Disclaimer
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Purpose
The purpose of this retrospective study was to utilize existing data to (1) compare the characteristics of Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) credentials successfully recertified vs those that were not successfully recertified in 2022 and (2) compare survey responses about maintaining board certification by continuing pharmacy education (CPE) vs examination among those who successfully recertified.
Summary
The characteristics of BPS credentials eligible for recertification in 2022 (n = 4,812) and survey responses from board-certified pharmacists who successfully recertified in 2022 (n = 3,629) were retrieved from the MyBPS database. Across all specialties, 75.4% of credentials were successfully recertified in 2022. Most credentials were recertified by CPE (92.1%). Successfully recertified credentials were predominately held by pharmacists practicing within the US (96.7%), those between the ages of 31 and 40 years (51.9%), and those completing the first 7-year certification cycle (73.9%). A significant difference was found between recertified credentials and those that were not recertified based on specialty, recertification pathway, credential holder practice location, and credential holder age. Over 89% of respondents reported that a primary benefit of maintaining board certification is to “expand knowledge and skills in pharmacy.”
Conclusion
Several factors influence the decision and/or ability of board-certified pharmacists to recertify and maintain their credentials. Successfully recertified board-certified pharmacists report expanded competency, credibility, personal gratification, and increased confidence among the primary benefits of maintaining board certification. Board-certified pharmacists who successfully recertify also report a preference for a recertification process that is temporally and financially efficient.
