What are Board Certification Resources?
Board Certification Resources are educational activities intended to support pharmacists across the continuum of health care settings as they pursue and maintain board certification.

What types of Board Certification Resources do you provide?
We provide preparatory activities, courses, workbooks, and practice exams to assist advanced level pharmacists in preparing to test and achieve a board certification specialty. We also provide recertification courses, literature studies, select readings, intensive studies, and clinical sessions for board-certified pharmacists to help earn BPS credits towards recertification and maintaining board certification.

What is the relationship between ASHP and ACPE?
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education with Commendation.

What is the relationship between ASHP and BPS?
ASHP is approved by BPS to provide professional development programs (PDP) for the recertification of board-certified pharmacist for a total of 11 specialties.

What is the relationship between ASHP and ACCP?

Both ASHP and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) are approved by BPS to provide professional development programs (PDP) for the recertification of board-certified pharmacist. The two organizations collaborate on the development of PDP for the following 9 specialties: Ambulatory Care, Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases, Oncology, Pediatrics, and Solid Organ Transplantation.  

What are the requirements for my Recertification?
ASHP is one of a select group of organizations approved by BPS to provide professional development programs (PDP) for the recertification of board-certified pharmacist. Only BPS, as the certifying body, has the authority to set policies and requirements for its certifications. Visit the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) for more information on certification requirements, including recertification: https://www.bpsweb.org.

What is a Board-Certification Review Course?
Review Courses provide a comprehensive review of a selected pharmacy specialty and are based on the BPS exam content outline for the selected specialty. Review courses are packaged as either preparatory courses or recertification courses. Both package types offer practical guidance using a variety of complex cases and include recorded presentations and references for further study.

What is the difference between a Review Course for Prep and a Review Course for Recertification?
Review courses for Prep are developed to help the advanced practitioner prepare for board certification examinations. These courses provide a robust preparatory curriculum and further help the pharmacy professional prepare for certification specialty examinations by identifying areas needed for in-depth review. Most Review Courses for Prep include practice exams, and some include workbooks. Review courses for Prep are not eligible for BPS credit and are eligible for ACPE credit only. Please be sure to review the full activity description to understand which items are included in your selected course. ACPE credit for Review courses for Prep can range from 20 - 33 hours depending on the pharmacy specialty.

Review courses for Recertification are developed for board-certified pharmacists to aid in maintenance of their certification. These courses provide an overview of recent standards and guidelines that specialists should be familiar with in practice. The courses use a case-based approach to discuss patient care issues and are eligible for both ACPE and BPS credit. All Review Courses for Recertification include recertification assessments, and some include workbooks. Please be sure to review the full activity description to understand which items are included in your selected course. Review courses intended for recertification credit can range from 21 - 26 hours depending on the pharmacy specialty.

What is a Self-Assessment Program (SAP)?
Self-Assessment Programs (SAPs) are offered as part of the ACCP and ASHP professional development program for selected specialties approved by BPS for recertification credit. Learners will be required to review the content and complete the associated online assessments. The learner must be able to correctly answer the questions based upon their interpretation of the content, as well as “baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information.” For purposes of this course, “baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information” is defined as product labeling and well-established standards of practice in the specialty practice. Recertification credit for SAPs can range from 14 – 20 hours depending on the pharmacy specialty.

What is a Literature Study Program?
Literature Studies consist of multiple, peer-selected, contemporary articles that are relevant to the selected specialty practice area. Literature Studies are intended for board-certified pharmacists in need of recertification credit and are designed based on the BPS exam content outlines for certain specialties. Learners will be required to review the content and complete the associated online assessments. The learner must be able to correctly answer the questions based upon their interpretation of the content, as well as “baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information.” “Baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information” is defined as product labeling and well-established standards of practice in the specialty practice. Recertification credit for Literature Studies can range from 8 – 15 hours depending on the pharmacy specialty.

What is a Selected Reading Program?
A Selected Reading Program is equivalent to a Literature Study Program.

What is a Home Study Syllabus?
Available exclusively for the oncology pharmacy specialty, the Home Study Syllabus is a collection of journal articles that focus on advances across the oncology specialty practice domains. It is intended for board-certified pharmacists in need of recertification credit and is designed based on the BPS exam content outline for BCOP. Each activity is designed to assess the learners’ ability to analyze and apply peer-selected contemporary articles to practice. Learners will be required to review the content of the articles and complete the associated online assessments. The learner must be able to correctly answer the questions based upon their interpretation of the content, as well as “baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information.” “Baseline specialty specific knowledge and/or easily retrievable information” is defined as product labeling and well-established standards of practice in the specialty practice. Recertification credit for the Home Study Syllabus is typically 8 hours.

