structure for your CPD annual reflection and learning plan.
CPD Activity Evaluation Sample
Click here to view a sample CPD activity evaluation (scholarly activity) to help guide how evaluations may be documented for CPD credit. This sample is for guidance and is not the only acceptable format.
Frequently Asked Questions
After review of the BPS Recertification Guide and specialty page, some applicants may still have questions. Visit this page to see frequently asked questions from pharmacists renewing their board certification like you!
Sample Examination Items
Sample Items for BCCCP® Examinations
The sample examination items for BCCCP® examinations are made available by BPS for the purposes of familiarizing certification candidates and other stakeholders with the structure and format of BPS Certification Examinations. This is not meant for use as a self-assessment. Performance on any of these items does not correlate with performance on the actual examination.
The content of these examples is meant to be illustrative of actual examination items, but these items do not appear on the certification examination and are not meant to identify the scope of the examination. For a more comprehensive indication of the scope of the certification examination, please refer to the BCCCP® Exam Content Outline.
Examination items are in multiple-choice format. The great majority of examination items are multiple-choice with a single response from among four options. Some examinations may include a small percentage of items that require selection of multiple (three or four) responses from among a larger set of available (up to eight) options. Examinations items may also be supplemented by an image.
View the examination items down below.
Which of the following acute or chronic conditions would significantly increases the risk of ICU delirium in a patient with dementia?
Correct!
Incorrect!
What is the initial step of the evaluation of a potential stroke patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A patient in the ICU with evidence of acute kidney injury is being evaluated. The patient's relevant laboratory results are as follows:
| Sodium | 135 mEq/L |
| Potassium | 4.2 mEq/L |
| Chloride | 101 mEq/L |
| Bicarbonate | 14 mEq/L |
| BUN | 21 mg/dL |
| Creatinine | 2.1 mg/dL |
| Glucose | 99 mg/dL |
| pH | 7.22 |
| pCO2 | 30 mm Hg |
| pO2 | 85 mm Hg |
| Serum osmolality | 330 mOsm/kg |
The patient's serum creatinine was 0.8 mg/dL 3 days ago. Which intravenous medication is most likely responsible for this patient's laboratory values and acute kidney injury?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which patient is succinylcholine contraindicated?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which medication can be administered via a postpyloric feeding tube?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 75-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is being resuscitated with intravenous crystalloids for severe sepsis. The patient initially demonstrated fluid responsiveness with improvements in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure variability, but is no longer responding appropriately to fluid challenge and has a persistently elevated lactate (5 mmol/L) with decreasing urine output.
Which treatment regimen is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 65-year-old patient, who is intubated and sedated, is started on intravenous antibiotics, famotidine 20 mg intravenously twice daily, and enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneously once daily. On day 2, blood-tinged fluid is observed in the nasogastric tube, and the patient's Hgb drops from 10.5 g/dL to 8 g/dL.
Which change to patient's current therapy is recommended?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which is an accurate statement regarding tranexamic acid?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Which is an appropriate rapid-sequence intubation recommendation for a patient with stage 3 chronic kidney disease experiencing worsening respiratory distress secondary to septic shock?
Correct!
Incorrect!
A pharmacist is designing a study in which the primary end point will be the number of patients with an accurate and complete medication history within 36 hours of hospital admission. A total of 100 patient charts will be evaluated, with 50 prior to implementation and 50 after implementation. Which is the most appropriate statistical test to evaluate the primary end point?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Share the quiz to show your results !
Subscribe to see your results
I got %%score%% of %%total%% right
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Testimonials
Certification Verification
BPS offers the ability to search and verify a Board-Certified Pharmacist by name or credential number.