How Many People pass Board Certification on First Attempt

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
T

TranslationalRPh

Full Member
Verified Member
2+ Year Member
Pharmacist
PhD
Verified Expert
Joined
Nov 20, 2018
Messages
287
Reaction score
197
Based on published results, typically more people pass recertification exam than the initial board certification exam. This makes sense given that they have seen exam material before and presumably have more experience. Anedotally, it also seems people who sadly don't pass on their first attempt generally fair better on subsequent attempts. However, it is interesting that BPS doesn't disclose how many of the initially certified have taken the exam before. I straight out asked BPS and was told that they don't give out that data.
I wonder if the pass rate for first time test takers is significantly lower than the overall pass rate.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Members don't see this ad :)
Amicable Angora said:
Would you mind going into more detail about how you prepared for the exam and how much time you spent?
Click to expand...
N=2
I passed BCPS first try without a residency too (I do have additional clinical training... just dated). I prepared mostly with Dipiro handbook and BCPS bullets. Right before the exam, I did purchase ACCP prep course and a ACCP mock exam.
 
Last edited:
TranslationalRPh said:
I passed BCPS first try without a residency too (I do have additional clinical training... just dated). I prepared mostly with Dipiro handbook and BCPS bullets. Right before the exam, I did purchase ACCP prep course and a ACCP mock exam.
Click to expand...

Thanks, how often did you study and for how long a time period?
 
Amicable Angora said:
Thanks, how often did you study and for how long a time period?
Click to expand...
Because I am so ancient and left traditional pharmacy practice over 7 years ago, I actually studied daily for most of the year. I figured it couldn't hurt and I enjoyed learning the material.
 
Amicable Angora said:
Would you mind going into more detail about how you prepared for the exam and how much time you spent?
Click to expand...
The weekend before ASHP mid year there is a two day exam prep/recertification. I went to that and they messed up the handouts, so I ended up getting free access to the recorded version, too. I mostly used that on weekends for a few months.
 
Passed first try as well, no residency, 3 years inpatient experience. Studied ACCP prep modules for about 2 months.

Not sure why residency has such a reputation for minting super pharmacists. Sure, when they first graduate they're going to be all over the latest lit and evidence based pharmacy initiatives, but that will fade very quickly. Some of the worst pharmacists I work with were residency trained.
 
lane one said:
Passed first try as well, no residency, 3 years inpatient experience. Studied ACCP prep modules for about 2 months.

Not sure why residency has such a reputation for minting super pharmacists. Sure, when they first graduate they're going to be all over the latest lit and evidence based pharmacy initiatives, but that will fade very quickly. Some of the worst pharmacists I work with were residency trained.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Very helpful.

Do you suppose that the bias towards residency used to be the phenotype residency-trained pharmacists? In other words, back when jobs were abundant, the type of person who would forsake extra income for personal development and greater career autonomy may be perceived to be more likely to continue said development? That said, even if that was once true, the motivation for pursuing a residency presently appears to have changed drastically. Thus, assumptions about residency-trained pharmacists are likely outdated. IDK, I just find your observation interesting.
 
TranslationalRPh said:
Thanks. Very helpful.

Do you suppose that the bias towards residency used to be the phenotype residency-trained pharmacists? In other words, back when jobs were abundant, the type of person who would forsake extra income for personal development and greater career autonomy may be perceived to be more likely to continue said development? That said, even if that was once true, the motivation for pursuing a residency presently appears to have changed drastically. Thus, assumptions about residency-trained pharmacists are likely outdated. IDK, I just find your observation interesting.
Click to expand...
Sure, I think that's possible. I think the psychological aspect of what drives people toward different career paths is worth exploring. It's also possible that I'm completely wrong since my observations are based on a small sample size (my hospital). There are also lots of other contributing factors, including the continual decline in quality of pharmD grads, which leads to a decline in quality residency grads. I'm including my self in this by the way. It seems like the bar was so much higher for pharmacy school admissions as recently as 2008. It stands to reason that if the more gifted individuals are avoiding pharmacy, the residency grads won't be near the same quality they were 10 years go.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
BCCCP passed on 1st try, no residency, experience only, studied PDFs

It may have something to do with fatigue. When I first got out I was thrown to the wolves. Had to suck up every drop of info, asked questions, listened to podcasts. For me listening to medical podcasts is totally sustainable and have been doing it ever since so I consider myself up to date. I bet if you get burned out from doing a residency you feel entitled to pull back and not work as hard/ask as many questions when you get your first job. And maybe theres that expectation as well: newb grad with no residency asking you for help vs resident (you should know that!) when in reality its impossible to know everything....

