Candidate's Guide

Last Updated on: August 26, 2026

Notice: This guide reflects policies and requirements for the 2026 examination year and is subject to updates or policy changes. 2025 examination candidates with questions should contact BPS staff.

General Information

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) is an independent, nongovernmental certification body that develops and administers board certification examinations in recognized pharmacy practice specialties. BPS was created on January 5, 1976, by the American Pharmaceutical Association (now the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and exists today as an autonomous division of APhA.

The BPS Board of Directors (the Board) is composed of 12 voting members, including nine pharmacists and three public members. The BPS Executive Director and one member of the APhA Board of Trustees are nonvoting ex officio Board members. For a current list of the Board of Directors, click here.

BPS has established a specialty council for each recognized specialty certification program. Specialty councils work with the Board to develop and administer psychometrically-sound and legally defensible certification examinations, consistent with the credentialing of health care professionals. A specialty council is comprised of at least 10 members who are board-certified in that specialty area. Each specialty council may include up to two additional members, each of whom may be either board-certified in that specialty area or a pharmacist not certified in that specialty area but with other qualifications and/or expertise pertinent to the specialty area. For a current list of specialty council members, click here.

The principal responsibilities of BPS include:

To grant recognition of appropriate pharmacy practice specialties based on criteria established by BPS.
To establish standards for certification and recertification of pharmacists in recognized pharmacy practice specialties.
To grant qualified pharmacists’ certification and recertification in recognized pharmacy practice specialties.
To serve as a coordinating agency and information clearinghouse for organizations and pharmacists in recognized pharmacy practice specialties.
To enhance public/consumer protection by developing effective certification programs for specialty practices in pharmacy.

Importance of Certification

The primary purpose of specialization in any healthcare profession is to improve the quality-of-care individual patients receive, to promote positive treatment outcomes, and ultimately, to improve the patient’s quality of life. Specialties evolve in response to the development of new knowledge or technology that can affect patient care. The rapid, dramatic advancement of drug therapy in recent decades has created a clear need for pharmacist practitioners who specialize in specific kinds of treatment and aspects of patient care. Specialty certification is a responsible, progressive initiative from the profession to try to ensure the best possible patient care.

Pharmacists certified in a specialty are frequently sought for professional consultations. Employers and patients can feel secure knowing that a board-certified pharmacist has taken the initiative to seek an advanced, specialized credential that sets them apart. Specialty certification is a means of informing other professionals of an individual’s educational and practice accomplishments. It is one way to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills independent of and in addition to a degree program, license, practice experience, or postgraduate training.

Recognition of BPS Certification

BPS Board Certification is recognized globally as a marker of advanced knowledge and specialized pharmacy practice.

In the United States, many states recognize BPS Board Certification in ways that support advanced pharmacy practice, including continuing education benefits, eligibility for collaborative practice agreements, and authorization for specialized practice roles, as defined in state laws and regulations.

Learn how BPS Board Certification is recognized across U.S. states:
Explore State Recognition of BPS Board Certification

BPS certification does not grant licensure to practice pharmacy in the United States or any other country. Pharmacists should consult their local licensing authority for official requirements.

Overview

This Candidate’s Guide is intended for use by pharmacists who are interested in becoming certified in any of the BPS-recognized specialty practice areas. This guide provides information on BPS certification processes: eligibility requirements, application procedures, examination administration, annual certification maintenance, and recertification. This document is ONLY A GUIDE. The information, procedures, and fees detailed in this publication may be amended, revised, or otherwise altered at any time and without advance notice from BPS. The provision of this guide does not confer any rights upon an applicant or candidate. The information contained in this guide supersedes the information contained in all previous editions of the BPS Candidate’s Guide. All correspondence and requests for information concerning the administration of BPS’ pharmacy specialty certification examinations should be directed to:

Board of Pharmacy Specialties
2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037-2985
(202) 946-5026
www.bpsweb.org/contact/

For more information about the following policies, visit the Policies and Forms page on the BPS website.

Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality
Nondiscrimination Policy
Ethics and Professionalism Policy
Privacy Policy

For more information on the following policies, visit the Privacy Statement page on the BPS website:

Credential Verification
BPS Database
Sharing of Certificant Data

Nondiscrimination Policy

BPS endorses the principle of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all certification specialty programs and prohibits discrimination against its applicants, candidates, certified persons, staff, and volunteers. Certification is offered to all eligible persons regardless of age, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or any other category protected by U.S. federal or state law. BPS ensures fair and equitable treatment of all candidates throughout all phases of the certification process. All BPS decisions related to certification (including granting, suspending, and withdrawing) are made impartially and free from nondiscriminatory judgments.

Candidate Conduct and Professional Behavior

Candidates are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner in all interactions with BPS personnel, volunteers, examination vendors, proctors, and other candidates. Candidates who violate test center or approved remote proctored exam regulations or rules, engage in irregular behavior, misconduct, disruptive, threatening, abusive, or inappropriate conduct, or fail to comply with a test administrator’s instruction to discontinue such behavior may be dismissed from the test center. Such conduct, whether occurring in person, by telephone, electronically, or in writing, may result in disciplinary action. Examination fees will not be refunded, examination results may be withheld or canceled, and additional disciplinary action may be imposed, including disqualification from future BPS specialty examinations.

