Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Specialty Certification (BCEMP)
Target Population: Pharmacists who specialize in the care for patients at the bedside in emergency medicine settings.
Program Purpose: To validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge and experience to provide quality patient care and improve therapeutic outcomes for patients in emergency medicine settings.
Currently there are more than 300 BPS Board Certified-Emergency Medicine Pharmacists.
Emergency Medicine 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.
PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
PharmD, BCPS, FCCP
Edwards is an assistant professor with the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy and a clinical assistant professor with the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine. After receiving a PharmD from University of Illinois Chicago, he completed PGY1 and PGY2 residency training with the University of Arizona, specializing in Emergency Medicine. He currently practices in the emergency department at Banner University Medical Center Tucson, coordinates a pharmacotherapeutics course for pharmacy students at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, and performs research on various aspects of pharmacy practice in emergency medicine.
Thomas is Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice, at Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama. He maintains a practice site in the emergency department at a large community hospital where he primarily precepts fourth-year Doctor of Pharmacy students. Previously, he helped establish emergency pharmacy practice at several hospitals in two different states while a full-time clinical pharmacist and as a clinical faculty member in a school of pharmacy. Dr. Thomas received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and residency training from the University of Arizona. His research interests include emergency medicine and use of simulation for teaching.
Bridgeman, Jr. received his PharmD from the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University. He completed a post-graduate residency in Emergency Medicine Pharmacy at Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He is currently a Field Medical Communications Specialist at Bristol Myer Squibb. He previously was a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and maintained a practice site as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Emergency Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Harger is an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Additionally, she serves as the PGY1 Residency Program Director as well as adjunct faculty for the University of Cincinnati and Ohio Northern University Colleges of Pharmacy. After she received her PharmD from Ohio Northern University, she went on to complete a Pharmacy Practice Residency with Emphasis in Managed Care and a Primary Care Specialty Residency at the Health Alliance and University Hospital (now University of Cincinnati Medical Center). Her areas of interest include toxicology, disaster medicine, resuscitation and addiction medicine.
Hiles is clinical pharmacist at OrthoIndy Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Dr. Hiles graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Purdue University College of Pharmacy in 2007. After graduation, she completed a PGY1 Pharmacy residency at Kingsbook Jewish Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York followed by a PGY2 residency in Critical Care and Nutrition Support at Indiana University Health/Butler University. Dr. Hiles has over 10 years of experience as an Emergency Medicine pharmacist, as well as didactic teaching experience at Butler University College of Pharmacy and Indiana University Masters of Physician Assistant Studies programs. Her areas of clinical interest include orthopedics, anesthetics, anticoagulation, and medication safety.
Mando-Vandrick is an Emergency Medicine Pharmacist at Duke University Hospital and serves as the Program Director of the PGY2 Emergency Medicine Pharmacy residency. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed a PGY1 resident at the University of Michigan Hospitals and a PGY2 Pulmonary/Critical Care specialty residency at UNC Hospitals. Her professional interests include sepsis management, opioid use disorder treatment, and simulation education.
Potoski is Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Presbyterian campus. He completed both PGY1 pharmacy practice and PGY2 infectious diseases residencies at The Ohio State University Medical Center. His clinical practice is in Antimicrobial Stewardship, and his scholarly interests include the optimization of stewardship decision making; emerging challenges multi-drug resistant organisms pose stewardship programs; and educational stewardship opportunities for learners.
Waybright is a Clinical Pharmacy Supervisor and Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Clinical Specialist at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls, SD. He received his PharmD degree from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD followed by residency training at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, SC (PGY1) and Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center (Critical Care PGY2). Dr. Waybright is board certified in Critical Care and has professional interests in neurocritical care, advanced life support, and toxicology.
Eligibility Requirements
An applicant for board certification in Emergency Medicine Pharmacy must demonstrate all of the eligibility requirements listed below prior to sitting for the initial certification examination. Once all of the requirements below are met, an applicant will be deemed eligible to sit for the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy specialty certification examination. If an applicant achieves a passing score on the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy specialty certification examination, they may use the designation Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Pharmacist, or BCEMP.
- Graduation from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or a program outside the U.S. that qualifies the individual to practice in the jurisdiction.
- A current, active license/registration to practice pharmacy in the U.S. or another jurisdiction.
- Demonstration of practice experience1Â in one of three ways:
- At least four years of Emergency Medicine Pharmacy practice experience after licensure/registration as a pharmacist1 within the past seven years, with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY1 pharmacy residency2 within the past seven years, plus at least two years of Emergency Medicine Pharmacy practice experience after licensure/registration as a pharmacist1 with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY2 pharmacy residency in Emergency Medicine Pharmacy within the past seven years.
1All practice experience must be completed post-licensure/registration as a pharmacist. All applicants intending to demonstrate eligibility for any BPS certification examination utilizing the practice experience pathway must provide an attestation from their employer, on company letterhead, that verifies this experience accurately represents at least 50% of time spent in some or all of the activities defined by the applicable certification content outline. In addition, this practice experience must have occurred within the seven years immediately preceding the application. For more information, click here. A sample employer verification letter is available here.
2American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited/candidate status PGY1 pharmacy residency, residencies accredited under the ASHP Accreditation Standard for International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programs, or Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB)-accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency.
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
Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the BCEMP examination can find more information about examination dates and fees for certification examinations here.Â
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 BCEMP
For the Fall 2023 Examination, refer to the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Content Outline found in the BCEMP Examination Specification document for details.
For the 2024 Examinations and forward, refer to the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Content Outline found here for details.
