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General Application Information All specialties require:
Applications for specialty certification must be submitted by the postmark deadline of August 1 and are processed within 20 working days of receipt. Incomplete applications will not be processed, and those submitted after August 1 may be returned unprocessed. If an application is rejected for any reason, the entire fee and all materials are returned with an explanatory letter. Several application options are available:
Name and/or Address Changes It is imperative that candidates promptly notify BPS, in writing, of any changes in name or address. Notification for admission to the examination, mailing of test results, maintenance of certified status, and renewal of certification depend on the Board’s having current information. Processed Applications For identification purposes, a unique Candidate Number is assigned to each eligible applicant once an application has been processed. Candidates should keep a record of this number and use it in all correspondence with BPS. An Admission Permit will be mailed to each candidate at lease two weeks prior to the examination date. This permit notes the candidate’s name and address as they appear in the official BPS files, Candidate Number, test site, room name, and start time for the examination. The Admission Permit, plus a valid picture identification card with signature, MUST be presented at the examination site for entrance to the testing room. If an applicant has not received this permit at least 5 days before the examination, BPS should be notified immediately by phone [(202) 429-7591] or email (bps@aphanet.org). Withdrawals Candidates may withdraw from the certification process with written notification (fax, mail, or e-mail) to the Board on or before September 1. Requests for medical or personal emergency withdrawals (after the September 1 deadline) are reviewed by the BPS Executive Director on a case-by-case basis. These requests, with supporting documentation, must be received by BPS no later than SEVEN days after the examination date. Candidates who withdraw from the certification process will be refunded the fee paid, less an administrative charge of $100. If a candidate fails to appear for an examination, and does not request either a medical or personal exception as described above, all fees will be forfeited and all records destroyed. Retaking the Examination If a candidate fails to achieve a passing score, the examination may be retaken. The fee is $300. BPS automatically mails a modified application form to all those who failed in the previous year. If the examination is not retaken within a two-year period, submission of the complete application will be required, along with payment of the full fee in effect at that time. An individual who fails one specialty examination may NOT apply for another specialty test as a retake candidate. Candidates who withdraw from the retake process (by September 1) will be refunded the fee paid, less an administrative charge of $100. Inclement Weather and Cancellations The safety of all candidates is of the utmost concern to BPS. If an exam must be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, the Board will place cancellation notices on the BPS web site. Applicants are urged to contact the Board [(202) 429-7591 or bps@aphanet.org] on the day prior to the exam if weather conditions or other situations suggest a possible cancellation. In the event an exam is cancelled, candidates will be offered a full refund of the fees paid. BPS, however, is not responsible for any personal costs or expenses incurred by candidates to that point. Arrangements for Persons with Disabilities Arrangements for persons with disabilities will be provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Candidates may request accommodations by submitting the “Disability Accommodation Request Form” along with the regular application. All forms and applications must be postmarked no later than August 1. Professionals who submit supporting documentation on behalf of the candidate may be contacted for clarification on the accommodation. Foreign Trained/Foreign Licensed Candidates Applicants with pharmacy education outside the USA but who are licensed to practice in the USA must provide (along with the application form):
Applicants with pharmacy education outside the USA but who are NOT licensed to practice in the USA must provide (along with the application form):
Throughout the BPS specialty exams, all measurements from laboratory test results are expressed in traditional units. For those candidates whose pharmacy practice is outside of the United States, a conversion chart from traditional units to standard international units will be provided. The Board is aware that examination questions dealing with regulatory issues in the USA are not necessarily pertinent to candidates who practice in foreign countries. However, all candidates are given the same examination and are held to the same standard of achievement, regardless of the country in which they practice and its regulations. NOTE: BPS certification does not confer the privilege to practice pharmacy in the USA or in any other country. Annual Registration All BPS-certified pharmacists are required to register annually with the Board and pay a yearly fee of $100. An invoice for the annual fee is mailed in the spring. Failure to pay the annual fee results in removal from BPS’ official list of certified pharmacists for that year. This list of certified specialists, “in good standing,” is published on the BPS web site and elsewhere. Upon applying for recertification, all outstanding annual fees and a 5% penalty must be paid. Appeals Process The Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties has a process in place through which all appeals of Board decisions are handled. Potential appellants should read and follow the policy carefully. |
| © 2006 Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, 1100 15th Street, NW, Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005-1707, 202-429-7591 · FAX 202-429-6304 · bps@aphanet.org |