Impartiality Statement

The BPS management and its employees, volunteers, and contractors understand the importance of impartiality and the consideration of any potential conflict of interests in conducting its certification activities. BPS shall manage conflict of interest and ensure the objectivity of its certification activities. BPS shall commit to acting impartially in relation to its applicants, candidates, and certified persons.

Decisions on certification programs shall be made in accordance with established policies and procedures. Policies and procedures affecting applicants, candidates, and certified persons shall be made public and shall fairly and accurately convey information about the certification program. BPS shall ensure that all stakeholders, e.g., subject matter experts, consultants, and vendors, involved with BPS operations, comply with the tenets of the Policy on Impartiality.

BPS does not restrict admittance to any of its certification programs on the grounds of membership in any organization, or excessive and unsupported eligibility requirements. BPS does not offer any education or training programs. Certification is open to all qualified candidates.

Statement of Confidentiality

BPS is committed to protecting confidential or proprietary information related to applicants and certification holders, as well as the examination development, maintenance, and administration process.

BPS has the responsibility to protect confidential and proprietary information and maintain confidentiality of that information. Personnel associated with BPS certification activities shall keep confidential all information obtained in the process of conducting its certification programs. BPS shall function under a strict confidentiality policy. This policy shall apply to all aspects of confidential information obtained during the execution of BPS certification activities, including information obtained about applicants, candidates, and certified persons; financial information; test scores; the intellectual property associated with the administration of BPS certification programs; and any information associated with vendor support of BPS certification programs. BPS will not disclose any confidential applicant/certificant information outside of the course of BPS business unless authorized in writing by the individual in question or as required by law.

Application Status

An applicant’s status is considered confidential. BPS does not disclose information regarding whether an individual has applied for certification (except when verifying practice experience via employment) or has taken the examination. Current certification status is published and verifiable as noted in the credential verification section on the Privacy Statement page here.

Record Retention Policy

BPS retains examination results, examination administration records, and active applicant data for seven years. BPS retains submitted paper documentation for one year. After one year, BPS shreds those documents. Applicants/certificants should retain their own copies of all documentation sent to BPS.

BPS Email Communication Guidelines

The email address listed on your MyBPS profile is our primary means of communicating with you. Maintain your current email address, mailing address, and phone number in your profile. Ensure info@bpsweb.org is added as a safe sender to avoid our communications from being filtered to a junk folder located in your email account or server.

As a recipient of BPS emails, you have the option to unsubscribe from our third-party contact management system. If you opt out or unsubscribe from any BPS emails, you are still responsible for adhering to the contents of our communications, including policy changes. BPS sends periodic reminders related to annual certification maintenance fees, recertification requirements, and important news that you may miss if you unsubscribe from our communications.

Regardless of subscription status to the BPS mailing list, all certificants remain responsible for meeting all requirements and deadlines necessary to maintain their certification in good standing, regardless of their email subscription status.

Certification Application Process

For questions pertaining to BPS certification visit the Contact Us page of the BPS website or call (202) 946-5026. BPS office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time. BPS offices are closed on all U.S. federal holidays. Visit the BPS website for the latest information on the operating status of BPS offices.

Applications are submitted online via the MyBPS Portal. A valid credit card or debit card is required for payment. The online application process uses a secure server.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a complete and accurate application. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Complete applications are processed within 30 calendar days of receipt.
BPS examinations are administered primarily at Pearson test centers. Online/remote testing is not a standard delivery option and may be approved only in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis for eligible candidates in the United States, Australia, and Canada with advance approval by BPS. Additional information is available on the Online Testing page on the BPS website.
For specialties with windowed test administration, candidates may only apply and sit for the test during established dates. BPS is transitioning specialties to continuously available test administration such that candidates may apply anytime and sit for an examination anytime within their eligibility period.
- For authorizations to test (ATT) issued before January 1, 2026: Examinees in the continuous testing format will be able to apply at any point in the year and will have 200 calendar days to sit for an examination.
- For authorizations to test (ATT) issued after January 1, 2026: Examinees in the continuous testing format will be able to apply at any point in the year and will have 90 calendar days to sit for an examination.

Examination Dates

Please review this webpage for important deadlines and dates.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements for each specialty can be found on the BPS website under each Pharmacy Specialty certification. All practice experience must be completed post-licensure/registration as a pharmacist. All practice and educational eligibility requirements must be met before submitting the application.

Applying for the Examination

Five steps are required to apply for a BPS Certification Examination (International candidates, refer to the Tips for Applicants Outside the U.S. webpage for detailed information on requirements).

