BCPS Employer letter for application -- Trying to block out retail pharmacists?

[SCRph2014]

Important Notice: Beginning Spring Examination Cycle 2019, all first time Candidates will be required to verify their practice experience through a letter from their supervisor, on official letterhead, verifying the practice experience claimed on the application or by their residency completion (certificate of completion, residency certificate, or a letter from their preceptor).

Does anyone think this is trying to block out retail pharmacists from sitting for the BCPS exam? Or is it just a more solidified way of making sure a pharmacist has practiced long enough before sitting for the exam? The critera they set in their own definition is...
The purpose of the BCPS program is to validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge and experience to improve patient outcomes by:

• Optimizing medication use by serving as an objective, evidence-based source for therapeutic information and recommendations.
• Functioning as a member of an interprofessional team providing direct patient care.
• Working with physicians/prescribers in hospitals to design and/or modify patients’ medication therapy regimens.
• Recommending adjustments to dosage or alternate medications when appropriate.
• Working with physicians/prescribers in outpatient settings to optimize medication therapy, and tracking progress and compliance .
• Making suggestions about diet and lifestyle changes to help patients better manage their health.

If they don't qualify retail pharmacy as 50% pharmacotherapy, then WTF are we doing for 40 hours a week?!

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[Thoughtfulsinner]

Why would you want to take that exam if you work retail?

 

[SCRph2014]

Why would you want to take that exam if you work retail?

to try and get out of retail lol. Prove that I'm not just a glorified cashier that puts pills in bottles. Been looking into BCPS as well as MTM certification this year.

 

[Stella14]

Why would you want to take that exam if you work retail?

Just guessing...You most likely will not be able to transition into other another field without experience in that field or that piece of paper.


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[Newpharmacist]

Go right ahead if you want to do it! It’s a tough exam no doubt- but don’t let - “retail - BCPS? “comments pull you down.
It may not open many clinical roles but it will give you some more options out of retail like LTC / PBMs. They do hire people with retail experience. A BCPS / Board cert will definitely give you an edge over other candidates.
Wags recent news of an unliscenced professional working as a pharmacist has proved what retail chains have reduced us down to .. 12 years and no one could tell the difference !!
(I mean no offense to anyone pls).
If anything - you ll get a good refresher, be updated in your field and it ll make you more competitive.
Goodluck!

 

[TranslationalRPh]

Many retail pharmacists have sat for and passed the exam. I don't think the documentation requirements should be prohibitive and hope your employer feels the same way. I was more concerned with those of us that have left patient care many years ago being able to qualify. What kind of boss would block you from trying to better yourself?

 

[SCRph2014]

Many retail pharmacists have sat for and passed the exam. I don't think the documentation requirements should be prohibitive and hope your employer feels the same way. I was more concerned with those of us that have left patient care many years ago being able to qualify. What kind of boss would block you from trying to better yourself?

I guess I'm moreso worried about BPS seeing the official letter head of "Insert Retail Pharmacy" and rejecting the application. Who knows with it being so new. I certainly know that my daily workflow incorporates the description of the BCPS exam -- MTM, vaccinations, point of care testing, etc. I also didn't even think about pharmacists working for a PBM or etc.... Not that dispensing is a requirement, but certainly approving/denying prior auths all day might be a stretch to qualify for the BCPS exam. Definitely nowhere near providing direct patient care.

 

[UGAZ]

This is a joke. I know several retail Rph that passed BCPS first time with no issues. The verification process is truly a joke.

 

[lord999]

Well, that's going to be interesting because the wording is such that anyone could satisfy it working for retail on a point by point basis.

 

[awval999]

You are delusional if you think BPS is going to reject letterhead from CVS or WAGs.

For one it's a public relations nightmare by saying that community RPhs do not practice pharmacotherapy.
And two, they aren't gonna turn down that cash monies for the exam and yearly renewals.

