Fall 2018 Candidate's Guide - Board of Pharmacy Specialties
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.BPSWEB.ORG
Board of Pharmacy Specialties
Fall 2018 Candidate’s Guide
Specialty Certification in:
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
Cardiology Pharmacy
Critical Care Pharmacy
Geriatric Pharmacy
Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
Nuclear Pharmacy
Nutrition Support Pharmacy
Oncology Pharmacy
Pediatric Pharmacy
Pharmacotherapy
Psychiatric Pharmacy
Application Deadline: August 1, 2018
Test Dates: September 21–October 7, 2018
FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DATUpdated:
E’S GU IDE
May BPS 1
16, 2018Board 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.
Since 1978, the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) has provided specialty certification programs
for pharmacists – both nationally and internationally. The founding of BPS by the American
Pharmacists Association (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, Cardiology Pharmacy, Critical Care Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases
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 the BPS examination development team to ensure that
the entire certification process is psychometrically sound and legally 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
BPS Specialty Certification Programs in Ambulatory Care, Geriatric Pharmacy, 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 FALL 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D ETABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Importance of Certification...................................................... 4
2018
Recognition of BPS Certification.............................................. 4
BOARD OF PHARMACY Elizabeth Leung
OVERVIEW SPECIALTIES Brian Potoski (Chair)
Non-discrimination Policy........................................................ 5 William Ellis (non-voting member) Dennis Williams
Impartiality Statement.............................................................. 5 William Evans
SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Statement of Confidentiality..................................................... 5 Karen Gunning
NUCLEAR PHARMACY
Record Retention Policy............................................................ 5 Andrea Iannucci (Chair)
Marianne F. Ivey Kenneth Cheng
APPLICATION INFORMATION Peter Koval (Chair-Elect) Mark Decerbo
General Information….............................................................. 5 Randy McDonough (non-voting G.T. Dolan
Name and / or Address Changes….......................................... 5 member) Melissa Foster
Examination Dates…................................................................ 5 Terry McInnis Richard L. Green (Chair)
Jerry McKee Karen Hoang
Examination Administration…................................................. 5 Samuel E. Leveritt (Vice Chair)
Overview of Steps in Applying for the Examination:…......... 5 Marie E. Michnich
Rebecca Miller Charles Leonard
Important Dates…..................................................................... 6 John Pieper Garcia Simon-Clarke
Eligibilty requirements............................................................. 6 James Ponto
Processing Applications…........................................................ 6 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Hal E. Richards NUTRITION SUPPORT
Examination Sites.................................................................…..6 PHARMACY
DANTES Program….................................................................. 7 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
AMBULATORY CARE Angela Bingham
Scheduling…........................................................................... ..7 PHARMACY Lingtak-Neander Chan (Chair)
Rescheduling …........................................................................ 7 Holly Divine (Chair) Michael L. Christensen (Vice
Special Circumstances…........................................................... 7 Hyma P. Gogineni Chair)
Withdrawals / Deferrals........................................................... 7 Josh Guffey Karrie L. Derenski
No Shows…............................................................................... 8 Starlin Haydon-Greatting Katayoon Ghomeshi
Samantha Karr Karl Gumpper
Americans with Disabilities Act…........................................... 8 Vanessa Kumpf
Fee Payments…......................................................................... 8 Macary W. Marciniak (Vice Chair)
Joy Meier Christopher M. Miller
Application Fee…...................................................................... 8 Ruth E. Nemire Anne M. Tucker
Declined Credit Cards and Returned Checks…...................... 8 Rachana J. Patel SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Forfeiture of Fees…................................................................ ..8 ONCOLOGY PHARMACY
Late Arrivals…........................................................................... 8 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON Sean P. Cosgriff (Vice Chair)
CARDIOLOGY PHARMACY
INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES TRAINED / Deborah Hass
Kristen B. Campbell (Chair) Jin Han
LICENSED OUTSIDE OF THE U.S. AND CANADA..........9 Robert J. DiDomenico Mimi Lo
PREPARING FOR THE EXAMINATION..........................9 Ian B. Hollis Therese Poirier
John P. Lindsley Kamakshi V. Rao
ON THE DAY OF YOUR EXAMINATION Tien M. H. Ng Sachin Shah (Chair)
Checking-In on Examination Day…...................................... 10 Joseph J. Saseen (Vice Chair) Deborah Ward
Examination Rules…............................................................ ..11 Anne M. Schullo-Feulner Casey Williams
Prohibited Items…................................................................ ..11 Sarah A. Spinler
Inclement Weather and Cancellations….............................. ..11 Sheila L. Stadler SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
PEDIATRIC PHARMACY
Examination Format and Administration.............................. 11 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON Elizabeth Beckman
Examination Schedule............................................................ 11 CRITICAL CARE PHARMACY Kelly Bobo
Examination Content.............................................................. 12 Kristen Bamberg Sabrina Boehme (Vice Chair)
Security…............................................................................... ..12 Jennifer Cole Beth Deen
Statement of Confidentiality for BPS Examinations…......... .12 Judith Jacobi Elizabeth A. Farrington
Tyree H. Kiser (Chair) Katherine Hammond Chessman
