Continuing Professional Development (CPD) FAQs

What is staying the same: 

• Certifications cycles are 7 years in length
• Two options for recertification: examination or professional development
  • If recertifying by professional development, 100 total units are required for recertification
• No changes to BPS fees

What is changing: 

For certifications with cycles beginning January 1, 2024, and after:

• Recertification by professional development
  • At least80 of the 100 total must still come from BPS-approved, assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE)
  • Up to 20 of the 100 total required may be fulfilled through self-reported CPD activities.
  • You may choose not to self-report CPD activities and continue earning 100 BPS-approved, assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) via professional development programs.
• Recertification by examination
  • In addition to achieving a passing score on the examination in the final year of the cycle, 20 units of self-reported CPD or assessed CPE must be completed by the end of the cycle.

Regardless of recertification route chosen, board-certified pharmacists beginning a certification cycle in 2024 and onward must:

• Record an annual reflection & plan (ARP),
• Complete a minimum of 2 units annually via:
  • Self-reported CPD activities, or
  • Assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs, or
  • Complete a combination of the above, totaling at least 2 units.
• Pay the annual certification maintenance fee.

Failure to meet annual requirements by December 31 will result in a change to certification status, which will be reflected in the public directory.

Board-certified pharmacists starting a new certification cycle in 2024 onward are eligible to take advantage of the updated recertification framework, including CPD. This includes pharmacists newly certified in 2023 onward and board-certified pharmacists who successfully recertified in 2023 onward. The framework will be applied each year to certifications starting a new 7-year certification cycle (newly certified and recertified) until it is applicable to all.

This table is based on the standard seven-year certification cycle. Certificants who are granted a one time, one year extension will not be subject to the updated recertification framework (including CPD) until they begin a new certification cycle after completion of the extension year.

BPS defines continuing professional development (CPD) as a commitment to lifelong learning. Various pharmacy organizations worldwide have used the following definitions:

The Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education (ACPE) defines CPD as:

“a self-directed, ongoing, systematic and outcomes-focused approach to lifelong learning that is applied into practice. It involves the process of active participation in formal and informal learning activities that assist individuals in developing and maintaining continuing competence, enhancing their professional practice, and supporting achievement of their career goals.”

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) defines CPD as:

“the responsibility of individual pharmacists for systematic maintenance, development and broadening of knowledge, skills and attitude to ensure continuing competence as a professional, throughout their careers.”

The CPD cycle includes several phases, beginning with an assessment of learning needs and goals (REFLECT). Then, outcomes-based learning objectives, priorities, and a timeline are generated (PLAN). Activities, resources, and various learning methodologies are identified and utilized to meet the learning objectives (LEARN). Finally, learning outcomes and impact are evaluated (EVALUATE), leading to reflection and the continuum begins again. A key to the CPD approach is connecting learning to practice (APPLY). Each stage of the CPD process should be recorded in a personal learning record or portfolio and reviewed periodically for progress.

Board-certified pharmacists will respond to prompts within their MyBPS portal to complete the Reflect, and Plan stages of the CPD cycle annually and complete the Evaluate stage at the time of CPD self-reporting. The Learn stage of the CPD cycle will be documented by uploading evidence of completion. The purpose of documenting the stages within the CPD cycle is to create a record of maintenance of certification.

Reflect: Consider potential learning needs related to your current practice and professional development. Consider the content outline relevant to your specialty certification. What knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, or skills did you identify as an area for growth?

Plan: Consider the CPD activity selected to promote the acquisition of the competency identified in your reflection. Document the SMART goal or learning objectives related to the CPD activity.

Learn: Will be documented via MyBPS CPD activity self-reporting portal and evidence upload feature. It is highly recommended that all evidence for CPD activities be submitted in English or translated into English.

Evaluate: Assess the impact of your learning. Describe how your professional development or practice was/will be impacted by this learning.

Used with permission from ACPE.

Continuing professional development activities are being implemented as part of the BPS recertification framework in response to feedback from board-certified pharmacists who emphasized the need for flexible, contemporary, interactive, low-cost activities as part of maintaining continued competence in their specialty practice area. CPD offers a process for pharmacists to meet and maintain competencies relevant to their specialty certification and professional practice. CPD has been endorsed and encouraged by several pharmacy organizations, including but not limited to, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP), the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

A confirmation screen stating, “Record has been added,” will appear after clicking “Save.” Click “Return to transcript” to review all recertification progress.

BPS will conduct random, statistically significant audits to ensure activity appropriateness and alignment with the relevant specialty content outline. Self-reported CPD activities or Annual Reflection and Plan (ARP)s will not be reviewed one-by-one by BPS. If your record is audited and requires attention, BPS staff will contact you via email and assist with next steps.

You may complete your annual reflection & plan (ARP) at any point throughout the year; best practice is to document your ARP prior to documenting CPD activities in MyBPS.

Ideally, CPD activities should be reported in MyBPS within six months of the activity completion date. Board-certified pharmacists can edit/delete CPD activities up to Dec 31 of each year.

No. If you choose not to self-report CPD activities, you may continue earning 100 BPS-approved, assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) via professional development programs.

Important: Regardless of whether you self-report CPD activities, you must complete the annual requirements (see next question).

Regardless of recertification route chosen, board-certified pharmacists beginning a certification cycle in 2024 and onward must:

• Record an annual reflection & plan (ARP),
• Complete a minimum of 2 units annually via:
  • Self-reported CPD activities, or
  • Assessed CPE from BPS-approved professional development programs, or
  • Complete a combination of the above, totaling at least 2 units.
• Pay the annual certification maintenance fee.

Failure to meet annual requirements by December 31 will result in a change to certification status, which will be reflected in the public directory.

Follow steps under “How do I self-report or edit CPD activities?” The activity must align with one of the content outline domains for your specialty. The activity must be reported as a whole number (e.g. 1.75 CPE activity may only be self-reported as 1 CPD unit).

Do not self-report assessed CPE from BPS-approved programs  – these activities are reported directly to MyBPS after successful completion of the post-activity assessment via integration with learning management systems.

Certification status definitions and additional information are here.