Bcps ...employment verification?

[cemented]

ive been working inpatient for about 2 and 1/2 years now and I don’t have a residency. I was planning on taking the bcps but apparently you need your employer to verify you’ve work 3 years. This is utter nonsense considering I’ve had coworkers take it who have less experience and were able to take the test last year. Anyone know why they changed the process?

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[zelman]

The requirements haven’t changed. The enforcement has. Are you really asking “Why are they working to make people follow the rules after everyone was breaking them?”

 

[greenteapanacea]

So I guess if we don't pass the BCPS now, we look like idiots in front of our employers 😛

 

[samven582]

ive been working inpatient for about 2 and 1/2 years now and I don’t have a residency. I was planning on taking the bcps but apparently you need your employer to verify you’ve work 3 years. This is utter nonsense considering I’ve had coworkers take it who have less experience and were able to take the test last year. Anyone know why they changed the process?

too many retail pharmacists taking it?

 

[TranslationalRPh]

So I guess if we don't pass the BCPS now, we look like idiots in front of our employers 😛

I guess it is a risk that several already assume if you have to get the exam and study materials costs pre-approved for reimbursement.

 

[TranslationalRPh]

too many retail pharmacists taking it?

What incentive does BPS have to suppress the number of applicants? I think they want as many qualified applicants as possible because 1) that's their business model and 2) increase volume in Certification reinforces their narrative that Certification is necessary.

I wonder if this is about making sure they are accurately characterizing their certified members to their credentialing body?

 

[Thoughtfulsinner]

too many retail pharmacists taking it?

4 out of 4 retail rphs I know passed first try, while 3 clinical rphs I know all failed it. Goes to show the type of job you have doesn't correlate to how knowledgeable/smart you are.

 

[Saiyo]

I've changed jobs, how do I get verification for this from my previous employer on their freaking letterhead? I can't even get a copy of the vaccines I got there lol!

 

[Saiyo]

Bump...anyone successfully registered and done this yet?

 

[KidPharmD]

What incentive does BPS have to suppress the number of applicants? I think they want as many qualified applicants as possible because 1) that's their business model and 2) increase volume in Certification reinforces their narrative that Certification is necessary.

I wonder if this is about making sure they are accurately characterizing their certified members to their credentialing body?

Because their certification model is experience+testing. The test is verification of knowledge but the experience is part of the qualifications. If it doesn't matter what kind of experience a person has they might as well let new grads take the exam. Having technically unqualified people take it dilutes the meaning. If everyone has BCPS then it doesn't mean anything anymore (then something else will come along, and will replace it).

4 out of 4 retail rphs I know passed first try, while 3 clinical rphs I know all failed it. Goes to show the type of job you have doesn't correlate to how knowledgeable/smart you are.

I don't know a single clinical pharmacists who has failed a BPS exam. I think the difference is some experienced pharmacists think they know everything they need to when they don't realized how specialized their knowledge base has become. The BCPS is REALLY broad, more broad than most pharmacists practice.

 

[TranslationalRPh]

Because their certification model is experience+testing. The test is verification of knowledge but the experience is part of the qualifications. If it doesn't matter what kind of experience a person has they might as well let new grads take the exam. Having technically unqualified people take it dilutes the meaning. If everyone has BCPS then it doesn't mean anything anymore (then something else will come along, and will replace it).

90% of MDs board certified in the US, yet board certification has not been supplanted as the minimal competency standard for practictioners. I did not criticize the experience requirements. I just doubt their motivation is to exclude eligible canidates.

 

[KidPharmD]

90% of MDs board certified in the US, yet board certification has not been supplanted as the minimal competency standard for practictioners. I did not criticize the experience requirements. I just doubt their motivation is to exclude eligible canidates.

I don't think their motivation is to exclude eligible candidates. I think they believe that there were ineligible candidates taking the exam and they don't have the manpower to audit those candidates between application and certification. So, now they are asking for more proof of eligibility instead of just taking your word for it.

I think your MD example kind of proves my point. BPS certification isn't supposed to be the minimal competency. That's the NAPLEX. If BCPS becomes minimal competency then I think something else will come to supplant it. For MD's it is the sheer number of available board certifications. That's the direction I think we are headed. Soon, I think that we will see more specific certifications that do what BCPS used to do. Board certification in internal medicine pharmacy or something like that. We already have geriatric pharmacy certification.

 

[BenJammin]

What happens if you're self employed?

 

[owlegrad]

What happens if you're self employed?

What would be the point of getting board certified?

 

[TranslationalRPh]

I don't think their motivation is to exclude eligible candidates. I think they believe that there were ineligible candidates taking the exam and they don't have the manpower to audit those candidates between application and certification. So, now they are asking for more proof of eligibility instead of just taking your word for it.

I think your MD example kind of proves my point. BPS certification isn't supposed to be the minimal competency. That's the NAPLEX. If BCPS becomes minimal competency then I think something else will come to supplant it. For MD's it is the sheer number of available board certifications. That's the direction I think we are headed. Soon, I think that we will see more specific certifications that do what BCPS used to do. Board certification in internal medicine pharmacy or something like that. We already have geriatric pharmacy certification.

I agree that more specializations is indeed the direction we we seem to be going. We now have a compounding certification and more to come.

Just to clarify, when I say board certification supports minimal competency for practice, I actually was referring to clinical practice as opposed to general practice, which of course NAPLEX is still the standard.

Also, I am not whetted to any one certification. It is totally possible for BCPS to be displaced. I am just saying that BPS doesn't want to exclude eligible candidates from taking board certification, as they have a vested interest in more pharmacists to taking it not less. It is understandable if their infrastructure is overwhelmed, as you suggest.

 

[zelman]

What would be the point of getting board certified?

Stopping being self employed

 

[spacecowgirl]

What would be the point of getting board certified?

It provides more balance in my signature line:
spacecowgirl, PharmD
vs
spacecowgirl, PharmD, BCPS

While I do think there is gross overeducation and underutilization of pharmacists, I personally feel more knowledgeable because I have my BCPS. Not because of the exam itself but because of the maintenance required. But mostly what zelman said. Job security. I can't be my own control and find out what would happen if I didn't have a PGY1 and BCPS so take from that what you will, but I have not worried about employment even with the saturation.

 

[chickiekat128]

Bump...anyone successfully registered and done this yet?

Ugh. I’m in the process of registering. I got my employment letter and gave them my $600 and a week later, I get an email asking for verification of my hours worked the stated years because I work part time. This is quite frustrating. Is anyone else who works part time running into this problem?