Cardiology and infectious diseases specialty certification examinations were offered by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) for the first time in fall 2018. According to BPS examination results, 180 pharmacists gained the new credential as Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacists (BCCPs) and 468 as Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (BCIDPs). Of the pharmacists gaining the new credentials in cardiology and infectious diseases, 8 and 20, respectively, practice outside the United States.
Currently, 4578 specialty certifications are held by pharmacists practicing in 53 countries other than the United States (Figure 1). These include Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialists who also hold Added Qualifications in Cardiology and Infectious Diseases.
The Pharmacotherapy specialty, first recognized by BPS in 1988, is the most common specialty certification earned by international pharmacists, followed by the Geriatric Pharmacy and Oncology Pharmacy specialties in second and third place, respectively (Figure 2). For the two specialties recognized by BPS in 2013, Critical Care Pharmacy and Pediatric Pharmacy, a total of 149 and 62 certifications, respectively, have been earned by international pharmacists.
Figure 1. International specialty certifications, by country.a
aOther countries in which pharmacists hold board certifications are China and Pakistan (9 certifications each); Macao (6); France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, and Sweden (5); New Zealand (4); Iraq (3); Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Philippines, Switzerland, and Syria (2); Algeria, Austria, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Korea, Democratic Peoples), Palestine, Portugal, Tunisia, and Vietnam (1).
Information from: Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
Figure 2. Specialty certifications held by pharmacists practicing outside the United States.
BCACP = Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist; BCCCP = Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist; BCCP = Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist; BCGP = Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist; BCIDP = Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist; BCNP = Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist; BCNSP = Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist; BCOP = Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist; BCPP = Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist; BCPPS = Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist; BCPS = Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.
Information from: Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
More information on Cardiology Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, and all other pharmacy specialty certifications recognized by BPS is available at www.bpsweb.org/bps-specialties.