The exact details are still being finalized, but the following will be part of the agreement:
- A migration plan and corresponding timeline to harmonize current CGP eligibility, certification, and recertification criteria with that of BPS will be developed.
- The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accreditation status for the CGP credential will be maintained during the transition.
- CCGP leadership will continue to have opportunities to contribute to advancing the role of the board certified pharmacist and geriatric pharmacy.
- The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) and the American Society of HealthSystem Pharmacists will be recognized until May 31, 2021, through BPS for geriatric pharmacy recertification.
- The credential name will be changed to Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP).
It is expected that pharmacists who hold the CGP credential in good standing will be able to transition seamlessly to the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
In a joint statement, CCGP Chair, Pronica Janikowski, RPh, B.Sc.Phm., CGP and BPS Chair, William E. Evans, PharmD stated that “Each organization is committed to advancing the care of patients through the process of certifying the specialty knowledge and skills of pharmacists; programs administered by both are accredited by NCCA. CCGP and BPS would like to grow and evolve geriatric pharmacy as a specialty to meet the needs of older adults, and further strengthen a master brand for the board certification of geriatric pharmacists.”
"The vision of former ASCP Executive Director, Tim Webster, and the ASCP Board of Directors that launched a geriatric board certification program for pharmacists in 1997 continues to grow and flourish,” said Frank Grosso, ASCP Executive Director and CEO. “We now have CGP credentialed consultant pharmacists working with seniors across multiple post-acute care settings including hospitals, skilled nursing centers, assisted living, and the community. ASCP is proud to see the CGP credential become an official BPS board certification. We look forward to continuing our relationship as a provider of certified geriatric pharmacy education.”
CCGP Executive Director, Thomas R. Clark, RPh, MHS, CGP noted, “This action aligns two of the profession’s leading certification programs which will provide clarity for the profession and for stakeholders around these credentials.”
BPS Executive Director, William M. Ellis, MS, RPh stated, “BPS acknowledges the twenty years of leadership provided by CCGP in geriatric pharmacist credentialing and we look forward to working with the CCGP officers and staff during this transition.”
The Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (CCGP) is a nonprofit corporation created by the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) in 1997. CCGP offers a board certification examination in geriatric pharmacy practice. CCGP is autonomous from ASCP, with its own governing Board of Commissioners, and is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) is the only international professional society devoted to optimal medication management and improved health outcomes for all older persons. ASCP's members manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of geriatric patients and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs, and home and community-based care. Learn more at www.ascp.com.
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. Currently, BPS has certified over 26,000 pharmacists worldwide in eight specialty areas.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
For CCGP:
Thomas R. Clark, RPh, MHS, CGP
Executive Director
Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy
1321 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-535-3036
For ASCP:
Christine Polite
National Director of Marketing & Media Relations
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
1321 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-739-1300
For BPS:
Steven Scarlata, MA
Communications/Social Media Coordinator
Board of Pharmacy Specialties
2215 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: 202-448-8721
