APhA study finds that pharmacists without residencies have lower BPS pass rates than pharmacists with residencies

[Pharmacy is a Scam]

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“Initial board certification examination outcome (i.e., pass or fail) was assessed for a total of 15,171 candidates from Fall 2015 to Fall 2018. Pass rates for that period based on eligibility pathway (e.g., completion of a PGY-2 specialty residency, completion of a PGY-1 residency plus 1–2 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience, or 3–4 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience) were, respectively as follows: ambulatory care pharmacy (n = 2081): 94%, 84%, and 55% (P < 0.0001); critical care pharmacy (n = 2111): 99%, 94%, and 79% (P < 0.0001); oncology pharmacy (n = 1195) 93%, 75%, and 50% (P < 0.0001); pediatric pharmacy (n = 1119): 87%, 73%, and 57%; (P < 0.0001); pharmacotherapy (n = 8368): 88%, 59% (P < 0.0001); and psychiatric pharmacy (n = 477): 93%, 72%, 49% (P < 0.0001).“

Abstract found here: https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(19)30291-2/fulltext

My takeaways:
1. APhA will definitely use this to push for PGY-2+ residencies.
2. This demonstrates that knowledge gained from residency trumps “working for a few years without residency” if BPS is used as the litmus test.
3. Sucks for retail pharmacists trying to get BPS certified as they likely have lower pass rates than that third bucket of candidates (relevant work experience with no residency) who are averaging something like a 50ish% pass rate across all specialties.

 

[zelman]

I think time elapsed between pharmacy school and taking the exam is also a huge factor. I would have passed the BCPS more easily when I had just graduated.

 

[DIPEA]

Never delay earning $$$ and be extremely careful to spend time on advanced training or exams on reduced $$$, especially for something that has proven to provide little or absolutely no future earning potential, yeah I mean residency and other bulls**t certs or exams from corrupt organizations like APhA

 

[rxdawg21]

Kinda interesting. I passed two board certs on first attempt with no residency 🙂

I have a feeling a lot of the failures are those in retail, Ltc, or other non clinical jobs. Or if people just didn’t study taking for granted their knowledge.

 

[confettiflyer]

Kinda interesting. I passed two board certs on first attempt with no residency 🙂

Did you keep both? I’m debating if it’s worth the cost to maintain BCPS.

 

[confettiflyer]

I'll likely be dropping bcps. It isn't even on my sig line at work anymore. The alphabet soup looks stupid at a point. It expires in about 2 years and I have basically no CE done.

I'll loose a about 3K a year certificate bonus, which makes me consider keeping it.... Really don't wanna take the test again tho and the CE is so expensive. I'll keep my specialty certificate.

I’m like 2/3 done with CE and my renewal is in 3 years...I’d totally keep BCPS if I had a 3k/yr certificate bonus, only because a) it’s $864/3yr for the ASHP CE (non member rate), b) the annual fee is the same for two boards certs vs one (~$125/yr), and c) recert fee is $400/7 year cycle.

Total marginal cost is $1264/7 years, and you get $14k extra pay over those 7 years? That’s not even counting the potential overlap between BCPS and the subspec credential

 

[confettiflyer]

Yes, that is true. I guess I'm just being lazy and there is no guarantee I'll still be here in 3 years, right? I also have a third (not BPS) cert that I'm not sure counts, but it has No expiration date! So I need to find out if that counts or not per policy here.

What’s your second? I think I’m biting the bullet and taking BCOP, but I need at least 2-3 years of prep since I don’t work with peds and that’s fair game on exam.

You’re lucky, my institution just gives me an extra week of vacation + covers the initial exam + q7yr recert fee.

If you haven’t done any CE, look into the ASHP program, instant grading & not as convoluted as PSAP modules. Not sure if the 3yr subscription fits your timeline, though.

 

[confettiflyer]

Oh trust me, I'm loving the vacation, but truth be told if you gave me a $3k incentive PER board cert, I'd be one of the 138 uber-mega-unicorns that are triple credentialed.

2.5 years is still probably enough time to make it worth getting the 3yr program (just cut off the sub at the end and buy-up modules from ACCP or ASHP to meet your CE balance due).

 

[mentos]

What is BPS for? Never seen a job listing that required it. Was it really worth taking a 80k pay cut for a year or two?

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Good- this confirms my bias and validates residency training is some objective form.

Curious what BCPS pass rates will be in the future now that they require some sort of practice verification from your employer if non-PGY-1 trained.

 

[confettiflyer]

What is BPS for? Never seen a job listing that required it. Was it really worth taking a 80k pay cut for a year or two?

It's just a way to validate training, kind of like how anyone can just learn pharmacy on their own, but the PharmD + license means you don't have to vet that they actually completed a program of study.

The usual hiring standards and due diligence applies. Technically, most positions don't even require a residency, it's residency OR X years of experience. It'll be up to the hiring manager to attach meaning to the program of study, residency, experience, and credentialing.