What are Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions?
Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions are specialty educational sessions originally offered at live ASHP or ACCP meetings, typically the ACCP Annual Meeting, ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Pharmacy Futures meeting. These sessions are intended for board-certified pharmacists in need of recertification credit and are designed based on the BPS exam content outlines for certain specialties. Using a case-based approach, the activities provide high-level, interactive discussions on contemporary and emerging issues in certain specialty pharmacy practices. Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions are available for many but not all BPS specialties. Registration details for live meetings will provide further details as to which specialties will have Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions as well as the topics covered.  Recertification credit for Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions packages can range from 3 – 6 hours depending on the pharmacy specialty.

How do I earn BPS credit for Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions?
Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions at live meetings are available for all registered attendees to attend at no additional cost. Attendees can claim ACPE credit for attendance only at the live event; however, if the goal is to earn BPS credit for attendance, the learner must purchase the Intensive Study or Clinical Session package to have access to the associated recertification assessment(s) once available. Per BPS, learners must pass an assessment to be eligible for BPS credit. Meeting attendees can purchase the Intensive Studies or Clinical Sessions package at a discounted rate as an add-on to their live meeting registration or purchase the packages at full price following the live meeting. If you are currently enrolled in one of our subscription packages, you will automatically receive access to these Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions packages if your enrollment is still active at the time of product launch .

How and when will I receive the recertification assessments for Intensive Studies and what’s included in the package?
Intensive Study and Clinical Session packages include recordings of the live sessions and the associated recertification assessments. Due to BPS requirements for assessment development and field testing, Intensive Study and Clinical Session packages are typically available to learners approximately 2 months after the event. For learners who pre-purchased packages with their live meeting registration, packages will automatically drop into their e-Learning account upon the posted product release date. Learners who did not pre-purchase the package or did not attend the live event may begin purchasing the Intensive Studies and/or Clinical Sessions package beginning on this date as well. If you are currently enrolled in one of our subscription packages, you will automatically receive the access to these Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions packages if your enrollment is still active at the time of product launch .

Can I claim credit for attending the live Intensive Studies and/or Clinical Sessions and again once the recordings are available via the online package?
No, you can only claim ACPE credit for attending one or the other, not both.

Does Board Certification Resources offer any live activities/courses?
Yes, live activities (Review Courses for Prep, Review Courses for Recertification, Intensive Studies, and Clinical Sessions) are offered annually for certain pharmacy specialties. All live board certification activities are recorded and packaged as online courses for purchase approximately 2 months following the live event. Pharmacotherapy Review Courses are offered annually prior to the start of the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting (Dec). Ambulatory Care, Emergency Medicine, and Oncology Review Courses are offered annually in early March. Intensive Studies for select specialties are offered annually at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Pharmacy Futures meetings (Jun). Clinical Sessions for select specialties are offered annually at both the ACCP Annual Meeting (Oct) and the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting.

Can I attend a live activity/course remotely?
No, live activities can only be attended in-person as there is no live stream component; however, all our live board certification educational programs are recorded and repackaged as online activities. The online version of a live board certification educational program can be purchased approximately 2 months after the conclusion of the live event.

How do I find board certification activities that are eligible for BPS recertification credit?
Check out the ASHP Store to view all CPE activities in one place. To limit your search to only those activities that are eligible for BPS recertification credit, simply click on “Certification Resources” located under Product Type to the left. To further filter your search to a specific BPS pharmacy specialty certification,  click on the certification specialty topic under topic. This will generate a list of all activities available for purchase for that particular specialty. Activities that are eligible for BPS recertification credit will include “Recertification” in the product name. Certification preparation activities will also be listed but are not eligible for BPS credit and will not include “Recertification” in the product name.

What is the difference between Certification Preparation and Recertification Activities?
Certification Preparation activities are designed to assist learners who are preparing to take the Board Certification Exam for a BPS Specialty. Recertification Activities are activities designed to assist board-certified pharmacists in maintaining their BPS credentials. Upon successful completion of recertification activities, BPS credit hours are earned and transmitted to BPS. Recertification activities contribute to the minimum Continuing Professional Education (CPE)  hours that are set by BPS and required for recertification of a board certification specialty.

Where do I go to complete the certification preparation/recertification product that I recently purchased?
Access your enrollment here: http://elearning.ashp.org/my-activities under “View Your Enrollments/Purchases Below”

To begin a course after purchase, you must click on the Enroll Now button to add the course to your eLearning dashboard. The first step following enrollment will be to acknowledge the course expiration date and time. All progress, including the completion of required assessments for recertification credit, must be completed prior to 12:00 AM Eastern Time on the course expiration date. 

Why does this course say “No Recert?”
Be sure to look out for this notice if you are looking for Recertification credit. Products that state No Recertification are not meant to be utilized for BPS Recertification credit.

