Washington, DC – The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) recently voted to accept Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB) Accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency programs as an approved standard for meeting BPS requirements for the eligibility pathways that recognize PGY-1 residency programs. Additionally, the Board will re-evaluate this decision in ten (10) years to allow for additional data collection and analysis.
BPS Board Chair, Hal E. Richards, PharmD, BCNSP who serves as the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Critical Care Medicine at St. Joseph’s Candler Health System in Savannah, Georgia commented, “It is exciting to see the quality of pharmacy residency training outside of the United States, as this structured experiential training can be very valuable in preparing pharmacists to meet various patient care needs.
This decision comes as a result of a BPS Board and Specialty Council Taskforce who evaluated the overall residency structure. BPS Board member and Taskforce Chair, Stefan R. Kowalski, B Pharm, M App Sci, BCGP, a senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia and who also directs the University of South Australia’s post-graduate clinical pharmacy program noted, “The CPRB Standards have been established since 1976. Additionally, there is a regular process to review and update the standards and the accreditation process allows for an evaluation of a residency program’s ability to meet the standards. These attributes help assure adequate training and preparation for pharmacy residents.”
Taskforce member, Elizabeth Leung, PharmD, MSCI, BCPS-AQ ID, a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Infectious Diseases/Antimicrobial Stewardship, and the co-lead of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at St. Michael’s Hospital, a teaching hospital of the University of Toronto stated, “I am pleased to see that this decision expands the BPS eligibility pathways to include CPRB Accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency programs. This decision adds additional flexibility to meet eligibility but also maintains the overall rigor of BPS certification process.”
Founded in 1962, the CPRB accredits roughly 30 programs across the country with an average of 100 graduates each year. The CPRB is an autonomous Board under the auspices of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP). CSHP President, Zack Dumont commented, “BPS recognition of Canadian Year 1 pharmacy residency programs as a pathway into specialties is important news for pharmacists in this country. Almost 1,000 currently hold a BPS certification, many of whom work in Canada’s hospitals. More specialized knowledge means better outcomes for patients.”
“We are delighted with this outcome,” says Melanie Danilak, Chair of the CPRB. “BPS’s decision speaks to the high quality and standards of our system. It’s gratifying to see this external validation from such a respected organization.”
While this decision would not become effective until January 2022 individuals completing residencies that are not ASHP accredited, under the current BPS policy, are still eligible to apply under the practice experience pathway. Further, BPS stated that residences accredited under the ASHP International Standard meet the eligibility pathways that recognize PGY-1 residency programs.
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 BPS is to improve patient care by positioning BPS Board-Certified Pharmacist Specialists as integral members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams, through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge, and skills for pharmacists in the United States and internationally. Board certification is a recognized credential for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels given the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification. BPS currently recognizes more than 50,000 active pharmacist certifications in 14 specialties.
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