Geriatric Pharmacy Specialty Certification (BCGP®)
Target Population: Pharmacists who have met the eligibility criteria and who assess, design, implement, monitor, modify, and advise on pharmacotherapeutic treatments and protocols for older adults.
Program Purpose: To validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to optimize safety and outcomes for older adults.
Currently, there are more than 4,140 BPS Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacists.
Geriatric 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.
Dr. Zarowitz is Senior Advisor for the Peter Lamy Center on Drug Therapy and Aging at the University of Maryland. Previously, Dr. Zarowitz was Vice-President, Pharmacy Care Management at Henry Ford Health System; Vice-President and Chief Clinical Officer at Omnicare, Inc; Chief Clinical Officer, Long-term Care for CVS Health; and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University. She created clinical programs for Omnicare, Inc.- subsequently a CVS Health Company, and developed strategies and tactics to manage drug utilization, including disease management and formulary management to improve medication safety and optimize clinical outcomes. Omnicare provided pharmacy care for 1.4 million older adults living in long-term care facilities. She has attained board certification in Pharmacotherapy (BCPS) and Geriatric Pharmacotherapy (BCGP) and has is a fellow of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. Over her career she has published 10 book chapters; 130 peer-reviewed articles and over 125 abstracts, editorials, letters and columns. She has received 11 leadership, research, teaching and practice awards including the 2015 George F. Archambault Award for outstanding contributions to consultant and senior care pharmacy and the 2022 Howard Guterman Scientific Poster Award in post-acute and long-term care. She graduated from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Services with a Masters in Social Work in May 2021.Her research and health policy impetus is on medication optimization in older adults with complex co-morbidities and health disparities.
Emshoff is a Professor in Pharmacy Practice for Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Palliative Care and Pain Management at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center. She received her BS in Biology and PharmD from Ohio Northern University and completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Practice residency at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy. Dr. Emshoff maintains Board Certification in both Pharmacotherapy and Geriatric Pharmacy. Her practice focuses on optimizing quality of life through interprofessional symptom management for patients with chronic pain or life limiting illnesses.
Brunetti is currently an Associate Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and a Clinical Specialist in Internal Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. He received his PharmD at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 2006 and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Brunetti is dual Board-Certified in Pharmacotherapy and Geriatric Pharmacy. His research interests include drug dosing in special populations and the influence of cardiometabolic disease on drug response.
Collins is currently an acute care internal medicine pharmacist at Yale New Haven Hospital. There she serves as the PGY2 Residency Program Coordinator for Medication Use Safety and Policy and the Lead Pharmacy Safety Coach. Prior to joining YNHH she practiced as a long-term care consultant pharmacist for eight years. She earned her PharmD from Northeastern University and completed her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Eastern Maine Medical Center.
Charles Tyler has worked as a hospital clinical pharmacy specialist (Geriatrics) and is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Health Sciences at Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (TSUCOPHS). She received her BS in Biology from Dillard University and earned her PharmD from TSUCOPHS. She completed her PGY1 pharmacy practice residency at St. Claire Medical Center in Morehead, KY. Her research and scholarly interests include inappropriate medication use in the elderly, management of geriatric syndromes and initiatives aimed at closing health disparity gaps in minority communities.
Gauri Godbole is currently practicing as a specialist clinical pharmacist in aged and palliative care at Gosford Hospital, NSW, Australia. A qualified dementia practitioner, she has a diverse experience in pharmacy practice including community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy and academia and is a subject matter expert on state, national and international committees. She has a keen interest in research and quality improvement and is a well published author, as well as a regular presenter, nationally and internationally. Gauri was awarded the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA), NSW State Achievement Award in 2022 in recognition of her contribution to pharmacy practice. Recently, Gauri was awarded fellowship of The Australian and New Zealand College of Advanced Pharmacy (ANZCAP). She is currently the chair of SHPA Geriatric Medicine Specialty Practice Leadership Committee and is a member of SHPA Palliative care Specialty Practice Leadership Committee.
Tatyana Gurvich, PharmD., BCGP APh, is an associate professor at USC Mann School of Pharmacy. She teaches didactic geriatric curricula and is an IPPE, APPE and residency preceptor there. She serves as chair of CSHP’s Geriatric Pharmacy Care Council committee and is a lead on the TOC committee at ASCP. She will chair a standing population health committee at ASCP for the upcoming 2024-2025 cycle.
