Spring 2018 Candidate's Guide - Board of Pharmacy Specialties
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APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.BPSWEB.ORG
Board of Pharmacy Specialties
Spring 2018 Candidate’s Guide
Specialty Certification in:
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
Critical Care Pharmacy
Geriatric Pharmacy
Nuclear Pharmacy
Nutrition Support Pharmacy
Oncology Pharmacy
Pediatric Pharmacy
Pharmacotherapy
Psychiatric Pharmacy
Application Deadline: March 16, 2018
Test Dates: April 20–May 6, 2018
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DATUpdated:
E’S GU April
IDE 18, 2018
BPS 1Board of Pharmacy Specialties
T
hank you for your interest in becoming certified in your chosen field of specialty practice.
As the delivery of health care becomes more sophisticated and complex, health care
providers and the system they work in will be asked to become even more accountable for
the quality of care they deliver. By choosing to pursue specialty certification you are taking
an important step to recognize your specialized training, knowledge and skills. Most importantly
your pursuit of specialty certification indicates your commitment to improving patient care.
For 40 years, the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) has provided specialty-level certification
programs for pharmacists – both nationally and internationally. The founding of BPS by APhA in
1976 resulted from a five-year effort during which the entire profession studied and deliberated the
issue of specialization in pharmacy. Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Critical Care Pharmacy, Geriatric
Pharmacy, Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, Oncology Pharmacy, Pediatric Pharmacy,
Pharmacotherapy and Psychiatric Pharmacy exist today as bona fide specialties due to ongoing
collaborative efforts by all segments of the profession.
The Board, with assistance from several professional organizations and their members, has
continued to provide vital leadership and support for the recognition of specialties and the
certification of pharmacist specialists. As a result, BPS and its Specialty Councils are now the
principal entities through which these activities are carried out for the pharmacy profession. Each
of the Specialty Councils works diligently with test development consultants to ensure that the
entire certification process is psychometrically sound and defensible. BPS is also working with its
strategic partner organizations to promote the value of specialty recognition and certification to the
profession, other health care professionals, employers, and the public.
Through the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification, the
specialty-credentialed pharmacist stands out as the most qualified individual to meet today’s
expanding professional expectations. BPS salutes your interest and commitment to quality patient
care.
William M. Ellis, RPh, MS
Executive Director
Board of Pharmacy Specialties • 2215 Constitution Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20037-2985
(202) 429-7591 • FAX: (202) 429-6304 • www.bpsweb.org
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) is an autonomous division of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA),
founded in January 1976 to recognize specialties and certify pharmacists in specialized areas of pharmacy practice.
BPS Specialty Certification Programs in Ambulatory Care, Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, Oncology
Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy and Psychiatric Pharmacy are recognized as accredited certification programs by the
National Commission for Certifying Agencies, (NCCA).
2 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D ETABLE OF CONTENTS 2018
GENERAL INFORMATION
Importance of Certification...................................................... 4 BOARD OF PHARMACY Brian Potoski (Chair)
Recognition of BPS Certification.............................................. 4 SPECIALTIES Dennis Williams
William Evans
OVERVIEW Karen Gunning
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Non-discrimination Policy........................................................ 5 NUCLEAR PHARMACY
Dennis K. Helling
Impartiality Statement.............................................................. 5 Andrea Iannucci (Chair) Kenneth Cheng
Statement of Confidentiality..................................................... 5 Marianne F. Ivey Mark Decerbo
Record Retention Policy............................................................ 5 Peter Koval (Chair-Elect) G.T. Dolan
Terry McInnis Melissa Foster
APPLICATION INFORMATION Jerry McKee Richard L. Green (Chair)
General Information….............................................................. 5 Marie E. Michnich Karen Hoang
Name and/or Address Changes…............................................ 5 Rebecca Miller Samuel E. Leveritt (Vice Chair)
Test Dates…............................................................................... 5 John Pieper Charles Leonard
Test Administration…............................................................... 5 James Ponto Garcia Simon-Clarke
Important Dates:….................................................................... 6 Hal E. Richards SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Overview of Steps in Applying for the Examination….......... 6 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON NUTRITION SUPPORT
Eligibilty requirements............................................................. 6 AMBULATORY CARE PHARMACY
Processing Applications…........................................................ 6 PHARMACY Angela Bingham
Test Sites...............................................................................…..7 Holly Divine (Chair) Lingtak-Neander Chan (Chair)
DANTES Program….................................................................. 7 Hyma P. Gogineni Michael L. Christensen (Vice
Josh Guffey Chair)
Scheduling…........................................................................... ..7 Karrie L. Derenski
Rescheduling …........................................................................ 7 Starlin Haydon-Greatting
Samantha Karr Katayoon Ghomeshi
Special Circumstances…........................................................... 8 Karl Gumpper
Macary W. Marciniak (Vice Chair)
Withdrawals/Deferrals.............................................................. 8 Joy Meier Vanessa Kumpf
No Shows…............................................................................... 8 Ruth E. Nemire Christopher M. Miller
