Evaluation of student pharmacists’ awareness, perceptions, and interest in pursuing board certification

ObjectivesTo (1) determine awareness of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) certification by current student pharmacists at all levels of pharmacy education, (2) evaluate student perceptions of effective educational formats for learning about BPS certification, and (3) assess students’ interest in obtaining BPS certification in future careers.ParticipantsState boards of pharmacy in all states were contacted to request licensed intern contact information; all students with valid e-mail addresses were invited to participate. Main outcome measures were as follows: participants were asked about awareness of BPS certification, where they learned about certification, interest in attaining certification, and demographics.ResultsOverall, 1108 (15.3%) survey responses were included for analysis representing students from schools of pharmacy across the country. A majority of respondents (73.2%; n = 750) were aware of BPS certification and identified learning about BPS most from faculty members (n = 509) and preceptors (n = 289), primarily in required courses (n = 311) and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (n = 238). When asked about future plans, 43.3% (n = 472) stated they were likely to pursue BPS certification, 41.1% (n = 449) were undecided, and 15.6% unlikely (n = 170).ConclusionMost respondents were aware of BPS certification, learning the most through didactic and experiential activities, and many indicated they are likely to or undecided about pursuing BPS certification. Respondents unaware of or undecided about BPS certification represent an opportunity for colleges of pharmacy and professional organizations to formalize their role in student education about BPS and advocacy efforts.