Create an online MyBPS profile on the BPS website. A unique candidate number (e.g., IND-XXXXXX) is assigned once the profile is created. If a BPS Board Certification is already held, do not create a new account. Log into the existing account to begin your application.
Click “Apply for New Certification” on the MyBPS home page. Review the eligibility criteria for the relevant pharmacy specialty before applying.
1. At the time of application, candidates are required to upload a PDF or JPG of their current pharmacist license or registration. All documentation should be submitted in English.
2. Candidates are required to upload a letter verifying their practice experience claimed on the application, signed by their supervisor on official letterhead. Applicants claiming eligibility via an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)–accredited or Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB)–accredited Year 1 pharmacy residency are required to upload a PDF or JPG of the residency certificate or a letter of completion. Residency completion and practice experience provided for eligibility must be within the last 7 years. If a residency is not accredited by ASHP or CPRB, it may be used toward the practice experience eligibility pathway.
3. FOR APPLICANTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SAUDI ARABIA, or SINGAPORE:
  1. Applicants who graduated from a pharmacy program outside the United States, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore and who are not licensed to practice pharmacy in the United States, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, or Singapore should refer to the Tips for International Candidates Guide before submitting their application.
The application is reviewed by BPS and a decision regarding eligibility to sit for the examination is communicated within 30 calendar days. The eligibility decision may be revised if the candidate is later found to be ineligible; if so, the application fees will be refunded.
Approved candidates receive an approval email and authorization to test (ATT) email including a BPS examination ID and link to the Pearson scheduling portal.
Failure to schedule an examination will result in a forfeiture of all fees and will require re-submission of the examination application.
1. Candidates for specialties in the windowed testing format must schedule the date, time, and location of their examination within the scheduled test administration window.
2. Candidates for specialties in the continuous testing format must schedule the date, time, and location of their examination within 90 days after receiving their authorization to test.

Processing Applications

Applicants will be notified by BPS via email of their eligibility to sit for the examination within 30 calendar days of receipt of their completed application and fee. Candidates should keep a record of their unique examination ID (example: BPS-EXAM-XXXX) and use it in all correspondence with BPS regarding the examination. Incomplete applications requiring further information will be marked as Needs More Info in their MyBPS profile. The applicant will be notified by email and will be required to supply the requested information within 30 business days. If the application is not completed, the application will be denied, and the full application fee will be refunded.

If an application is denied, applicants will receive an email with an explanation for the denial and the entire application fee will be refunded to the credit or debit card on file.

Application Fees

Application fee payment must accompany the completed application. The fee for first-time applicants is $600 USD.

NOTE: All dollar amounts expressed in this guide are provided in U.S. dollars (USD).

For authorizations to test (ATT) issued after January 1, 2026:
Examinees who fail their first examination attempt may apply for a retake and pay the discounted fee of $300 USD. Examinees may take the examination up to three times in total (one initial attempt and two retakes). Following each attempt, there is a 90-day washout period, after which candidates have a maximum of ninety (90) calendar days to schedule and complete their next attempt.
If a passing score is not achieved after the third attempt, the examinee must wait 12 months from the date of their final attempt before submitting a new application, paying the $600 USD application fee, and beginning the process again.
If an examinee does not use the option to retake the examinations within 90 days of each attempt, they must resubmit a complete application and pay the $600 USD application fee to restart the process.
All outstanding BPS dues (e.g., overdue annual maintenance fees from previously held certifications) must be paid before submitting a new certification application.

Payments

Payments must be made in USD by credit or debit card (e.g., Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover). Purchase orders will NOT be accepted.

All fees are subject to change at the sole discretion of BPS.

Declined Credit or Debit Cards

If a credit or debit card transaction is declined, an alternate valid credit or debit card number must be provided.

If receiving an “Error 12” message, it indicates that some or all of the billing information does not match the details associated with the card being used. Contact your financial institution to confirm the correct billing address before attempting payment again.

If the issue persists, wait 24 hours before submitting a new payment.

Forfeiture of Fees Forfeit of examination fees occurs if:

Candidate fails to schedule an examination appointment, OR
Candidate fails to arrive at the test center at the scheduled date and time with acceptable identification, unless they have an approved withdrawal, OR
Candidate fails to reschedule an exam appointment less than 5 days prior to an appointment.

Candidates who forfeit examination fees must submit a new application at the full cost if they wish to sit for a future examination.

ArmyIgnitED / U.S. Army Credentialing Assistance Program

BPS has been approved as a vendor in the U.S. Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) Program; CA funds allow Soldiers to pursue voluntary credentials. Soldiers can apply for funding support to sit for BPS Board Certification through this program. CA is a voluntary, off-duty program that directly contributes to improving Total Army readiness, supporting Soldiers’ professional development, retaining quality Soldiers, and preparing Soldiers for meaningful employment upon transition from military service.

More information about the U.S. Army CA Program can be found on the U.S. Army Credentialing Assistance Program page on the BPS website.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Examination Fee Reimbursement

BPS is an approved certification provider for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Licensing and Certification Test Reimbursement Program. Eligible Veterans, service members, and their qualified dependents may request reimbursement for BPS Board Certification examination fees after completing an approved BPS Examination.

Reimbursement eligibility, benefit limits, documentation requirements, and payment determination are established by the VA. BPS does not determine eligibility or issue reimbursement payments.

For detailed instructions, eligibility considerations, and resources, visit the VA Reimbursement page on the BPS website.

Americans with Disabilities Act

BPS complies with the relevant provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with documented disabilities. Any request must be accompanied by the appropriate forms and uploaded at the time of the application submission. For more information, visit the Apply for ADA Accommodations page on the BPS website.

Managing Your Examination Appointment

Scheduling The Examination

For the greatest probability of obtaining the preferred test center and date, BPS recommends submitting an application and scheduling as early as possible.

Pearson provides telephone and email support to candidates on matters related to scheduling an examination appointment. For candidates in North America, the best way to contact Pearson is by telephone during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday at 866-508-8836. The call center is closed on US holidays.