FOLLOWING THE EXAMINATION Rachel Kruer Jamalee Huntley
Examination Scoring…….................................................... ...13 Paul O’Donnell Anita Siu (Chair)
Passing Standard……........................................................... ...13 Stacy Voils (Vice Chair) Marla Tanski
Equating and Scaled Scores……......................................... ...13 Todd Walroth
If You Do Not Pass the Examination: Retaking the Debbie Zock SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
PHARMACOTHERAPY
Examination….….................................................................. ..13 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON Melissa Badowski
COMPARATIVE REVIEW AND HAND SCORING.........13 GERIATRIC PHARMACY Melissa M. Blair (Chair)
APPEAL PROCESS.......................................................... 14 Tara Bruneski Jill Boone
Crystal Burkhardt (Vice Chair) Courtney Eatmon
REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATION............................... 14 Lawrence Cohen Dawn C. Fuke
RECERTIFICATION........................................................ 14 Stephanie Crist Sheryl Herner
Stefan Kowalski Aimee LeClaire (Vice Chair)
ANNUAL CERTIFICATION MAINTENANCE................. 14 Sunny Linnebur (Chair) Sharon See
USE OF THE BPS MARK AND LOGO............................ 14 Jessica Merrey Felix K. Yam
Terrence O’Shea
BPS SPECIALTIES Carol Rollins SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON
Ambulatory Care..................................................................... 14 PSYCHIATRIC PHARMACY
Cardiology Pharmacy.............................................................. 15 SPECIALTY COUNCIL ON Sheila R. Botts (Chair)
INFECTIOUS DISEASE Jeannine M. Conway
Critical Care Pharmacy........................................................... 16 PHARMACY Bethany DiPaula
Geriatric Pharmacy................................................................. 17 Edina Avdic Melissa Durham
Infectious Diseases Pharmacy................................................ 17 Russell Benefield Julie Dopheide
Nuclear Pharmacy................................................................... 18 Whitney Buckel Kelly Gable
Nutrition Support Pharmacy.................................................. 19 Kathryn Dzintars (Vice Chair) Kelly C. Lee (Vice Chair)
Oncology Pharmacy................................................................ 20 Douglas Fish Eugene Makela
Pediatric Pharmacy................................................................. 21 Jason Gallagher Marketa Marvanova
Pharmacotherapy.................................................................... 22
Psychiatric Pharmacy.............................................................. 22 FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 3
SAMPLE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS..........................23GENERAL 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.
BPS is an independent, non-governmental certification Certification can also provide a personal reward for
body that provides recognition of persons involved in pharmacist specialists. Preparing for the certification
the advanced practice of pharmacy specialties. BPS was exam offers an opportunity to increase advanced, special-
created on January 5, 1976 by the American Pharmaceutical ized knowledge in a practice area. Specialty certification is
Association (now the American Pharmacists Association, a means of informing other professionals of the individual’s
APhA), and exists today as an autonomous division of APhA. educational and practice accomplishments, setting the spe-
The Board is composed of 14 members, including nine cialist apart from colleagues. It is one way to demonstrate
pharmacists, six of whom represent BPS specialty practices, advanced knowledge and skills independent of, and in ad-
three pharmacists who are not board certified, along with dition to, a degree program, license or residency.
two health care professionals other than pharmacists and
one public member. The BPS Executive Director and one
Recognition of BPS Certification
BPS-certified pharmacist specialists are recognized for their
member of the APhA Board of Trustees are non-voting
advanced level of knowledge, skills, and achievement by
Board members, ex officio.
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
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: specialists may be
certification processes, consistent with public policy
recognized as Authorized Nuclear Pharmacists;
regarding the credentialing of health care professionals. A
Specialty Council is composed of seven pharmacists certified • U.S. Department of Defense: specialists may receive
in the specialty area and two other pharmacist not certified bonus pay;
in the specialty area. • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: specialists may
serve at a higher pay step;
The five-point purpose of the BPS Certification Programs:
• U.S. Public Health Service: specialists may receive bonus
1. To grant recognition of appropriate pharmacy practice pay;
specialties based on criteria established by the Board of • California, New Mexico and North Carolina State Boards
Pharmacy Specialties; of Pharmacy: specialists may apply for advanced
2. To establish standards for certification and privileges;
recertification of pharmacist specialists in recognized • Increasing numbers of employers are recognizing BPS-
pharmacy practice specialties; 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 BPS
effective certification programs for specialty practices in any of the BPS-recognized specialty practice areas. This
in pharmacy. Guide provides information on BPS certification processes:
eligibility requirements, application procedures, examination
Importance of Certification administration, annual certification maintenance, and
The primary purpose of specialization in any health care 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 Board of Pharmacy Specialties
significant value to patients. Pharmacists certified in a spe- 2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
cialty are frequently sought for professional consultations. As Washington, DC 20037-2985
the contributions of pharmacists become more recognized, TEL 202-429-7591 • FAX 202-429-6304
we anticipate greater recognition from public and private www.bpsweb.org
4 BPS FALL 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. Please
Impartiality Statement refer to the BPS website for inclement weather and other
BPS provides objective and balanced certification activities unscheduled closures.
for all applicants, candidates and certified persons.