Americans with Disabilities Act…........................................... 8 Rachana J. Patel Anne M. Tucker
Fee Payments…......................................................................... 9 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON ONCOLOGY PHARMACY
Application Fee…...................................................................... 9 CARDIOLOGY PHARMACY
Declined Credit Cards and Returned Checks…...................... 9 Sean P. Cosgriff (Vice Chair)
Kristen B. Campbell (Chair) Deborah Hass
Forfeiture of Fees…................................................................ ..9 Robert J. DiDomenico Jin Han
Late Arrivals…........................................................................... 9 Ian B. Hollis Mimi Lo
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES TRAINED/LICENSED John P. Lindsley Therese Poirier
OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. AND CANADA............................9 Tien M. H. Ng Kamakshi V. Rao
Joseph J. Saseen (Vice Chair) Sachin Shah (Chair)
PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION........................ 10 Anne M. Schullo-Feulner Deborah Ward
ON THE DAY OF YOUR EXAMINATION Sarah A. Spinler Casey Williams
Checking-In on Examination Day…...................................... 11 Sheila L. Stadler
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Examination Rules…............................................................ ..11 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON PEDIATRIC PHARMACY
Prohibited Items…................................................................ ..11 CRITICAL CARE PHARMACY Elizabeth Beckman
Inclement Weather and Cancellations….............................. ..11 Kristen Bamberg Kelly Bobo
Examination Format and Administration.............................. 12 Jennifer Cole Sabrina Boehme (Vice Chair)
Examination Schedule............................................................ 12 Judith Jacobi Beth Deen
Examination Content.............................................................. 13 Tyree H. Kiser (Chair) Elizabeth A. Farrington
Security…............................................................................... ..13 Rachel Kruer Katherine Hammond Chessman
Paul O’Donnell Jamalee Huntley
Statement of Confidentiality for BPS Examinations…......... .13 Stacy Voils (Vice Chair) Anita Sui (Chair)
FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION Todd Walroth Marla Tanski
Examination Scoring……........................................................14 Debbie Zock
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Passing Standard……...............................................................14 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON PHARMACOTHERAPY
Equating and Scaled Scores…….............................................14 GERIATRIC PHARMACY Melissa Badowski
If You Do Not Pass the Examination: Retaking the Tara Bruneski Melissa M. Blair (Chair)
Examination….….....................................................................14 Crystal Burkhardt (Vice Chair) Jill Boone
COMPARATIVE REVIEW AND HAND SCORING......... 14 Lawrence Cohen Courtney Eatmon
Stephanie Crist Dawn C. Fuke
APPEAL PROCESS.......................................................... 14 Stefan Kowalski Sheryl Herner
REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION............................... 14 Sunny Linnebur (Chair) Aimee LeClaire (Vice Chair)
Jessica Merrey Sharon See
RECERTIFICATION........................................................ 14 Terrence O’Shea Felix K. Yam
ANNUAL CERTIFICATION MAINTENANCE................. 14 Carol Rollins
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
USE OF THE BPS MARK AND LOGO............................ 15 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON PSYCHIATRIC PHARMACY
BPS SPECIALTIES INFECTIOUS DISEASE Sheila R. Botts (Chair)
PHARMACY Jeannine M. Conway
Ambulatory Care......................................................................15
Edina Avdic Bethany DiPaula
Critical Care Pharmacy........................................................... 16 Melissa Durham
Russell Benefield
Geriatric Pharmacy................................................................. 16 Whitney Buckel Julie Dopheide
Nuclear Pharmacy................................................................... 17 Kathryn Dzintars (Vice Chair) Kelly Gable
Nutrition Support Pharmacy................................................ ..18 Douglas Fish Kelly C. Lee (Vice Chair)
Oncology Pharmacy.............................................................. ..19 Jason Gallagher Eugene Makela
Pediatric Pharmacy................................................................. 19 Elizabeth Leung Marketa Marvanova
Pharmacotherapy.................................................................... 20
Psychiatric Pharmacy.............................................................. 21
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 3
SAMPLE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS.......................... 21GENERAL INFORMATION payers. Employers and patients can feel secure in knowing
that a board certified pharmacist has taken the initiative to
Board of Pharmacy Specialties seek advanced specialized training that sets them apart.
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) is an independent, Certification can also provide a personal reward for
non-governmental certification body that provides pharmacist specialists. Preparing for the certification
recognition of persons involved in the advanced practice exam offers an opportunity to increase advanced, special-
of pharmacy specialties. BPS was created on January 5, ized knowledge in a practice area. Specialty certification is
1976 by the American Pharmaceutical Association (now the a means of informing other professionals of the individual’s
American Pharmacists Association, APhA), and exists today educational and practice accomplishments, setting the spe-
as an autonomous division of APhA. cialist apart from colleagues. It is one way to demonstrate
The Board is composed of eight pharmacists, five of whom advanced knowledge and skills independent of, and in ad-
represent BPS specialty practices, three pharmacists who dition to, a degree program, license or residency.
are not Board Certified, two health care professionals other
than pharmacists and one public member. The Executive Recognition of BPS Certification
Director and one member of the APhA Board of Trustees BPS-certified pharmacist specialists are recognized for their
are non-voting Board members, ex officio. advanced level of knowledge, skills, and achievement by
many government agencies and educational organizations.