In general I think Pharmacists are dinguses as well when it comes to knowledge sharing. Very judgey and unwilling to share info. They like to go to conferences then have zero to report when they get back. Ive been trying to buck this trend by sending emails on weird stuff like tpa for PE or weird uses for TXA but no one else does stuff like that. They have their students present stuff but that doesn't help evening nor night shift who isn't there to see the presentation....
 
sakigt said:
BCCCP passed on 1st try, no residency, experience only, studied PDFs

It may have something to do with fatigue. When I first got out I was thrown to the wolves. Had to suck up every drop of info, asked questions, listened to podcasts. For me listening to medical podcasts is totally sustainable and have been doing it ever since so I consider myself up to date. I bet if you get burned out from doing a residency you feel entitled to pull back and not work as hard/ask as many questions when you get your first job. And maybe theres that expectation as well: newb grad with no residency asking you for help vs resident (you should know that!) when in reality its impossible to know everything....

In general I think Pharmacists are dinguses as well when it comes to knowledge sharing. Very judgey and unwilling to share info. They like to go to conferences then have zero to report when they get back. Ive been trying to buck this trend by sending emails on weird stuff like tpa for PE or weird uses for TXA but no one else does stuff like that. They have their students present stuff but that doesn't help evening nor night shift who isn't there to see the presentation....
Click to expand...

I’m always up for a good podcast...do you recommend any in particular?
 
How soon can you apply for Board certificates? When it says "completion of 3 years", does it mean you must have 3 yrs experiences before submitting application? (I'm referring to BCPS)
 
Rouelle said:
I’m always up for a good podcast...do you recommend any in particular?
Click to expand...
Im an ER Pharmacist so:
I get my hospital to pay for EM:RAP, for ER docs. Its what they listen to so thats what I listen to. Worth the $300 or so bucks 8 hours + a month

When I first got started I did EM:Crit, ER Cast, EM Basic, Skeptics Guide to EM

Pharmacy related and very good: Elective Rotation with Pharmacy Joe and Rosalind Franklin University although Im far behind on the latter one.
 
sakigt said:
BCCCP passed on 1st try, no residency, experience only, studied PDFs

It may have something to do with fatigue. When I first got out I was thrown to the wolves. Had to suck up every drop of info, asked questions, listened to podcasts. For me listening to medical podcasts is totally sustainable and have been doing it ever since so I consider myself up to date. I bet if you get burned out from doing a residency you feel entitled to pull back and not work as hard/ask as many questions when you get your first job. And maybe theres that expectation as well: newb grad with no residency asking you for help vs resident (you should know that!) when in reality its impossible to know everything....

In general I think Pharmacists are dinguses as well when it comes to knowledge sharing. Very judgey and unwilling to share info. They like to go to conferences then have zero to report when they get back. Ive been trying to buck this trend by sending emails on weird stuff like tpa for PE or weird uses for TXA but no one else does stuff like that. They have their students present stuff but that doesn't help evening nor night shift who isn't there to see the presentation....
Click to expand...
PREACH. At my facility, there seems to be zero focus on talent development. Our specialists are great at what they do, but as you mentioned it seems like everyone is more interesting in maintaining their position at the top of food chain than actually helping others. It's great that they know the ins and outs of catheter directed thrombolysis, but that doesn't help the pharmacist who gets a call about starting it in the middle of the night. Glad to see someone out there is trying to help others grow.
 
msweph said:
Agree - when I was a staff I found the only way I learned anything was to call or email the specialist directly.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Wow, this is sad. I thought my lack of professional development opportunities was due to the fact that I worked in a non-traditional practice setting (I mostly work with MDs and nonclinicians.) People looked at me like I was crazy when I decided to sit for BCPS.

However, it seems it may be more universal though. We have a lot of work to do in order to support one another. It's good to know what we are up against.
 
lane one said:
PREACH. At my facility, there seems to be zero focus on talent development. Our specialists are great at what they do, but as you mentioned it seems like everyone is more interesting in maintaining their position at the top of food chain than actually helping others. It's great that they know the ins and outs of catheter directed thrombolysis, but that doesn't help the pharmacist who gets a call about starting it in the middle of the night. Glad to see someone out there is trying to help others grow.
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I wanted to get board certified. No, I did not pass on my first attempts. I blame that on not studying as much as I could have and constant tiredness from years of unregulated sleep. Working alone at night can sometimes get kind of scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. I figured this would be a good way to force myself to keep up to date and on my toes. If you’ve worked nights alone in a full service hospital, especially a teaching hospital, you know that anything can go down, codes, strokes, MTP, sick babies... you better know exactly what you’re doing.
 
Heartslob said:
This is exactly why I wanted to get board certified. No, I did not pass on my first attempts. I blame that on not studying as much as I could have and constant tiredness from years of unregulated sleep. Working alone at night can sometimes get kind of scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. I figured this would be a good way to force myself to keep up to date and on my toes. If you’ve worked nights alone in a full service hospital, especially a teaching hospital, you know that anything can go down, codes, strokes, MTP, sick babies... you better know exactly what you’re doing.
Click to expand...