All applicants must submit their applications online via
Impartiality is a key component of our business ethics and
the BPS website (www.bpsweb.org). A valid credit card
we adhere to transparent procedures based on ISO 17024,
is required for the payment for online applications. The
which allows us to monitor our certification activities to
online application process uses a secure server.
avoid any potential threats to impartiality.
It is the individual’s responsibility to submit a complete
Statement of Confidentiality and accurate application by the deadline of August 1,
BPS is committed to protecting confidential or proprietary 2018. Incomplete applications will not be processed. All
information related to applicants and certificants, as applications are processed within 20 business days of
well as the examination development, maintenance, receipt.
and administration process. BPS will not disclose any
confidential applicant / certificants information outside of Name and / or Address Changes
the course of BPS business unless authorized in writing by All applicants are responsible for immediately notifying
the individual or as required by law. BPS of any address change (including e-mail) or legal
name change. Notification for admission to the examination,
Examination Results: Individual examination results are communication of test results, maintenance of certified status
considered confidential. Scores are released only to the and renewal of certification depend on the Board having
individual candidate, unless a signed release is provided in current information. Any applicant or certificant who legally
advance. Results are not released by phone, fax or email. changes his or her name should immediately notify BPS. Please
All personal information submitted by applicants and be advised, that the name you submit with your application
certificants with their application is considered confidential. must match your current copy of government-issued photo
Application Status: An applicant’s status is considered identification with signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport, or
confidential. We do not disclose information regarding government-issued identification card). Failure to provide BPS
whether or not an individual has applied for certification with a name matching your identification may result in a denial
(except when verifying practice experience via employment) to enter the testing center on your scheduled examination date.
or has taken the examination. Current certification status Please update your MyBPS profile immediately with
is published and verifiable as noted in the Credential changes in information (e.g., mailing address, e-mail
Verification section (below). address, etc.) to ensure timely communication. Address and
Credential Verification: The names of currently certified name changes made after the mailing of certificates will
pharmacist specialists are not considered confidential and result in additional charges for a duplicate certificate. Name
may be published by BPS. Published information may changes that occur after submission of the application must
include name, city, state, country, certification(s) held, and be received no later than September 15, 2018, in order to
certification status. be updated in time for your examination appointment.
BPS Database: Personal information retained within Examination Dates
the application / certificant database and / or applicant The Fall Testing window is between September 21–
/ certificant files will be kept confidential. This includes October 7, 2018.
information and any documentation regarding a disability Examination Administration
and the need for accommodation in testing. With the BPS certification Examinations are administered by
applicant / certificant’s written permission, BPS shares non- Prometric, through its affiliated examination sites.
personal information with third parties. This information Candidates may test within scheduled examination
is not considered confidential and may include name, city, administration windows domestically or internationally.
state, country, certification(s) held, and certification status.
Overview of Steps in Applying
Record Retention Policy for the Examination
BPS retains examination results (scores), summary reports
from examination administrations, and active applicant
Five basic steps are required to apply for the Fall 2018
data indefinitely. We retain submitted paper documentation BPS Certification Examination (International candidates,
for one (1) year. After one (1) year, BPS will shred those please refer to the “Helpful Tips Guide” for detailed
documents. Applicants / certificants should retain their own information on requirements).
copies of all documentation sent to BPS. reate an online MyBPS profile on the BPS website.
1. C
FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 5Additionally, all fees must be paid at the time of appli-
Important Dates cation submission.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 3. Your application will be reviewed by BPS. You will
August 1, 2018 receive a decision regarding your eligibility to sit for
the examination within 20 business days. Please be ad-
EXAMINATION DATES vised that the initial eligibility decision may be revised
Computer-based examinations: if the candidate is later found to be ineligible.
September 21 through October 7, 2018 4. All approved candidates will receive an approval
LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW: e-mail as well as an Authorization to Test (ATT)
August 1, 2018 e-mail including a BPS examination ID (BPS-EXAM-
XXXXX) and a link to the Prometric scheduling
LAST DAY TO SCHEDULE:
portal.
International applicants:
September 27, 2018 5. Candidates must schedule the date, time, and location
Domestic (U.S. and Canada) applicants: of their examination within the scheduled test
October 2, 2018 administration window using the BPS exam ID and
the first 4 letters of their last name. For Fall 2018, the
LAST DAY TO REQUEST NAME CHANGE: window runs from September 21–October 7, 2018.