BPS has established a Specialty Council for each recognized
The following are examples of specific benefits that may be
specialty. Specialty Councils work with the Board to develop
realized by BPS-certified pharmacist specialists:
and administer psychometrically sound and defensible
certification processes, consistent with public policy • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: specialists may be
regarding the credentialing of health care professionals. A recognized as Authorized Nuclear Pharmacists;
Specialty Council is composed of seven pharmacists certified • U.S. Department of Defense: specialists may receive
in the specialty area and two other pharmacists. bonus pay;
The five point purpose of the Board of Pharmacy • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: specialists may
Specialties Certification Program: serve at a higher pay step;
• U.S. Public Health Service: specialists may receive
1. To grant recognition of appropriate pharmacy practice
bonus pay;
specialties based on criteria established by the Board of
Pharmacy Specialties; • California, New Mexico and North Carolina State
Boards of Pharmacy: specialists may apply for advanced
2. To establish standards for certification and
privdeges;
recertification of pharmacists in recognized pharmacy
practice specialties; • Increasing numbers of employers are recognizing BPS-
certified specialists with monetary rewards, promotion
3. To grant qualified pharmacists certification and recerti-
or hiring preference.
fication in recognized pharmacy practice specialties;
4. To serve as a coordinating agency and informational
clearing house for organizations and pharmacists in OVERVIEW
recognized pharmacy specialties; This Candidate’s Guide is intended for use by pharmacists who
5. To enhance public/consumer protection by developing are interested in being certified as specialists by the Board
effective certification programs for specialty practices of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) in any of the BPS-recognized
in pharmacy. specialty practice areas. This Guide provides information
on BPS certification processes: eligibility requirements,
Importance of Certification application procedures, examination administration, annual
The primary purpose of specialization in any health care certification maintenance, and recertification.
profession is to improve the quality of care individual pa-
This document is ONLY A GUIDE. The information, proce-
tients receive, to promote positive treatment outcomes, and
dures, and fees detailed in this publication may be amend-
ultimately, to improve the patient’s quality of life. Specialties
ed, revised, or otherwise altered at any time and without
evolve in response to the development of new knowledge or
advance notice from BPS. The provision of this Guide does
technology that can affect patient care. The rapid, dramatic
not confer any rights upon an applicant. The information
advancement of drug therapy in recent decades has created a
contained in this Guide supersedes information contained
clear need for pharmacy practitioners who specialize in spe-
in all previous editions of the BPS Candidate’s Guide.
cific kinds of treatment and aspects of care. Specialty certifi-
cation is a responsible, progressive initiative from the profes- All correspondence and requests for information
sion to try to ensure the best possible patient care. concerning the administration of BPS specialty certification
examinations should be directed to:
Board certification has allowed more pharmacists to partici-
pate in collaborative drug therapy management, which is a
significant value to patients. Pharmacists certified in a spe- Board of Pharmacy Specialties
cialty are frequently sought for professional consultations. As 2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
the contributions of pharmacists become more recognized Washington, DC 20037-2985
we anticipate greater recognition from public and private TEL 202-429-7591 • FAX 202-429-6304
www.bpsweb.org
4 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D ENon-discrimination Policy
BPS endorses the principles of equal opportunity and
APPLICATION INFORMATION
non-discrimination. BPS does not discriminate with regard General Information
to age, gender, ethnic origin, race, religion, disability, All questions pertaining to BPS certification should be
marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any directed to the Board. BPS office hours are Monday
other category protected by federal or state law. through Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm (Eastern Time). The Board
offices are closed on all U.S. Federal holidays.
Impartiality Statement All applicants must submit their applications online via
BPS provides objective and balanced certification activities the BPS website (www.bpsweb.org). A valid credit card
for all applicants, candidates and certified persons. is required for the payment for online applications. The
Impartiality is a key component of our business ethics and online application process uses a secure server.
we adhere to transparent procedures based on ISO 17024, It is the candidate’s responsibility to submit an application
which allows us to monitor our certification activities to that is completely and accurately filled out by the deadline
avoid any potential threats to impartiality. of March 16, 2018. Incomplete applications will not be
processed. All applications are processed within 20
Statement of Confidentiality business days of receipt.
BPS is committed to protecting confidential or proprietary
information related to applicants and certification holders, Name and/or Address Changes
as well as the examination development, maintenance All applicants are responsible for immediately notifying
and administration process. BPS will not disclose any BPS of any address change (including e-mail) or legal
confidential applicant/certification holder information name change. Notification for admission to the examination,
outside of the course of BPS business unless authorized in communication of test results, maintenance of certified status
writing by the individual or as required by law. and renewal of certification depend on the Board having
Exam Results: Individual examination results are current information. An applicant or certificant who legally
considered confidential. Exam scores are released only to changes his or her name should immediately notify BPS. Please
the individual candidate, unless a signed release is provided be advised, that the name you submit with your application
in advance. Results are not released by phone, fax or email. must match your current copy of government-issued photo
All personal information submitted by applicants and identification with signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or
certification holders with their application is considered government-issued identification card). Failure to provide BPS
confidential. with a name matching your identification may result in a denial
to enter the testing center on your scheduled examination date.
Application Status: An individual’s application status is
considered confidential. We do not disclose information Please update your BPS account immediately with changes
regarding whether or not an individual has applied in contact information (mailing address, e-mail address,
for certification or has taken the examination. Current etc) to ensure timely communication. Address and name
certification status is published and verifiable as noted in changes made after the mailing of certificates will result
the Credential Verification section (below). in a charge for a duplicate certificate. Name changes that
occur after submission of the application must be received
Credential Verification: The names of currently certified no later than April 14, 2018, in order to be updated in
individuals are not considered confidential and may be time for your examination appointment.
published by BPS. Published information may include
name, city, state, country, certification(s) held, and Testing Dates
certification status. The Spring Testing window is between April 20, 2018 and
BPS Database: Personal information retained within the May 6, 2018.
application/certification holder database and/or applicant/
certification holder files will be kept confidential. This Test Administration
includes information and any documentation regarding a The Board of Pharmacy Specialties Certification
disability and the need for accommodation in testing. With Examinations are administered via internet-based testing
the applicant/certification holder’s written permission, by Prometric, BPS’s approved testing provider, through its
BPS shares non-personal information with third parties. affiliated test sites. Candidates may test within scheduled test
This information is not considered confidential and may administration windows domestically or internationally.
include name, city, state, country, certification(s) held, and
certification status. Overview of Steps in Applying
for the Examination
Record Retention Policy Five basic steps are required to apply for the Spring 2018
BPS retains examination results (scores), summary reports BPS Certification Examination: International candidates,
from exam administrations, and active applicant data please refer to the “Helpful Tips Guide” for detailed
indefinitely. We retain submitted paper documentation information on requirements.
for one (1) year. After one (1) year, BPS will shred those
1. Create an online profile on the BPS website.
documents. Applicants/Certificants should retain their own
copies of all documentation sent to BPS.
