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Best pharmacist certifications
The best certifications for a pharmacist are Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialists (BCMTMS), and Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP).
Pharmacist certifications demonstrate your competency as a pharmacist to employers. However, not all pharmacist certifications provide the same value.
Below is a list of the best pharmacist certifications. Obtaining a pharmacist certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.
18 best certifications for pharmacists
18 best pharmacist certifications
1. Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
PTCB's pharmacy technician certification program enables technicians to work more effectively with pharmacists to offer safe and effective patient care and service. Certification is achieved by meeting specific eligibility requirements and earning a passing score on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). The PTCB certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
2. Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialists (BCMTMS)
MTM Certification, or Board Certification in Medication Therapy Management, is a voluntary process intended to demonstrate expertise in a specific pharmacy specialty. The National Board of Medication Therapy Management, an independent, not-for-profit, and pharmacist-led organization, was founded to provide pharmacists with a voluntary pathway to earn a board certification credential. It is different and distinct from licensure to practice pharmacy, a function regulated by state government. Being an MTM pharmacist requires more than assessing medications for indication, effectiveness, safety, and adherence issues. It also requires patient counseling that factors in patient’s emotional state, patient’s financial state, and patient’s cultural state. Certified MTM pharmacists, or Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialists (BCMTMS™), must successfully pass the examination established by the National Board of Medication Therapy Management. The pharmacist will be granted Board Certification by the National Board of Medication Therapy Management upon passing the examination. The Certification is renewable after 5 years if active pharmacist license is maintained and the standards for recertification are met.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
3. Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP)
By passing the CSP assessment, pharmacy professionals not only display their aptitude in each specialized task, but also present their expertise in specialty pharmacy with a CSP credential. The CSP credential is a key indicator to employers, manufacturers, patients, payers, other healthcare providers, and the public at large that a professional is an expert in specialty pharmaceuticals. CSP certified professionals are tested using a psychometrically sound examination process, utilizing an exam that has been validated with a role delineation study performed by specialty pharmacy subject matter experts (SMEs) from all Specialty Pharmacy channels.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
4. Medical Assistant
The medical assistant job description varies depending on the employer's needs. A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional and an asset to a physician.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
5. Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP)
Nuclear Pharmacy seeks to improve and promote the public health through the safe and effective use of radioactive drugs for diagnosis and therapy. A nuclear pharmacist, as a member of the nuclear medicine team, specializes in the procurement, compounding, quality control testing, dispensing, distribution, and monitoring of radiopharmaceuticals. In addition, the nuclear pharmacist provides consultation regarding health and safety issues, as well as the use of non-radioactive drugs and patient care. Those who are granted certification in this specialty may use the designation Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist and the initials BCNP, as long as certification is valid.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 7 year(s)
6. Pharmacy Technician
The responsibilities of Pharmacy Technicians will vary for each employer, but may include (1) entering medication orders; (2) ordering and recieving stock; (3) packaging medications; (4) compounding ointments or creams; (5) auditing stock; and/or (6) assisting a pharmacist in filling or labeling. Pharmacy Technicians work under the supervision of a licensed Pharmacist, and responsibilities may differ as state laws allow.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 1 year(s)
7. APhA The Pharmacist and Patient-Centered Diabetes Care Certificate
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) developed The Pharmacist and Patient-Centered Diabetes Care Certificate Training Program, is an educational experience designed to equip pharmacists with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to provide effective, evidence-based diabetes care. The program provides comprehensive instruction in current diabetes concepts and standards of care and incorporates case studies and hands-on skills training focused on the situations most likely to be encountered—as well as the services most needed—in community and ambulatory care practice settings. Participants will gain experience evaluating and adjusting drug therapy regimens for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, counseling patients about lifestyle interventions, analyzing and interpreting self-monitoring of blood glucose results, and assessing the overall health status of patients to identify needed monitoring and interventions.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? No
- Renewal required? No
8. Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP)
The geriatric pharmacist knows that the focus must be on the total patient, looking at all of the diseases and all of the medicines to evaluate appropriateness of drug therapy. The geriatric pharmacist also knows that the elderly are subject to conditions, such as falls, delirium, and cognitive impairment, that are not usually a concern in younger adults. Drug therapy must be evaluated with respect to the potential for medications to cause or worsen these "geriatric syndromes."