September 15, 2018
Candidates may schedule only one examination in
the Fall 2018 window.
A unique candidate number (IND-XXXXXX) is as- Eligibility Requirements
signed once the profile is created. Complete eligibility requirements for each specialty can be
found beginning on page 14 of this guide or on the BPS
2. Once your profile has been created, click on the “Apply
website (www.bpsweb.org). All practice and educational
for New Certification” link found on your MyBPS pro- eligibility requirements must be met prior to the candidate
file home page. Please review the eligibility criteria for sitting for the examination.
your specialty before applying. The application must
be completed within 24 hours of initiation. Incomplete Processing Applications
applications will not be processed. All applicants will be notified by BPS via e-mail of their
eligibility to sit for the examination within 20 business days
At the time of application, you will be required to
of the receipt of their application and fee. Candidates should
upload a PDF or JPG version of your current pharmacy
keep a record of their unique candidate number and use
license. Applicants intending to confirm eligibility via
it in all correspondence with BPS. For the steps following
an ASHP-accredited residency program are required
application approval please see the section titled Scheduling
to upload a PDF or JPG copy of a certificate of
(below).
completion, residency certificate, or a letter from their
preceptor. If an application is denied, the entire fee will be refunded
FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: Please be to the credit card on file. Applicants will receive an e-mail
advised that international applicants (those with an explanation as to why the application was denied.
licensed outside of the United States or Canada) Applicants will also be notified by e-mail if their application
must request a hard copy of their transcripts or is incomplete.
certificate of graduation with an official seal to Examination Sites
be sent directly to BPS from the University where Through an arrangement with Prometric, BPS candidates
they received their pharmacy degree in addition to may schedule their examinations at more than 275 sites
submitting the online application. (see page 9 for within the United States and more than 275 sites outside of
further details). the U.S. Test site locations can be found on the Prometric
After completing your application, please submit website.
the Education Documentation Request Form to your In Fall 2018, the scheduled examination administration
University. This form must be returned to BPS window is between September 21–October 7, 2018.
along with your transcript. Candidates will be able to begin scheduling examination
If you graduated from a university outside of the United appointments after receiving an application approval email
States but are currently licensed in the U.S or Canada and from BPS including a link to the Prometric scheduling portal.
hold a current U.S. or Canadian license, you will not be
The Prometric network available to candidates has ample
required to submit hard copy official graduation docu-
seats to meet demand for the BPS examinations. Prometric
ments. However, if you claim practice experience outside
will employ reasonable efforts to secure the site and date
the U.S. or Canada, you will be required to upload a
requested by the candidate; however; BPS cannot guarantee
copy of your license for that time frame as a part of your
availability of an examination session at a specific location
online application.
within the designated period. Seats are filled on a first-
come, first-served basis, based on site availability. It is
6 BPS FALL 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D Erecommended that you schedule your examination as soon Day of Last Day to Reschedule / Cancel
as possible. Examination Testing Appointment:
BPS does not provide information on hotel or travel Monday Saturday of the previous week
arrangements. Candidates are encouraged to use their own
Tuesday Sunday of the current week
travel agent or one of the online search engines to locate hotel
accommodations near a test site as well as maps and driving Wednesday Monday of the current week
directions. Thursday Tuesday of the current week
DANTES Program Friday Wednesday of the current week
Overseas U.S. Military pharmacists may sit for BPS certification Saturday / Sunday Thursday of the current week
exam using the DANTES program through Military Education Sunday Friday of the previous week
Centers. When candidates are sent an application approval
email from BPS, they should click on the scheduling link Special Circumstances
provided and choose the test location, date and time of their In the following situations and with appropriate documentation,
choice. candidates may reschedule their examination session date
with fewer than four (4) days’ notice. Candidates must contact
Scheduling Prometric directly with documentation in order to reschedule.
In order to help assure the greatest probability that A $50 nonrefundable fee, payable to Prometric, will apply.
candidates receive their preferred site and date, BPS
recommends registering as early as possible. (i) Serious illness (either the candidate or an
immediate family member)
* Domestic candidates must submit their scheduling request (ii) Death in the immediate family
at least four (4) days prior to their preferred testing date during
(iii) Disabling accident
the scheduled test administration window (no later than
(iv) Court appearance
October 2, 2018). Non-U.S. candidates must submit their
scheduling request at least ten (10) business days prior to their (v) Jury duty
preferred testing date (no later than September 27, 2018). (vi) Unexpected military call-up
Prometric will provide telephone and e-mail support to Withdrawals
candidates on matters related to scheduling an examination Candidates may withdraw from the application process prior
appointment. Voice-mail will accept candidate inquiries to the close of the application deadline of August 1, 2018.
