The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), the premier post-licensure certification organization serving the pharmacy profession, today announced the results of the 2012 specialty certification and recertification examinations. More than 4,700 pharmacists took the exams at 75 sites worldwide.
“BPS is very pleased with the number of pharmacists who sought BPS board certification or recertification in 2012,” said BPS Executive Director William M. Ellis. “The exploration of new specialties and growth of current specialties is consistent with the increased interest and recognition of BPS specialty certification, which has seen the number of BPS Board Certified Pharmacists double over the past six years,” he added.
A total of 3,213 pharmacists were either certified or recertified in six specialties including the newest BPS specialty, ambulatory care pharmacy, which pharmacists could become certified in for the first time in 2011. There are now 15,862 BPS Board Certified Pharmacists, which represents an increase of 22% from 2011.
Watch the BPS Overview Video Online Here: http://youtu.be/9_ggNdAcqMg
“BPS congratulates all those who achieved a passing score on the 2012 specialty certification and recertification exams,” said BPS 2012 Chair, Susan Goodin, PharmD, BCOP. “BPS board certified pharmacists demonstrate their advanced level of knowledge, skills and achievements by meeting the eligibility requirements and achieving a passing score on the specialty certification examination. The recertification process provides practitioners with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and remain current in their field.”
The results of the 2012 exams by specialty are as follows:
Ambulatory Care Pharmacy — 482 of the 652 candidates were certified for the first time. There are now 1000 BPS Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacists (BCACP).
Nuclear Pharmacy — 33 of 44 candidates were certified for the first time and 5 of 7 were recertified, bringing the total number of BPS Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacists (BCNP) to 552.
Nutrition Support Pharmacy — 46 of 68 candidates were certified for the first time and 35 of 38 were recertified. There are now 523 BPS Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacists (BCNSP).
Oncology Pharmacy — 176 of 392 candidates were certified for the first time and 16 of 21 were recertified, bringing the total number of BPS Board Certified Oncology Pharmacists (BCOP) to 1,421.
Pharmacotherapy — 2,203 of 3,229 candidates were certified for the first time and 121 of 142 were recertified. There are now 11,608 BPS Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialists (BCPS).
Psychiatric Pharmacy — 80 of 98 candidates were certified and 16 of 18 were recertified, bringing the total number of BPS Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists to 758.
Pharmacists certified and recertified by examination by BPS can be found by clicking here.
About the Board of Pharmacy Specialties: The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) was established in 1976 as an autonomous division of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The mission of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties is to improve patient care and increase awareness of the need for BPS Board Certified Pharmacists as integral members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge, and skills in pharmacy and specialty board certification and recertification of pharmacists throughout the world.
Board Certification through BPS has become recognized as the gold standard for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels. Through the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification, the BPS board certified pharmacist stands out as the most qualified to take on today’s expanding professional expectations.
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MEDIA CONTACT
For information about BPS:
Steve Scarlatta
Email:
Phone: (202) 448-8721
For interviews with national or local spokespeople:
Caren Kagan Evans
ECI Communications
Email:
Phone: (301) 998-6114
SOURCE: The Board of of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS)
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