Highest-Paying Certifications for Pharmacists in the USA

Hi readers! In this post, I’ve compiled a list of best certification programs for pharmacists in the USA. Here, readers will find the following details – list of top pharmacist certifications, certifying organizations/bodies, level/type of certification and more.

Why choose a certification program, some of you may ask. Earning a certification from well established organizations can work wonders for your career. Here are the main benefits of earning an advanced certification –

• Opportunity to acquire advanced skills/knowledge
• Specialize in a specific branch of pharmaceutical science
• Get a better job/get promotion at work
• Get certified by industry-leaders (organizations)
• And more…

 

Come, let us check out the list of certifications now. Here it is –

 

List of highest-paying certifications for pharmacists in the USA for 2022

 

1 Certifications for Pharmacists

Sr No	Certification	Certifying Organization	Type/Level
1	Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
2	Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
3	Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee Certification	National Association of Boards of Pharmacy	Specialty
4	Certified Specialty Pharmacist	Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board	Specialty
5	Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
6	Board Certified Infectious Diseases Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
7	Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional	American Society for Quality	Specialty
8	Certified Specialty Pharmacist	Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board	Advanced
9	Board Certified Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
10	Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
11	Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
12	Board Certified Cardiology Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
13	Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
14	Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
15	Board Certification in Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Specialty
16	Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist	Board of Pharmacy Specialties	Advanced

 

2 Pharmacy Technician Certifications

Sr No	Certification	Certifying Organization	Type/Level
1	Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician	National Pharmacy Technician Association	Advanced
2	Certified Pharmacy Technician	National Healthcareer Association	Core
3	Non-Sterile Compounding Certification	National Pharmacy Technician Association	Advanced
4	Certified Pharmacy Technician	Pharmacy Technician Certification Board	Core
5	Sterile Products (IV) Certification	National Pharmacy Technician Association	Core
6	Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician	Pharmacy Technician Certification Board	Specialty

 

3 Pharmacy Aides Certifications

Sr No	Certification	Certifying Organization	Type/Level
1	Registered Medical Assistant	American Phlebotomy Association	Core
2	Sterile Products (IV) Certification	National Pharmacy Technician Association	Core

 

What is a certification and how to earn it?

A certification is an award, which indicates that the candidate (who has earned the certification) possesses relevant skills and knowledge concerning a particular domain/sector/industry/technology. In the case of pharmacy certifications, the skill-set or knowledge revolves around pharmaceutical science and its allied sectors.

 

Certifications are usually offered by relevant certifying organizations. In order to earn it, a candidate must undergo sufficient preparation, acquire relevant set of skills and knowledge, and pass the relevant examination/test (conducted by the certifying organization). The certifying organization may or may not provide certification preparation training.

 

Types of certifications

Based on the target audience, certifications can be broadly classified into the following types –

• Core
• Advanced
• Specialty

 

Advanced certification programs are aimed at individuals who are already knowledgeable about the domain (for example – pharmacists). They may use the advanced certification program to acquire advanced set of skills and knowledge. On the other hand, one may pursue a specialty certification program to specialize in a specific branch of pharmaceutical sector.

 

Only pharmacy graduates will benefit from this post, some of you may say. No, even pharmacy technicians and pharmacy aides will benefit from this post. This post has been crafted keeping their needs in mind as well.

 

Pharmacist certification programs span disciplines and domains such as –

• Pharmacotherapy specialist: Pharmacotherapy deals with therapy using pharmaceutical drugs. A pharmacotherapist is responsible for direct patient care. He/she is responsible for assessing the patient’s condition and administering and prescribing medicines. A pharmacist may don this role after fulfilling eligibility requirements and passing the certification examination.
• Nuclear Pharmacist: This branch is also known as radio-pharmacy. It deals with the use and preparation of radioactive materials for patient administration, which will be used for diagnostic and treatment purposes.
• Nutrition Support Pharmacist: They form an integral part of a nutritional support team. This branch deals with topics such as – assessing nutrition status of a patient, effect of various diseases and conditions on nutrition status of a patient, effects of treatment techniques on nutrition status of a patient, nutrition support etc.
• Infectious Disease Pharmacists: This branch deals with infectious diseases, relevant drugs, and treatment techniques. ID Pharmacists are knowledgeable about areas such as – common infectious diseases, symptoms, antibacterial drugs, antiviral drugs, anti-fungal drugs, anti-parasitic drugs etc.
• Critical Care Pharmacist: Patients facing critical illness or medical condition need special care. Critical Care Pharmacy deals with the effective use of medications for critically ill patients. A critical care pharmacist is trained in areas such as – assessing patients, analyze clinical data, direct patient care, pharmacologic interventions etc.
• Geriatric Pharmacy: This branch deals with providing pharmaceutical care to the elderly. A geriatric pharmacist is trained in areas such as – monitoring patients, assessing clinical data, administering medicines, looking after the wellness of the patient, direct patient care etc.
• Pharmacist Technician: A pharmacist technician works under the supervision/directions of a qualified pharmacist. They are trained in areas such as – supplying medicines, manage the dispensary, patient care etc.

 

Popular certifying organizations

Here are some of the popular certifying organizations –

• Board of Pharmacy Specialties
• National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
• Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board
• American Society for Quality
• National Pharmacy Technician Association
• American Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association
• Pharmacy Technician Certification Board

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