outside of normal U.S. business hours [Eastern time]. Candidates must inform BPS of their intent to withdraw in
writing, at which point they will be sent a link to an online
Once an examination appointment is scheduled, the form to make an official request. Candidates who withdraw
candidate will receive a confirmation email outlining the from the application process will be refunded the fee paid,
appointment details. less an administrative charge of $200 U.S. dollars ($250 U.S.
dollars if the exam has been scheduled). Refunds will be pro-
The candidate must bring a current, government-issued
cessed within 14 days of the close of the application window.
photo identification with signature to the test site. Acceptable
forms of identification include driver’s licenses, passports, After August 1, 2018, BPS will review requests for
and government-issued identification cards. withdrawals with decisions made on a case-by-case
The candidate’s name as it appears on the confirmation basis. Acceptable withdrawal requests, with appropriate
e-mail must match that which appears on the government- documentation (e.g., physician’s letter, police report, etc.)
issued photo identification. Candidates are responsible will be considered under the following situations:
for contacting BPS with any name changes that occur (i) Serious illness (either the candidate or an
after the submission of their application. Candidates immediate family member)
have the ability to request a name change through their (ii) Death in the immediate family
MyBPS profile, and will be required to upload a PDF or (iii) Disabling accident
JPG copy of government-issued identification showing (iv) Court appearance
their new name as part of that request. All name change (v) Jury duty
requests must be received by September 15, 2018.
(vi) Unexpected military call-up
Rescheduling Supporting documentation must be submitted to BPS within
Candidates may reschedule an examination session at seven (7) days after the last date in the examination window.
no charge up to 29 days in advance of the scheduled Candidates who receive a denial of their withdrawal request
appointment through Prometric’s scheduling system. An will forfeit all fees. If the withdrawal request is approved, all
examination session may be rescheduled up to two (2) administrative fees will apply.
calendar days in advance of the scheduled appointment.
BPS staff will not process change requests. A $45 (U.S. Spring examination candidates also have the option of having
dollars) nonrefundable fee, payable to Prometric, will their application deferred to the Fall examination cycle of the
apply if the appointment is rescheduled within 29 same year. Candidates who defer to the Fall exam cycle and do
calendar days prior to the original appointment date. not test will forfeit all fees; no additional deferrals will be allowed.
NOTE: BPS does not defer applications in the Fall application
window.
FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 7No Shows To apply for reasonable accommodations, the candidate
Failure to appear, schedule, or reschedule an examination must request accommodations as part of the application
session less than four (4) business days before a testing process. To ensure appropriate accommodations can be
appointment (outside of the special circumstances listed above) provided, candidates must submit their completed ADA
will count as the candidate’s examination appointment. The Request Form and all additional documentation as part of
candidate will be marked as a no-show candidate and all the application process.
testing fees will be forfeited. No-show candidates will have the The information and any documentation regarding the
option to apply for a future examination at full price. candidate’s disability and need for accommodation in
testing will be considered strictly confidential and will
Americans with Disabilities Act be used solely to determine the candidate’s eligibility for
BPS complies with the relevant provisions of the Americans accommodations. Supporting documentation must be
with Disabilities Act (ADA). If a candidate has a disability supplied as part of the application process. Professionals
and requires accommodations under this Act during the submitting documentation in support of a candidate’s
certification examination, he / she should select “Special request for accommodation may be contacted by BPS or
Accommodations” as part of their application form and then Prometric for clarification of any information provided
submit the “ADA Accommodations Request Form” as part concerning the requested accommodations. Failure to notify
of their application. All application forms with requests for BPS of needed accommodations by August 1, 2018, may
accommodations must be submitted no later than August 1, result in the accommodations not being available at the
2018. time of the testing appointment.
Qualified Individual with a Disability
A disabled candidate is one who has a physical or mental
Fee Payments
Payments are made in U.S. dollars by credit card (VISA,
impairment that substantially limits that person in one or
MasterCard, American Express, Discover). Purchase orders
more major life activities (e.g., walking, talking, hearing,
will NOT be accepted.
performing manual tasks), has a record of such physical or
mental impairment, or is regarded as having such a physical Application Fee
or mental impairment. The application fee payment must accompany each
A “qualified individual with a disability” is one who has completed application. The fee for first-time applicants
a disability and satisfies the requisite skill, experience, for specialty certification is $600 U.S. dollars. Candidates
education, and other requirements of the service, program, who have failed an examination within the past year have
or activity of which he or she is being measured; and, with the option to take the examination during this period for a
or without accommodations, can perform the essential reduced fee of $300 U.S. dollars.
functions of the service, program, or activity. An essential
function is one that individuals are required to perform,
Declined Credit Cards
When a credit card transaction is declined, for any reason,
and removing that function would fundamentally change
an alternate valid credit card number must be provided.
the service, program, or activity. A person must be a
“qualified individual with a disability” to be protected Forfeiture of Fees
under the ADA. Candidates who fail to schedule an examination appointment
Reasonable accommodations provide candidates with or who fail to arrive at the site on the date and time they are
disabilities a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate scheduled for examination and who have failed to get an
their knowledge and skill in the essential functions being approved withdrawal will forfeit their examination fees and
measured by the examination. Reasonable accommodations must re-submit an application for the full price if they wish
are decided based on the individual’s specific request, to re-register for a future examination.
disability, documentation submitted, and appropriateness
of the request. Reasonable accommodations do not include
Late Arrivals
Candidates who arrive at the examination site 30 minutes
steps that fundamentally alter the purpose or nature of the
after his or her scheduled examination appointment
examination.
and are denied admission, forfeit all examination fees.