For candidates outside of North America, please find the call center hours and phone numbers below:

EMEA: Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) certification testing with Pearson VUE | Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) region
APAC: Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) certification testing with Pearson VUE | Asia-Pacific region

For inquiries outside of the normal call center hours for your region, candidates can contact Pearson by email or Chat:

Chat: Look for the “Chat with us” symbol in the lower right corner, at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bps.html
Email for candidates in North America: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/test-takers/customer-service/email/americas-professional.html
Email for candidates in EMEA: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/test-takers/customer-service/email/emea.html
Email for candidates in APAC: https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/test-takers/customer-service/email/asia-pacific.html

Once an examination appointment is scheduled, the candidate will receive a confirmation email from Pearson outlining the appointment details.

More information about scheduling an examination in a test center can be found on the Test Center page on the BPS website.

Online/remote testing is not a standard delivery option and may be approved only in limited circumstances on a case-by-case basis for eligible candidates in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Additional information is available on the Online Testing page on the BPS website.

Cancelling or Rescheduling Examination Appointments

Candidates may cancel or reschedule a certification or recertification examination up to five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled examination appointment.

Cancellation/rescheduling fees will be charged as follows:

30 or more days prior to appointment: No Fee collected by Pearson.
5-29 days prior to your appointment: $60 USD fee collected by Pearson.
Less than 5 days prior to appointment: No cancel/reschedule will be allowed. Your full test fee will be retained by BPS.

BPS staff cannot cancel or reschedule examination appointments. To reschedule or cancel, visit the Pearson website here.

Deferrals

Candidates for specialties in the windowed testing format may defer from a windowed examination prior to the examination registration deadline. If an exam appointment is pending, the candidate must cancel the appointment and pay the cancellation fee before submitting a deferral request.

After the exam registration deadline for windowed examinations, supporting documentation must be submitted to BPS no later than 7 calendar days after the last date in the examination administration window in which they were registered to sit for the examination. A candidate may only request 2 deferrals. Any additional deferral requests will be denied with no refunds.

Examination Withdrawals

Windowed Testing: Candidates for specialties in the windowed testing format may withdraw from the examination prior to the close of the application deadline by submitting a withdrawal request in their MyBPS profile.

After the exam registration deadline for windowed testing, the request is considered an emergency withdrawal, and supporting documentation must be submitted no later than 7 calendar days after the last date in the examination testing window. BPS will review requests for emergency withdrawals and render decisions on a case-by-case basis. Acceptable emergency withdrawal requests with appropriate documentation (e.g., physician’s letter, police report, etc.), will be considered under the following situations: serious illness (either of the candidate or an immediate family member), immediate family death, disabling accident, court appearance, jury duty, or unexpected military call-up.

Continuous Testing: For continuous testing examinations, candidates can submit an emergency withdrawal request from the examination within 7 days of when their eligibility period ends through their MyBPS profile.

Candidates for specialties in the continuous testing format have 90 calendar days to schedule and complete their testing session and may request an emergency withdrawal with appropriate documentation (e.g., physician’s letter, police report), to be considered under the following situations: serious illness (either of the candidate or an immediate family member), immediate family death, disabling accident, court appearance, jury duty, or unexpected military call-up.

Regardless of an examination being in the windowed versus continuous testing format, candidates whose withdrawal request is approved will be refunded the examination fee, minus administrative charges. BPS will retain $200 USD for administrative costs and an additional $50 USD will be retained if the examination has been scheduled with Pearson. Refunds will be processed within 14 calendar days of the approved withdrawal request.

Candidates who receive a denial of their withdrawal request will forfeit all fees if they do not report to their scheduled examination appointment or do not make an appointment to test, once approved. If the withdrawal request is approved, all administrative fees will apply.

Name and/or Address Change

Name changes must be requested through MyBPS and require a PDF or JPG copy of a government-issued identification. Name change requests must be received no later than 30 calendar days after application submission.

The address on the application does not need to match the ID, and candidates will not be denied admission due to an address mismatch.

Address and name changes made after the mailing of certificates will result in a $50 USD charge for a duplicate certificate.

Preparing for the Examination

Individual may elect to prepare for the examination by engaging in the following:

Residency or other formal training
Journal articles, textbooks, or other publications related to the examination content outline
Continuing pharmacy education programs
Study groups
Examination preparation courses and materials
Sample examination items (these are provided on the BPS website for candidates to familiarize themselves with the various item formats that are presented on the examination, and are not to be interpreted as an indicator of examination performance)

Candidates may contact organizations noted here, which offer materials for the specialty or specialties listed. The listing is provided as a convenience for candidates; BPS does not create, sponsor, nor endorse training or educational opportunities for any BPS examinations. BPS does not have any official preparation/training partnerships or agents outside of the United States.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of sources and candidates using any preparatory resources agree to abide by all U.S. copyright laws in the use of examination preparation materials.

Examination Content Outline

BPS publishes the Examination Content Outline (ECO) document specific to each pharmacy specialty examination and strongly encourages candidates to become thoroughly familiar with this document. Each BPS Examination Content Outline (ECO) serves as the blueprint for each BPS certification examination and defines the scope of the competencies associated with pharmacy practice in that specialty area. The examination content outline documents are developed via a job analysis approximately every five (5) to reflect changes in practice. BPS specialty certification examinations are constructed according to test specifications derived from job analysis. Candidates should ensure that they are referring to the current examination specifications document for their specialty area.

Examination Content Outlines for each specialty can be found here.