For over 3 decades, she has developed geriatric pharmacology curricula for pharmacy, medical students and residents and has fostered interprofessional collaboration between physicians and pharmacists, focusing on integrating pharmacy and medical education.
She began her career as faculty in Glendale Adventists Family Practice Residency program, where she developed pharmacology curriculum for residents. Since 2007 she has been working in an interdisciplinary geriatric practice at UCI Medical center in collaboration with USC School of Pharmacy. There, she in imbedded in a primary care geriatrics clinic where she manages complex geriatric patients with multiple co-morbidities. She has been part of several Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs. At USC, that includes a Gero-pharmacy clinic and developing interdisciplinary geriatric curriculum. At UCI she develops didactic lectures in the area of geriatric pharmacology for geriatric trainees and physicians in the community. Most recently she started a pilot program with Alzheimer’s Los Angeles sponsored by CalAIM (initiative of California Department of Health Care Services) to screen medication lists of ADLA clients identifying high risk medication to rule a reversible cause of dementia and to provide an overall pharmacotherapy evaluation.
Alina Lalani is newly appointed as Corporate Pharmacy Operations Manager at William Osler Health System (Canada). She is also adjunct lecturer at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and a board certified geriatric pharmacist (BCGP). Up until June 2025, she coordinated clinical practice for inpatient pharmacists and clinical pharmacist in both palliative and geriatric medicine. She works closely with the faculty of pharmacy at the University of Toronto, taking students and residents on rotation in the geriatric unit. She has also coordinated support on site for struggling students and preceptor development, leading to recognition by the University of Toronto and the Arbor award in 2023 (awarded to former alumni with recognized voluntary efforts contributing to the University). She is passionate about professional practice research and quality improvement initiatives including those on deprescribing and polypharmacy reduction in the older patient population, developed with the aid of students on non-direct patient care rotations. She has also participated in developing material for multiple educational courses and endeavours for adult continuing education, including geriatric medicine and minor ailments.
Dr. Mimi Lo is a hematology/oncology/blood and marrow transplant (BMT) clinical pharmacist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health and serves as an associate clinical professor at the UCSF School of Pharmacy. She is Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy and Oncology Pharmacy. Dr. Lo received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University College of Pharmacy. She completed her pharmacy practice residency and a specialty residency in oncology at UW Medicine in Seattle, WA. Currently, she specializes in malignant hematologic diseases, blood and marrow transplantation, and immune effector cell (IEC) therapy. Her practice site includes both the acute and ambulatory care settings. Her areas of research interest include treatment outcomes in adult malignant hematology/BMT/IEC patients and geriatric oncology. Dr. Lo has previously served on the BPS Oncology Pharmacy Specialty Council.
Jeanne Manzi is a highly accomplished geriatric pharmacy specialist with over 30 years of long-term care (LTC) experience. She spent decades in LTC as a dispensing pharmacist, consultant pharmacist and Director of Pharmacy. Jeanne was employed as a Clinical Advisor by CVS Caremark and truly understands how dispensing and consulting LTC pharmacists collaborate to drive overall profitability, control costs, and improve patient outcomes. Her experience expands into multiple LTC settings and a variety of LTC practices across the healthcare continuum.
Jeanne served two terms as the Region A (Northeast) Representative for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) from 2014-2018. She was President-Elect of the Society in 2022, President in 2023, and Chair of the Board in 2024. Her Presidential accomplishments included bringing back the mentorship program, strengthening student member engagement and ASCPs Student Ambassador Program, speaking at several pharmacy schools across the country and supporting advocacy initiatives to improve LTC and move the pharmacy profession forward.
While serving ASCP, Jeanne has been employed as the Director of LTC Clinical Services at Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA), a post-acute care Group Purchasing Organization, since November of 2020. She will serve on the Geriatric Specialty Council for the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) beginning in January of 2026.
Jeanne earned her Bachelor of Science (1990) and Doctorate in Pharmacy (2000) degrees from St. John’s University in New York, has been a licensed pharmacist since 1990 and a Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist since 1998.
Teisha Robertson currently serves as Branch Chief of the Pharmacy Benefits Integration Branch at the Defense Health Agency, where she leads enterprise-wide efforts to align, modernize, and optimize pharmacy benefit programs across the Military Health System. In this capacity, Robertson provides strategic direction for initiatives that enhance medication access, improve clinical outcomes, and ensure the delivery of high-value, patient-centered care. She works closely with clinical, operational, and policy partners to develop innovative solutions that strengthen the quality, safety, and efficiency of pharmacy services.