Reasonable accommodations generally are provided for Refunds will not be issued for forfeited appointments. If
candidates who have a physical or mental impairment that an appointment is forfeited, there is no refund of the
substantially limits that person in one or more major life examination fee.
activities (e.g., walking, talking, hearing, and performing
All fees are subject to change at the sole discretion of the
manual tasks), have a record of such physical or mental
Board.
impairment, or are regarded as having a physical or mental
impairment.
8 BPS FALL 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. Pharmacists 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. Pharmacists
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 examination questions printed in this
the individual has completed an educational program guide or 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
• Electronic documentation of current active legal below, which offer review / preparatory courses and materials
authorization to practice pharmacy in their country of for the specialty or specialties listed. BPS and its Specialty
origin or residence. Councils neither sponsor nor endorse training or
educational opportunities in specialized practice areas or
AND
preparatory courses for any of the BPS examinations. BPS
• Sealed hard copy of transcripts or certificate of
does not have any official agents outside of the U.S.
graduation with seal sent directly from the college or
university where they received their pharmacy degree. The list below is for informational purposes only. This is
It is preferred that the school send English translations not intended to be a comprehensive list of sources. Please
of documentation. Please submit a Graduation note: candidate’s using any preparatory resources agree to
Documentation Request Form to request education abide by all U.S. copyright laws in the use of examination
documentation from your University (Candidates must preparation materials.
submit an application online prior to having this
documentation sent to BPS). Please instruct your For Ambulatory Care Pharmacy
university to send sealed copies of your transcripts or American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
certificate directly to: (913) 429-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088
Board of Pharmacy Specialties 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 http://www.pharmacist.com/ambulatory-care-specialty-
has received this documentation directly from your school. pharmacy-recertification-program
Throughout all BPS specialty certification examinations, all American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
measurements from laboratory test results are expressed in (866) 279-0681
traditional U.S. units. A conversion chart will not be offered https://www.ashp.org/professional-development/board-
as part of the examination. A reference table of normal lab certification-resources/ambulatory-care/ambulatory-care-
values is not provided. Candidates should take this into recertification
consideration when preparing for the examination.
FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G U I D E BPS 9For Critical Care Pharmacy Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group
American College of Clinical Pharmacy/ (901) 820-4434 • FAX (901) 767-0701
Society of Critical Care Medicine https://www.ppag.org/index.cfm?pg=BCPPSRecertification
(913) 429-3311 • FAX (913) 429-0088
http://www.accp.com/education/criticalcare.aspx
For Pharmacotherapy
American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088
(866) 279-0681 http://www.accp.com/education/
http://www.ashp.org/professional-development/board- pharmacotherapyPrepCourse.aspx
certification-resources/critical-care-pharmacy American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
(866) 279-0681
For Geriatric Pharmacy http://www.ashpcertifications.org/certifications/
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) pharmacotherapy/certification-preparation/
(703) 739-1300 • FAX (703) 739-1321
(ASCP) - BPS Approved Geriatric Recertification Program For Psychiatric Pharmacy
http://www.ascp.com/page/BCGP
College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP)
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) (402) 476-1677 • FAX (888) 557-7617
https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Board- https://cpnp.org/bcpp/certification/prep/products
Certification-Resources/Geriatric-Pharmacy
ON THE DAY OF THE
For Nuclear Pharmacy EXAMINATION
Purdue University
(765) 496-1815 Checking-In on Examination Day
https://nuclear.pharmacy.purdue.edu/ All candidates should arrive at the examination site 15
minutes prior to the scheduled examination appointment.
For Nutrition Support Pharmacy Candidates who arrive 30 minutes after their scheduled
Purdue University appointment may be refused admission. Refunds will not
(765) 496-1815 be issued in the event of a forfeited appointment.
https://nutrition.pharmacy.purdue.edu/certificate-program
The candidate must present a valid government-issued
For Oncology Pharmacy photo identification with signature. Candidates will be
American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) required to sign-in and will be instructed on where to
(913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088 store personal items and where to keep identification. The
http://www.accp.com/education/oncologyCourses.aspx candidate’s identity will be verified every time he / she
enters or leaves the examination room.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
(866) 279-0681 Once the candidate has been checked-in, he / she will
https://www.ashp.org/professional-development/board- be escorted by examination staff to a workstation. The
certification-resources/oncology/oncology-certification- candidate must remain at the workstation unless authorized
preparation to leave by examination site staff. Candidates may not leave
the room without site staff permission. If the candidate
Hematology / Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) leaves the room without permission prior to completing
(877) 467-2791 his / her examination, he / she will forfeit the examination
http://www.hoparx.org/education/default/bcop-recert.html appointment and there will be no refund of applicable fees.