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
9. Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI)
The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and accredited certification for medical interpreters.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
10. Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP)
Psychiatric pharmacy addresses the pharmaceutical care of patients with psychiatric-related illnesses. As a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team, the psychiatric pharmacy specialist is often responsible for optimizing drug treatment and patient care by conducting such activities as monitoring patient response, patient assessment, recognizing drug-induced problems, and recommending appropriate treatment plans. Those who are granted certification in this specialty may use the designation Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist and the initials BCPP, as long as certification is valid.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 7 year(s)
11. Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) performs routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians running smoothly.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 2 year(s)
12. Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP)
Ambulatory care pharmacy practice is the provision of integrated, accessible health care services by pharmacists who are accountable for addressing medication needs, developing sustained partnerships with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. This is accomplished through direct patient care and medication management for ambulatory patients, long-term relationships, coordination of care, patient advocacy, wellness and health promotion, triage and referral, and patient education and self management. The ambulatory care pharmacists may work in both an institutional and community-based clinic involved in direct care of a diverse patient population.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 7 year(s)
13. Infectious Disease
To become certified in the subspecialty of infectious disease, physicians must have: been previously certified in internal medicine by ABIM, satisfactorily completed the requisite graduate medical education fellowship training, demonstrated clinical competence in the care of patients, met the licensure and procedural requirements, passed the Certification Exam in Infectious Disease.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 10 year(s)
14. Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP)
Oncology pharmacy specialists recommend, design, implement, monitor and modify pharmacotherapeutic plans to optimize outcomes in patients with malignant diseases. Those who are granted certification in this specialty may use the designation Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist and the initials BCOP, as long as certification is valid.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 7 year(s)
15. Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee Certification (FPGEC)
NABP assists graduates of foreign pharmacy schools in more than 200 countries as they work toward becoming licensed pharmacists in the United States. All 50 states, District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico require graduates of pharmacy schools that are not based in the US to achieve Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification before applying for a license from a state board of pharmacy.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required?
16. Medical Assistant (MA)
A Medical Assistant (MA) is an integral member of the health care delivery team, qualified by education and experience to work in the administrative office, the examining room and the physician office laboratory. The Medical Assistant, also a liaison between the doctor and the patient, is of vital importance to the success of the medical practice.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
- More than two years of work experience required? No
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
17. Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP)
The BPS Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) program is a credential for pharmacists who have met the eligibility criteria and who in their unique practices provide pharmaceutical care to the elderly, including wellness, treatment, monitoring and patient safety services. The purpose of the BPS Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) program is to validate that the pharmacist has the advanced knowledge and experience.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 7 year(s)
18. Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)
Clinical Research Professionals (CRPs) come from a wide variety of backgrounds. CRPs may have backgrounds in nursing, pharmacy, medical technology, business administration, health record maintenance, statistics, biology, teaching, or in other areas. CRPs work in various settings such as cooperative research groups; academic and private institutions; private offices; pharmaceutical, device, and biotechnology companies; Clinical Research Organizations (CROs); Site Management Organizations (SMOs); independent research and development organizations; or organizations involved in the management of clinical trials. These varying backgrounds and settings contribute to the unique knowledge and diverse expertise of CRPs.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
- More than two years of work experience required? Yes
- Oral or written exam required? Yes
- Renewal required? Every 3 year(s)
What is the best certification for a pharmacist?