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 5vised that the initial eligibility decision may be revised
Important Dates if the candidate is later found to be ineligible.
4. A link to the Prometric scheduling portal will be
APPLICATION DEADLINE included in the email that all approved candidates
March 16, 2018
receive.
EXAMINATION DATES 5. Candidates must schedule the date, time, and location
Computer-based examinations: of their examination within the scheduled test
April 20 through May 6, 2018 administration window. For Spring 2018, the window
runs from April 20, 2018 to May 6, 2018.
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW
March 16, 2018 Candidates may schedule only one examination in
the Spring 2018 window.
LAST DAY TO SCHEDULE
Computer-based international exam applicants: Eligibility Requirements
April 24, 2018 Complete eligibility requirements for each specialty can be
Computer-based domestic (U.S. and Canada) exam found beginning on page 15 of this guide or on the BPS
applicants: website (www.bpsweb.org). All practice and educational
May 1, 2018 eligibility requirements must be met prior to the candidate
sitting for the exam.
2. Once your profile has been created, click on the applica- Processing Applications
tion link found on the BPS website at www.bpsweb.org. All applicants will be notified by BPS via e-mail of their
Please review the eligibility criteria for your specialty eligibility to sit for the examination within 20 business days
before applying. The application must be completed of BPS’s receipt of their application and fee. For identification
within 24 hours of when you begin. Incomplete appli- purposes, a unique Candidate Number (IND-XXXXXXX)
cations will not be processed. is assigned to each eligible applicant by BPS when an
application is processed. Candidates should keep a record
At the time of application, you will be required to
of this number and use it in all correspondence with BPS.
upload a PDF or JPG version of your current pharmacy
For the steps following application approval please see the
license. Candidates qualifying via an ASHP-accredited
section titled Scheduling (below).
residency program are required to upload a PDF or
JPG copy of a certificate of completion, residency If an application is denied, the entire fee will be refunded
certificate or a letter from their preceptor. to the credit card on file. Applicants will receive an e-mail
Please be advised that international applicants with an explanation as to why the application was denied.
(those licensed outside of the United States or Applicants will be notified by e-mail if their application is
Canada) must request a hard copy of their tran- incomplete.
scripts or certificate of graduation with an official
seal to be sent directly to BPS from the University Test Sites
where they received their pharmacy degree in Through an arrangement with Prometric, BPS candidates
addition to submitting the online application. (see can schedule their examinations at more than 275 test
page 12 for further details). sites within the United States and more than 275 test sites
outside of the U.S. Test site locations can be found on the
After completing your application, please submit
Prometric website.
the Education Documentation Request Form to your
University. This form must be returned to BPS In Spring 2018, the scheduled test administration window
along with your transcript. is held between April 20, 2018 to May 6, 2018. Candidates
will be able to begin scheduling testing appointments after
If you graduated from a university outside of the United
receiving an application approval email from BPS including a
States, but are currently licensed in the U.S or Canada,
link to the Prometric scheduling portal.
and hold a current U.S. or Canadian license, you will not
be required to submit hard copy official graduation docu- The testing network available to candidates has ample seats
ments. However, if you claim practice experience outside to meet demand for the BPS examinations. Prometric will
the U.S. or Canada, you will be required to upload a employ reasonable efforts to secure the test site and date
copy of your license for that time frame as a part of your requested by the candidate; however; BPS cannot guarantee
online application. availability of a testing session at a specific location within
Additionally, all fees must be paid at the time of appli- the designated testing period. Seats are filled on a first-
cation submission. come, first-served basis, based on test site availability. It is
recommend that you schedule your exam as soon as possible.
3. Your application will be reviewed by BPS. You will
receive a decision regarding your eligibility to sit for BPS does not provide information on hotel or travel
the examination within 20 business days. Please be ad- arrangements. Candidates are encouraged to use their own
6 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D Etravel agent or one of the online search engines to locate hotel Day of Testing Appointment: Must Reschedule/
accommodations near a test site as well as maps and driving Cancel By:
directions.
Monday Saturday of the previous week
DANTES Program Tuesday Sunday of the current week
Overseas U.S. Military pharmacists may sit for BPS certification Wednesday Monday of the current week
exam using the DANTES program through Military Education Thursday Tuesday of the current week
Centers. When candidates are sent an application approval
email from BPS, they should click on the scheduling link Friday Wednesday of the current week
provided and choose the test location, date and time of their Saturday/Sunday Thursday of the current week
choice. Sunday Friday of the previous week
Scheduling Special Circumstances
In order to help assure the greatest probability that In the following situations and with appropriate documentation,
candidates receive their preferred test site and date, BPS candidates may change their testing session date with fewer
recommends registering as early as possible. than four (4) days’ notice. Candidates must contact Prometric
* Domestic candidates must submit their scheduling request directly with documentation in order to reschedule. A $50
at least four (4) days prior to their preferred testing date during nonrefundable fee, payable to Prometric, will apply.
the scheduled test administration window (no later than
(i) Serious illness (either the candidate or an
May 1, 2018). Non-U.S. candidates must submit their
scheduling request at least ten (10) business days prior to their
immediate family member)
preferred testing date (no later than April 24, 2018). (ii) Death in the immediate family
(iii) Disabling accident
Prometric will provide telephone and e-mail support to (iv) Court appearance
candidates on matters related to scheduling a testing (v) Jury duty
appointment. Voice-mail will accept candidate inquiries (vi) Unexpected military call-up
outside of normal U.S. business hours [Eastern time].