Some weaker pharmacists get away with putting people on forever hold.

Then I get to come in and hear about how they didn't know the cardiac arrest dose of tpa off the top of their head when I sent a very thorough explanation by email. Granted it was a year ago but I added lots of key words in the email so outlook could find it quickly. These same people will complain about job security or that theyre too old to sit for board certification.

But Im the lazy millennial 🙂
 
I passed BCPS first try, PGY1-trained + 2 years as a small hospital clinical coordinator. I still studied my ass off and attended the ACCP live course. Then I had a major health event, suspended study for a few months and picked back up in August. Took it in October and went to Mexico with the hubs to celebrate that I wasn't dead from aforementioned event. I really had no idea if I passed walking out of the exam and I never want to sit for recert as much as I loathe the CEs.
 
spacecowgirl said:
I passed BCPS first try, PGY1-trained + 2 years as a small hospital clinical coordinator. I still studied my ass off and attended the ACCP live course. Then I had a major health event, suspended study for a few months and picked back up in August. Took it in October and went to Mexico with the hubs to celebrate that I wasn't dead from aforementioned event. I really had no idea if I passed walking out of the exam and I never want to sit for recert as much as I loathe the CEs.
Click to expand...

So happy that you survived your health crisis ! So much more important. So much more important.
I definitely feel you on the CE, LOL!

I think you are n=8 passed, 7 of which passed on the first attempt and the first person who mentioned being residency trained. Sample is growing!
 
Potentially silly question, but does ACCP update their study books yearly? i.e. would it be beneficial to wait until April to purchase the 2019 book (if there is one)? Do you think there would be any huge differences in a yearly update?
 
SCRph2014 said:
Potentially silly question, but does ACCP update their study books yearly? i.e. would it be beneficial to wait until April to purchase the 2019 book (if there is one)? Do you think there would be any huge differences in a yearly update?
Click to expand...
They update study material every year. You are responsible for knowing new guidances and drug therapies.

From BPS: regulations, drugs, and therapies are incorporated into the examinations. All BPS specialty certification examinations reflect current, best practices, at the time they are constructed – practice guidelines used for the Spring examination are those that are current as of January 1 of the testing year. Practice guidelines for the Fall examination are those that are current as of July 1 of the testing year.

I probably would not wait, but even if you get it April you would be fine for a Fall exam. I don't know how much material changes from year to year. I hear it is not as much as you would think. They do provide a last chance update which was helpful to me. However, I will say that my single biggest regret was waiting until mid-September to review ACCP material for my October 1st exam. The ACCP material was more helpful to me than the other material I was studying.

If I had to weigh the benefit of getting 2019 material and starting later versus having more time with the 2018 material and reviewing updates on my own, I vote for the latter. I still think you would be fine either way.
 
Last edited:
Passed first attempt, residency trained (took the exam approximately 3 years after completing), and studying consisted of listening to the stats/study design ACCP lecture. I bought the whole thing with all intention of studying for 3 months, but life got in the way. So I listened to that lecture on my drive to the exam, thinking I was gonna fail. But I just barely broke 500.
 
Rockinacoustic said:
I'd be more interested in the BCPS pass rate of those who complete residency vs. did not.
Click to expand...
I passed BCPS 1st attempt. BS grad mid 90s although I did complete a nontraditional PharmD. No residency.

I used the ACCP Updates in Therapeutics material and studied for 3-4 months. I recertify using CE from PSAPs. Hate them but have no plan to ever take that test again!

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk
 
OmiPharmD said:
I passed BCPS 1st attempt. BS grad mid 90s although I did complete a nontraditional PharmD. No residency.

I used the ACCP Updates in Therapeutics material and studied for 3-4 months. I recertify using CE from PSAPs. Hate them but have no plan to ever take that test again!

Sent from my SM-T813 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Off topic - if you don’t mind sharing - how do you think non traditional pharm d helped you professionally?

Would you recommend it considering the time, money and effort vs a board certification ?

TIA!




Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
Newpharmacist said:
Off topic - if you don’t mind sharing - how do you think non traditional pharm d helped you professionally?

Would you recommend it considering the time, money and effort vs a board certification ?

TIA!




Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...
I work in a hybrid/clinical role and my employer paid for my initial board certification and study material. (They used to pay for the upkeep but cut that benefit a couple years ago).

Board certification is more important than the PharmD in my role presently. My director is a BS grad but he is near retirement.

I feel like the PharmD is necessary if I ever want to change jobs in the future. I have no plan to change jobs right now but I like having options.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
OmiPharmD said:
I work in a hybrid/clinical role and my employer paid for my initial board certification and study material. (They used to pay for the upkeep but cut that benefit a couple years ago).

