How to Prepare for the BCPS Exam: The Ultimate Guide

The Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) exam is considered one of the most challenging exams for pharmacists. As someone who has taken and passed this exam, I want to share my tips and advice on how to effectively prepare for it.

An Overview of the BCPS Exam

The BCPS exam was developed by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) to assess clinical knowledge and determine if a pharmacist has the capabilities to provide direct patient care services Passing this exam allows a pharmacist to become a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist

Some key things to know about the BCPS exam:

• It is a challenging clinical exam covering many disease state topics and therapeutic areas. Be prepared to be tested on a wide breadth of material.

• There are 200 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 4 hours

• You will be tested on clinical knowledge, biostatistics, literature evaluation, and regulatory issues. Clinical knowledge makes up the bulk of the exam

• To be eligible, you must have either completed an accredited PGY1 residency or have at least 3 years of experience with direct patient care.

When to Start Preparing

Ideally, you should start preparing for the BCPS exam about 6 months in advance. This gives you enough time to thoroughly review all the material without having to cram.

If you’ve completed a PGY1 residency, it’s recommended to take the exam soon after finishing so the clinical knowledge is still fresh. I took my exam about 2 months after completing my residency.

Ultimately, give yourself as much time as you reasonably can to study and avoid procrastinating. The earlier you start, the more prepared you will be come test day.

Recommended Study Resources

There are many great resources available to help you prepare for the BCPS exam. Here are some of the best ones I recommend:

• High Yield Med Reviews – This is the top resource I used and I can’t recommend it enough. They have comprehensive lecture videos, tons of practice questions, live study sessions, and more. Their clinical content is extremely thorough.

• MedEd101 – They have a regulatory review guide and biostatistics guide that perfectly complement the High Yield Med Reviews materials. Their regulatory guide is a must-have.

• Pharmacy Joe – Great for concise overview videos of disease states and quick facts. More condensed compared to the very in-depth High Yield Med Review videos.

• ACCP Pharmacotherapy Mock Exams – Mimic the actual BCPS exam with 3 full-length practice tests.

• SmartPharm Flashcards – Useful for reviewing lab values, microbiology, etc. Their pre-made BCPS flashcard set can be helpful.

• Primary Literature – Reviewing relevant primary literature and guidelines for disease states you are less comfortable with is never a bad idea.

How to Study

Here are my top studying tips and the schedule I followed when preparing for the BCPS exam:

• Watch lecture videos – Get through all the clinical topic videos first. Take handwritten notes or annotate slides to make your own study guide.

• Do practice questions – After watching lectures on a disease state, do the corresponding practice questions. This helps reinforce your knowledge.

• Review weak topics – Look at your practice test data and focus extra time on disease states you struggle with. Rewatch lectures or do more questions on those topics.

• Learn biostatistics – Make sure you understand common statistical tests, how to interpret results, and calculating numbers needed to treat/harm.

• Read regulatory guide – Set aside a block of time to thoroughly read through pharmacy regulatory information.

• Take mock exams – Take at least one full-length practice BCPS exam to experience the test format and timing. Review what you got wrong.

• Study schedule – Have a study calendar and stick to it! Outline dates for reviewing specific material and practice tests to hold yourself accountable.

Helpful Studying Tips

Here are some extra studying tips to optimize your BCPS prep:

• Handwrite notes and summaries instead of typing. Writing helps with memory and retention.

• Study in a quiet, distraction-free environment when possible.

• Take regular breaks to avoid burnout. Step away and clear your head.

• Make flashcards for things you repeatedly get wrong like lab values.

• Focus more time on your weak clinical topics compared to strengths.

• Learn one biostatistics/EBM concept each day in the weeks before the exam.

• Verbalize concepts out loud when reviewing alone. Hearing and speaking reinforces memories.

• Get good sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Your brain functions best when well-rested and healthy.

What to Expect on Test Day

Here are some things you should expect when taking the BCPS exam so you aren’t caught off guard:

• Format – 4 hours to complete 200 multiple choice questions on a computer.

• Timing – You have 1 minute and 15 seconds per question. Manage your time wisely.

• Length – Most questions are a paragraph or longer in length testing clinical application.

• Software – Allows you to flag, skip, and return to questions. You can also leave comments.

• Stats – Have at least 10 biostatistics/literature evaluation questions.

• Challenging – Many questions will have two answers that seem plausible. Pick the best fit.

• Variety – Expect clinical questions from many different specialties and topics.

• Resources – You cannot bring anything into the testing center except earplugs if needed.

Final Tips

My last pieces of advice for your BCPS exam preparation include:

• Have confidence in yourself and your clinical knowledge. You know more than you realize.

• The exam is designed to be challenging. Don’t get discouraged by difficult questions.

• Read each question stem closely and think about it before looking at the answers.

• Use reasoning skills to determine the best choice instead of just recalling memorized facts.

• Don’t change answers at the last minute unless you misread something. Go with your gut.

• Get a good night’s sleep before the exam and eat a healthy breakfast the morning of your test.