Once a testing appointment is scheduled, the candidate Withdrawals/Deferrals
will receive a confirmation email outlining the appointment Candidates may withdraw from the application process prior
details. to the close of the application deadline of March 16, 2018.
Candidates must inform BPS of their intent to withdraw in
The candidate must bring a current, government-issued
writing, at which point they will be sent a link to an online
photo identification with signature to the test site. Acceptable form to make an official request. The request must be received
forms of identification include driver’s licenses, passports, by the Board on or before the deadline of March 16, 2018.
and government-issued identification cards. Unacceptable Candidates who withdraw from the application process will be
forms of identification include gym memberships, warehouse refunded the fee paid, less an administrative charge of $200
memberships, school identification cards, credit cards, and ($250 if the exam has been scheduled). Refunds will be
identification with signature only (no photo). processed within five weeks of the final examination date.
The candidate’s name as it appears on the confirmation After March 16, 2018, BPS will review requests for
e-mail must match the candidate’s name as it appears on withdrawals with decisions made on a case-by-case
the government-issued photo identification. Candidates are basis. Acceptable withdrawal requests, with appropriate
responsible for contacting BPS with any name changes documentation (e.g., physician’s letter, police report, etc.)
that occur after the submission of their application. will be considered under the following situations:
Candidates have the ability to request a name change
through their BPS online profile, and will be required (i) Serious illness (either the candidate or an
to upload a PDF or JPG copy of government-issued immediate family member)
identification showing their new name as part of that (ii) Death in the immediate family
request. All name change requests must be received by (iii) Disabling accident
April 14, 2018. (iv) Court appearance
(v) Jury duty
Rescheduling (vi) Unexpected military call-up
Candidates may reschedule a testing session at no charge up Supporting documentation must be submitted to BPS within
to 29 days in advance of the scheduled testing appointment seven (7) days after the exam date. Candidates who receive a
through Prometric’s scheduling system. A testing session denial of their withdrawal request will forfeit all testing fees.
may be rescheduled up to two (2) calendar days in advance If the withdrawal request is approved, all administrative fees
of the scheduled testing appointment. BPS staff will not will apply.
process change requests. A $45 nonrefundable fee,
payable to Prometric, will apply if the appointment Spring 2018 candidates also have the option of having their
is rescheduled within 29 calendar days prior to the application deferred to the next examination cycle (Fall
original appointment date. 2018). Candidates who defer to the Fall 2018 examination
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 7cycle and do not test will forfeit all fees; no additional manual tasks), have a record of such physical or mental
deferrals will be allowed. impairment, or are regarded as having a physical or mental
impairment.
Deferral request must be received by the Board on or before
the deadline of March 16, 2018. To apply for reasonable accommodations, the candidate
must request accommodations as part of the application
No Shows process. To ensure appropriate accommodations can be
Not appearing for a testing appointment, not scheduling a provided, candidates must submit their completed ADA
testing appointment, or rescheduling less than four (4) business Request Form and all additional documentation as part of
days before a testing appointment (outside of the special the application process.
circumstances listed above) will count as the candidate’s The information and any documentation regarding the
testing appointment. The candidate will be marked as a no- candidate’s disability and need for accommodation in
show candidate and all testing fees will be forfeited. No-show testing will be considered strictly confidential and will
candidates will have the option to apply for a future testing be used solely to determine the candidate’s eligibility for
cycle at full price. accommodations. Supporting documentation must be
supplied as part of the application process. Professionals
Americans with Disabilities Act submitting documentation in support of a candidate’s
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties complies with the relevant request for accommodation may be contacted by BPS or
provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a Prometric for clarification of any information provided
candidate has a disability and requires accommodations under concerning the requested accommodations. Failure to notify
this Act during the certification examination, he/she should BPS of needed accommodations by March 16, 2018, may
select “Special Accommodations” as part of their application result in the accommodations not being available at the
form and then submit the “ADA Accommodations Request time of the testing appointment.
Form” as part of their application. All application forms with
requests for accommodations must be submitted no later than Fee Payments
March 16, 2018. Payments are made in U.S. dollars by credit card (VISA,
MasterCard, American Express, Discover). Purchase orders
Qualified Individual with a Disability will NOT be accepted.