BPS certification examinations sample the knowledge required to perform the tasks in each of the major areas of responsibility of the specialty as defined through a job analysis. The examination does not attempt to assess knowledge at all levels or settings in the specialized practice area. Mastery of the knowledge and skills involved in the defined scope of specialized practice is necessary for board certification regardless of the practice in which an applicant is currently involved.

New regulations, drugs, and therapies are continually incorporated into the examination content. Examinations are assembled months prior to the administration date, so items may not always reflect all 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. If you are unsure which information is expected for the examination, refer to the pharmacy practice guidelines from approximately 6–12 months prior to the exam administration date. Official United States Adopted Name (USAN) generic names are used on all BPS examinations for all drug products.

Examination Format

Four-option multiple-choice items constitute most examination items; however, some of the specialty examinations also use multiple-choice, multiple-response items (i.e., more than one response must be selected) and items supplemented with images.

All items must be answered in the order they are presented, and a candidate is not able to skip items. Once a candidate confirms an answer choice and moves to the next item, the candidate will not be able to go back and change the response. There is no penalty for guessing, and it is in the best interest of the candidate to answer every question. The forward-only examination navigation serves as a security measure for BPS Examinations and aligns with the best practices of several pharmacy examinations.

Candidates will be provided with a scientific calculator available on their computer screen for use during the examination. A sample calculator is available on the Pearson Candidate portal.

Throughout BPS specialty certification examinations, measurements from laboratory test results are expressed in metric (SI) units that are commonly used in practice in the United States. A conversion chart is NOT offered as part of the examination. A reference table of normal laboratory values is NOT provided during examination administration. Candidates should take this into consideration when preparing for the examination.

BPS is aware that examination items dealing with procedures or regulatory issues in the United States may not be pertinent to candidates who practice in other countries. However, all candidates are given the same examination and are held to the same standard, regardless of the country in which they practice and the regulations under which they practice.

Candidates will have the option to add comments to each examination item. Examinees who wish to provide feedback must specify any issues with an item in the comment section of that item, and not at the end of the examination session. The comments will be collected and shared in aggregate for review by BPS staff and the applicable BPS specialty council. Comments will not be used in the scoring of the examination.

Instructions will be provided to candidates on their computer screen. Only answers submitted via computer will be scored. Answers written on whiteboards, comment boxes, or scratch paper will not be scored.

Sample Examination Items

BPS has provided sample examination items to provide candidates with an opportunity to review the format of the items used on BPS specialty certification examinations. They are used strictly for the purpose of examination content format and not indicative of actual content on the examinations.

Sample examination items can be found here.

Day of the Examination

Checking In on Examination Day: Test Center

Information about checking in to a test center on the day of a scheduled examination is available on the Test Center page on the BPS website.

Checking In on Examination Day: Online/Remote Testing (Limited Exceptions)

Late Arrivals

Candidates who arrive 30 minutes after their scheduled appointment may be refused admission. Refunds will not be issued in the event of a forfeited appointment.

No Shows

Failure to appear at a scheduled exam appointment, or failure to appear with appropriate identification, will count as the candidate’s testing session, and the candidate will be marked as a no-show.
For candidates in a windowed examination, failure to schedule an exam appointment by the end of the examination window will count as the candidate’s testing session and the candidate will be marked as a no-show.
For candidates in a continuous testing examination, failure to schedule an exam appointment by the end of the 90-calendar-day eligibility period will count as the candidate’s testing session and the candidate will be marked as a no-show and will forfeit all fees.
Failure to reschedule an exam appointment less than 5 days prior to an appointment, without a BPS-approved exemption, will count as the candidate’s testing session, and the candidate will be marked as a no-show.

For initial examinations: If a candidate is marked as a no-show, all fees are forfeited. The candidate must submit a new application and pay the full $600 USD application fee to schedule a future examination.

For retake examinations: If a candidate is marked as a no-show for a retake examination, all fees are forfeited. The candidate must submit a new application and pay the full $600 USD application fee to schedule a future examination.

More information on the following can be found on the Test Centers and Online Testing pages on the BPS website:

Inclement Weather and Cancellations
Internet Issues During the Examination
Prohibited Items
Use of Scratch Paper
Water Policy

Examination Rules

BPS and Pearson follow industry-standard examination rules as outlined within this guide and the Test Centers and Online Testing webpages. Candidates approved for online/remote testing will receive any additional requirements applicable to that administration.

Examination Duration

Examination introduction, tutorial, and 150 examination items: 3 hours, 45 minutes.

Among the 150 items, the examination includes 25 unscored pretest items that are embedded within the test and represent added items that are being trialed before use as a scored item in subsequent forms of the examination.

Unscheduled Departure from Testing Area

Candidates at a test center may not leave the room without test center staff permission. If the candidate leaves the room without permission prior to completing their examination, the proctor will note the time of departure, terminate the examination immediately, and the candidate will not be refunded.

Breaks

Scheduled breaks are not offered during certification or recertification examinations. One 10-minute optional unscheduled break is permitted; if taken, this time is subtracted from the candidate’s remaining examination time. A proctor must be notified and approve this optional break. Failure to notify the proctor of an unscheduled break may result in termination of the examination and forfeiture of all fees. Upon the candidate’s return, a full security scan will be conducted prior to resuming the examination.

Candidates approved for online/remote testing who take an unscheduled break during a proctored Online Testing examination exceeding 10 minutes will have their examination terminated. All items on the examination must be answered in the order they are presented, and a candidate cannot return to previous items or skip ahead to other items.

