I’m interested to hear thoughts on becoming board certified (ambulatory care, in particular). Here’s the thing, I’m in my mid-40’s and have always worked retail. Seriously looking for a change but I’d it worth the time, $, etc.? Is it too late in my career to do this. Thanks!
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Pharmacy board certification thoughts?
Started by hwcpharmd
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Hello i have always worked retail too, i am not certified yet, hoping to take the fall exams, but i see it as an opportunity to stand out among your peers. some organizations such as federal establishments and hospital pay for the additional qualifications but am not sure about retail. Also go to the bps website, you are only qualify to take the exams within a certain period of graduation, 3 to 4 years post graduation and not more than 9 years post graduation i think. I am a foreign trained pharmacist and just graduated with a pharm D last year, hoping to take at least 2 board certification and maybe residency when i turn 50(LOL). In other words you are NEVER TOO OLD or LATE to make a change. Dollar is important but should never be a determining factor in making a change that will improve you as an individual and improve the way you practice.
I just wanted to throw my two cents in to say there is no time limit to when you get your board certification, as long as you meet the practice requirements. So I don't think it's too late in your career to get it. I'm not sure how helpful it would be as far as advancing your career but it probably wouldn't hurt any (aside from the $600 and time spent studying, of course!).
Here's the hard truth:
You will probably never pass the exam to get board certified in amb care.
I knew an amb care pharmacist practicing in amb care every day who studied for months and failed the first time she took the exam.
Are the stats published on the pass rates?
I don’t know, but I will look into that. I’ve heard the exam is extremely difficult.
I agree that it will be very heard to pass a board exam, unless you are working specifically in that area. Plus, while many hospital jobs like to see that, it probably will be meaningless in retail (now if you are hoping to break into hospital, then it could be helpful.) But if you have time and money to spare, no harm in trying.
I don't blame you for wanting to switch I am in a similar situation.
I started out on a clinical tract in my career (residency, CGP) but when my position did not expand clinically I did not pursue BCPS. It didn't expand because the drs at the facility I was at did not support pharmacist ran outpatient clinics. If you wanted to change your career path I think a residency would be the best starting point. Then start to add all the credentials and try to become associated with a pharmacy school. If you can't land a residency any experience outside a major retailer would help. CGP is an easy credential to get just review BEERs criteria.
Don't expect clinical positions to be all gravy because even with the credentials. there is a wide variety of clinical positions. A few are very clinical, the others are disguised as clinical. A coworker of mine found this out when she left to work at a hospital and was promised an anticoag clinic. That never materialized due to lack of md support.
Good luck.
Yes: Fall 2017 BPS Certification Examination Results - Board of Pharmacy Specialties
BCACP pass rate was ~63%
I wish it broke it down further.
I bet the majority of those failures are amb care pharmacist s
can you talk more about your original tract? Did you do an amb care residency? I know those outpatient practices are hard to get into but I can't imagine a person with a residency and experience like you would have difficulty finding a true clinical position somewhere?
I didn’t do a residency and I was really looking for something to set me apart from other applicants should I decide to leave my current job. I work at an independent compounding pharmacy now. I like it, but there are always weird dynamics at independents (at least in my experience thus far) and some days...
LOL I just quit at an independent compounding pharmacy.
I graduated in 2001. Applied for 3 PGY2 residencies in psychiatry (this was back when many rphs were running for the money, a residency was easier to get) got two offers took one. It was a great experience did rounded on inpatient psychiatry with treatment team in AM, worked in one of three outpatient pharmacist ran clinics in mental health (clozaril, gen MH, and PTSD). Staffed outpatient pharmacy every other friday. Had clinical privileges, did a project for apha midyear, did medical center talk. At APHA midyear interviewed with app 10 spots. Almost had a job with NIMH, but another candidate with fellowship, board cert came along and got the position. Later that year interviewed with two more facilities and got a spot. Position turned out to be bad work environment, not clinically advanced for pharmacy, and drs did not support outpatient pharmacist ran clinics. Did work on treatment team for nursing home which was essentially inpatient psychiatry: dementia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia. Left this position and have worked in non clinical roles since.
As a whole the pharmacist market stinks. I think clinical opportunities are expanding slowly for pharmacists. There is a wide variability in practices as well, so if you don't like the way the clinical pharmacists with whom you work practice where will you go? I also think of it as a stepping stone for pharmacists. Both of my preceptors at my residency were board certified and both now work as administrators. BTW, I went with them for their prep and they studied A TON of primary literature for board cert.
One idea comes to mind, instead of seeing the current proliferation of pharmacy schools as a curse, see it as an opportunity. If you know anyone at your SOP, give them a call say you want to get into teaching and a more clinical role.
One idea comes to mind, instead of seeing the current proliferation of pharmacy schools as a curse, see it as an opportunity. If you know anyone at your SOP, give them a call say you want to get into teaching and a more clinical role.
I grad in 2011. Walgreens x1.5; CVS overnight x2.5 years . Had a robbery with a gun to my head during a overnight shift and learned just how little CVS cares about its pharmacists. They authorized NO days off but I went behind the back of the district manager to the scheduler and got a day.
Out of work for a few months after I quit CVS. Got a job on a military base in outpatient (their retail). Awesome job. No stress, no corporate pressure. They told me they wanted to get me into the main hospital so I studied and took BCPS. I passed the exam (they have increased the difficulty over the test over the years due to the saturation of the market and everyone applying). Ambul use to be 77 percent pass not in the low 60s. The week I learned I passed, my contract ended. But I was able to get an Amb Care Clinic with my BCPS at another base. Once approved and trained, I will be a base Prescriber (yes, I will have a script pad) with a clinic office and everything.
So Quit CVS 2016 fall with only a retail background, then in 2018 I am in a dream job as a prescriber. Miracles can happen.
The Board is rough and passing BCPS without inpatient was brutal but can be done. I plan on taking the BCACP and using the retail x3 and military x 1 for then >50 percent of content outline rule. Can people confirm CVS and Walgreens qualify???? and I am not worried about test difficulty, last test I failed with 7th grade French.
Out of work for a few months after I quit CVS. Got a job on a military base in outpatient (their retail). Awesome job. No stress, no corporate pressure. They told me they wanted to get me into the main hospital so I studied and took BCPS. I passed the exam (they have increased the difficulty over the test over the years due to the saturation of the market and everyone applying). Ambul use to be 77 percent pass not in the low 60s. The week I learned I passed, my contract ended. But I was able to get an Amb Care Clinic with my BCPS at another base. Once approved and trained, I will be a base Prescriber (yes, I will have a script pad) with a clinic office and everything.
So Quit CVS 2016 fall with only a retail background, then in 2018 I am in a dream job as a prescriber. Miracles can happen.
The Board is rough and passing BCPS without inpatient was brutal but can be done. I plan on taking the BCACP and using the retail x3 and military x 1 for then >50 percent of content outline rule. Can people confirm CVS and Walgreens qualify???? and I am not worried about test difficulty, last test I failed with 7th grade French.
Lol interesting... so where does one study from? I just took it and only studied from accp.. not sure if i passed lol