Prior to her current role, Robertson served as the Formulary Lead Pharmacist at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the Department of Formulary and Benefits Operations. There, she guided the design, evaluation, and implementation of national formulary policies and led critical initiatives supporting evidence-based medication use for Medicare beneficiaries.
A recognized specialist in geriatric pharmacy, Robertson is deeply committed to advancing medication safety, optimizing therapeutic outcomes, and improving health care delivery for older adults. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland in 2005 and has authored numerous publications and delivered national presentations on pharmacy policy, formulary management, and clinical best practices.
Robertson is widely regarded for her collaborative leadership style, forward-thinking approach, and dedication to advancing the mission of public service. Her career reflects a passion for leveraging pharmacy practice to improve population health and drive meaningful, system-level change.
Dennis Williams is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and a Clinical Specialist at UNC Medical Center. His practice focuses in the areas of pulmonary and infectious diseases. Dennis obtained his B.S. in Pharmacy and Pharm.D. degrees from the University of Kentucky. He is recognized as a fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, American Pharmacists Association and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He has been a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist since 1991 and served on the Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Specialty Council in the past.
Eligibility Requirements
An applicant for board certification in Geriatric 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 Geriatric Pharmacy specialty certification examination. If an applicant achieves a passing score on the Geriatric Pharmacy specialty certification examination, they may use the designation Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist, or BCGP.
- Refer to the Geriatric 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
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 BCGP®
Refer to the Geriatric 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 BCGP 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 on the BPS website 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.
Geriatric Pharmacy
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
(202) 429-4125
https://www.pharmacist.com/Education/Board-Prep-Recertification/Geriatric - American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
(703) 739-1300
https://www.ascp.com/page/BCGP - American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
(913) 492-3311
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
(866) 279-0681
https://www.rxcertifications.org/Geriatric/Certification-Preparation
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 BCGP® Examinations
The sample examination items for BCGP® 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 BCGP® 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.
An elderly woman is a resident at a nursing facility. She has a recent history of stroke and right-sided hemiparesis and is refusing all foods and liquids by mouth. She is aware of her situation and the implications of her actions. The resident has a living will that requests no hospitalizations or invasive procedures. The social worker says that when she was notifying the resident's children, one of them insisted that they find some way to feed and hydrate their mother. What is the most appropriate next step?
Correct!
Incorrect!
When the son goes to work, the patient is left alone without wanting to be. What type of mistreatment is being experienced by the patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications include:
Citalopram 20 mg orally daily
Diclofenac 1% gel applied to the right knee twice daily
Doxepin 10 mg orally daily
Omeprazole 20 mg orally daily
Pertinent laboratory values include:
| Ca | 10 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L) |
| Mg | 1.4 mg/dL (0.57 mmol/L) |
| K | 5.5 mEq/L (5.5 mmol/L) |
| Na | 126 mEq/L (126 mmol/L) |
Which medication is most likely to contribute to this patient's orthostatic hypotension, memory concerns, and dry mouth?
Correct!
Incorrect!
In an elderly patient, chronic facial reddening and inflammation with skin eruptions similar to acne are signs of which condition?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications are:
Atorvastatin 40 mg daily
Atenolol 50 mg daily
Enalapril 20 mg daily
Temazepam 15 mg every night
Calcium 600 mg twice daily
Cholecalciferol 20 mcg daily
Senna, psyllium, and glycerin suppositories as needed
He was recently diagnosed with dry macular degeneration and increased bilateral intraocular pressure. Severe constipation is documented and an abdominal x-ray reveals fecal impaction. Which initial recommendation is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 76-year-old resident with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is receiving preventive therapy with warfarin, currently dosed as 4 mg, alternating with 3 mg daily. The INR result for the previous month was reported as 1.8. This month's INR is reported as 1.6. Which action is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
An 80-year-old woman presents to a new primary care provider for her first visit. She has a past medical history of hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation, and insomnia. She has a past surgical history of cataract removal (5 years prior) and total hysterectomy (20 years prior). The patient lives independently and is still cognitively intact and able to complete her activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Which preventive screening is no longer indicated based on the patient's anticipated risk versus benefit?