A disabled candidate is one who has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits that person in one or
more major life activities (e.g., walking, talking, hearing, Application Fee
performing manual tasks), has a record of such physical or The application fee payment must accompany each
mental impairment, or is regarded as having such a physical completed application. The fee for first-time applicants
or mental impairment. for specialty certification is $600 U.S. dollars. Candidates
who have failed an examination within the past year have
A “qualified individual with a disability” is one who has the option to take the examination during this period for a
a disability and satisfies the requisite skill, experience, reduced fee of $300.
education, and other requirements of the service, program,
or activity of which he or she is being measured; and, with Declined Credit Cards
or without accommodations, can perform the essential When a credit card transaction is declined, for insufficient
functions of the service, program, or activity. An essential funds, a valid credit card number must be provided.
function is one that individuals are required to perform,
and removing that function would fundamentally change
the service, program, or activity. A person must be a Forfeiture of Fees
“qualified individual with a disability” to be protected Candidates who fail to schedule a testing appointment or
under the ADA. who fail to arrive at the test site on the date and time they
are scheduled for examination and who have failed to get an
Reasonable accommodations provide candidates with approved withdrawal will forfeit their examination fees and
disabilities a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate must re-submit an application for the full price if they wish
their knowledge and skill in the essential functions being to re-register for a future testing cycle.
measured by the examination. Reasonable accommodations
are decided based on the individual’s specific request, Late Arrivals
disability, documentation submitted, and appropriateness Candidates who arrive at the testing site 30 minutes after
of the request. Reasonable accommodations do not include his or her scheduled testing appointment and are denied
steps that fundamentally alter the purpose or nature of the admission, forfeit all testing fees. Refunds will not be issued
examination. for forfeited appointments. If an appointment is forfeited,
Reasonable accommodations generally are provided for there is no refund of the testing fee.
candidates who have a physical or mental impairment that All fees are subject to change at the sole discretion of the
substantially limits that person in one or more major life Board.
activities (e.g., walking, talking, hearing, and performing
8 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D EINFORMATION FOR The Board is aware that examination questions dealing
with procedures or regulatory issues in the U.S. are
CANDIDATES TRAINED/ not necessarily pertinent to candidates who practice in
other countries. However, all candidates are given the
LICENSED OUTSIDE OF THE same examination and are held to the same standard of
U.S. AND CANADA achievement, regardless of the country in which they
practice and the regulations under which they practice.
Information Sources Please note BPS certification does not confer the privilege
BPS certification is oriented primarily toward pharmacists to practice pharmacy in the U.S. or in any other country.
licensed and practicing in the U.S. however, we encourage
international applicants to apply. Candidates licensed
outside of the U.S. and Canada must request official PREPARING FOR THE
graduation documents from the university where they
obtained their pharmacy program degree. Applicants
EXAMINATION
who obtained their pharmacy degree outside the U.S. The Board publishes the content outline specific to each
and Canada, but are currently licensed in either of those examination and strongly encourages candidates to become
countries, only need to provide a copy of their current state thoroughly familiar with this document. Content outlines are
board of pharmacy license to accompany their application. occasionally modified to reflect changes in practice. Candidates
should ensure that they are using the current outline for their
Applicants who graduated from a pharmacy program outside specialty. Current content outlines are posted on the BPS website.
the U.S. and Canada and who are not licensed to practice
pharmacy in the U.S. and Canada should refer to the Helpful Suggested preparation for the examination might include:
Tips for International Candidates guide before submitting • Residency or other formal training;
their application.
• The study of journal articles, textbooks, or other
International candidates must provide the Board with the publications related to the content outline;
following by the application deadline: • Continuing education programs and courses in
• An official electronic copy of a graduation transcript and/ specialized pharmacy practice;
or an official graduation certificate (translated into English) • Study groups and examination preparation courses;
as a part of the online application process indicating that • Reviewing sample test questions printed in this guide or
the individual has completed an educational program on the BPS website.
preparing him/her for basic pharmacy practice (as part of
the online application process): Potential applicants may contact the organizations noted
below, which offer review/preparatory courses and materials
• Electronic documentation of current active legal for the specialty or specialties listed to determine program
authorization to practice pharmacy in their country of content, relevance to the BPS examinations, and availability.
origin or residence. BPS and its Specialty Councils neither sponsor nor
AND endorse training or educational opportunities in
specialized practice areas or preparatory courses for any
• Sealed hard copy of transcripts or certificate of of the BPS examinations. BPS does not have any official
graduation with seal sent directly from the college or agents outside of the U.S.
university where they received their pharmacy degree.
It is preferred that the school send English translations The list below is for informational purposes only. This is
of documentation. Please submit a Graduation not intended to be a comprehensive list of sources. Please
Documentation Request Form to request education note, candidate’s using any preparatory resources agree to
documentation from your University (Candidates must abide by all U.S. copyright laws in the use of examination
submit an application online prior to having this preparation materials.
documentation sent to BPS). Please instruct your
university to send sealed copies of your transcripts or For Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
certificate directly to: American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
Board of Pharmacy Specialties (913) 429-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088
Attn: Lynn Gardner http://www.accp.com/education/ambuPrepCourse.aspx
2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Washington, DC 20037-2985
(202) 628-4410
Your application will not be considered complete until BPS https://www.pharmacist.com/ambulatory-care-review-and-
has received this documentation directly from your school. recertification
Throughout BPS specialty certification examinations, all American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
measurements from laboratory test results are expressed (866) 279-0681
in traditional units. A conversion chart will not be offered http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/
as part of the examination. A reference table of normal lab ambulatory-care/certification-preparation/
values is not provided. Candidates should take this under
consideration when preparing for the exam.
