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As independent pharmacy continues to go clinical, you’ve probably found yourself considering adding a service, expanding a program, or in this case, tacking on a new pharmacy certification to your name.
Pharmacy certifications prove your expertise in an area of practice — whether it be immunizations, diabetes management, or pediatric care.
Not only do certifications provide you the opportunity to pick up new knowledge, skills, and experience, but they also give you a competitive edge. And, in independent pharmacy, that edge matters.
At the time of writing, there are more than 200 professional certifications or designations that you can earn, both from the Board of Pharmacy and third-party organizations.
If you’re looking to take your practice to the next level, look to pharmacy certifications.
Here are just a few you should consider:
As the leading provider of certifications, the Board of Pharmacy has awarded more than 60,000 pharmacists around the world with certifications in 14 different specialties.
The Board of Pharmacy is considered “the gold standard” for training and certifications. BOP certifications include:
The BOP’s ambulatory care certification is designed for pharmacists who want to perform services across different settings — including community pharmacies, clinics, and physician offices.
The BCACP certification gives you expertise in many areas of clinical care, including medication therapy management, patient counseling, and preventive care.
Currently, there are more than 6,100 Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacists in practice.
The BCCP certification is designed for pharmacists who specialize in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.
It can give you dispensing and preventive care skills, like routine tests and screenings, critical to cardiology patients.
At the time of writing, there are over 690 BPS Board-Certified Cardiology Pharmacists in practice.
The sterile compounding certification helps pharmacists maintain health and safety protocols in the preparation, storage, and dispensing of different prescription drugs.
Currently, there are more than 1,600 BPS Board-Certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacists in practice.
To learn more about compounding opportunities for your pharmacy, watch EP 77 of the Beyond the Scripts Podcast:
The BCCCP is designed for pharmacists specializing in critical care work.
The certification can give you the necessary expertise to administer, analyze, and assess the treatment plans of critically ill patients — and adjust their medications accordingly.
To date, over 4,230 professionals hold the BCCCP certification.
The BCEMP is directed toward pharmacists who specialize in emergency medicine settings.
The certification can give you advanced knowledge and experience to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients in these settings.
There are more than 460 BPS Board-Certified Emergency Medicine Pharmacists in practice right now.
The BCGP is tailored toward pharmacists who treat elderly patients, especially those with comorbid conditions who take multiple medications.
The certification can help you provide enhanced treatment and monitoring of these patients, and reduce the risk of complications.
Currently, there are more than 4,670 Board-Certified Geriatric Pharmacists in practice.
For more tips on treating geriatric patient populations, tune in to this quick clip from EP 25 of the Beyond the Scripts Podcast:
Pharmacists who focus on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases can obtain the BCIDP certification to refine their skills.
The BCIDP draws on clinical-based evidence to develop antimicrobial treatments that quickly resolve infections and prevent further spread.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, more pharmacists than ever before have received their BCIDP. Currently, more than 1,970 pharmacists hold the certification.
The BCNP certification is designed for pharmacists treating patients via radiation.
As a BCNP pharmacist, you can gain the knowledge and experience necessary to manage radiopharmaceuticals in a safe and effective way, whether for medication dispensing or diagnostics.
Over 350 professionals hold the title of Board-Certified Nuclear Pharmacist.
The BCNSP is intended for pharmacists who treat patients via advanced nutrition mechanisms, like IVs and feeding tubes.
The certification enables you to better understand these mechanisms and improve patients’ nutrition through assessment, feeding design, nutrient dosing, and clinical monitoring.
There are more than 1,150 Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacists in practice.
The BCOP is for pharmacists who specialize in treating patients with cancer.
This certification grants you the ability to create effective treatment plans while reducing potential risks for patients, especially as they relate to medications.
It also helps you create cancer prevention strategies for all patients.
To date, more than 4,310 pharmacists have been awarded the BCOP certification.
The BCPPS is meant for pharmacists who focus on treating children 18 years and younger.
By teaching pharmacists to diagnose, treat, and monitor conditions unique to children — and advocating for children’s health and wellness across the board — the BCPPS certification ensures that you can care for even the smallest of patients.
Over 1,840 pharmacists are Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacist Specialists.
The BCPS program is designed for pharmacists who work in interprofessional teams (with physicians, nurses, etc.) to provide direct patient care and intervention.
This certification helps you be an active, contributing member of a team and can even afford you more opportunities to practice clinical service via collaborative practice agreements.
At the time of writing, more than 31,530 pharmacists are Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialists.
Psychiatric pharmacists work to give patients appropriate treatment for various mental illnesses.
The BCPP certification can help these pharmacists to gain experience in prescribing psychiatric medications, educating patients on their mental health, and advocating for mental health measures in public policy.
There are more than 1,540 pharmacists currently in practice who have received their BCPP.
The BCTXP is intended for pharmacists who treat patients that have recently received a solid organ transplant.
The certification enables these pharmacists to work alongside other providers to manage complex medication regimens and design safe treatment plans for transplant patients, making their recovery as smooth as possible.
There are more than 320 BPS Board-Certified Transplant Pharmacists in practice today.
Aside from the Board of Pharmacy, other pharmacy organizations offer certification in clinical services. Here are some of the top trending among pharmacists right now:
For pharmacists who focus on the management and treatment of diabetes, the CDCES certification can provide additional education and resources.
This certification helps you implement strategies to treat current diabetes patients and prevent other patients from getting the disease.
Over 19,500 healthcare professionals are Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.
To learn more about diabetes management, watch this short clip from the Beyond the Scripts Podcast:
The AE-C certification is designed for pharmacists who treat patients with asthma and other related respiratory issues.
The certification, which is given through the NAECB, can provide you with the tools you need to develop both short- and long-term solutions for asthma patients via medication and tools (like inhalers).
Currently, there are more than 3,200 providers who are Asthma Educator-Certified.
The National Certification Board for Anticoagulation Providers (NCBAP) offers a certification program for professionals who specialize in reducing the risk of blood clots.
Anticoagulation is important in the use of many prescription medications, and you can use this certification to minimize the dangers of blood clotting.
Hundreds of providers have received their CACP.
The IFMCP, awarded by the Institute for Functional Medicine, is the first and only certification program for providers practicing functional medicine (pharmacists included).
This certification educates you on the ins and outs of holistic health and helps you develop strategies to treat patients beyond prescription medication.
Thousands of providers across the world have received their IFMCP certification.
Hear more from functional medicine pharmacist Michael Muniz on the Beyond the Scripts Podcast:
The AAHIVP certification is for pharmacists that treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
As an AAHIVP certificate holder, you can maximize the the tools you can test, treat, and advocate for patients.
Hundreds of pharmacists already hold an AAHIVP certification.
Whether it be through the Board of Pharmacy or other organizations, pharmacy certifications can be invaluable to your practice.
For one, they give you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and apply it in a real, practical setting.
In the process, they lead to better health outcomes for your patients and more revenue for your pharmacy.
Certifications can also bolster your reputation and facilitate new networking opportunities.
Finally, they can give you the expertise you need to take the next step in your career, whether that be moving up the ladder, accepting a new position, or opening up your own pharmacy.
Whatever course you decide to take, certifications can take you far.
