Desired Professional Development Pathways for Clinical Pharmacists

Abstract

The 2012 American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Certification Affairs Committee was charged with developing guidelines for the desired professional development pathways for clinical pharmacists. This document summarizes recommendations for postgraduate education and training for graduates of U.S. schools and colleges of pharmacy and describes the preferred pathways for achieving, demonstrating, and maintaining competence as clinical pharmacists. After initial licensure within the state or jurisdiction in which the pharmacist intends to practice, completion of an accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency is recommended to further develop the knowledge and skills needed to optimize medication therapy outcomes. An accredited PGY2 pharmacy residency should be completed if a pharmacist wishes to seek employment in a specific therapeutic area or practice setting, if such a residency exists. Clinical pharmacists intending to conduct advanced research that is competitive for federal funding are encouraged to complete a fellowship or graduate education. Initial certification by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) or other appropriate sponsoring organizations should be completed in the desired primary therapeutic area or practice setting within 2 years after accepting a position within the desired specific therapeutic area or practice setting. Clinical pharmacists subsequently will need to meet the requirements to maintain pharmacist licensure and board certification. Traineeships, practice-based activities, and certificate programs can be used to obtain additional knowledge and skills that support professional growth. Pharmacists are strongly encouraged to adopt a lifelong, systematic process for professional development and work with ACCP and other professional organizations to facilitate the development and implementation of innovative strategies to assess core practice competencies.

Minimum Qualifications for Clinical Pharmacy Practice Faculty

“…In concordance with previous statements published by ACCP and others as well as ACPE Guideline 25.1, the committee recommends that board certification be attained before hire, or within 2 years of hire, of new clinical pharmacy practice faculty members …”

On being a successful clinician educator: Lessons learned to share with new practitioners

“…4 A 2013 statement from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) suggests that board certification should be obtained within two years after accepting a clinical pharmacy specialist position or other similar position in a specific therapeutic area or practice setting. 5 However, in a subsequent commentary by their Board of Regents later that year as well as in their updated 2014 standards, ACCP became more adamant about the necessity for board certification. 6,7 ACCP's Standards of Practice for Clinical Pharmacists now require board certification as soon as practitioners become eligible.…”

“…8 In addition, board certification in areas such as pharmacotherapy, ambulatory care pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, geriatric pharmacy, asthma, or diabetes is a well-recognized means of both demonstrating competence in that specialty area and gaining peer recognition as an authority in the field. 4,5,9 Board certification can also help clinician educators develop and highlight their niche within the broad field of pharmacy. Having a niche, a focused area of interest, is another key element important to the success of clinician educators.…”

Incorporating a Continuing Professional Development Process into Residency Training

“…[2][3][4][5] Currently there is a lot of variety in TCPs and professional pharmacy associations, such as American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), are contemplating making these teaching certificate programs more standardized. 6,7 Continuing professional development (CPD) as described below is one idea to bring standardization to TCPs. In an effort to increase teaching knowledge in the residents affiliated with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy a TCP was launched in 2009.…”