Security

BPS examinations are the confidential property of BPS and are protected by trade secret law, copyright law, and other applicable state and federal laws and regulations. BPS and its testing vendor maintain examination administration and security standards that are designed to assure that all candidates are provided with the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

Before beginning the examination, candidates must read and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use. This statement restricts candidates from sharing any information about the examination with other individuals, including discussions with any colleagues who might be planning to take the examination.

Proctors are authorized by BPS and its examination administrator to maintain a secure and proper examination administration environment.

Candidates will be inspected for devices such as hand-held scanners, cameras, tape recorders, or other electronic equipment. Areas around the testing room (e.g., hallways, restrooms, telephone stalls) are monitored throughout the examination for security purposes. Candidates are observed at all times while taking the examination. Observation may include direct observation by center staff, as well as video and audio recordings of the examination session.

Candidates may not communicate with other candidates during the examination. Anyone who provides or receives assistance during the examination will be dismissed from the examination room. Candidates may not photograph, record, or memorize any examination material. Other causes for dismissal include, but are not limited to, using notes, references, or any test aids; using unauthorized calculators; causing a disruption to the environment; and removing any examination material from the test center. Candidates who are dismissed from the examination room forfeit all fees.

Personnel authorized and trained by Pearson will proctor the examination. No other individuals are permitted in the room during the examination except for the candidates and persons authorized by BPS and/or the examination administrator.

Statement of Confidentiality for BPS Examinations

This examination and the test items contained herein are the exclusive property of BPS.
This examination and the items contained herein are protected by copyright law. No part of this examination may be copied or reproduced in part or whole by any means whatsoever, including memorization.
The theft or attempted theft of any examination materials is punishable as a felony.
Participation in any irregularity occurring during this examination such as giving or obtaining unauthorized information or aid, as evidenced by observation or subsequent analysis, may result in termination of participation, invalidation of the examination results, or other appropriate action.
Further discussion or disclosure of the contents of the examination orally, in writing, or by any other means is prohibited.

The electronic signature on a candidate’s application indicates that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the statement of confidentiality and that they have read and understood the BPS Candidate’s Guide. Failure to comply can result in termination of the candidate’s participation, invalidation of the results of the examination, or other appropriate action.

After the Examination

Examination Scoring

Responses are scored in real-time as candidates progress through an examination. The candidate’s response to each examination item is recorded and scored against the answer key. All items must be answered in the order they are presented, and a candidate is not able to skip items. Once a candidate confirms their answer choice and moves to the next item, they will not be able to go back and change their response. It is to the candidate’s advantage to answer every item on the examination; there is no penalty in the scoring formula for guessing.

Beginning January 2026, BPS will provide an immediate preliminary score report following examination sessions in the continuously available format. Examinees will see on screen whether they achieved a pass or fail outcome immediately upon completion of the test session. Examinees can expect to access their official score report on their MyBPS account within forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of the test session.

The individual score report will indicate whether the candidate passed or failed the examination.

Candidates in the windowed testing model can expect to receive their score reports electronically within forty-five (45) calendar days following the close of the scheduled examination administration window.
Candidates in the continuous testing model can expect to receive a score report electronically within forty-five (45) calendar days of their testing session.

Candidates can access score reports by logging into their MyBPS account.

Individual examination results are considered confidential. Scores are released only to the individual candidate unless a signed release is provided in advance. Results are not released by phone, fax, or email. All personal information submitted by applicants and certificants with their application is considered confidential.

Access to a candidate’s score report is limited to BPS staff who engage in the processing of these reports. BPS will not release personal information (other than the name of certified individuals under established policy) without written authorization by the examinee.

More information about the examination scoring process, including information on the passing standard, equating and scaled scores, and interpreting the score report can be found on the Examination Scoring page on the BPS website.

Comparative Review and Hand-Scoring

A comparative review verifies that the candidate’s answers were scored against the correct examination answer key to confirm the candidate’s examination was scored properly. The computer-based examination scoring process is accurate, and the BPS scoring process already includes several quality assurance steps.

To request a comparative review/hand scoring of a BPS examination, a candidate must submit the request form on their MyBPS profile, along with a $50 USD fee. Requests must be received within thirty (30) calendar days of the issuance of the score report. Candidates should allow thirty (30) calendar days to process requests.

Appeals Process

An appeals process is available to any individual who has applied for or earned a BPS certification and wishes to contest any adverse decision or proposed action affecting their application for certification or recertification status other than a failed examination score.

BPS provides a two-step appeals process for resolution of any questions or complaints concerning an action or decision by the BPS Board of Directors. The first step of the process includes a reconsideration review procedure which is managed by BPS. The second step of the process is an appeals procedure which is handled by a specially appointed appeals committee. The individual must first file the request for reconsideration before filing an appeal.

Requests for reconsideration or appeal can be submitted electronically using the required Request for Reconsideration or Appeal form via the Appeals Policy and Procedures page on the BPS website.

If the candidate experiences an examination administration issue and wishes to file a complaint, the complaint must be received by BPS within five (5) calendar days of the examination date by using the Examination Appointment Issues link on the BPS website.

