Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacists provide evidence-based, patient-centered medication therapy management and care for patients throughout all phases of solid organ transplantation at all ages and in various healthcare settings. Currently there are more than 250 BPS Board Certified Transplant Pharmacists.
Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy
The BPS Board Certified Transplant Pharmacist® (BCTXP) program is a credential for pharmacists who have met the eligibility criteria below and specialize in the delivery of direct patient care, as members of interprofessional health care teams, working to ensure safe and effective use of medications for patients throughout all phases of solid organ transplantation.
The purpose of the BPS Board Certified Transplant Pharmacist® (BCTXP) program is to validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge and experience to optimize patient outcomes by:
- Managing complex medication regimens unique to the solid organ transplant population
- Providing evidence-based, patient-centered medication management
- Designing, implementing, monitoring, and modifying pharmacotherapeutic plans to improve safety and efficacy
- Analyzing and reevaluating multifaceted clinical and outcomes data to improve patient care
- Demonstrating ongoing quality assessment and process improvement as required by regulatory agencies
- Facilitating medication adherence and pharmacotherapy education
Pharmacists who meet all of the eligibility criteria including passing the examination will be awarded the credential titled: Board Certified Transplant Pharmacist® (BCTXP).
An applicant for board certification in Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy must demonstrate all of the requirements listed below prior to sitting for the initial certification examination. Once all of the requirements below are met, an applicant will be deemed eligible to sit for the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy specialty certification examination. If an applicant achieves a passing score on the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy specialty certification examination, they may use the designation Board-Certified Transplant Pharmacist, or BCTXP.
- Graduation from a pharmacy program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or a program outside the U.S. that qualifies the individual to practice in the jurisdiction.
- A current, active license/registration to practice pharmacy in the U.S. or another jurisdiction.
- Demonstration of practice experience1 in one of three ways:
- At least four years of Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy practice experience1 within the past seven years, with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY1 pharmacy residency2 within the past seven years, plus at least two years of Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy practice experience1 with at least 50% of time spent in the scope defined by the exam content outline; or
- Successful completion of PGY2 pharmacy residency in Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy within the past seven years.
1All applicants intending to demonstrate eligibility for any BPS certification examination utilizing the practice experience pathway must provide an attestation from their employer, on company letterhead, that verifies this experience accurately represents at least 50% of time spent in some or all of the activities defined by the applicable certification content outline. In addition, this practice experience must have occurred within the seven years immediately preceding the application. For more information, click here. A sample employer verification letter is available here: Sample.
2American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)-accredited/candidate status PGY1 pharmacy residency, residencies accredited under the ASHP Accreditation Standard for International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programs, or Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB)-accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency.
The rationale for the appropriateness of the requirements for BPS certification programs are based upon the following:
- BPS recognizes individuals who graduate from a recognized school or college of pharmacy within the candidate’s jurisdiction. Those jurisdictions recognize and evaluate programs on the extent to which it accomplishes its stated goals and is consistent with the concept that pharmacy is a unique, personal service profession in the health science field. In the United States, the responsibility for recognizing schools and colleges of pharmacy falls to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).
- The rationale for requiring licensure or registration of pharmacists within their jurisdiction is based upon the fact that for public protection, all pharmacists must be licensed or registered. This is considered a baseline requirement to be a pharmacist specialist. In the United States, BPS recognizes the licensure process administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) aims to ensure the public’s health and safety through its pharmacist license transfer and pharmacist competence assessment programs. NABP’s member boards of pharmacy are grouped into eight districts that include all 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and all 10 Canadian provinces.
- The experiential component is required to help assure practical application of components of the specialty knowledge being certified. There are multiple pathways to meet the practice experience requirement. The faster eligibility pathways recognize accredited residencies through the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP). The ASHP residency accreditation program identifies and grants public recognition to practice sites having pharmacy residency training programs that have been evaluated and found to meet the qualifications of one of the ASHP’s residency accreditations standards. Thus, accreditation of a pharmacy residency program provides a means of assurance to residency applicants that a program meets certain basic requirements and is, therefore, an acceptable site for postgraduate training in pharmacy practice in organized health care.
- Passing the BPS pharmacy specialty examination helps assure knowledge consistent with the validated content outline for the BPS specialty.
The appropriateness of the BPS program requirements are consistent with the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy’s Resource Paper titled: Scope of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice: Roles, Responsibilities, and Functions of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians.
For the Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 BCTXP certification examinations, refer to the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Content Outline found in the BCTXP Examination Specification document for details.
- Domain 1: Clinical Skills and Therapeutic Management (65% of the examination)
- Domain 2: Administration and Practice Development (15% of the examination)
- Domain 3: Information Management and Education (15% of the examination)
- Domain 4: Public Health (5% of the examination)
For the Spring 2024 BCTXP certification examination and forward, please refer to the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Content Outline found here for details.
Pharmacists who earn the designation Board Certified Transplant Pharmacist® (BCTXP) will be required to maintain their certification over a seven year period by completing one of the following professional development activities:
- Option One: Examination
Achieving a passing score on the 100-item recertification examination (administered by BPS), based on the content outline for the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Specialty in their seventh year following initial certification;
OR
- Option Two: Continuing Education
Earning continuing education credit approved by BPS*.
*The Board approved a two-year self-reported CPE recertification model for Board Certified Transplant Pharmacists (BCTXP) to bridge the time between the first specialists being recognized and the upcoming BPS Recertification RFP, with potentially new recertification options becoming available in 2024.
As part of this transition plan, successful completion of any ACPE-accredited continuing pharmacy education (CPE) activities that align with the Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy Specialty content outline can be used towards recertification hours. Certificants must self-report at least five hours, but no more than 15 hours annually during the transition window (1/1/2022 to 12/31/2023).
Self-reported CPE activities must align with the BCTXP Content Outline in order to be accepted. Following the two-year transition window, those holding the BCTXP credential must use the recertification pathway approved as part of the RFP process to complete the recertification requirements during the remainder of their recertification cycle, beginning January 1, 2024 through the recertification year. Please note that in 2024, BPS will name approved recertification providers who will offer assessed continuing education options.
To self-report your CPE, you will need to click the “Report CE” link available on your MyBPS profile dashboard. Please note that by submitting self-selected solid organ transplantation CPE credits, certificants are attesting that all information submitted is accurate, true, and in compliance with BPS requirements, as described on the BPS website and within the BPS Recertification Guide. Self-selected solid organ transplantation CE records are subject to random audit and certificants with deficiencies noted in their record are subject to penalty, which may include the disqualification of some or all self-reported CPE activities and/or suspension or revocation of certification.
For full details regarding recertification, please refer to the BPS Recertification Guide.
Board Certified Transplant Pharmacists® are also required to pay the BPS Annual Certification Maintenance Fee of $125 each year for years one through six and a $400 recertification fee in year seven. Individuals with more than one BPS certification will only be assessed one BPS Annual Certification Maintenance Fee each year.