Important Resources
Preparatory Courses for BCEMP Examinations
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.
BPS partners with Prometric 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 education (CE) for recertification and the relationship is noted here. Any organization claiming a relationship with BPS for the application process or providing CE 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.Â
Apply for ADA AccomodationsÂ
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 BCEMP Examinations
The sample examination items for BCEMP 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 BCEMP 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.
A 10-year-old (35 kg) presents with supraventricular tachycardia. The patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.
Vital signs are as follows:
| BP | 98/63 mm Hg |
| HR | 210 bpm |
| RR | 15 rpm |
What medication should be initiated?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications are:
| Carbamazepine | 200 mg orally twice daily |
| Insulin detemir | 15 units subcutaneously twice daily |
| Metformin | 500 mg orally twice daily |
| Quinapril | 20 mg orally daily |
Laboratory values include:
| Na | 119 mEq/L |
| K | 4.2 mEq/L |
| Cl | 101 mEq/L |
| BUN | 15 mg/dL |
| Blood Glucose | 109 mg/dL |
| SCr | 1.14 mg/dL |
| HCO3- | 23 mEq/L |
Vital signs include:
| BP | 126/84 mm Hg |
| HR | 82 bpm |
| RR | 14 rpm |
| SpO2 | 99% |
Which medication is most likely contributing to the patient's clinical presentation?
Correct!
Incorrect!
The patient's vital signs are:
| BP | 92/60 mm Hg |
| HR | 125 bpm |
| RR | 20 rpm |
The patient is going for percutaneous coronary intervention emergently. In addition to aspirin 324 mg, which medication is most appropriate to administer to this patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
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Recertification Requirements for BCEMP
Pharmacists who earn the designation Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Pharmacist® (BCEMP) are required to maintain their certification over a seven-year period by completing one of the following recertification pathways:
Option One: Recertification Examination
- For BCEMP with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later: Achieve a passing score on the recertification examination administered by BPS and self-report 20 completed units of continuing professional development (CPD) in MyBPS. 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
- BCEMP with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units, comprised of 80 units of assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs offered by:
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
- Additionally, 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD) must be completed and self-reported in MyBPS. For more information on CPD, review the FAQ. To maintain an active certification in good standing, a minimum of two units of BPS-approved, assessed CPE or self-reported CPD must be reported each year.
- BCEMP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCEMP programs.
| Year certified/recertified | New cycle start (begin earning recert units) | Cycle expiration (deadline to meet recert reqs) | Units required (PDP = professional development program) |
| 2016 | 1/1/2017 | 12/31/2023 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2017 | 1/1/2018 | 12/31/2024 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 2018 | 1/1/2019 | 12/31/2025 | 100 units assessed CPE via BPS-approved PDP |
| 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 Emergency Medicine 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 4. 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 BCEMP credential by examination can find more information about examination dates and fees here.Â
Candidates who intend to recertify via continuing education (CE) MUST submit their recertification application by the deadline date of August 4 even if they have not completed their CE requirements.
The deadline to complete the required CE 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
The Recertification Guide is intended for use by candidates renewing their certification. To review critical information for recertifying with the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, visit this page.
CPE Providers
BCEMP with certification beginning January 1, 2024 or later: recertification via professional development program requires 100 units, comprised of 80 units of assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs offered by:
- The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in collaboration with the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
Additionally, 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD) must be completed and self-reported in MyBPS. 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.
BCEMP may participate in recertification from any BPS-approved BCEMP programs.
Content Outline for BCEMP
For the Fall 2023 Examination, refer to the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Content Outline found in the BCEMP Examination Specification document for details.
For the 2024 Examinations and forward, refer to the Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Content Outline found here for details.
Important Resources
Preparatory Courses for BCEMP Examinations
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.
Apply for ADA AccomodationsÂ
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 Recertification Guide, some applicants may still have questions. Visit this page to see frequently asked questions from pharmacists renewing their certification like you!
Sample Examination Items
Sample Items for BCEMP Examinations
The sample examination items for BCEMP 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 BCEMP 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.
A 10-year-old (35 kg) presents with supraventricular tachycardia. The patient is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.
Vital signs are as follows:
| BP | 98/63 mm Hg |
| HR | 210 bpm |
| RR | 15 rpm |
What medication should be initiated?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Current medications are:
| Carbamazepine | 200 mg orally twice daily |
| Insulin detemir | 15 units subcutaneously twice daily |
| Metformin | 500 mg orally twice daily |
| Quinapril | 20 mg orally daily |
Laboratory values include:
| Na | 119 mEq/L |
| K | 4.2 mEq/L |
| Cl | 101 mEq/L |
| BUN | 15 mg/dL |
| Blood Glucose | 109 mg/dL |
| SCr | 1.14 mg/dL |
| HCO3- | 23 mEq/L |
Vital signs include:
| BP | 126/84 mm Hg |
| HR | 82 bpm |
| RR | 14 rpm |
| SpO2 | 99% |
Which medication is most likely contributing to the patient's clinical presentation?
Correct!
Incorrect!
The patient's vital signs are:
| BP | 92/60 mm Hg |
| HR | 125 bpm |
| RR | 20 rpm |
The patient is going for percutaneous coronary intervention emergently. In addition to aspirin 324 mg, which medication is most appropriate to administer to this patient?
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
Correct!
Incorrect!
Share the quiz to show your results !
Subscribe to see your results
I got %%score%% of %%total%% right
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Certification Verification
BPS offers the ability to search and verify a Board-Certified Pharmacist by name or credential number.Â
