Instructions for Petitioners

1. Who May Petition
   
   Any individual or group of individuals may petition BPS to recognize a specific area of pharmacy practice as a specialty. Any individual or group interested in filing a petition with BPS is encouraged to communicate with all individuals in the proposed specialty area who may have an interest in filing a similar petition, to consolidate resources and coordinate information so that one complete and comprehensive petition is submitted for a proposed specialty.
   
   In the event that more than one petition is submitted to BPS regarding the same area of pharmacy practice, BPS will accept the first complete petition received as the "petition of record" and refer all subsequent petitioners to the originator of the "petition of record" for support, coordination, and any necessary modifications.
   
   
2. Structure of Petition
   
   The petition should address each of the Criteria and their associated guidelines, in the order outlined in Section II of this Guide. The petition should clearly demonstrate to BPS that the proposed specialty meets all the Criteria by providing all of the documentation as stipulated in the guidelines. Petitioners are encouraged to submit all documentation thought to be pertinent to the petition, whether indicated in the guidelines or not.
   
   The Procedures and Instructions listed in Sections III and IV of this Guide should also be followed.
   
   
3. Signatures
   
   The petition shall be accompanied by no less than twenty-five (25) signatures or letters of support from individuals practicing in the proposed specialty area. Signatures must be identified by address, title, and place of practice. Each signer's name should also appear in printed format.
   
   
4. Definitions for the Proposed Specialty
   
   
   1. The petitioner shall include the following as part of the petition:
      
      
      1. Name for the proposed specialty
      2. Definition of the proposed specialty
      3. Title for the specialist
      
      
   2. The petitioner shall indicate a preferred group for designation by BPS as the "Representative Body" for the practitioners in the proposed specialty. This Representative Body may be the sponsor of the petition or any other practitioner-based group, whose membership includes a significant number of pharmacists practicing in the proposed specialty. The responsibilities of this Representative Body include:
      
      
      1. Appointing two-thirds of the members of the Specialty Council,
      2. Acting as the lead agency in promoting and publicizing the value and availability of the certification and recertification processes for the specialty,
      3. Acting as the lead agency in developing educational programs that assist pharmacists in attaining and maintaining competency in the specialty,
      4. Directly providing or helping to secure funding for the development and implementation of the certification and recertification processes.
   
   
5. Copies of the Petition
   
   
   1. The petitioner shall submit twenty-five (25) copies of the petition and the Executive Summary to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (see address below).
   2. The petitioner also shall be responsible for providing copies of the petition and/or the Executive Summary to all interested parties upon their request.
6. Costs
   
   
   1. A filing fee of $7,500 must accompany the submission of a petition.
      
      
   2. All costs associated with the development of the petition will be borne by the petitioner (unless other approved arrangements have been made by BPS) including:
      1. the role delineation study;
      2. producing and providing copies of the petition and Executive Summary to BPS and interested individuals;
      3. all expenses associated with appearing at interviews and/or open hearings.
      
      
   3. Should the petition be approved, the petitioner will be responsible for directly providing or helping to secure funding for the development and implementation of the certification and recertification processes.
   
   
7. Questions, Clarifications
   
   Potential petitioners are invited to contact the Board with any questions or requests for clarifications concerning petition information. Questions concerning policy or complex procedural issues should be submitted in writing.
   
   The Board's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (EST).
   
   BPS Executive Director
   2215 Constitution Avenue
   NW Washington, DC 20037-2985
   Phone: 202-429-7591
   Fax: 202-429-6304
   bps@aphanet.org
   http://www.bpsweb.org