Is BPS killing BCOP?
New recertification rules add layers of complexity at a time when burnout and attrition are already high. Will pharmacists decide it’s no longer worth it?
There is growing frustration among pharmacists about the process of achieving and maintaining board certification through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). Much of that frustration stems from broader issues - such as the perceived value (or lack thereof) placed on these credentials by employers and the profession at large.
Personally, board certification (specifically BCOP - board certified oncology pharmacist) has been beneficial for my career. When I was in clinical practice, it helped me advance to a Clinical Pharmacist II role, which came with a modest raise.
Interestingly, it became even more valuable once I transitioned out of direct patient care into non-traditional roles in healthcare technology. In those spaces, board certification gave me a way to communicate my clinical credibility and expertise. Many outside of pharmacy are familiar with board certification from our physician colleagues, so it was an easy parallel to draw - especially if you're willing to explain the significance.
I’ve taken a less common approach to maintaining my BCOP certification. Of the ~4000 BCOPs in the US, I’m one of the ~9% that recertify by exam instead of continuing education (CE).
It wasn’t a strategic choice at first - just advice from a former boss I decided to follow. Now, I appreciate the simplicity. After experiencing the financial and time savings (no CE fees, fewer hours), I haven’t looked back.
My first recertification exam was in 2020 - an intense year all around. At that time, I was working in tech, had left full-time patient care, and my education business was barely an infant. I hadn’t studied like I planned (the world was on fire after all), but I passed - thanks in large part to the years of experience I’d built.
Recertifying by exam has been a practical and cost-effective strategy, until now.
Recertification requirements have changed
BPS introduced new recertification requirements, many of which add unnecessary layers of complexity in my opinion.
“For certification cycles beginning January 1, 2024 or later: Achieve passing score on the recertification examination and self-report 20 units of continuing professional development (CPD) by the end of the 7 year recertification cycle (assessed CPE can also satisfy this requirement). A minimum of 2 units of CPD or BPS-approved, assessed CPE must be earned annually, regardless of recertification pathway.”
Recertification BCOP exam now has 150 questions
This used to have 100 questions - I haven’t found an explanation for this 50% increase in the number of questions on the BCOP recertification exam.
Additionally, all pharmacists must now complete 20 hours of CPD (continuing professional development), regardless of whether they recertify by CE or exam.
At first glance, CPD sounded like a welcome addition for those that go the CE recertification route. Fewer required BCOP-specific hours and more flexibility sounded like a step in the right direction (plus it reduces the cost since BCOP hours are expensive).
But in practice, it's not as flexible as it appears. I can’t even put their table explaining it in this article because it is too big. And for those that recertify by exam, there appears to be no benefit of CPD.
You have to report a minimum of 2 units every year - no batching credits.
And each CPD category has a strict annual maximum. For example, you can earn 1 CPD unit for every 10 hours of precepting, but only 2 units per year.
Even if you consistently precept, it would take FIVE YEARS to fulfill that category’s max of 10 units.
Incredibly high-effort (and cost) activities, like completing ANOTHER graduate degree, only earn 5 CPD credits per year (with a cap of 10 per cycle). Read that again, you can only get HALF of your required CPD by completing a graduate degree!
There are opportunities to get credit for professional service, presentations, publications, and other activities. But for those of us in non-traditional or non-academic roles, some categories may be difficult to fulfill - and require more documentation than expected (and honestly needed).
Okay with working for free? Then you’ll meet the qualifications.
There are several opportunities to get credit for all that volunteer work pharmacists are guilted into doing without compensation, so maybe that’s a plus? But if you have decided to have boundaries and not work for free, you’re out of luck there.
If you haven’t reviewed the new CPD framework, I’d encourage you to take a look. It’s also worth reviewing the implementation timeline to see when CPD will apply to you (another unnecessary complexity). For me, it won’t kick in until 2028, so I still have time to evaluate what I want to do about this, which will include serious consideration about letting my BCOP lapse.
I’ve written here about the downward trend in the number of pharmacists with BCOP certification - these changes will likely impact that further. It’s certainly impacting how I think about it, and I’ve been an advocate of BCOP for years.
At a recent oncology pharmacy conference I attended, 30% of the speakers were not BCOPs, and two of them were PGY2 oncology trained...that says something.
There is writing on the wall BPS isn’t reading
At a time when burnout and attrition is high and workforce challenges are mounting, we should be focused on a simpler, more accessible path to maintaining board certification, not a more complicated one.
