Recertification assures the BPS-certified pharmacist, along with the public and the profession at large, that specialty skills and knowledge are maintained at exceptional levels and comparable to newly certified practitioners.
Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacists are required to recertify every 7 years through one of two methods:
BPS has approved AAPP as the sole provider of BCPP Recertification programming.
Each year AAPP provides 45 hours of BCPP Recertification programming as follows:
Each component can be purchased separately and each provides ACPE credit identical to the amount of BCPP recertification credit.
Please note, candidates who become board certified and recertified must wait until the following calendar year to begin accumulating CE hours for recertification.
The Clinical Application Series is delivered at the AAPP Annual Meeting but is also recorded and delivered online for those wishing to take this programming as a distance education component. Expert speakers advance the knowledge of psychiatric pharmacists through the delivery of five evidence-based presentations.
The Psychopharmacology Pearls is provided as a distance education component and consists of four clinical review articles focused on single disorders, or on one or more distinct aspects of a single psychiatric, neurologic, or substance use disorders. Authored by leading experts in the field and hosted in AAPP’s peer-reviewed journal, The Mental Health Clinician (MHC), these case-based articles will be full referenced and offer therapeutic advice based on both evidence and longstanding clinical experience.
The From Theory to Practice Case Series is provided as a distance education component and provides the opportunity to study a complex psychiatric case, often comorbid with a medical diagnosis, and associated complex medication regimen. Each case is focused on a specific psychiatric disease state with participants following one patient through several encounters over a period of time.
The Summit is delivered live in a virtual format but is also recorded and delivered online for those wishing to take this programming as a distance education component. The Summit content focuses on emerging areas of practice and contemporary issues in psychiatric pharmacy. Expert speakers advance the knowledge of psychiatric pharmacists through the delivery of eight cutting-edge presentations.
The Review Course is designed to assist the practitioner in developing and maintaining contemporary knowledge and skills at the psychiatric pharmacy specialty level. Course content is structured to provide a comprehensive review of the three psychiatric pharmacy domains specified by the Specialty Council in the current edition of the BPS Candidate's Guide. Inclusion of the Review Course as part of the recertification program is critical in ensuring the BCPP has systematically reviewed and assessed his/her core knowledge in the psychiatric specialty practice.
Between all 5 products, AAPP provides coverage of all 3 domains with concentrations matching the percentages and content requirements as outlined in the BCPP Content Outline. This balanced, consistent domain coverage recognizes that recertifiers purchase various components and may not purchase consistently year after year. AAPP can then ensure that the recertifying BCPP has access to the proper proportion of education on all domains at the conclusion of their recertification cycle.
An assessment piece is required by BPS for the approved recertification program and each component has its own examination. Candidates must achieve the determined cut-off score to successfully complete the examination(s). Cut-off scores for each component are determined annually using a panel of experts.
View AAPP's Post-Activity Assessment Appeal and Remediation Policy
AAPP has established a 6 month examination window for its 5 credit hour recertification courses. Examination deadlines for AAPP recertification products awarding more than 5 credit hours are established at a 9 month window.
The Annual Meeting is generally thematically based not curricular based. Recertification programming undergoes a specific design, planning and implementation process not applied to the Annual Meeting programming.
No. These providers have not been approved by BPS as recertification providers; and would have to go through the process of responding to BPS’ RFP to get such approval. A key difference in the AAPP offerings is that the recertification programming is curricular-based and an assessment of the registrant's comprehension of and competence with the material presented is included. Other educational programs would have to undergo a similar design process and develop assessment procedures consistent with BPS requirements for recertification credit. Additionally, other providers would need to apply to be recognized providers of recertification credit as AAPP has done.
Yes, recertification programming also meets ACPE standards and ACPE credit is available. AAPP reports to CPE Monitor within 1 month of the event and provides transcripts online on the AAPP website.
AAPP offers a BCPP credit planner feature on the AAPP website. Here you can search by year and by range of years for all BCPP recertification credits you have taken through AAPP.
You can also contact BPS by phone at 202-946-5026, by fax at 202-429-6304, at www.bpsweb.org, and by email at bps@aphanet.org for assistance.