Coming Soon
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) has approved the development of a specialty certification program in Veterinary Pharmacy. Program requirements, eligibility criteria, and examination details are currently under development. This page will serve as the official source for updates throughout the development process.
APPROVED
Board Approval Announcement
- Approved by the BPS Board of Directors
Date Announced: July 21, 2026
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties has approved the development of a new specialty certification program in Veterinary Pharmacy. The new certification will recognize pharmacists who demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills, and experience in this emerging and essential area of practice.
Press Release
Read the official announcement about the approval of this new specialty certification.
Current Opportunities
Help shape the development of the Veterinary Pharmacy specialty certification program by contributing your expertise through one of the opportunities below.
Apply to Serve on the Specialty Council
Help establish the purpose, eligibility requirements, examination specifications, and program standards for the Veterinary Pharmacy specialty certification.
Apply to Become an Item Writer
Use your veterinary pharmacy expertise to develop high-quality examination questions that reflect current veterinary pharmacy practice and support the new certification program.
Questions or Updates?
Get Updates
Follow BPS on social media for the latest announcements.
Questions
Contact BPS Staff for questions regarding program development.
(202) 946-5026
This page will be updated as additional information becomes available throughout the development of the Veterinary Pharmacy specialty certification program.
Stay Connected
Stay informed throughout the development of the Veterinary Pharmacy specialty certification program.
Receive email updates when important program milestones are announced.
Follow BPS on social media for additional announcements or visit our Contact Us page if you have questions.
Veterinary Pharmacy Specialty Certification
Target Population: Pharmacists who specialize in the design, implementation, integration, maintenance, support, and/or optimization of health information technology, systems, and workflows focused on the medication-use process, patient care, and health outcomes.
Program Purpose: To validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to design, implement, integrate, maintain, support, and optimize health information technology, systems, and workflows to promote safety, efficacy, and efficiency of the medication-use process, patient care, and health outcomes.
Pharmacy Informatics 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.
Eligibility Requirements
To Be Determined
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 Veterinary Pharmacy
Refer to the Veterinary Pharmacy Content Outline found here for details.
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 Veterinary Pharmacy 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.
Veterinary Pharmacy
- American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
- (913) 492-3311
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- (866) 279-0681
- American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
- (800) 237-2742
- Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists (SPPCP)
- (618) 650-5116
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
- (800) 355-2727
- American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP)
- (402) 476-1677
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 Candidate’s 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!
Recertification Requirements for Veterinary Pharmacy
To Be Determined
Recertification Guide
Content Outline for Veterinary Pharmacy
Refer to the Veterinary Pharmacy Content Outline found here for details.
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
Preparatory Courses for Veterinary Pharmacy 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.
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, some applicants may still have questions. Visit this page to see frequently asked questions from pharmacists renewing their certification like you!
Testimonials

I am a board-certified oncology pharmacist. This certification encourages me to always seek new oncology literature to improve patient care and safety. I am also grateful for all the multi-disciplinary, academic, and research opportunities that have opened from being a board-certified pharmacist.

Holding board certifications through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties has not only provided me with a network of peers with similar clinical interests and expertise, but it allows me to demonstrate to colleagues and patients that I am clinically competent and will be able to provide the best care possible!

To my patients and to the public, my BPS lapel pin and designations open a conversation about how seriously board-certified pharmacists take patient care and what we are willing to invest to ensure that we are at the top of our game. Board certification is a stamp of quality in the care we deliver.

Board certification promotes quick identification of other pharmacists who share either a similar or different board certification as well as offers networking opportunities within each specialty. I’ve reached out to other board certified colleagues to collaborate on difficult clinical scenarios only to learn more through our discussion.

BPS Board Certification is an asset to my practice as a pharmacist and to my role on a health care team; they know I have met the standards for board certification in oncology and maintain my BCOP credential, which instills an elevated level of trust.

I maintain and support board certification because it is the gold standard for high quality clinical practice, demonstrates dedication to continuous learning and practice improvement. Board certification provides professional satisfaction and career advancement. When I see a BPS credential, I know that pharmacist is a qualified practitioner.

I initially pursued board-certification as an assessment of my clinical knowledge following residency training. Maintaining board certification has helped me continue practicing at the top of my license, precept and mentor all levels of learners, and stay up to date on emerging literature and practice changes.

One of the additional benefits of board certification is the accountability to lifelong learning. It has been said that “learning never ends,” and it is downright true. Aside from learning through pharmacotherapy CE modules, board certification has even opened doors to learning more at work.
Certification Verification
BPS offers the ability to search and verify a Board-Certified Pharmacist by name or credential number.