How To Apply
The CPEL application process is online, streamlined for your convenience, and includes the three easy steps below. There is no application fee.
Upcoming Tentative Capstones at ASHP
- May 5-7, 2025 (apply by February 15)
- September 22-24, 2025 (apply by July 15)
CONFIRM ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility is based on the achievement of professional and leadership competencies and on-the-job experience. Below are the criteria to apply:
- ASHP member with an unrestricted pharmacy license.
- Minimum of 5 years post-residency progressive and sustained healthcare leadership experience including leading the organization's decisions involving operations, policies, and programs and services.
- Current executive leader in a healthcare organization within the last 3 years that advances pharmacy practice and promotes positive patient outcomes. Candidate's current role must be responsible for leading people or programs/services and oversight and accountability for budgets/financial decisions and/or clinical outcomes for service line(s)/department(s). Criteria is inclusive of:
- Clinical leaders who lead and/or influence medication policy, quality initiatives, and other programs in multi-site or health system settings who have responsibility for delivering results across the organization;
- Directors/chairs or leaders in other high-level positions in college/university departments are eligible. Those whose roles are limited to teaching are not eligible.
- Achievement of the leadership and professional competencies [PDF].
- Uncompensated volunteerism in the past 2 years in healthcare-related organizations such as a charitable or professional organization (exclude precepting roles).
GATHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Gather necessary supporting materials for the online application including:
- Copy of pharmacy license (JPEG acceptable)
- Resume/CV
- Organization chart
-
References
(2) affirming your leadership experience (one from a senior executive in your organization)
- Draft responses to the online application questions
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SUBMIT ONLINE APPLICATION
View the Application Instructions, including questions you will be asked to respond to, prior to applying.
Target Candidates
CPELs must have responsibility for leading people or programs/services and oversight and accountability for budgets/financial decisions and/or clinical outcomes for service line(s)/department(s). Eligible roles include but are not limited to system level executives including VA and managed care organizations, CPOs, C-suite executives, VPs, directors/department heads, service line leaders, multisite/system clinical leaders, faculty director/chair or other high-level position in college/university department. Others may be eligible if responsibilities meet criteria.
Candidates will be asked to share examples of leadership experience including:
- Collaborations with executive leaders and/or peer departments to build cross-functional relationships and align pharmacy services with quality outcomes and fiscal resource responsibility;
- Leading and engaging in the organization's strategic planning for medication use and pharmacy services, or other organizational initiatives;
- Influencing decisions at both the department and organizational level to create value (e.g., for quality and safety, medication use, pharmacy services, hospital and health system clinically and financially oriented programs/services (stewardship, disease-state, or population);
- Influencing financial decisions using key financial indicators and analysis to generate, evaluate, and act on strategic opportunities involving operations, policies, and services;
- Advancing patient care by promoting pharmacy best practices and adopting emerging technologies and innovative services;
- Leading people, including creating a culture that supports diversity, staff resilience, and wellbeing.
Still Undecided?
Ask us to schedule a consultation with a current CPEL to discuss how it may benefit you. You can also hear perspectives directly from CPELs about why they chose to become certified.