BPS would like to offer some helpful tips to our international candidates to make their application experience easier. BPS certification is oriented primarily toward pharmacists licensed and practicing in the U.S.; however, we encourage international applicants to apply. Note BPS certification does not confer the privilege to practice pharmacy in the U.S. or in any other country.
BPS does not have any official agents outside of the U.S. It is the candidate’s responsibility to verify all information by directly contacting BPS with any questions or concerns.
Pharmacists licensed or registered outside of the U.S., Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore must request official graduation documents from the university where they obtained their pharmacy program degree. Applicants licensed or registered outside of the U.S. Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore must upload a copy of their transcript or certificate of graduation with an official seal as part of the application.
If education was completed outside of the U.S., Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore, but current pharmacist license/registration is held in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore, no graduation documentation is required. Applicants only need to provide a copy of their current state board of pharmacy license within their application.
If practice experience was completed outside of the U.S., Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore, a copy of pharmacist license/registration for that timeframe is required as part of the application.
More information about the application process can be found within the Candidate’s Guide.
Electronic documentation of current active legal authorization to practice pharmacy in their country of origin or residence, translated into English, if that is not the original language.
AND
An electronic copy of an official graduation transcript (e-transcript) and/or an official graduation certificate (translated into English, if that is not the original language) as a part of the online application process indicating that the individual has completed an educational program preparing them for basic pharmacy practice (as part of the online application process). BPS may contact the institution to verify that the e-transcript is an official document.
The application will not be considered complete until BPS has received this documentation. For specialties in continuous testing, applications submitted without a transcript will not be reviewed and approved until the transcript has been uploaded. The application review process is 30 days. BPS reserves the right to request hard copies of official documents in addition to electronic submissions at any time to assist in the application and verification process.
Applicants will be notified by BPS via email of their eligibility to sit for the examination within 30 calendar days of the receipt of their completed application and fee.
More information about the application process can be found within the Candidate’s Guide.
Transcripts and Graduation Certificates
The application will not be considered complete until BPS has processed the received transcript or graduation certificate. For specialties in continuous testing, applications submitted without a transcript will not be reviewed and approved until the transcript has been processed. The 30-day review timeline will not begin until BPS has received the transcript. BPS reserves the right to request hard copy or e-transcript of official documents at any time to assist in the application and verification process.
Examination Content
Throughout all BPS specialty certification examinations, all measurements from laboratory test results are expressed in traditional U.S. units. A conversion chart will NOT be offered as part of the examination. A reference table of normal lab values is NOT provided. Candidates should take this into consideration when preparing for the examination.
BPS is aware that examination questions dealing with procedures or regulatory issues in the U.S. are not necessarily pertinent to candidates who practice in other countries. However, all candidates are given the same examination and are held to the same standard of achievement, regardless of the country in which they practice and the regulations under which they practice.