What is the RRRP (Review & Recertification Reward Program)?
The Review & Recertification Reward Program (RRRP) is designed for learners who are not already board certified. The RRRP was developed to ease the financial burden on residents and new practitioners preparing for board certification. The RRRP for a select specialty will provide free access to preparation/study materials in the first year. In January of the following year, the plan will convert to a 7-year subscription plan for recertification in sync with the learners first 7-year certification cycle with BPS. During the 7-year subscription period, the learner will have access to ASHP’s full online learning catalog recertification activities for the selected specialty at a low price of $10 per month for the 7-year term. Learners taking advantage of the RRRP can expect to save approximately $1,500 over the subscription term when compared to purchasing the same resources individually.

Do I need to be a member to enroll in the RRRP?
Yes, RRRP is a member benefit.

Is the RRRP available for all pharmacy specialties?
Unfortunately, no. The RRRP is available for the following specialties only: Ambulatory Care, Critical Care, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Pharmacotherapy.

Are live activities/courses included in the RRRP?
No, registration to live activities/courses is not included in the initial prep period or the recertification subscription period. Learners enrolled in RRRP that prefer a live format can still opt to register for the live course, but the option would be at an additional cost. Keep in mind that live board certification activities/courses are recorded and repackaged as online activities approximately 2 months following the live event. Although live registration is not included in the RRRP, the online version is included in your subscription.

When should I enroll in the RRRP based on my exam date?
Learners should enroll in the RRRP based on their personal preference, taking into consideration how long they plan to study prior to their exam date. Enrollment into the plans is not available between 8/31 and 10/1, as we take it offline during that time to set up for the next calendar year. An example of the timing works as such:

• If a learner enrolls in the plan before 8/31/24, then they would be expected to take the certification exam in 2024 calendar year and payments would begin in January of 2025
• If a learner enrolls in the plan on or after 10/1/24, then they would be expected to take the exam in the 2025 calendar year and payments would begin in January of 2026

What preparation/study materials will I have access to within the RRRP?
Certification Preparation Materials normally sold independently for a selected specialty are included in the RRRP.

Will there be enough hours available to me via the RRRP to satisfy my recertification requirements with BPS?
Yes, there are sufficient hours available in all RRRP plans to satisfy the typical number of CPE required by BPS. Please keep in mind that there are recertification assessments that must be successfully passed within the specified timeframe for each recertification activity for the learner to be eligible to claim available credits.

What if I’m enrolled in the RRRP and don’t pass the board certification exam?
If you do not pass the exam, contact ASHP Customer Relations department for cancellation from the RRRP plan, [email protected].

I would like two different recertification plans. Is there a package option?
Unfortunately, ASHP does not offer bundled recertification plans. You must purchase a plan for each specialty that you are interested in maintaining; however, some of the coursework that you receive access to in your recertification plan (Intensive Studies and Clinical Sessions) may be eligible for credit in multiple specialties. For more information: https://www.ashp.org/Professional-Development/Board-Certification-Resources/Multi-Certified-Packages.

I am subscribed to a recertification plan, why am I not seeing any activities in my eLearning account?
You can enroll in any of the recertification activities as they become available. To access activities through your recertification plan, log into your eLearning account, click My Learning Activities, then the Subscriptions tab, followed by the Enroll Now/View Enrollment button.

How long do I have to complete each recertification activity?
Each activity/course is only available for approximately 12 months. Please review the product description which will include the course expiration date. All progress, including the completion of required assessments for recertification credit, must be completed prior to 12:00 AM Eastern Time on the course expiration date. 

Do I need to be a member to enroll in the 3-yr or 1-yr recertification plan?
No, however the member rate is $12 monthly whereas the non-member rate is $24 monthly.

Will the price for the 3-yr or 1-yr plan ever increase?
If you subscribe to a plan, the monthly rate that was agreed to at the start of the plan will remain the same throughout the subscription.

What if I want to cancel my subscription?
Subscriptions cannot be cancelled upon enrollment. For more information, refer to the Terms and Conditions Agreement offered to you at the time of enrollment.

• 3-Year Recertification Plan Agreement
• Review and Recertification Reward Program Agreement

Will my subscription automatically renew?
Subscriptions will not automatically renew. If you are interested in renewing your subscription, please feel free to reach out to Customer Relations via phone, email, or online chat.

Is it possible to pause my recertification plan until I need more credits?
Recertification Plans cannot be paused. Consider utilizing your plan access to apply credits to your subsequent Recertification Cycle or complete additional hours of CPE to satisfy the new 20 hours of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) required by BPS for Recertification.

How many questions are on the practice exam?
The total number of practice exam questions differs by specialty. They can generally range between 100 – 185 questions. Practice exams may be taken as many times as the learner would like. Each question on the practice exam includes a rationale explaining the correct answer, references supporting the correct answer and mapping from the applicable BPS Exam Content Outline.