BCPP Exam Guide
1. Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for certification under the Board of Community Pharmacy Practice, applicants must meet both of the following requirements:
Graduation from an accredited college or school of pharmacy; and
Possession of a current, active license or registration to practice pharmacy in their jurisdiction.
4. Exam Format
Number of Questions: 100 multiple-choice questions
Exam Duration: 2.5 hours
Delivery Method: Online, remote-proctored exam
Minimum Passing Score: 70%
5. Scoring and Performance Reporting
Each correct answer is worth one point. There is no negative marking for incorrect responses.
Score reports will indicate Pass or Fail status only.
Candidates who achieve a passing score will be awarded the relevant certification title corresponding to their chosen specialty.
6. Result Notification and Certificate Issuance
Examination results are released within 30 business days after the close of the candidate’s testing window.
Candidates will receive an email notification once their official result is available in their online account.
Successful candidates will be issued a digital certificate (PDF) via email within 30 calendar days of result release.
Each certificate includes a unique verification number that can be used to confirm certification status through the official certification verification portal.
7. Exam Retake Policy
Candidates who do not achieve a passing score on a Board of Community Pharmacy Practice examination may retake the exam under the following conditions:
Retake Window
The first retake must be completed within three testing windows from the release date of the initial exam results.
If the candidate does not pass the first retake, a second and final retake must be completed within three testing windows from the release date of the first retake result.
Retake Fees
Each retake attempt is available at 50% of the standard examination fee.
Failure to Pass After Two Retakes
Candidates who do not pass after two retake attempts must restart the certification process as new applicants. This includes:
Submitting a new application
Paying the full exam fee
Meeting the current eligibility requirements in effect at the time of reapplication
Note: For missed appointments or failure to schedule, please refer to the Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy.
9. Recertification
To maintain an active certification status, certificants under the Board of Community Pharmacy Practice must complete the recertification process every five (5) years by retaking and passing the certification examination for their specialty.
Recertification Requirements
Recertification is achieved exclusively through re-examination; continuing education is not required.
The recertification exam must be taken at any time during the sixth year of the certification cycle.
During the sixth year, the certification status will be marked as "Pending Recertification" until the candidate successfully completes the exam.
Recertification Fee Structure
The recertification exam is offered at 50% of the standard examination fee.
Certificants who do not pass on the first attempt are allowed two additional retake attempts, each at 50% of the standard fee.
Failure to pass after the third attempt requires the certificant to restart the process as a new applicant, including:
Submitting a new application
Paying the full examination fee
Meeting all current eligibility criteria in effect at the time of reapplication
2. Exam Dates and Scheduling
Certification examinations under the Board of Community Pharmacy Practice are offered during four annual testing windows:
Window 1: February–March
Window 2: May–June
Window 3: August–September
Window 4: November–December
Registration Deadline
Candidates may register at any time throughout the year. However, registration must be completed no later than the 15th day of the month preceding the desired exam window.
Example: To sit for the May–June window, registration must be completed by April 15.
Exam Scheduling
Upon approval, candidates must schedule their exam between one week before the start of the exam window and no later than two days before the window ends, using the official remote proctoring platform. Scheduling is subject to appointment availability.
Important: Failure to schedule or attend the exam within the assigned window is governed by the Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy.
Emergency Exceptions
Candidates who are unable to sit for the exam due to documented emergencies (e.g., serious illness, death in immediate family, court appearance, etc.) may submit a deferral request through the Contact Us page.
Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and the board reserves the right to accept or deny deferral requests without obligation to disclose the rationale.
One Exam per Testing Window Policy
Candidates are permitted to take only one certification exam per testing window, regardless of the specialty.
Attempting to schedule more than one specialty examination within the same window is not allowed, and any such attempt may result in cancellation of one or more exam appointments at the Board’s discretion.
8. Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy
Withdrawal from the Exam
Candidates may withdraw their exam application at any time before scheduling their exam appointment.
Withdrawal requests must be submitted via the Contact Us page on the Board website.
Withdrawals submitted before scheduling the exam are eligible for a partial refund (50% of the exam fee).
Withdrawals submitted after scheduling the exam are not eligible for any refund unless an approved emergency applies.
Emergency Withdrawal (After Scheduling)
A candidate who cannot attend the exam due to:
Serious illness (candidate or immediate family)
Death in the immediate family
Disabling accident
Court appearance or jury duty
Unexpected military deployment
...may submit an emergency withdrawal request within 7 calendar days of the missed appointment, along with official documentation (e.g., medical report, court summons), via the Contact Us page.
If approved:
A partial refund will be issued after deducting an administrative fee of $100 and $50 scheduling fee if applicable.
Deferral (Rescheduling)
Candidates may reschedule their exam up to 2 calendar days before the appointment (for test center exams) or at least 24 hours before (for remote exams).
A $50 rescheduling fee will be applied.
Requests must be submitted through the Contact Us page.
Requests made after the allowed time will be considered a no-show, and the full exam fee will be forfeited.
No-Show Policy
A candidate who fails to appear at the scheduled time without prior notice will be marked as a no-show.
No refund will be provided.
The candidate must reapply and pay the full exam fee to sit again.
Refunds
Refunds, where applicable, will be processed within 14 business days from the date of approval.
All refunds are subject to deduction of any applicable fees (e.g., administrative, scheduling).
3. Exam Fees
The following fee structure applies to all certification programs under the Board of Community Pharmacy Practice:
Initial Certification Application Fee: $600 USD
Re-test Fee: $300 USD per attempt
Recertification Examination Fee: $300 USD
All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated in the Withdrawal, Deferral, and Refund Policy. Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Board.
Reduced Fees for Eligible Countries
Pharmacists who hold a valid license issued by a country classified as either Low-Income or Lower-Middle-Income by the World Bank are eligible for a 50% discount on all applicable fees, including:
Initial certification
Retake examinations
Recertification
No separate application is required. The discount is automatically granted if the pharmacist submits a current license issued by a qualifying country.
Eligibility is determined based on the most recent World Bank classification at the time of application.
A current list of qualifying countries is available at: https://data.worldbank.org
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