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 9For Critical Care Pharmacy For Pharmacotherapy
American College of Clinical Pharmacy American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
(913) 429-3311 • FAX (913) 429-0088 (913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088
http://www.accp.com/education/criticalcare.aspx http://www.accp.com/education/
pharmacotherapyPrepCourse.aspx
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
(866) 279-0681 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/critical-care- (866) 279-0681
pharmacy/critical-care-pharmacy-certification-preparation/ http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/
pharmacotherapy/certification-preparation/
Society of Critical Care Medicine
(847) 827-6869 • FAX (847) 439-7226 For Psychiatric Pharmacy
http://www.sccm.org/Education-Center/Pediatric-Board- College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP)
Review/Pages/default.aspx (402) 476-1677 • FAX (888) 557-7617
https://cpnp.org/bcpp/certification/prep/products
For Geriatric Pharmacy
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)
(703) 739-1300 • FAX (703) 739-1321 ON THE DAY OF THE
(ASCP) - BPS Approved Geriatric Recertification Program
http://www.ascp.com/page/BCGP
EXAMINATION
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Checking-In on Examination Day
https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Board- All candidates should arrive at the test site 15 minutes prior
Certification-Resources/Geriatric-Pharmacy to the scheduled testing appointment. Candidates who
arrive 30 minutes after their scheduled testing appointment
For Nuclear Pharmacy time may be refused admission. Refunds will not be issued
Purdue University in the event of a forfeited testing appointment.
(765) 496-1815
The candidate must present a valid government-issued
https://nuclear.pharmacy.purdue.edu/
photo identification with signature. Candidates will be
required to sign-in and will be instructed on where to
For Nutrition Support Pharmacy
store personal items and where to keep identification.
Purdue University
The candidate’s identity will be verified every time he/she
(765) 496-1815
enters or leaves the testing room.
https://ce.pharmacy.purdue.edu/
Once the candidate has been checked-in, he/she will be
For Oncology Pharmacy escorted by testing staff to a workstation. The candidate
American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) must remain at the workstation unless authorized to
(913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088 leave by test site staff. Candidates may not leave the room
http://www.accp.com/education/oncologyCourses.aspx without test site staff permission. If the candidate leaves the
testing room without permission prior to completing his/
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) her examination, he/she will forfeit the testing appointment
(866) 279-0681 and there will be no refund of testing fees.
http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/oncology/
Test site staff will provide the candidate with an erasable
Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) note board or scratch paper, and pen, which may be replaced
(877) 467-2791 as needed during the test. The candidate may not remove the
http://www.hoparx.org/education/default/bcop-recert.html note boards, paper or pens, and candidates are not allowed
to use their own scratch paper, or writing tools. Additionally,
For Pediatric Pharmacy candidates taking the computer-based exam will be provided
American College of Clinical Pharmacy with a calculator available on their computer screen for use
(913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088 during the examination.
http://www.accp.com/education/pediatrics.aspx
Testing room temperature can be unpredictable; therefore,
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists we suggest that you bring appropriate clothing with you
(866) 279-0681 (e.g., sweater, sweatshirt without hood) to help you adapt to
http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/pediatric- a cooler or warmer climate in the examination room. Bring
pharmacy/ earplugs if you are sensitive to noise. If you choose to bring
Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group earplugs, they will be subject to inspection by the testing
center staff.
(901) 820-4434 • FAX (901) 767-0701
https://www.ppag.org/index.cfm?pg=BCPPSRecertification Examination Rules
BPS and Prometric follow industry standard testing rules as
outlined below.
10 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D EProhibited Items EXAMINATION FORMAT AND
Candidates are expressly prohibited from bringing the ADMINISTRATION:
following items to the test site:
• Cameras, cell phones or other mobile devices, optical Computer-based Examinations
readers, or other electronic devices that include the Four-option multiple choice questions constitute the
ability to photograph, photocopy, or otherwise copy test majority of exams; however, alternate item types, such as
materials drag and drop and hotspot, may be used.
• Notes, books, dictionaries, or language dictionaries During the examination, if a candidate experiences
• Book bags or luggage difficulty with the computer, he/she should notify the
• iPods, MP3 players, headphones, or pagers proctor immediately and wait for further instruction.
• Computers, PDAs, i-Pads, or other electronic devices Most technical issues are resolved quickly with a simple
refresh of the screen or by the proctor logging you back into
• Personal writing utensils (i.e., pencils, pens, and
the examination.
highlighters)
• Watches BPS specialty certification examinations are delivered
• Food and beverage via secure Internet connections. Internet connections are
subject to the local Internet providers in the area. While it is
• Hats, hoods, or other headwear, unless required for
not the norm, Internet connections can, on occasion, be lost,
religious purposes
requiring the proctor to log you back into your examination.
• Candidates taking the computer-based examination will If this occurs, inform the proctor that your connection has
not be allowed to bring calculators to the test site. been lost and the proctor will assist you in logging back in
to your examination.
All items are subject to inspection by the proctor. If
Prometric test site personnel determine that a candidate has The examination timer built into the test delivery system
brought any items to the test site, the item may be demanded accounts for delays in page loads or loss of Internet
and held for an indefinite period of time by Prometric test connections so that you do not lose any examination time.
site personnel. BPS and Prometric reserve the right to review If a proctor logs you back into the examination, you will
the memory of any electronic device that may be in the resume at the first unanswered question (the last question
candidate’s possession at the test site to determine whether you were viewing). If you have finished answering all
any test materials have been photographed or otherwise questions, then you will return to the first question on the
copied. examination. In addition, your answers to examination
questions are not lost if you lose the connection to the
If the review determines that any test materials are in the
Internet.
memory of any such device, BPS and Prometric reserve the
right to delete materials and/or retain them for subsequent If a technical issue lasts longer than 30 minutes and
disciplinary action. Upon completion of the review and prevents you from continuing with the examination, you
any applicable deletions, BPS and Prometric will return the may choose to stop testing and reschedule to another day,
device to the candidate, but will not be responsible for the or you may continue to wait for the resolution. Again, most
deletion of any materials that may result from the review, technical issues are resolved quickly.
whether or not such materials are test materials.