 

[TranslationalRPh]

I guess I'm moreso worried about BPS seeing the official letter head of "Insert Retail Pharmacy" and rejecting the application. Who knows with it being so new. I certainly know that my daily workflow incorporates the description of the BCPS exam -- MTM, vaccinations, point of care testing, etc. I also didn't even think about pharmacists working for a PBM or etc.... Not that dispensing is a requirement, but certainly approving/denying prior auths all day might be a stretch to qualify for the BCPS exam. Definitely nowhere near providing direct patient care.

I think they have a direct interest in making this test as accessible as practical. I wouldn't think that they would want to routinely restrict retail pharmacists from taking it. That actually seems at direct odds with their goal which is to get majority of promises to meet their practice standards. Also, keep in mind that some people satisfy the pharmacotherapy exam requirement via the other domains, such as drug information or research.

 

[SCRph2014]

You are delusional if you think BPS is going to reject letterhead from CVS or WAGs.

For one it's a public relations nightmare by saying that community RPhs do not practice pharmacotherapy.
And two, they aren't gonna turn down that cash monies for the exam and yearly renewals.

That's what generalized anxiety will do to ya, I guess. (I'm one of the pharmacists that took a 20% salary paycut and hour cut this year, so a lot of work anxiety stems from that) But you are right, $$$ is the driving force of everything nowadays

 

[TranslationalRPh]

You are delusional if you think BPS is going to reject letterhead from CVS or WAGs.

For one it's a public relations nightmare by saying that community RPhs do not practice pharmacotherapy.
And two, they aren't gonna turn down that cash monies for the exam and yearly renewals.

It is not inconceivable that BPS one day works out a partnership with CVS and WGS to get more pharmacists certified. I think they would LOVE if certification became the minimal practice standard.

 

[Thoughtfulsinner]

to try and get out of retail lol. Prove that I'm not just a glorified cashier that puts pills in bottles. Been looking into BCPS as well as MTM certification this year.

Who are you trying to prove that too? Why do you care what others think?

 

[SCRph2014]

Who are you trying to prove that too? Why do you care what others think?

Is that even a real question? Potential employers looking at a slew of applications that all look the same with just retail experience and nothing added on post-graduation

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[Thoughtfulsinner]

Is that even a real question? Potential employers looking at a slew of applications that all look the same with just retail experience and nothing added on post-graduation

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Passing a test that 65% of people pass doesn't prove anything.

 

[owlegrad]

Passing a test that 65% of people pass doesn't prove anything.

What would the pass date need to be before it proved something?


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[PharmtoCS]

to try and get out of retail lol. Prove that I'm not just a glorified cashier that puts pills in bottles. Been looking into BCPS as well as MTM certification this year.

Problem is, if they make BCPS accessible to any retail pharmacist then soon everyone and their mother with a PharmD will have a BCPS which devalues the certification while making BPS richer from all the fees. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a BCPS.

 

[ornithoptor]

If they don't qualify retail pharmacy as 50% pharmacotherapy, then WTF are we doing for 40 hours a week?!

Let us be honest, how much time do pharmacist spend on pharmacotherapy in retail setting?

My own experience is about 10%, I spend majority of the time data entry, pill counting, pill verification, getting refill authentications, troubleshoot insurance rejections, ring up guests, and take guest to restroom sometime.

I do get a chance to practice pharmacotherapy on OTC recommendations, DUR, vaccines...... However, these are minor activities even a smart lay person can do with computers. This point has been proven by recent fake pharmacist who practiced at Walgreens. Trust me, I know that has happen at a hospital too.

BTW, I have worked few years in retail. When I interned at Walgreens, I was not impressed by what retail pharmacist do with pharmacotherapy. Although I was amazed by the execution of complex workflow. Again, given plenty of time, smart lay person can do that easy.


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[TranslationalRPh]

Problem is, if they make BCPS accessible to any retail pharmacist then soon everyone and their mother with a PharmD will have a BCPS which devalues the certification while making BPS richer from all the fees. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a BCPS.

Most US physicians (about 90%) are board certified. Is it devalued for them? I don't know.

 

[Lnsean]

Problem is, if they make BCPS accessible to any retail pharmacist then soon everyone and their mother with a PharmD will have a BCPS which devalues the certification while making BPS richer from all the fees. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a BCPS.

let's be real..is it really that hard to get this? I know a few people who have passed this easily with 1-2 months of studying while still working their full time jobs.

