Nutrition support pharmacist board certification process

Specialization is the logical outcome of the maturation of the profession of pharmacy, although its acceptance has been controversial. Specialization also meets a need created by the increasing complexity of the medical management of disease. Although the skills of the generalist pharmacist are still much in demand, the specialist pharmacist has the skills and knowledge to meet more in depth, or more focused, patient care needs. The current specialties within pharmacy that are recognized by the Board of Pharmaceutical Specialties (BPS) are nuclear pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, and nutrition support pharmacy practice. Psychiatric pharmacy practice has also been approved by BPS as a specialty, however, the process for attaining certification has not yet been established. This article will describe the process by which pharmacists, whose practice is concentrated in nutrition support, may become recognized as Board Certified Nutrition Support Pharmacists (BCNSPs).