Retaking the Examination

For authorizations to test (ATT) issued after January 1, 2025:

Examinees who fail their first examination attempt may apply for a retake and pay the discounted fee of $300 USD. Examinees are allowed up to two retake examinations (three attempts total). Following each attempt, there is a 90-day washout period, after which candidates have a maximum of ninety (90) calendar days to schedule and complete their next attempt.

If a passing score is not achieved after the third attempt, the examinee must wait twelve (12) months from the date of their final attempt before submitting a new application, paying the $600 USD application fee, and beginning the process again.

If an examinee does not use their option to retake the examinations within the allowed timeframe, they must resubmit a complete application and pay the $600 USD application fee to restart the process.

An individual who fails one specialty examination may NOT apply for another specialty examination as a retake candidate.

Retake examinees who withdraw from taking the examination are processed as described in the withdrawal section.

Status of BPS Certification

Certification statuses are displayed within the certificant’s MyBPS profile. All statuses, except withdrawn status, are displayed on the public-facing roster of board-certified pharmacists and certificant digital badges.

BPS provides the following certification status definitions:

Active: the certificant has met requirements to obtain the certification, holds an active license/registration to practice as a pharmacist, is up to date on all outstanding fees, and for any certification with a cycle beginning January 1, 2024 or after, satisfies the annual minimum CPE/CPD requirements.
Activity Pending: the certificant has an active certification but has pending requirements with BPS that need to be addressed (e.g., 2-unit annual minimum CPE/CPD and/or outstanding fees) prior to return to active status. A certification may remain in activity pending status for no longer than twelve (12) consecutive months.
Suspended: the certificant did not complete pending requirements after twelve (12) consecutive months in activity pending status and disciplinary action is taken (i.e., suspension of certification). The certification may return to active status by completion of pending requirements. A certification may remain in suspended status for no longer than twelve (12) consecutive months.
Withdrawn: the certificant did not meet annual CPE/CPD requirements, did not pay outstanding fees, did not maintain licensure, and/or did not comply with the BPS ethics and professionalism policy, leading to withdrawal of the certification (i.e., inactivated, rescinded). The former certification holder may no longer identify as board certified. The individual’s name is removed from the Find a Board-Certified Pharmacist roster. Reinstatement of the certification can only be achieved by successful completion of the entire certification process, including submitting an application, meeting eligibility requirements, paying all applicable fees (including outstanding fees), and successfully passing the certification examination.

Policy on Suspension of Certification

BPS shall be responsible for suspending, withdrawing, or changing the scope of certification. The certification of an individual may be suspended for:

Failure to complete or fulfill requirements for certification or recertification.
Failure to maintain professional licensure.
Determination that certification or recertification was improperly granted.
Misrepresentation or misstatement of facts submitted upon application for certification or recertification.
Violation of Conflict of Interest and/or confidentiality/non-disclosure attestations to BPS; and/or
Violation of the Ethics and Professionalism Policy.

Policy on Withdrawal of Certification

If a complaint is received by BPS that, upon investigation, is related to certificant licensure and the practice of pharmacy governed by various regulatory bodies, BPS will refer this complaint to the State Board of Pharmacy or relevant governing body serving the certificant’s official mailing address in BPS files. BPS will closely monitor the action of the state board or governing body, and if the certificant’s license is revoked or suspended, BPS may withdraw the certificant’s certification. Additionally, failure to meet requirements for the ethics and professionalism policy may also result in a withdrawal of a certificant’s certification.

In the event of a withdrawal, the certificant must discontinue the use of any reference to BPS certification. Withdrawal for failure to maintain licensure or to recertify in accordance with BPS recertification policy is automatic and non-discretionary. All other grounds for withdrawal of certification are discretionary on the part of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.

Annual Certification Maintenance Fee

All BPS-certified pharmacists are required to pay a $125 USD annual certification maintenance fee during years 1 through 6 of the certification cycle. This fee is not required in year 7 (the recertification year). When paying the annual certification maintenance fee, board-certified pharmacists must attest to holding a current, active license/registration to practice pharmacy.

Certificants, including those holding more than one certification, are required to submit the $400 USD recertification fee for each specialty along with their recertification application in year 7. If a certificant is granted an extension year, they must pay the $125 USD annual certification maintenance fee in year 8 (the extension year). Pharmacists holding more than one BPS certification pay only one annual certification maintenance fee. Multi-certified pharmacists in a recertification year who do not request an official delist or submit a recertification application are required to pay the annual certification maintenance fee for any remaining active credential(s).

A payment notification will be sent to each certificant via email annually in May (including in year 1), and payment is due by July 1.

Failure to pay the annual fee by July 1 results in a change in certification status, which will be reflected on the certificant’s digital badge and in the public Find a Board-Certified Pharmacist directory. Additionally, a $5 USD late fee will be applied. Once outstanding fees are paid, the certification status in the directory will update to Active within 72 hours. For more information, refer to the section titled Status of BPS Certification.

Note: Before applying for recertification in year 7 or for a new specialty certification, all outstanding fees must be paid. Certificates cannot be ordered until all fees are settled.

For more information regarding the annual certification maintenance fees, click here.

Use of BPS Fees

The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) collects fees related to the following: certification applications, maintenance of certification, and recertification applications. These fees support the BPS mission by funding the critical infrastructure and operations necessary to uphold the high standard of pharmacist board certification and ensure that board certification remains a credible, professionally meaningful, and globally recognized credential.

