About SPCB
The Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board (SPCB), established in 2012, is the certifying board for the Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP) credential. SPCB was established to offer a non-governmental professional certification program for specialty pharmacists, called the Certified Specialty Pharmacist “(CSP”) Credential. The mission of the SPCB is to provide independent, verifiable evidence of proficiency in specialty pharmacy practice through a nationally recognized, accredited, and rigorous certification program.
The SPCB is an unincorporated division within the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP). NASP is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization and is the only national association representing all stakeholders in the specialty pharmacy industry. The mission of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) is to elevate the practice of specialty pharmacy by developing, delivering and promoting continuing professional education and specialty certification while advocating for public policies that ensure patients have appropriate access to specialty medications in tandem with critical services. The NASP Board of Directors has permanently delegated to the SPCB sole and exclusive authority with respect to the SPCB’s policies and procedures and autonomy over all certification decisions.
The SPCB Board is responsible for overseeing the development of credentialing for specialty pharmacists and related specialty pharmacy professionals, implement policies and procedures for these certification programs, and to oversee the development of the certification examination(s). The SPCB Board is dedicated to promoting the specialty pharmacists’ responsibility in maintaining the highest possible quality standards to advance ethical practice and to advocate for professional development to ensure that patients served receive safe, efficient care now and in the future.
The SPCB is solely responsible for essential decisions related to the development, administration/delivery, and ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the certification program. The SPCB ensures that all application and eligibility requirements, examination development and administration activities, recertification application and eligibility requirements, and all certification program policies and procedures are directly related to the purpose of each certification program.
Development and maintenance of the CSP examination, and other certification examinations, is based on a Job Analysis Study process that is designed to ascertain, directly from practicing professionals, the frequency with which prerequisite knowledge is applied in practice and the importance or criticality of this knowledge in specialty pharmacy practice. Content is added to the examination only after it has been identified through the Job Analysis Study process and accepted by subject matter experts as required by the SPCB examination development policies as outlined in the SPCB Handbook. The Certified Specialty Pharmacist credential is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
View the SPCB Board of Directors