Board certification is more important than the PharmD in my role presently. My director is a BS grad but he is near retirement.

I feel like the PharmD is necessary if I ever want to change jobs in the future. I have no plan to change jobs right now but I like having options.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Appreciate your response!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
 
I'm scheduling my bcps at the end of the first week of eligibility (~April 22nd). Here is my game plan. ACCP has 20 study modules so I can easily review two modules per week. That means I should start studying no later than Feb 18th. I took off the week off the exam so I prepare a final intense cram session reviewing all my weak areas. Get plenty of sleep the day before the exam and plenty of caffiene the day of.
 
Just read this on the BPS website and figured I'd share...

Fall 2018 certification and recertification examination results by specialty:

Specialty Initial Certification Recertification
Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) 338 of 550 (61%) candidates
Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist (BCCP) 180 of 239 (75%) candidates
Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP) 286 of 345 (83%) candidates
Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) 169 of 436 (39%) candidates
Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP) 468 of 577 (81%) candidates
Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP) 5 of 6 (83%) candidates
Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP) 38 of 57 (67%) candidates
Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) 192 of 323 (59%) candidates
Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS) 100 of 172 (58%) candidates
Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) 1,337 of 2,071 (65%) candidates
Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) 71 of 121 (59%) candidates
 
SCRph2014 said:
Just read this on the BPS website and figured I'd share...

Fall 2018 certification and recertification examination results by specialty:

Specialty Initial Certification Recertification
Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) 338 of 550 (61%) candidates
Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist (BCCP) 180 of 239 (75%) candidates
Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist (BCCCP) 286 of 345 (83%) candidates
Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) 169 of 436 (39%) candidates
Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist (BCIDP) 468 of 577 (81%) candidates
Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP) 5 of 6 (83%) candidates
Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist (BCNSP) 38 of 57 (67%) candidates
Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) 192 of 323 (59%) candidates
Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist (BCPPS) 100 of 172 (58%) candidates
Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) 1,337 of 2,071 (65%) candidates
Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP) 71 of 121 (59%) candidates
Click to expand...

Thanks so much. I just wish BPS would be more granular with their data. For example, how many of those initial certifications were in people who took the exam before? What were their practice settings? What was their postdoctoral training?
 
Passed BCACP on my first try, no residency, just a retail slob. I'm a nerd though, I would have happily taken the exam straight out of school, but I needed to complete those 4 years of practice experience because I wasn't cool enough to do a residency.

The whole system is a circlejerk to promote residencies and specialty certifications that you can obtain much easier if you complete residencies.
 
Subvisual said:
Passed BCACP on my first try, no residency, just a retail slob. I'm a nerd though, I would have happily taken the exam straight out of school, but I needed to complete those 4 years of practice experience because I wasn't cool enough to do a residency.

The whole system is a circlejerk to promote residencies and specialty certifications that you can obtain much easier if you complete residencies.
Click to expand...
How long did you study? What materials did you use?

By the way, I do think it is circular like you said.
 
TranslationalRPh said:
How long did you study? What materials did you use?

By the way, I do think it is circular like you said.
Click to expand...
I was lucky enough to get the study materials reimbursed by my work as Continuing Education. So I got one of those overpriced review courses from ACCP. It had 2 workbooks, like 20-odd chapters on disease states and an hour long video lecture on each recorded at some conference I didn't attend.

I wouldn't recommend copying my study ways. I've always been kind of a procrastinator and night owl as well as a good test taker, so I waited until a month before the exam then crammed the material 2-3 chapters at a time. I skipped the chapters that seemed utterly obscure, listened to the ones I was comfortable with on 2x speed just reinforce my knowledge, listened to some of my weaker topics at normal speed and did the reading.

On the whole I thought the test was a good challenge and seemed pretty appropriate in what they were asking. I'm sure if I saw the answer key I'd want to complain about some of their questions, but that's life. I'd recommend focusing on the major disease states. They'll always sneak in a few oddball questions that are foreign to you, but you're guaranteed a good chunk of questions on the meat+potato topics like COPD/Diabetes/CHF/HTN etc. And definitely have good working knowledge of statistics (mostly the basics on interpreting p-values/CIs/OR/RRR/NNT etc., what stat test to use when, and what the difference is between different trial types).

Also try to learn when they drew the time cutoff for writing the exam questions. Sometimes guidelines will update between the questions being written and you taking the exam, which can throw you for a loop (I took it right when the Metformin renal dosing guidelines were finally being significantly changed).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
BCPS exam 2025
Replies
2
Views
303
Pharm@2020
P
P
BCPS 2025
Replies
11
Views
2K
jesula
J
T
BCPS Recertification
Replies
0
Views
911
tsuge
T
S
what should i do in my bcps ?
Replies
1
Views
515
BC_89
BC_89
P
BCIDP vs BCPS . Taking exam in 2025
Replies
8
Views
3K
jesula
J
Top