The best pharmacist certification is Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). The Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is awarded by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. This certification is great to have as it shows an improvement in your competency to perform your role. You can earn this certification at the beginning of your career, as it often doesn't require a minimum education level and work experience.
Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this pharmacist certification:
- To become a certified Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), you need to pass the exam.
- Lucky you - certification doesn't require more than two years of work experience.
- Renew certification every 2 year.
What are some of the most in-demand certifications for pharmacists?
The most in-demand pharmacist certification is Certified Pharmacy Technician based on all active job postings. Having this pharmacist certification will give you access to more pharmacist jobs with higher salaries.
What certifications can impact a pharmacist career and salary?
The APhA The Pharmacist and Patient-Centered Diabetes Care Certificate certification will help you to secure a clinical pharmacist position, which will increase your pay and career trajectory. A clinical pharmacist's average salary is $119,330 whereas pharmacists make an average salary of $118,968.
The most common combination of pharmacist certifications include: Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialists (BCMTMS), and Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP).
Online courses for pharmacists to earn certifications
1. Drug Commercialization
The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Commercialization course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug commercialization. This course will cover pharmacoeconomic, marketing strategy, intellectual property strategy, portfolio management, managed markets and...
2. Operations and Patient Safety for Healthcare IT Staff
Now that you've been introduced to the world of Health IT and the important role played by electronic health records (EHRs), we'll focus on other technologies that play a role in maintaining ongoing operations in healthcare. Telemedicine, patient portals, barcode scanners, printers, and medical devices are just some of the technologies that impact providers and patients. As an IT support specialist, you’ll be asked to troubleshoot issues with a wide variety of tools. You'll see a scenario with...
3. Top Drugs 1 - Medications you NEED to Know - Pharmacy
Part 1: Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol, and OTC: Cough, Cold, Allergy - Condition Overview and Common Medications...
4. Dosage Calculations Mastery for Nursing & Pharmacy Students
Master Dosage Calculations in 5 Hours Without Memorizing Any Formulas and Pass the NCLEX or PTCB Exam...
5. Drug Development
The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Development course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug development. In this course you will learn the different stages of clinical development as well as the regulatory including but not limited to, an Investigational New...
6. Drug Discovery
The University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Drug Discovery course brings you lectures from both faculty and industry experts. With this course, recorded on campus at UCSD, we seek to share our access to top people in the field who bring an unprecedented range of expertise on drug discovery. In this course you will learn the drug discovery process up to the filing of an Initial New Drug Application or IND. Each week you will learn the steps that...
7. Become a Pharmacy Technician
A Video Study Guide for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam...
8. Certificate Course in Pharmacovigilance
Drug safety, Drug development and discovery, ICSR , Adverse events, Global guidelines, Med DRA, PV Audits...
9. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale
Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...
10. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
11. Pharmaceutical Industry Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)
Empowering Professionals in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Comprehensive Online Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs...
12. Understanding Medications and Therapeutics
Helping you build the best foundation to truly understand medications and develop clinical reasoning skills...
13. Medical Emergencies: CPR, Toxicology, and Wilderness
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: (1) Identify the signs and symptoms associated with a patient in shock, to describe the major categories of shock, to assess a patient with signs of shock and formulate a plan for treatment to stabilize the patient for transport, (2) Identify a patient in cardiac arrest and to describe the components of high performance CPR...
14. Trauma Emergencies and Care
Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...
15. Pharma Drug Regulatory Affairs Certificate Course - DRA 2023
DRA, Orange book, USFDA, e CTD, CTD, INDA, NDA, ANDA, DMF, ICH, Software Demo, RA Jobs, Quiz, Pharma Skills, Updated 2023...
16. Certificate Course in Drug Regulatory Affairs (DRA)
Pharma course (NDA, ANDA, CTD, DMF, USFDA, Regulatory strategy, GMP, Clinical Research, Orange Book, Pharmaceuticals)...
17. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...
18. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children
Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...
19. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...
20. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...