Washington, DC - The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) today issues a Call for Nominations for Specialist (Board Certified Pharmacists) and Non-Specialist Pharmacists to serve on each of its six Specialty Councils.

Term
The term of appointment for BPS Specialty Council members for this call is January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. BPS must receive nomination materials by Wednesday, April 15, 2015. The Councils will review nominations during their business meetings from May through July, and the BPS Board of Directors will confirm appointments in October 2015.

Purpose
Specialty Councils exist for the following purposes:

• To recommend to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties standards and other requirements for certification and recertification of pharmacists in the specialty.
• To develop and administer examinations as required for certification and recertification of pharmacists in the specialty.
• To evaluate the qualifications of individual pharmacists and to submit to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties the names of those pharmacists recommended for certification or recertification in the specialty

Eligibility

Specialist Position (Board Certified Pharmacist): Pharmacists holding BPS Board Certification in the pharmacy specialty area under the responsibility of the Council are eligible to apply.

Non-Specialist Position (non-Board Certified Pharmacist in that Specialty): Pharmacists who do not hold Board certification in the pharmacy specialty area under the responsibility of the Council are eligible to apply.  Non-specialists should have practice expertise that is complementary to but distinct from the specialty area.  A Non-specialist member must not be Board-eligible in the specialty area for consideration, but may hold board certification in other specialty areas.

Prospective Specialty Council members must have at least five (5) years of dedicated experience in the specialty practice area. Specialty Councils should be comprised of pharmacists with extensive practice expertise and a variety of practice settings. Participation on other licensure or certification boards, and experience as an item writer are preferred, but not required.

BPS has outlined ideal expertise, practice setting, and experience of prospective Board Certified Pharmacist and Non-Specialist Pharmacist nominees based on the needs of each Specialty Council for this appointment cycle. Please note that the Specialty Councils strive to maintain a mix of practice expertise and practice setting. As such, the needs of each Specialty Council are different and will vary from appointment cycle to appointment cycle. A description of desired characteristics and a link to nomination materials are provided below.

Deadline Date

• BPS must receive all of the following items NO LATER THAN Wednesday, April 15, 2015:
• Completed and signed Nomination Form*
• Completed Statement of Interest*
• Current resumé or curriculum vitae*
• Completed and signed Disclosure and Confidentiality Statement Documents*
• Maximum of two Letters(s) of Recommendation (optional)*

Desired Characteristics and Nomination Submission Links for eash position

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.    

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialist (2 BCACP positions open)  

• Desired Practice Expertise: Primary Care (with areas of focus in diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension)
• Desired Practice Setting: Academia-affiliated / University-based Clinics Ambulatory Care / Community Clinic / Community Health Organizations, Family Medicine / Primary Care / Private Office, Home Health / Home-based Primary Care, Managed Care
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCACP position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Biostatistics / Research Methodology, Patient Safety, Public Health, Government / Third Party Payer Rules / Quality Measures / Population Management
• Desired Practice Setting: Hospital / Health System-based Clinic, Children's Hospital
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)  

Nuclear Pharmacy - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.    

 Nuclear Pharmacy Specialist (2 BCNP positions open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Legal and Quality, Nuclear pharmacist - commercial nuclear pharmacy, Nuclear pharmacist - hospital nuclear pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Company/ Contract Research Organization, Radiation Safety
• Desired Practice Setting: Academia-affiliated / University-based Clinic, Administrative / Corporate / Corporate Support, Commercial Independent Nuclear Pharmacy, Commercial Chain Nuclear Pharmacy, Consulting Company, Contract Research Organization, Pharmaceutical Company, Government: Public Health Service / NIH / VA / Armed Services, Hospital / Clinic / Outpatient Center
• Nuclear Pharmacy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Nuclear Pharmacy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCNP position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Patient Safety (medication safety), Public Health
• Desired Practice Setting: Administrative/Corporate/Corporate Support, Contract Research Organization
• Nuclear Pharmacy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)  

Nutrition Support Pharmacy - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.    

Nutrition Support Pharmacy (2 BCNSP positions open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Biostatistics and Research Methodology, Patient Safety
• Desired Practice Setting: Government: NIH / Public Health Service, Home Health Care, Long-term Care, Nutrition Support Clinic
• Nutrition Support Pharmacy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Nutrition Support Pharmacy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCNSP position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Biostatistics / Research Methodology, Patient Safety, Public Health, Quality - IQR metrics for hospitals
• Desired Practice Setting: Government: NIH/Public Health Service, Home Health Care, Hospital / Health-system based Setting - Pediatric, Long-term Care, Nutrition Support Clinic
• Nutrition Support Pharmacy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Oncology Pharmacy - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.  

• Oncology Pharmacy Specialist (2 BCOP positions open)
• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management / Clinical
• Desired Practice Setting: Ambulatory Care, Community Hospital
• Oncology Pharmacy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Oncology Pharmacy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCOP position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Academia, Biostatistics / Research Methodology, Genomics, Public Health
• Desired Practice Setting: Academia-affiliated / University-based Setting, Managed Care, Psychiatric Center / Hospital
• Oncology Pharmacy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Pharmacotherapy Specialists - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.    

Pharmacotherapy Specialist (2 BCPS positions open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Biostatistics and Research Methodology
• Desired Population Focus: Acute Care / Critical Care, Hematology / Oncology, Pediatrics
• Desired Practice Setting: Acute Care, Government: Armed Services / FQHC / NIH / Public Health Service / VA, Managed Care, Private Office
• Pharmacotherapy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Pharmacotherapy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCPS position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Biostatistics / Research Methodology, Patient Safety, Public Health
• Desired Population Focus: Acute Care / Critical Care, Hematology / Oncology, Pediatrics
• Desired Practice Setting: Cancer Center / Hospital, Government: Armed Services / FQHC / NIH / Public Health Service / VA, Children's Hospital, Psychiatric Center / Hospital
• Pharmacotherapy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Psychiatric Pharmacy - Interested candidates should carefully review and consider the qualifications, position duties, responsibilities, and time commitment for Specialist Member and Non-Specialist Member of the Specialty Council as well as the following desired characteristics.  

Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialist (2 BCPP positions open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Practice Management, Biostatistics and Research Methodology
• Desired Population Focus: Pediatrics, Developmental Disabilities
• Psychiatric Pharmacy Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)  

Psychiatric Pharmacy Non-Specialist (1 non-BCPP position open)

• Desired Practice Expertise: Administration / Management, Biostatistics / Research Methodology, Patient Safety, Public Health
• Desired Practice Setting: Family Medicine / Primary Care / Private Office, Government: Armed Services / FQHC / NIH / Public Health Service / VA, Managed Care, Pediatric Hospital
• Psychiatric Pharmacy Non-Specialist (Nomination Submission Link)

Questions

Contact Brian Lawson, BPS Director of Professional Affairs at blawson@aphanet.org or 202-429-4116.

About the Board of Pharmacy Specialties
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) was established in 1976 as an autonomous division of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). The mission of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties is to improve patient care and increase awareness of the need for BPS Board Certified Pharmacists as integral members of multidisciplinary healthcare teams through recognition and promotion of specialized training, knowledge, and skills in pharmacy and specialty board certification and recertification of pharmacists throughout the world.

Board Certification through BPS has become recognized as the gold standard for determining which pharmacists are qualified to contribute at advanced practice levels. Through the rigorous standards mandated by BPS board certification and recertification, the BPS board certified pharmacist stands out as the most qualified to take on today's expanding professional expectations.