BCPPS (BPS) - Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist

The Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialists (BCPPS) is offered by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). The Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist ensures safe drug administration and medication outcomes in children under 18.

Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialists are pharmacists who possess advanced knowledge and experience in dosages, alternative drug forms, and specialized drug therapy monitoring in pediatric patients. They also educate children, their families, and other healthcare providers. 

Eligibility for the Pediatric Pharmacy Specialty Certification

In order to be eligible for the exam, candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited pharmacy program

• Hold a current, active license or registration to practice pharmacy

And demonstrate experience in one of the following ways:

• 4 years of practice with at least 50% of that time spent in a domain as described in the content outline

• Completion of a PGY1 residency plus 2 years of additional experience with 50% of that time spent in a specific pharmacy domain (as outlined above)

• Completion of a PGY2 residency in pediatric pharmacy

*As of 2019, applicants who wish to demonstrate their eligibility through practice experience must provide a letter of attestation from their employer for verification. The experience must be within 7 years immediately preceding the application.

*Effective January 2022, Year 1 residency programs or new residency programs granted Candidate Status for accreditation by the Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board are acceptable for meeting eligibility criteria.

Applying for the Examination

Exams are offered twice a year, in the spring and fall. Applications must be submitted online through the BPS (Board of Pharmacy Specialties) website.

The application will be reviewed and a decision will be emailed within 20 business days. The email will also contain an Authorization to Test (ATT) with a BPS examination ID and a link to schedule the exam through Prometric.

Fees

The initial application fee is $600. Candidates who do not pass may retake the exam within one year at a reduced fee of $300.

Exam Format

Exams are administered through Prometric testing centers. Live Remote Proctoring is also available as a limited option for 2022.

Receiving Results

Scoring takes place after the examination administration window closes. The candidate will receive their score report 60 days following the close of the exam window and it will only be accessible by logging into their MyBPS account. Results will not be provided in any other form to maintain confidentiality.

Recertification is required every 7 years. There are two options to recertify:

• Completion of a 100-question exam 

• Completion of 100 hours of BPS-approved continuing education

The fee for either option is $400. Fee to retake the exam is $200.

Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialists are also required to pay an annual maintenance fee of $125. This fee is not required in the year of recertification.

The BPS offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Content Outline testing in Spring and Fall of 2023

• Content Outline if testing in Spring 2024

• Sample Questions

• Candidate Guide