 

[confettiflyer]

I think time elapsed between pharmacy school and taking the exam is also a huge factor. I would have passed the BCPS more easily when I had just graduated.

I took mine 3 years after I finished residency, I wasn't in any particular rush and my initial employer didn't necessarily care that I wasn't planning on taking it. Only after I changed to a job with an annual financial incentive + $600 reg fee coverage did I actually start the process.

 

[confettiflyer]

My takeaways:
1. APhA will definitely use this to push for PGY-2+ residencies.
2. This demonstrates that knowledge gained from residency trumps “working for a few years without residency” if BPS is used as the litmus test.
3. Sucks for retail pharmacists trying to get BPS certified as they likely have lower pass rates than that third bucket of candidates (relevant work experience with no residency) who are averaging something like a 50ish% pass rate across all specialties.

I don't know that APhA has any bearing on the specialty positions or their practice areas. In fact, I'm pretty sure the fact that this shows up in J APhA is incidental. None of my colleagues interact with APhA, much less consider them relevant in their practice areas. If they put out a position statement pushing PGY-2....I suppose the only people concerned would be the pearl clutchers of SDN, but I digress.

 

[Pharmacy is a Scam]

I'll likely be dropping bcps. It isn't even on my sig line at work anymore. The alphabet soup looks stupid at a point. It expires in about 2 years and I have basically no CE done.

I'll loose a about 3K a year certificate bonus, which makes me consider keeping it.... Really don't wanna take the test again tho and the CE is so expensive. I'll keep my specialty certificate.

I’m like 2/3 done with CE and my renewal is in 3 years...I’d totally keep BCPS if I had a 3k/yr certificate bonus, only because a) it’s $864/3yr for the ASHP CE (non member rate), b) the annual fee is the same for two boards certs vs one (~$125/yr), and c) recert fee is $400/7 year cycle.

Total marginal cost is $1264/7 years, and you get $14k extra pay over those 7 years? That’s not even counting the potential overlap between BCPS and the subspec credential

Imagine in 10 years when both retail and hospital staff positions will require a PGY-2 to validate your “experience” and 3 additional certifications to validate your “knowledge” all the meanwhile paying $50k. Oh and I forgot to mention that keeping your credentials (certifications, state license etc.) updated will run you $5k. So your effective salary would be essentially <$45k.

Why would anyone still want to become a pharmacist?

 

[confettiflyer]

Imagine in 10 years when both retail and hospital staff positions will require a PGY-2 to validate your “experience” and 3 additional certifications to validate your “knowledge” all the meanwhile paying $50k. Oh and I forgot to mention that keeping your credentials (certifications, state license etc.) updated will run you $5k. So your effective salary would be essentially <$45k.

Why would anyone still want to become a pharmacist?

ok

 

[PharmtoCS]

Imagine in 10 years when both retail and hospital staff positions will require a PGY-2 to validate your “experience” and 3 additional certifications to validate your “knowledge” all the meanwhile paying $50k. Oh and I forgot to mention that keeping your credentials (certifications, state license etc.) updated will run you $5k. So your effective salary would be essentially <$45k.

Why would anyone still want to become a pharmacist?

There will always be a batch of pre-pharms who will remain in denial and claim "passion."

 

[spacecowgirl]

My employers have always paid for the costs associated with certification. I would probably maintain it because I might need it and sunk cost fallacy

 

[Lubeckd]

I want the cphims but there is a renewal on it. How do you go on studying for it? what is it consider of?
I think pure software or data analytics is better at this point

 

[DIPEA]

I want the cphims but there is a renewal on it. How do you go on studying for it? what is it consider of?
I think pure software or data analytics is better at this point

CPHIMS Certification ... it is easier than you think.
Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) - GoCertify
some quick google search results

How Valuable is a HIMSS Certification? | What is Health Informatics .com
An insider's account who had MS in health informatics and HIMSS cert. He actually said "Other than listing the credential on my resume, I have never had an employer or coworker ask me about CPHIMS. And in meeting with industry peers through networking or for job consideration, the certification has not been a contributing factor to my success. I’ve never seen a situation where a hiring manager selected a candidate due to this certification. The candidate’s past work experience, education, personality, and willingness to learn and grow are generally more impactful than this certification."

So, I guess it's not worthwhile to do it for career advancement?

 

[Lubeckd]

CPHIMS Certification ... it is easier than you think.
Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) - GoCertify
some quick google search results

How Valuable is a HIMSS Certification? | What is Health Informatics .com
An insider's account who had MS in health informatics and HIMSS cert. He actually said "Other than listing the credential on my resume, I have never had an employer or coworker ask me about CPHIMS. And in meeting with industry peers through networking or for job consideration, the certification has not been a contributing factor to my success. I’ve never seen a situation where a hiring manager selected a candidate due to this certification. The candidate’s past work experience, education, personality, and willingness to learn and grow are generally more impactful than this certification."