For Pediatric Pharmacy Onsite staff will provide the candidate with an erasable note
American College of Clinical Pharmacy board or scratch paper, and pen, which may be replaced
(913) 492-3311 • FAX (913) 492-0088 as needed during the examination. The candidate may not
http://www.accp.com/education/pediatrics.aspx remove the note boards, paper or pens, and candidates
are not allowed to use their own scratch paper, or writing
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
tools. Additionally, candidates taking the computer-based
(866) 279-0681
examination will be provided with a scientific calculator
https://www.ashp.org/professional-development/board-
available on their computer screen for use during the
certification-resources/pediatric-pharmacy/pediatric-
examination.
pharmacy-certification-preparation
The examination room temperature can be unpredictable;
therefore, we suggest that you bring appropriate clothing
with you (e.g., sweater, sweatshirt without hood) to help
you adapt to a cooler or warmer climate in the examination
room. Bring earplugs if you are sensitive to noise. If you
choose to bring earplugs, they will be subject to inspection
by the onsite staff.
10 BPS FALL 2018 C A N D I D ATE’ S G U I D EExamination Rules information regarding if a center is open or to reschedule the
BPS and Prometric follow industry standard examination examination appointment. If an examination site is officially
rules as outlined below. closed, candidates will not be charged a rescheduling fee.
If a site is open and the candidate does not keep his or her
Prohibited Items appointment, the candidate forfeits all fees.
Candidates are expressly prohibited from bringing the
following items to the examination site: EXAMINATION FORMAT AND
• Cameras, cell phones or other mobile devices, optical ADMINISTRATION:
readers, or other electronic devices that include the Four-option multiple choice questions constitute the
ability to photograph, photocopy, or otherwise copy majority of examination items; however, alternate item
examination materials types, such as 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 await further instruction. Most
• Computers, PDAs, i-Pads, or other electronic devices technical issues are resolved quickly with a simple refresh
• Personal writing utensils (i.e., pencils, pens, and of the screen or by the proctor logging you back into the
highlighters) examination.
• Watches BPS specialty certification examinations are delivered via
• Food and beverage (i.e., in the examination room) computer. While it is not the norm, technology issues can,
• Hats, hoods, or other headwear, unless required for on occasion, occur, requiring the proctor to log you back
religious purposes into your examination. If this occurs, inform the proctor
that you have a computer issue.
• Candidates taking the examination will not be allowed to
bring calculators to the examination site. If a technical issue lasts longer than 30 minutes and
prevents you from continuing with the examination, you
All items are subject to inspection by the proctor. If onsite
may choose to stop and reschedule to another day, or
staff determine that a candidate has brought any of the items
you may continue to wait for the resolution. Again, most
listed above to the examination site, they may request that
technical issues are resolved quickly.
candidates surrender them for safekeeping for an indefinite
period of time. BPS and Prometric reserve the right to review Candidates will be provided with a scientific calculator
the memory of any electronic device that may be in the app available on their computer screen for use during
candidate’s possession at the examination site to determine the examination. A sample calculator is available on the
whether any examination materials have been photographed Prometric website.
or otherwise reproduced.
Candidates will have the option to add comments to
If the review determines that any examination materials each examination item (question). The comments will be
are in the memory of any such device, BPS and Prometric collected and shared in aggregate to inform BPS staff and
reserve the right to delete materials and / or retain them council review.
for subsequent disciplinary action. Upon completion of the
Instructions will be provided to candidates on their computer
review and any applicable deletions, BPS and Prometric
screen. Only answers submitted via computer will be scored.
will return the device to the candidate, but will not be
Answers written on whiteboards will not be scored
responsible for the deletion of any materials that may
result from the review, whether or not such materials are Examination Schedule
examination materials. The examination day schedule is provided below.
