Continuous testing is the opportunity for a candidate to register throughout the year and take a certification or recertification examination at any point in the year. This differs from BPS’s current certification and recertification examination structure, in which exams are offered in two windows per year.

Candidates can schedule a testing session in the following four specialties moving to the continuous testing model on or after:

• BCCP – Monday, April 3, 2023
• BCNP – Monday, April 3, 2023
• BCPP- Monday, April 3, 2023
• BCOP – Monday, August 28, 2023

The timeline for other examination programs will be announced at least six months before the shift to continuous testing. BPS aims to transition two to four specialties per year from windowed administration to continuous administration. New specialties will begin with windows-based testing and will move to a continuous testing model. While this transition takes place, all examinations will be available each year.

The application process for windowed testing and the application process for continuous testing vary slightly. Below is a process chart to demonstrate the difference for candidates applying for certification and recertification examinations in the two testing modes. 

A candidate can register for a continuously offered examination 2-3 months prior to the launch of that examination.  

For the examinations moving to continuous testing in 2023, registration will open alongside registration for specialties with windowed exams and will remain open throughout the year. 

After an applicant submits their registration application, BPS will review it within 30 calendar days.

From the date of application approval, a candidate may schedule their examination session at any time within the 365 calendar days following their application approval. 

Yes, a candidate registered for an examination in a specialty in the continuous testing model can request to reschedule from the window-based test to the continuous test format, assuming that specialty is or will be available continuously that calendar year. To do so, please reach out through the contact us page on the BPS website.

There are 150 items on certification examinations for specialties in the continuous testing model. This differs from the 175-item certification examinations in specialties within the windowed-testing format. Recertification examinations will remain at 100 items regardless of whether the specialty is in the continuous testing or windows-based testing format.

The administration time allotted for the 150-item initial certification examinations will be 3 hours and 45 minutes. There is no change in administration time for recertification examinations.

This will not lessen the rigor of the examination. BPS examinations maintain a high standard with a more focused set of examination items. Statistical analysis has determined that BPS can achieve adequate content coverage and reliability of exam scores with this small decrease in the number of examination items. The shorter examination will also create scheduling flexibility for candidates.

New regulations, drugs, and therapies are continually incorporated into the examination content. All BPS specialty certification examinations reflect current, best practice guidelines. Examinations are assembled months prior to the administration date so they may not always reflect all the changes that may have occurred in pharmacy practice during that time. Furthermore, great care is taken to exclude from the examination any content associated with rapidly evolving or emerging practice changes. When in doubt, refer to pharmacy practice guidelines as they were about 6 to 12 months prior to the examination administration date. Official United States Adopted Name (USAN) generic names are used on all BPS examinations for all drug products.

After an applicant successfully completes a certification or recertification examination, they will receive their score determination within 60 calendar days.

If a candidate does not pass their certification examination, they may request to retake the examination. Once approved for the retake examination, a candidate’s 365-calendar day eligibility period is renewed. A candidate may schedule their retake examination session any time within the following 365 calendar days. 

There is a mandatory 90 calendar day period between the last examination session and the date of the scheduled retake examination. 

A candidate is allowed a total of three certification examination attempts, which includes the first certification examination attempt and two retake examination attempts. Once approved for the retake examination, a candidate’s 365-calendar day eligibility period is renewed. 

If a candidate does not achieve a passing score after three attempts, they must wait 12 months from the last testing attempt to begin the process and register again. For more information about certification examination applications, visit the BPS Candidate’s guide. 

Yes. However, candidates outside of the U.S., Canada, or Australia are not eligible for LRP at this time.

A candidate can expect to receive a score report within 60 calendar days after their testing session.

Upon achieving a passing score on the certification examination, the certification becomes active the first day of the following month.

Physical certificates are mailed approximately 90 calendar days after a candidate receives their passing score. Physical certificates are automatically sent and do not need to be requested.

Digital badges are sent within 90 calendar days after a candidate receives their passing score. Digital badges are automatically sent and do not need to be requested.

Once receiving a passing score, a candidate’s certification becomes active on the first day of the following month. However, a newly certified pharmacist must wait until January 1 of the following calendar year to begin earning recertification credit.

(e.g., candidates certified Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023 will not be able to receive recertification credit until Jan. 1, 2024)

The recertification cycle length remains unchanged at 7 years for all specialties. All recertification criteria must be met 7 years from the date of initial certification. Certificants must either achieve a passing score on a recertification examination or complete the required amount of BPS-approved continuing education before the end of their recertification year.

After a certificant is approved to take a recertification examination, they may schedule their examination session any time before December 31 of their recertification year. 

BPS recommends that a certificant sits for their recertification examination before October 31 in their recertification year. If a certificant sits for the examination any later in the year, they may not receive their score before the December 31 recertification deadline. 

Certificants who choose to recertify by examination must achieve a passing score by the December 31 recertification deadline in their recertification year.

BPS recommends that a certificant sits for their recertification examination before October 31 in their recertification year. If a certificant sits for the examination any later in the year, they may not receive their score before the December 31 recertification deadline. 

If a certificant does not pass their recertification examination, they may request to retake the recertification examination. Once their retake application is approved, they may schedule their examination session any time before December 31 of their recertification year. 

There is a mandatory 90 calendar day period between the last examination session and the date a certificant schedules for their retake examination. BPS recommends that a certificant sits for their recertification examination before October 31 in their recertification year to receive their score before the December 31 deadline. 

A certificant is allowed a total of three recertification examination attempts, which includes the first recertification examination attempt and two retake examination attempts. 

If a certificant does not achieve a passing score after three attempts or before December 31 of their recertification year, whichever is first, they may submit a request for a one-time, one-year extension (subject to approval at the discretion of BPS). More information on extension requests is available in the BPS Recertification Guide. 

A certificant recertifying by examination who does not achieve a passing score by December 31 of their recertification year and does not receive a one-year extension will be removed from the official roster of BPS-certified pharmacists. Once a pharmacist has been removed from the roster, they may no longer use the designation associated with that specialty certification. To reinstate a certification, a pharmacist will need to submit an application for the certification examination, pay all applicable fees, and pass the certification examination. 

Continuous testing means that a candidate will be able to test anytime throughout the year instead of the existing structure of two testing windows. For recertification by examination, a candidate will need to achieve a passing score on the recertification examination by December 31 of their recertification year. BPS recommends pursuing an examination early in the recertification year so if a passing score is not achieved, there is time to retake the examination.

Continuous testing will not have an impact on a certificant completing their recertification by the continuing education (CE) option. For recertification by CE, a candidate must submit their recertification application and fee by the deadline of their recertification year, which can be found at this webpage, and complete their specialty’s CE requirement by December 31 of their recertification year. Continuous testing means that a candidate will be able to take the recertification examination anytime throughout the year instead of the existing structure of two testing windows. For recertification by exam, a candidate must submit their recertification application and fee by the deadline of their recertification year and achieve a passing score by December 31 of their recertification year.