Recertification Requirements & Rationale

To maintain an active certification status all certificants must document compliance with the following recertification requirements:

• License: Continually maintain an active US or Canadian pharmacist license in good standing. Any lapse in licensure must be reported to SPCB within 15 days. Failure to report changes in pharmacy licensure status will be investigated under the Disciplinary Policy. The requirement for a current, active pharmacist license in good standing is consistent with the state/provincial requirements to practice as a pharmacist in the US/Canada. Requiring that the license is full, current and unrestricted is necessary to demonstrate that the pharmacist has no unresolved disciplinary issues as a measure to increase public protection.
• Questionnaire: Complete an individualized learning path questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to help inform and direct the professional development activities of each certificant and should therefore be submitted early in the recertification period. Before submitting the recertification application, the certificant will evaluate the learning path for reflection on pharmacy practice and professional development activities. The learning path questionnaire supports SPCB’s ongoing commitment to ensure certificants are provided with the opportunity to create an individualized professional development plan. The questionnaire is a tool to track the certificant’s learning efforts, knowledge and skills gained, and continued focus on specialty pharmacy.
• Background & Code of Conduct Attestation: Agree to comply with the SPCB Code of Conduct and report any previous history of felony records or State/Provincial Board suspensions. Any conviction or State Board suspension must be reported to SPCB within 15 days. The requirement for pharmacists to have, and maintain, a history free of felony convictions acts as a measure to increase public protection. Conduct relative to criminal charges is not considered to be in alignment with protection of the public welfare. SPCB certificants have the obligation to: maintain and demonstrate high standards of integrity and professional conduct; accept responsibility for their actions; continually seek to enhance their professional capabilities; practice with fairness and honesty; and, encourage others to act in a professional manner. The requirement for adherence to the Code of Conduct provides increased awareness of expected ethical behaviors as well as increased public protection through a process that provides a reporting and investigation mechanism for Code of Conduct violations including State/Provincial Board suspensions.
• Continuing Education: Accrue 30 continuing education (CE) credits during the two-year reporting cycle. Certificants may earn CE using any of the options below. One hour of continuing education is equal to one (1) CE credit. Candidates may use the online recertification application to track continuing education activities throughout the certification period if desired. For instructions on entering your CE activities using the full copy of your CPE Monitor Activity Transcript, view the Uploading a CE Transcript document for instruction. The 30 hours of continuing education requirement ensures that applicants have education that is specific to Specialty Pharmacy medications and disease states. The requirement that CE be completed within the two-year recertification period provides assurance that the pharmacist’s specialty-related knowledge is up to date. The required hours are aligned with the 2018 job analysis, a study conducted by the Board regarding pharmacists continuing education requirements and license renewal and a competitive review of other pharmacy certifications.
  • Continuing Education CE in Specialty Pharmacy
    • All continuing education must be directly related to the practice of Specialty Pharmacy and the CSP examination content.
    • All continuing education must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) or approved by the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP).
    • A maximum of 10 hours of the required 30 CE hours may include non-clinical courses. Non-clinical courses shall address the area of pharmacy or health care. Examples include pharmacy administration, pharmacy technology, laws and regulation around specialty pharmacy care, managed care, formulary management, drug information, pharmaceutical or biotech, informatics, or management. The option of being able to utilize a maximum of 10 non-clinical hours in specialty pharmacy-related topics recognizes that not all aspects of specialty pharmacy are clinical in nature.
  • Earning an Additional Professional Certification
    • CSPs who become certified in an additional discipline of specialty pharmacy may earn 15 CEs for the current reporting period. Primary source verification of the certification is required. Earning certification in an additional discipline of specialty pharmacy supports SPCB’s recertification purpose of promoting professional development for specialty pharmacists. Primary source verification shall ensure certificants have demonstrated and met the standards by successfully completing the assessment process and are retaining the credential through continued competence.
    • Examples include: Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP), HIV Pharmacist™ (AAHIVP), Certified Pain Educator (CPE), Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist (MSCS).
    • CE credits will not be awarded for the CSP certification (e.g. initial, reexamination, reinstatement).
    • Credit may not exceed 50% of the total CEs required during any reporting period.