Correct!
Incorrect!
The data revealed the following:
| Average Blood Pressure | # of Strokes |
| less than or equal to 120/70 mm Hg | 1 |
| 130/80 mm Hg | 3 |
| 140/90 mm Hg | 3 |
| 150/100 mm Hg | 6 |
| greater than or equal to 160/110 mm Hg | 10 |
What can be concluded from the data?
Correct!
Incorrect!
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Recertification Requirements for BCGP®
Pharmacists who earn the designation Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacist® (BCGP) are required to maintain their certification over a seven-year period by completing one of the following recertification pathways:
Option One: Recertification Examination
- For BCGP with certification beginning January 1, 2023 or earlier: Achieve a passing score on the recertification examination administered by BPS.
- For BCGP 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 BCGP 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 Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and/or
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).
- BCGP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCGP programs.
- For BCGP 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 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 Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and/or
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).
- * A minimum of 2 units of CPD or BPS-approved, assessed CPE must be earned annually, regardless of recertification pathway.
- BCGP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCGP 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 Geriatric 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
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 BCGP 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
BCGP 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 Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and/or
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).
BCGP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCGP programs.
BCGP 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 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 Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) in collaboration with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and/or
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP).
* A minimum of 2 units of CPD or BPS-approved, assessed CPE must be earned annually, regardless of recertification pathway.
BCGP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCGP programs.
Content Outline for BCGP
Refer to the Geriatric 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 BCGP® Examinations
The sample examination items for BCGP® 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 recertification examination, please refer to the BCGP® 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.
An elderly woman is a resident at a nursing facility. She has a recent history of stroke and right-sided hemiparesis and is refusing all foods and liquids by mouth. She is aware of her situation and the implications of her actions. The resident has a living will that requests no hospitalizations or invasive procedures. The social worker says that when she was notifying the resident's children, one of them insisted that they find some way to feed and hydrate their mother. What is the most appropriate next step?
Correct!
Incorrect!
When the son goes to work, the patient is left alone without wanting to be. What type of mistreatment is being experienced by the patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications include:
Citalopram 20 mg orally daily
Diclofenac 1% gel applied to the right knee twice daily
Doxepin 10 mg orally daily
Omeprazole 20 mg orally daily
Pertinent laboratory values include:
| Ca | 10 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L) |
| Mg | 1.4 mg/dL (0.57 mmol/L) |
| K | 5.5 mEq/L (5.5 mmol/L) |
| Na | 126 mEq/L (126 mmol/L) |
Which medication is most likely to contribute to this patient's orthostatic hypotension, memory concerns, and dry mouth?
Correct!
Incorrect!
In an elderly patient, chronic facial reddening and inflammation with skin eruptions similar to acne are signs of which condition?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications are:
Atorvastatin 40 mg daily
Atenolol 50 mg daily
Enalapril 20 mg daily
Temazepam 15 mg every night
Calcium 600 mg twice daily
Cholecalciferol 20 mcg daily
Senna, psyllium, and glycerin suppositories as needed
He was recently diagnosed with dry macular degeneration and increased bilateral intraocular pressure. Severe constipation is documented and an abdominal x-ray reveals fecal impaction. Which initial recommendation is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
A 76-year-old resident with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is receiving preventive therapy with warfarin, currently dosed as 4 mg, alternating with 3 mg daily. The INR result for the previous month was reported as 1.8. This month's INR is reported as 1.6. Which action is most appropriate?
Correct!
Incorrect!
An 80-year-old woman presents to a new primary care provider for her first visit. She has a past medical history of hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation, and insomnia. She has a past surgical history of cataract removal (5 years prior) and total hysterectomy (20 years prior). The patient lives independently and is still cognitively intact and able to complete her activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Which preventive screening is no longer indicated based on the patient's anticipated risk versus benefit?
Correct!
Incorrect!
The data revealed the following:
| Average Blood Pressure | # of Strokes |
| less than or equal to 120/70 mm Hg | 1 |
| 130/80 mm Hg | 3 |
| 140/90 mm Hg | 3 |
| 150/100 mm Hg | 6 |
| greater than or equal to 160/110 mm Hg | 10 |
What can be concluded from the data?
Correct!
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Certification Verification
BPS offers the ability to search and verify a Board-Certified Pharmacist by name or credential number.