 

[Modest_anteater]

That's what generalized anxiety will do to ya, I guess. (I'm one of the pharmacists that took a 20% salary paycut and hour cut this year, so a lot of work anxiety stems from that) But you are right, $$$ is the driving force of everything nowadays

$$$ has always been the driving force for everything since it existed 5,000 years ago bro. Nothing really changes.

 

[Modest_anteater]

Problem is, if they make BCPS accessible to any retail pharmacist then soon everyone and their mother with a PharmD will have a BCPS which devalues the certification while making BPS richer from all the fees. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a BCPS.

Problem is, if they make a phamrD degree accessible to any student then soon everyone and their mother will have a PharmD which devalues the degree while making pharmacy deans richer from all the fees and tuition. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a phamrD degree.

 

[Pharmacy is a Scam]

Problem is, if they make a phamrD degree accessible to any student then soon everyone and their mother will have a PharmD which devalues the degree while making pharmacy deans richer from all the fees and tuition. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a phamrD degree.

Problem is, if they make $200k+ in federal loans accessible to any student then soon everyone and their mother will have a “doctorate level degree” which devalues any advantage you “gain” from attending graduate/professional school while making deans richer from all the fees and tuition. Then you will no longer be able to “stand out” with a doctorate in anything.

 

[zelman]

Let us be honest, how much time do pharmacist spend on pharmacotherapy in retail setting?

My own experience is about 10%, I spend majority of the time data entry, pill counting, pill verification, getting refill authentications, troubleshoot insurance rejections, ring up guests, and take guest to restroom sometime.

I do get a chance to practice pharmacotherapy on OTC recommendations, DUR, vaccines...... However, these are minor activities even a smart lay person can do with computers. This point has been proven by recent fake pharmacist who practiced at Walgreens. Trust me, I know that has happen at a hospital too.

BTW, I have worked few years in retail. When I interned at Walgreens, I was not impressed by what retail pharmacist do with pharmacotherapy. Although I was amazed by the execution of complex workflow. Again, given plenty of time, smart lay person can do that easy.


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Every time you review a prescription, note an issue, contact the provider and resolve the issue, you are practicing pharmacotherapy. Right?

Now, don’t mistakenly think that reviewing a prescription and identifying that there is no issue isn’t.

 

[Xarelto-10]

This happens in any profession just much or even more stringently regulated as pharmacy. So, honestly I wouldn’t take it as far as saying this scenario is a realistic representation of the pharmacists place in the community setting.
However, I must also agree with you, in that the chains would love to use this case as a way of proofing that techs supervised by pharmacists can do this. Well it’s bound to happen sooner or latter...

Go right ahead if you want to do it! It’s a tough exam no doubt- but don’t let - “retail - BCPS? “comments pull you down.
It may not open many clinical roles but it will give you some more options out of retail like LTC / PBMs. They do hire people with retail experience. A BCPS / Board cert will definitely give you an edge over other candidates.
Wags recent news of an unliscenced professional working as a pharmacist has proved what retail chains have reduced us down to .. 12 years and no one could tell the difference !!
(I mean no offense to anyone pls).
If anything - you ll get a good refresher, be updated in your field and it ll make you more competitive.
Goodluck!

 

[ornithoptor]

Every time you review a prescription, note an issue, contact the provider and resolve the issue, you are practicing pharmacotherapy. Right?

Now, don’t mistakenly think that reviewing a prescription and identifying that there is no issue isn’t.

Totally agree, I consider any substitution, interaction , recommendation and DUR to be very clinical oriented activities.

OTOH, I would not consider decipher and transcribe provider handwriting or matching name and birthday are pharmacotherapy activities.

When I worked at Target, I spend minimal time on DUR. Thinking back, I spend about 10% of my time on clinical activities; Majority of my day is customer service oriented. Also, when I interned at CVS and Walgreens and I didn’t feel any different either back then.

Perhaps my experience is not a good representation, maybe retail pharmacy now can afford more pharmacotherapy time for their pharmacists now that pharmacist shortage is over🙂


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