Criteria/Guidelines

Petitioners must address each of four major criteria in petitioning for a new Added Qualification. Following each topic are guidelines that identify specific information, assessments, and documentation which PBS considers necessary in addressing that criterion.

Criterion 1

Describe the benefits society and the profession will receive if this area of Added Qualifications within the specialty is recognized.

Guidelines for Petitioners:

1. Identify specific public health and/or patient care needs which are being met currently by pharmacists in the proposed area.
2. Describe, and document with references, how the public's health and welfare may be at risk if the services of practitioners in the proposed area are not provided.

Criterion 2

Document how the area of Added Qualifications is sufficiently distinct within the specialty practice area.

Guidelines for Petitioners:

1. List the residencies and fellowships currently available in the proposed area.
2. List other types of currently available training programs or seminars in the proposed area.
3. List research grants that have been available in the proposed area for the past five years.
4. Identify specific professional associations (e.g., Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists) or groups within an association (e.g., PRNs within ACCP) which directly serve the needs of practitioners in the proposed area.
5. Identify journals and other periodicals dealing specifically with the proposed area

Criterion 3

Provide documented estimates for the current and future numbers of practitioners within the proposed area of Added Qualifications, and of the number of these pharmacists who are likely to apply for the Added Qualifications designation.

Guidelines for Petitioners:

1. Provide a documented estimate of the number of pharmacists currently practicing in the proposed area of Added Qualifications. Identify the types of practice settings for these pharmacists (e.g. academic, hospital, managed health care, etc.).
2. Estimate the number of BPS-certified pharmacist specialists who would likely seek Added Qualifications in the area during the first five years in which this designation would be available. Provide supporting documentation.

Criterion 4

Propose the specific elements of a portfolio review by which an applicant would be screened for conferral of Added Qualifications (e.g., pertinent training and education; practice experience and activities; scholarship/education; professional achievement and recognition).

Guidelines for Petitioners:

1. Explain how each element of the proposed portfolio review will discriminate between applicants who have Added Qualifications and other pharmacist specialists.
2. Propose a rating scale for each element.