What is a board certified pharmacist?
A board certified pharmacist is a licensed pharmacist who has earned a specialty credential after meeting eligibility requirements and passing a specialty certification exam. Board certification is not the same as pharmacist licensure. Licensure allows a pharmacist to practice; board certification can signal advanced knowledge in a specialty area such as pharmacotherapy, ambulatory care, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatric pharmacy, or another recognized specialty.
Key facts
Use these facts as a quick orientation before reading the full guide. Exact requirements vary by school, pathway, and state.
| First step | Become a licensed pharmacist |
|---|---|
| Credential type | Post-licensure specialty certification |
| Common uses | Clinical roles, specialty practice, professional advancement, and employer recognition |
| Important distinction | Board certification is separate from NAPLEX, MPJE, and state licensure |
Main points
Board certification can be valuable, but it is not the starting point for becoming a pharmacist. Students should first understand licensure, practice experience, residency, and career goals before deciding which specialty credential may be worth pursuing.
Earn a PharmD and become licensed
Board certification generally comes after the PharmD and pharmacist licensure. Graduates typically complete state board requirements, including the NAPLEX and a pharmacy law exam such as the MPJE or a state-specific alternative.
Choose a practice area
Certification should match the type of pharmacy practice you want. For example, oncology, ambulatory care, pediatrics, psychiatric pharmacy, geriatrics, and pharmacotherapy may point to different credential paths.
Build qualifying experience
Eligibility often depends on practice experience, residency training, or a combination of both. Pharmacists should verify current requirements for the specific credential they plan to pursue.
Prepare for the specialty exam
Preparation usually involves reviewing specialty content, practice guidelines, patient-care scenarios, calculations or monitoring concepts, and exam blueprint details.
Maintain the credential
Board certification is not a one-time professional milestone. Certified pharmacists typically need continuing education, recertification, or other maintenance activities.
When board certification can help
Board certification can be useful when an employer values specialty expertise, when a pharmacist wants to move into a clinical or specialized role, or when a credential supports professional credibility. It is most valuable when it aligns with real practice responsibilities.
- • Clinical specialist roles
- • Ambulatory care, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatry, geriatrics, infectious disease, and other specialty settings
- • Academic or preceptor responsibilities
- • Professional advancement or role differentiation
- • Practice settings where employers recognize specialty credentials
What board certification does not do
Board certification does not replace licensure, guarantee a job, or automatically expand legal scope of practice. State law, employer policy, collaborative practice agreements, and practice setting still shape what a pharmacist can do.
- • It does not replace the NAPLEX or state licensure
- • It does not automatically authorize prescribing
- • It does not guarantee salary increases
- • It should not be pursued without a career reason
Board certification planning by career goal
Use the credential as a career tool, not a generic requirement.
| Option | What it means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical generalist | May benefit from pharmacotherapy or broadly applicable certification | Employer expectations, residency background, and patient-care responsibilities |
| Ambulatory care | May benefit from ambulatory care certification | Clinic scope, chronic disease work, collaborative practice, and experience requirements |
| Specialty pharmacist | May benefit from oncology, pediatric, psychiatric, geriatric, infectious disease, or other specialty certification | Specialty experience, PGY2 expectations, and credential eligibility |
| Community or management path | Certification may or may not be necessary | Whether the credential supports actual services, reimbursement, leadership, or patient-care goals |
Questions to ask before pursuing board certification
FAQs
Is board certification required to be a pharmacist?
No. Pharmacist licensure is separate from board certification. Board certification is typically a post-licensure specialty credential.
Should pharmacy students plan for board certification?
Students can learn about specialty options, but most board certification decisions happen after licensure, residency, or practice experience clarifies the pharmacist's career direction.
Does board certification increase salary?
It can help in some settings, but salary impact depends on employer, role, specialty, geography, and whether the credential is tied to expanded responsibilities or advancement.
Jim Herbst, PharmD, BCPPS
Jim Herbst is an advanced patient care pharmacist at a nationally ranked pediatric acute care teaching hospital. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The Ohio State University in 2012 and is board certified as a pediatric pharmacy specialist.
Opinions and information published by this author do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of his employer.
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