Collected fees support the ongoing development of examination content for each certification program to ensure the relevancy, validity, and defensibility of each BPS Certification. Fees are also used to maintain an office space in Washington, D.C., employ dedicated customer support representatives, and staff, and facilitate examination delivery globally. Tools such as the BPS Website, the Find a Board-Certified Pharmacist Database, and the MyBPS platform are maintained through this funding, alongside the engagement of subject matter expert volunteers, specialty council members, professional committees, and the BPS Board of Directors.

Fees support essential legislative and regulatory work that protects and promotes the value of certification. Additionally, collected fees are used to fund the BPS Research Seed Grant and BPS and FIP Foundation Research Grant which support investigator’s research into BPS Board Certification in the U.S. and internationally.

Recertification

To recertify, the certificant is required to hold a current, active license/registration to practice pharmacy, pay all pending fees, complete recertification requirements, and submit a recertification application in year seven (7). For detailed information on maintaining certification throughout the cycle and the recertification process, review the BPS Recertification Guide.

For certifications with a cycle starting January 1, 2024, or after, 2 units of assessed continuing pharmacy education (CPE) via BPS-approved professional development program (PDP) provider or 2 units of self-selected, self-reported continuing professional development (CPD) must be reported annually. Failure to earn the 2-unit annual minimum will result in a change in certification status. See Status of BPS Certification section above for details.

If recertification requirements are not completed by the end of the 7-year cycle, the certification will lapse. Eligible certificants may request a one-time, 1-year extension. For more information, refer to the BPS Recertification Guide.

If lapsed or withdrawn, reinstatement of the certification can be achieved only by the successful completion of the entire certification process. See the Certification Application Process section for more information.

Certificates and Lapel Pins

All successful examinees receive a complimentary certificate suitable for framing and a BPS lapel pin. Certificants do not need to request the certificate through the online portal. These items are automatically sent to newly certified pharmacists approximately 90 calendar days after receiving their score report. Note: You have one year from your certification date to notify BPS if your certificate was not received. If reported within this timeframe, a replacement will be issued at no charge.

A certificate request should not be submitted through MyBPS. Prior to issuance, The Award Group (TAG), the approved certificate vendor for BPS, will provide you with login credentials by email to claim the certificate.

Certificate Replacements

Board certified pharmacists who have previously recertified may request additional certificate copies and/or lapel pins through TAG. Login credentials do not expire.

Replacement certificates will not be issued if the certification is scheduled to expire within the current recertification year (i.e., within 12 months of the expiration date). In such cases, you must first complete the recertification process. Upon successful recertification, an updated certificate reflecting the new certification period will be issued.

The BPS shall maintain sole ownership of the certificates, and the certification mark and logo are the property of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties^®. BPS is the only authorized agency that issues BPS certificates. These certificates are exclusively provided through our approved vendor, The Award Group (TAG). It is crucial to be cautious of any groups claiming to represent BPS. To avoid any confusion or scams, we recommend verifying purchases by directly contacting BPS with questions or concerns.

BPS Digital Badges

BPS digital badges, distributed by Credly, were created to enable users to manage and share their professional achievements easily and efficiently. Board-certified pharmacists may choose to utilize this verified display of their credentials as evidence of their professional achievement. The badge can be easily shared on social media, through professional channels, in an email signature, blog, or website.

BPS digital badges are automatically issued to the email address on file in your MyBPS profile one week (seven days) after exam scores are released. If you recently received an exam score notification, please allow seven days to receive your digital badge in your Credly account.

To accept and share a digital badge, you must access the Credly account associated with the email address on your MyBPS profile.

For more information about certificates and digital badges, click here.

Use of the BPS Mark and Logo

The BPS shall maintain sole ownership of the certificates, and the certification mark and logo are the property of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties®. The certificate shall take the form of a letter, card or other medium, and is signed or authorized by an appropriate member of the BPS staff, BPS Board of Directors chairperson and the BPS Specialty Council chairperson. Permission to use the certification logo or mark is granted to certified persons at the discretion of the BPS, for permissible uses only.

A candidate who passes the examination will receive a certificate with a raised seal suitable for framing and will have the right to claim the mark of a Board-Certified Pharmacy Specialist. Use of the BPS mark and logo is limited to those persons who have been granted the BPS designation and who satisfy all maintenance and recertification requirements established by the BPS. Use of the certification mark or logo by individuals who have not been granted and have not maintained the BPS certification is expressly prohibited.

NOTE: The BPS shall maintain sole ownership of the certificates, and the certification mark and logo are the property of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties®. BPS is the only authorized agency that issues BPS certificates. These certificates are exclusively provided through our approved vendor, The Award Group (TAG). It is crucial to be cautious of any groups claiming to represent BPS. To avoid any confusion or scams, we recommend verifying purchases by directly contacting BPS with questions or concerns.

Use of the Designation

To use letters in one’s title, individuals must: (1) meet and continue to meet BPS certification and recertification standards; and (2) demonstrate the requisite experience requirements. Successful individuals are authorized to use the following certification marks or designations in communications and marketing materials, once they have earned the specific designation: BCACP^®, BCCP^®, BCSCP^®, BCCCP^®, BCEMP^®, BCGP^®, BCIDP^®, BCNP^®, BCNSP^®, BCOP^®, BCPMP^™, BCPPS^®, BCPS^®, BCPP^®, and BCTXP^®.