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Association Between Time From Eligibility to Examination and Exam Outcomes Among Residency-Trained Board of Pharmacy Specialties Candidates: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

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Title: Association Between Time From Eligibility to Examination and Exam Outcomes Among Residency-Trained Board of Pharmacy Specialties Candidates: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
Authors: Weyenberg E; Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Washington, DC, USA., Saiar A; Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Washington, DC, USA., Meng Y; Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Washington, DC, USA., LaNou E; Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Washington, DC, USA.
Source: Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy : JACCP [J Am Coll Clin Pharm] 2026 Sep; Vol. 9 (9), pp. e70276.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Wiley Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101723133 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2574-9870 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 25749870 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Am Coll Clin Pharm Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: [Hoboken, NJ] : Wiley, [2018]-
MeSH Terms: Pharmacy Residencies*/standards , Certification* , Educational Measurement*, Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Time Factors ; United States ; Specialty Boards
Abstract: Background: Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) board certification represents a recognized standard for advanced pharmacy practice and provides formal validation of specialized knowledge and skills through rigorously developed examinations. In other health professions, taking certification or licensure examinations soon after completing training has been associated with higher pass rates, while delays have been linked to poorer outcomes. This study investigates whether a similar pattern exists among BPS candidates, particularly those who complete residency training and become eligible for certification.
Methods: This study evaluates the association between time from eligibility to examination and first-attempt outcomes among residency-trained pharmacists. This cross-sectional analysis used deidentified data from the BPS MyBPS database for United States-based candidates who attained eligibility through post-graduate year one (PGY1) or post-graduate year two (PGY2) residency training and completed a first-attempt certification examination in 2025. Time to examination was defined as the number of days between residency completion and exam date and was categorized as ≤ 365 days, 366-730 days, and > 730 days. The primary outcome was examination result (pass or fail).
Results: Among 2598 candidates, pass rates declined as time-to-exam increased. Candidates who delayed testing beyond 2 years had significantly lower pass rates compared with those testing within 1 year (p < 0.001) and between one and 2 years (p = 0.011), while no significant difference was observed between the other two groups (p = 0.225).
Conclusion: Overall, longer time from eligibility to examination was associated with lower first-attempt success. These findings suggest that sitting for a BPS board certification examination within 2 years may improve outcomes and inform decision-making for candidates.
(© 2026 ACCP Foundation, Ltd.)
References: Board of Pharmacy Specialties, About BPS. Accessed April 9, 2026 (2026), https://bpsweb.org/about‐bps/.
Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Certification Application Process. Candidate's Guide. Accessed April 2, 2026 (2026), https://bpsweb.org/candidates‐guide/#Certification‐Application‐Process.
D. Omer, R. K. Barfield, M. Prosser, M. McConnell, C. Caulder, and P. B. Bookstaver, “Landscape of Board Certification Preparation in Pharmacy Residency Programs,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 6, no. 12 (2023): 1346–1356, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1883.
S. See, B. D. Nemecek, S. M. Allen, et al., “Education and Training of Today's Clinical Pharmacist,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 8, no. 1 (2025): e70094, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.70094.
M. S. McFarland, K. R. Stover, S. Bhat, et al., “Charting a New Path Forward for Pharmacy Residency Expansion,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 6, no. 2 (2023): 205–212, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1748.
A. Saiar, E. LaNou, Y. Meng, and W. Ellis, “Revisiting the Relationship Between Examination Pass Rate and Eligibility Pathway Among Candidates for Pharmacist Board Certification,” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 63, no. 6 (2023): 1785–1790, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.05.022.
M. R. Chilbert, N. Albanese, N. Cieri‐Hutcherson, R. O'Brocta, A. E. Woodruff, and J. Maerten‐Rivera, “NAPLEX Preparatory Perceptions From Recent Graduates at One College of Pharmacy,” American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 88, no. 2 (2024): 100642, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100642.
National Council of State Boards of Nursing, The Relationship Between Elapsed Time and NCLEX Examination Pass Rates. Accessed April 10, 2026 (2006), https://www.ncsbn.org/public‐files/delaystudy2006.pdf.
J. S. Battles, “Effects of Lag Time on Performance on ARRT's Primary Certification and Registration Exams,” Radiologic Technology 94, no. 1 (2022): 14–23.
L. R. Robinson, S. Driscoll, S. Sabharwal, M. Raddatz, and A. E. Chiodo, “Does Delay in Taking the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Certification Examinations Affect Passing Rates?,” American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 95, no. 10 (2016): 725–729.
G. W. Procop, T. J. Sandersfeld, M. Levesque, T. McCarthy, B. Woodworth, and S. H. Swerdlow, “When to Take the Primary Certification Examination: Sooner or Later?,” Academic Pathology 11, no. 2 (2024): 100116, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acpath.2024.100116.
M. Dai and A. W. Bazemore, “Timing of Certification Stage Completion Associated With Subsequent Certification Exam Outcomes Among Board‐Certified Family Physicians,” Journal of American Board of Family Medicine 37, no. 6 (2024): 1130–1132, https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2023.230376R1.
M. A. Malangoni, A. T. Jones, J. Rubright, T. W. Biester, J. Buyske, and F. R. Lewis, Jr., “Delay in Taking the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Examination Affects Examination Performance,” Surgery 152, no. 4 (2012): 738–746, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2012.07.001.