So, I guess it's not worthwhile to do it for career advancement?

My question is what are the questions being asked. Data analytics? Software engineering? making a program?

 

[DIPEA]

My question is what are the questions being asked. Data analytics? Software engineering? making a program?

CPHIMS Candidate Handbook
The examination content is on page 7-10 in the handbook. it seems like it is more related to informatics workflow in a hospital, and none of analytics or programming. it's a 115 mcq exam, so i guess it's gonna be like a survey, aka memorization & regurgitation

 

[confettiflyer]

My employers have always paid for the costs associated with certification. I would probably maintain it because I might need it and sunk cost fallacy

Are you talking about the second BPS certification?

I feel that most employers wouldn’t necessarily cover the second, but I was proved wrong once by msweph.

 

[konkan]

“Initial board certification examination outcome (i.e., pass or fail) was assessed for a total of 15,171 candidates from Fall 2015 to Fall 2018. Pass rates for that period based on eligibility pathway (e.g., completion of a PGY-2 specialty residency, completion of a PGY-1 residency plus 1–2 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience, or 3–4 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience) were, respectively as follows: ambulatory care pharmacy (n = 2081): 94%, 84%, and 55% (P < 0.0001); critical care pharmacy (n = 2111): 99%, 94%, and 79% (P < 0.0001); oncology pharmacy (n = 1195) 93%, 75%, and 50% (P < 0.0001); pediatric pharmacy (n = 1119): 87%, 73%, and 57%; (P < 0.0001); pharmacotherapy (n = 8368): 88%, 59% (P < 0.0001); and psychiatric pharmacy (n = 477): 93%, 72%, 49% (P < 0.0001).“

Abstract found here: https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(19)30291-2/fulltext

My takeaways:
1. APhA will definitely use this to push for PGY-2+ residencies.
2. This demonstrates that knowledge gained from residency trumps “working for a few years without residency” if BPS is used as the litmus test.
3. Sucks for retail pharmacists trying to get BPS certified as they likely have lower pass rates than that third bucket of candidates (relevant work experience with no residency) who are averaging something like a 50ish% pass rate across all specialties.

No residency here, yeap didn't get my bcps on the first try lol

 

[NorthwestRph]

“Initial board certification examination outcome (i.e., pass or fail) was assessed for a total of 15,171 candidates from Fall 2015 to Fall 2018. Pass rates for that period based on eligibility pathway (e.g., completion of a PGY-2 specialty residency, completion of a PGY-1 residency plus 1–2 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience, or 3–4 years of postlicensure specialized practice experience) were, respectively as follows: ambulatory care pharmacy (n = 2081): 94%, 84%, and 55% (P < 0.0001); critical care pharmacy (n = 2111): 99%, 94%, and 79% (P < 0.0001); oncology pharmacy (n = 1195) 93%, 75%, and 50% (P < 0.0001); pediatric pharmacy (n = 1119): 87%, 73%, and 57%; (P < 0.0001); pharmacotherapy (n = 8368): 88%, 59% (P < 0.0001); and psychiatric pharmacy (n = 477): 93%, 72%, 49% (P < 0.0001).“

Abstract found here: https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(19)30291-2/fulltext

My takeaways:
1. APhA will definitely use this to push for PGY-2+ residencies.
2. This demonstrates that knowledge gained from residency trumps “working for a few years without residency” if BPS is used as the litmus test.
3. Sucks for retail pharmacists trying to get BPS certified as they likely have lower pass rates than that third bucket of candidates (relevant work experience with no residency) who are averaging something like a 50ish% pass rate across all specialties.

I passed the BCACP as a retail pharmacist, seven years after graduation.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Are you talking about the second BPS certification?

I feel that most employers wouldn’t necessarily cover the second, but I was proved wrong once by msweph.

No, first. Sorry - poorly worded from my phone. What I meant was even if my employer didn't cover it (BCPS), I would probably maintain it myself.

 

[confettiflyer]

No, first. Sorry - poorly worded from my phone. What I meant was even if my employer didn't cover it (BCPS), I would probably maintain it myself.

No worries, I would maintain my initial cert unless I stopped practicing pharmacy or picked up a specialized one.

When I initially finished residency, I already had a FT job lined up, so I really didn't have any incentive to drop $600 + time for exam prep/sitting. It wasn't until I had a financial benefit did I start the process.

But if I were at a poor employer and looking to change jobs, I would absolutely take it regardless of incentive.

 

[TranslationalRPh]

I think time elapsed between pharmacy school and taking the exam is also a huge factor.

I passed the BCACP as a retail pharmacist, seven years after graduation.

Passed BCPS on first attempt over 13 years after graduating and over 7 years after leaving traditional pharmacy practice (retail); I work in industry and took the exam to bolster my clinical knowledge.