By bringing any such device into the examination site in Initial certification candidates will be provided timed
contravention of BPS and Prometric policies, the candidate examination periods, outlined below:
expressly waives any confidentiality or other similar rights
with respect to the device, BPS and Prometric review of Examination Part 1 (100 items): 2.5 hour examination
the memory of the device and / or the deletion of any period
materials. BPS, Prometric, the examination site, and the Break (optional): Up to 30 minutes
examination site staff are not liable for lost or damaged
Examination Part 2 (75 items): 1 hour, 53 minute
items brought to the examination site.
examination period
Inclement Weather and Cancellations Recertification candidates will be allowed a 2.5 hour
Prometric will attempt to contact candidates in the event examination period to complete the 100-item recerti-
of an examination site closure due to inclement weather fication examination. Recertification candidates will have
to reschedule their appointment. As sites close, e-mails are the option of a morning or afternoon administration.
issued to the candidates impacted notifying them of the
closures, and Prometric’s website is also updated with this Candidates are reminded that they should arrive at the
information. However, because closures can occur at any examination site 15 minutes in advance of their scheduled
time during inclement weather, it is the responsibility of the appointment time.
candidate to contact Prometric to receive the most up-to-date
FA L L 2 018 CA N D I DAT E ’ S G UI D E BPS 11If a candidate takes an unscheduled break outside of the Security
optional break time between Part 1 and Part 2 or during a BPS examinations are the confidential property of BPS
recertification examination, that time is deducted from their and are protected by trade secret law, copyright law, and
examination period. other applicable state and federal laws and regulations. BPS
On the day of the examination, all candidates MUST pres- and its examination administrator maintain examination
ent a print out of their scheduling confirmation e-mail administration and security standards that are designed
AND valid government-issued photo identification with to assure that all candidates are provided the same
signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport) in order to be opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.
admitted to the examination room. Candidates who arrive Before beginning the examination, candidates will be
30 minutes after their scheduled examination time and asked to read and sign a Statement of Confidentiality.
candidates without valid photo identification will not be This statement restricts candidates from sharing
admitted to the examination. If that occurs, their fees will any information about the examination with other
be forfeited. individuals, including discussions with any colleagues
Candidates will not be permitted to enter the examination who might be planning to take the examination in the
room unless proper identification as described above is near future.
presented. Proctors are authorized by BPS and its examination
administrator to maintain a secure and proper examination
Examination Content administration environment. Candidates will be allowed
A BPS specialty certification examination samples the
to leave the room during examination administration to
knowledge required to perform the tasks in each of the
use the restroom facilities as long as they follow the test
major areas of responsibility of the specialty as defined
site procedures. If a candidate takes an unscheduled break
through a role delineation study. The examination does not
outside of the optional break time, either between Part 1
attempt to assess knowledge at all levels or settings in the
and Part 2, or during a recertification examination, that
specialized practice area. Mastery of the knowledge and
time is deducted from their examination period. Candidates
skills involved in the defined scope of specialized practice is
will be inspected for devices such as hand-held scanners,
necessary for board certification, regardless of the particular
cameras, tape recorders, or other electronic equipment.
practice in which a candidate is currently practicing.
Areas around the testing room (e.g., hallways, restrooms,
BPS specialty certification examinations are constructed telephone stalls) are monitored throughout the examination
according to examination specifications derived from role for security purposes. Be aware that you will be observed
delineation studies. The BPS Psychometrics and Examination at all times while taking the examination. Observation may
Development department provides the expertise in include direction observation by center staff, as well as
conducting job analyses, establishing exam specifications, video and audio recording of your examination session.
and constructing examinations.
Candidates may not communicate with other candidates
A content outline, listing the domains, tasks, and knowledge during the examination. Anyone who provides or receives
statements specific to each specialty practice and validated assistance during the examination will be dismissed from
through a subject matter expert panel and study of the work, the examination room. Candidates may not photograph, re-
is provided for the information of prospective candidates cord, or memorize any examination material. Other causes
on the BPS website. The content outline also notes the for dismissal include, but are not limited to using notes,
percentage of items per domain. Examination content outlines references, or any examination aids; using unauthorized
are developed through a nationwide study of the work calculators; causing a disruption to the environment; and
pharmacist specialists perform in a variety of practice settings. removing any examination material from the examination
site. Candidates who are dismissed from the examination
Examinations are not structured domain by domain. room forfeit all fees.
Instead, examination questions for each domain are
distributed randomly throughout the examination. While Personnel authorized by the BPS examination administrator
BPS examinations examination the stated domains of each will proctor the examination. No one is permitted in the
specialty, candidates are advised that the examinations will room during the examination except for the candidates
probably NOT address all of the knowledge statements listed and persons authorized by BPS and / or the examination
under the domains in the content outline of the examination. administrator.
New regulations, drugs, and therapies are incorporated Statement of Confidentiality for BPS
into the examinations. All BPS specialty certification Examinations:
examinations reflect current, best practices, at the time
they are constructed – practice guidelines used for the 1. This examination and the questions contained herein are
Spring examination are those that are current as of January the exclusive property of BPS.
1 of the examination year. Practice guidelines for the Fall 2. This examination and the questions contained herein are
examination are those that are current as of July 1 of the protected by copyright law. No part of this examination
examination year. Official United States Adopted Name may be copied or reproduced in part or whole by any
(USAN) generic names are used on all BPS examinations for means whatsoever, including memorization.
all drug products, when possible.
12 BPS FALL 2018 CA N D I DATE’ S G U I D EYou can also read