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: certification; educational measurement; pharmacist; pharmacy; pharmacy residencies; professional competence
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260824 Date Completed: 20260824 Latest Revision: 20260824
Update Code: 20260824
DOI: 10.1002/jac5.70276
PMID: 42634125
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: Association Between Time From Eligibility to Examination and Exam Outcomes Among Residency-Trained Board of Pharmacy Specialties Candidates: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
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  Data: Background: Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) board certification represents a recognized standard for advanced pharmacy practice and provides formal validation of specialized knowledge and skills through rigorously developed examinations. In other health professions, taking certification or licensure examinations soon after completing training has been associated with higher pass rates, while delays have been linked to poorer outcomes. This study investigates whether a similar pattern exists among BPS candidates, particularly those who complete residency training and become eligible for certification.&lt;br /&gt;Methods: This study evaluates the association between time from eligibility to examination and first-attempt outcomes among residency-trained pharmacists. This cross-sectional analysis used deidentified data from the BPS MyBPS database for United States-based candidates who attained eligibility through post-graduate year one (PGY1) or post-graduate year two (PGY2) residency training and completed a first-attempt certification examination in 2025. Time to examination was defined as the number of days between residency completion and exam date and was categorized as ≤ 365 days, 366-730 days, and &amp;gt; 730 days. The primary outcome was examination result (pass or fail).&lt;br /&gt;Results: Among 2598 candidates, pass rates declined as time-to-exam increased. Candidates who delayed testing beyond 2 years had significantly lower pass rates compared with those testing within 1 year (p &amp;lt; 0.001) and between one and 2 years (p = 0.011), while no significant difference was observed between the other two groups (p = 0.225).&lt;br /&gt;Conclusion: Overall, longer time from eligibility to examination was associated with lower first-attempt success. These findings suggest that sitting for a BPS board certification examination within 2 years may improve outcomes and inform decision-making for candidates.&lt;br /&gt; (&#169; 2026 ACCP Foundation, Ltd.)
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  Data: Board of Pharmacy Specialties, About BPS. Accessed April 9, 2026 (2026), https://bpsweb.org/about‐bps/.&lt;br /&gt;Board of Pharmacy Specialties, Certification Application Process. Candidate&#39;s Guide. Accessed April 2, 2026 (2026), https://bpsweb.org/candidates‐guide/#Certification‐Application‐Process.&lt;br /&gt;D. Omer, R. K. Barfield, M. Prosser, M. McConnell, C. Caulder, and P. B. Bookstaver, “Landscape of Board Certification Preparation in Pharmacy Residency Programs,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 6, no. 12 (2023): 1346–1356, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1883.&lt;br /&gt;S. See, B. D. Nemecek, S. M. Allen, et&#160;al., “Education and Training of Today&#39;s Clinical Pharmacist,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 8, no. 1 (2025): e70094, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.70094.&lt;br /&gt;M. S. McFarland, K. R. Stover, S. Bhat, et&#160;al., “Charting a New Path Forward for Pharmacy Residency Expansion,” Journal of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy 6, no. 2 (2023): 205–212, https://doi.org/10.1002/jac5.1748.&lt;br /&gt;A. Saiar, E. LaNou, Y. Meng, and W. Ellis, “Revisiting the Relationship Between Examination Pass Rate and Eligibility Pathway Among Candidates for Pharmacist Board Certification,” Journal of the American Pharmacists Association 63, no. 6 (2023): 1785–1790, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2023.05.022.&lt;br /&gt;M. R. Chilbert, N. Albanese, N. Cieri‐Hutcherson, R. O&#39;Brocta, A. E. Woodruff, and J. Maerten‐Rivera, “NAPLEX Preparatory Perceptions From Recent Graduates at One College of Pharmacy,” American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 88, no. 2 (2024): 100642, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100642.&lt;br /&gt;National Council of State Boards of Nursing, The Relationship Between Elapsed Time and NCLEX Examination Pass Rates. Accessed April 10, 2026 (2006), https://www.ncsbn.org/public‐files/delaystudy2006.pdf.&lt;br /&gt;J. S. Battles, “Effects of Lag Time on Performance on ARRT&#39;s Primary Certification and Registration Exams,” Radiologic Technology 94, no. 1 (2022): 14–23.&lt;br /&gt;L. R. Robinson, S. Driscoll, S. Sabharwal, M. Raddatz, and A. E. Chiodo, “Does Delay in Taking the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Certification Examinations Affect Passing Rates?,” American Journal of Physical Medicine &amp; Rehabilitation 95, no. 10 (2016): 725–729.&lt;br /&gt;G. W. Procop, T. J. Sandersfeld, M. Levesque, T. McCarthy, B. Woodworth, and S. H. Swerdlow, “When to Take the Primary Certification Examination: Sooner or Later?,” Academic Pathology 11, no. 2 (2024): 100116, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acpath.2024.100116.&lt;br /&gt;M. Dai and A. W. Bazemore, “Timing of Certification Stage Completion Associated With Subsequent Certification Exam Outcomes Among Board‐Certified Family Physicians,” Journal of American Board of Family Medicine 37, no. 6 (2024): 1130–1132, https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2023.230376R1.&lt;br /&gt;M. A. Malangoni, A. T. Jones, J. Rubright, T. W. Biester, J. Buyske, and F. R. Lewis, Jr., “Delay in Taking the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Examination Affects Examination Performance,” Surgery 152, no. 4 (2012): 738–746, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2012.07.001.
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