Candidates will be provided with a calculator app available
By bringing any such device into the test site in on their computer screen for use during the examination. A
contravention of BPS and Prometric policies, the candidate sample calculator is available on the Prometric website.
expressly waives any confidentiality or other similar rights
Test instructions will be provided to candidates on their
with respect to the device, BPS and Prometric review of the
computer screen. Only answers submitted via computer will
memory of the device and/or the deletion of any materials.
be scored. Answers written on whiteboards will not be scored
BPS, Prometric, the examination site, and the test site staff
are not liable for lost or damaged items brought to the
examination site. Examination Schedule
The examination day schedule is provided below.
Inclement Weather and Cancellations Initial certification candidates will be provided timed
Prometric will attempt to contact candidates in the event of testing periods, outlined below:
a test site closure due to inclement weather to reschedule
their appointment. As sites close, e-mails are issued to the Examination Part 1 (100 items): 2.5 hour testing period
candidates impacted notifying them of the closures, and Break (optional): Up to 30 minutes
Prometric’s website is also updated with this information.
Examination Part 2 (75 items): 1 hour, 53 minute testing
However, because closures can occur at any time during
period
inclement weather, it is the responsibility of the candidate
to contact Prometric to receive the most up-to-date
information regarding if a center is open or to reschedule the
examination appointment. If a test site is officially closed,
candidates will not be charged a rescheduling fee. If a test
site is open and the candidate does not keep his or her
appointment, the candidate forfeits all fees.
S P R I N G 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 11Recertification candidates will be allowed a 2.5 hour examinations reflect current, best practices, at the time they
testing period to complete the 100-item recertifica- are constructed – practice guidelines used for the Spring
tion examination. Recertification candidates will have the examination are those that are current as of January 1 of
option of a morning or afternoon administration. the testing year. Practice guidelines for the Fall examination
are those that are current as of July 1 of the testing year.
Candidates are reminded that they should arrive at the Official United States Adopted Name (USAN) generic names
test site 15 minutes in advance of their scheduled testing are used on all BPS examinations for all drug products,
appointment time. when possible.
If a candidate takes a break outside of the optional break
time between Part 1 and Part 2 or during a recertification Security
exam that time is deducted from their testing period. The BPS examinations are the property of BPS and are
On the day of the examination, all candidates MUST pres- confidential examinations that are protected by trade secret
ent a print out of their scheduling confirmation e-mail law, copyright law, and other applicable state and federal
AND valid government-issued photo identification with laws and regulations. BPS and its testing agency maintain
signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport) in order to be ad- examination administration and security standards that
mitted to the testing room. Candidates who arrive 30 min- are designed to assure that all candidates are provided the
utes after their scheduled examination time and candidates same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
without valid photo identification will not be admitted to Before beginning the examination, candidates will be
the examination. If that occurs, their fees will be forfeited. asked to read and sign a Statement of Confidentiality.
Candidates will not be permitted to enter the exam room This statement restricts candidates from sharing
unless proper identification as described above is presented. any information about the examination with other
individuals, including discussions with fellow test
takers following the examination and the sharing of
Examination Content information with colleagues who might be planning to
A BPS specialty certification examination samples the take the examination in the near future.
knowledge required to perform the tasks in each of the
major areas of responsibility of the specialty as defined Proctors are authorized by BPS and its testing consultant
through a role delineation study. The examination does to maintain a secure and proper test administration
not attempt to test knowledge at all levels or settings in the environment. Candidates will be allowed to leave the
specialized practice area. Mastery of the knowledge and room during the test administration to use the restroom
skills involved in the defined scope of specialized practice is facilities as long as they follow the test site procedures. If a
necessary for board certification, regardless of the particular candidate takes a break outside of the optional break time
practice in which an applicant is currently involved. between Part 1 and Part 2 or during a recertification exam
that time is deducted from their testing period. Candidates
BPS specialty certification examinations are constructed will be inspected for devices such as hand-held scanners,
according to test specifications derived from role cameras, tape recorders, or other electronic equipment.
delineation studies. Technical support in conducting Areas around the testing room (e.g., hallways, restrooms,
task analyses, establishing test specifications, and telephone stalls) are monitored throughout the examination
constructing examinations is provided by an independent for security purposes. Be aware that you will be observed
testing company that specializes in the assessment of the at all times while taking the examination. Observation may
knowledge, skills, and abilities of professionals. include direction observation by center staff, as well as
A content outline, listing the domains, tasks, and video and audio recording of your testing session.
knowledge statements specific to each specialty practice, Candidates may not communicate with other candidates
is provided for the information of prospective candidates during the examination. Anyone who provides or receives
on the BPS website. The content outline also notes the assistance during the test administration will be dismissed
percentage of items per domain. Examination content from the testing room. Candidates may not photograph, re-
outlines are developed through a nationwide study of the cord, or memorize any examination material. Other causes
work pharmacy specialists perform in a variety of practice for dismissal include, but are not limited to using notes,
settings. references, or any test aids; using unauthorized calculators;
Examinations are not structured domain by domain. causing a disruption to the test environment; and removing
Instead, test questions for each domain are distributed any examination material from the testing site. Candidates
randomly throughout the total examination. While BPS who are dismissed from the testing room forfeit all fees.
examinations test the stated domains of each specialty, Personnel authorized by the BPS testing agency will proctor
candidates are advised that the examinations will probably the examination. No one is permitted in the testing room
NOT address all of the knowledge statements listed under during the examination except for the candidates and
the domains in the content outline of the examination. persons authorized by BPS and/or the test administrator.
New regulations, drugs, and therapies are incorporated
into the examinations. All BPS specialty certification
12 BPS SPRING 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D EYou can also read
