Number of BPS board certified pharmacists up 21%

WASHINGTON — The results of the 2013 BPS specialty certification and recertification exams were announced Tuesday by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, the post-licensure certification organization serving the pharmacy profession.   

A total of 3,247 pharmacists passed the exams in the six specialties currently offered by BPS: ambulatory care pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, psychiatric pharmacy and pharmacotherapy. There are now 19,109 BPS board certified pharmacists, which represents an increase of almost 21% from 2012. 

"BPS is very pleased with the number of pharmacists who pursued BPS board certification or recertification in 2013,” stated BPS executive director William Ellis. “With intensifying challenges in the delivery of healthcare, coupled with the complexity of medication regimens, the demand for pharmacists who are BPS board certified continues to grow exponentially.”  

To meet that demand, starting in 2014 pharmacists will have the opportunity to take the BPS certification and recertification exams in the spring and fall, rather than only once a year. Ellis said that BPS also plans to double the number of specialties over the next four years, including critical care pharmacy and pediatric pharmacy which were recently approved; pharmacists will be able to sit for the certification exams for these two new specialties in the fall of 2015.

“Depending on their specialty, BPS board certified pharmacists assist in designing or modifying existing medication regimens; monitor for and prevent adverse medication reactions; customize medication regimens for patients taking multiple medications; and recommend the most effective treatments,” Ellis said.