Pharmacist credentials

In the realm of pharmacy, the raw materials or structure necessary for quality care are many and varied. Examples include number of pharmacists per shift, counter space, pharmacist credentials or licensing, pharmacy square footage, medication reference books, medication stock, and counseling facilities. 

American Society of Health-System Pharmacist Credentialing (NISPC)... 

National Institute for Standards in Pharmacist Credentialing. http // www.nispcnet.org, accessed January 6, 2003. 

The purpose of this paper is to create a common frame of reference and understanding for discussions concerning pharmacist credentialing. It begins with definitions of several terms that are essential to any discussion of cre-dcntialing. This is followed by a short. section highlighting the importance of credentialing to pharmacists. The next three sections, which form the body of the paper, discuss in detail the three types of credentials that pharmacists may earn ... 

The paper also includes a brief section on credentialing of pharmacy supportive personnel. It concludes with two appendices. Appendix A contains a comprehensive glossary of key terms relating to pharmacist credentialing. Appendix B is an alphabetical list of organizations involved in pharmacist credentialing and program accreditation. The list contains names, addresses, and uniform resource locators (URLs). 

A credential is documented evidence of a pharmacist s qualifications. Pharmacist credentials include diplomas, licenses, certificates, and certifications. These credentials are reflected in a variety of abbreviations that pharmacists place after their names (e.g., Pharm.D. for doctor of pharmacy, an earned academic degree R.Ph. for registered pharmacist, which indicates state licensure and acronyms such as BCNSP for Board-Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist, which indicates that an individual has demonstrated advanced knowledge or skill in a specialized area of pharmacy). 

Pharmacist credentials may be divided into three fundamental types ... 

These three paths to pharmacist credentialing are illustrated in Fig. 1. The sections that follow provide information on each of the credentials offered in pharmacy, the credentialing or accreditation body involved, whether the credential is mandatory or voluntary, and other related information. 

Three groups—the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties, the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy, and the National Institute for Standards in Pharmacist Credentialing—offer certification to pharmacists. 

National Institute for Standards in Pharmacist Credentialing (NISPC). The NISPC was founded in 1998 by the American Pharmaceutical Association, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the National Community Pharmacists Association. The purpose of NISPC is to promote the value and encourage the adoption of National Association of Boards of Pharmacy dis-... 

These definitions have been developed by a variety of organizations involved in credentialing and are generally accepted by those in the pharmacist credentialing arena. 

Walter J. Morrison, the former Executive Director, National Institute Standards in Pharmacist Credentialing prepared this document. 

---