What are the two main pathways for BCGP recertification?

BCGP certificants can recertify either by completing 100 hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) over their 7-year certification period or by successfully passing a recertification examination.

How many continuing education hours are required for BCGP recertification?

A total of 100 hours of continuing education is required over the 7-year certification period. Of these, at least 60 hours must be BPS-approved Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP) specific CE, and the remaining 40 hours can be general pharmacy CE.

What types of CE qualify for BCGP recertification?

All CE must be ACPE-accredited. The 60 specialty-specific hours must be BPS-approved BCGP CE, often indicated by a specific BPS program number. The remaining 40 hours can be general pharmacy CE relevant to your practice.

When is the BCGP recertification deadline?

Your specific recertification deadline is tied to the date of your initial certification. It occurs every seven years. It's crucial to track this date and ensure all requirements are met and fees paid by the specified deadline, typically in the fall of your seventh year.

What happens if I miss my BCGP recertification deadline?

Missing the deadline can result in the lapse of your BCGP certification. While BPS may offer a brief grace period with additional fees, reinstatement typically requires re-applying and passing the initial certification examination again.

Can I use CE credits from other pharmacy certifications towards BCGP recertification?

Yes, general pharmacy CE (up to 40 hours) can often overlap if it's ACPE-accredited and relevant. However, the 60 hours of BPS-approved BCGP-specific CE must be uniquely fulfilled for your geriatric pharmacy certification.

Where can I find BPS-approved BCGP continuing education programs?

BPS maintains a list of approved providers and programs on their website. Many professional pharmacy organizations, such as ASHP and ACCP, also offer BPS-approved BCGP CE programs.

Is the recertification examination different from the initial BCGP exam?

The recertification examination covers the same content domains and blueprint as the initial BCGP certification exam. It assesses current knowledge and competence in geriatric pharmacotherapy, reflecting any updates in guidelines and practice.

Maintaining Your BCGP Certification: A Comprehensive Recertification Guide for Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacists

Achieving Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) certification is a significant milestone, signifying your deep expertise and commitment to optimizing medication use in older adults. However, this prestigious credential isn't a one-time achievement. To ensure pharmacists remain at the forefront of this dynamic specialty, the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) requires ongoing recertification. As of April 2026, understanding the recertification pathways and requirements is vital for every BCGP.

This mini-article serves as your comprehensive guide to navigating the BCGP recertification process. Whether you plan to recertify through continuing education or re-examination, mastering these requirements is paramount to maintaining your status and continuing to provide the highest level of care to your geriatric patients. While this guide focuses on recertification, it's also important to remember the foundational knowledge tested in the initial exam. For those looking to review the core content, our Complete BCGP Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist Guide offers a thorough overview of the initial certification process and exam blueprint.

Key Concepts in BCGP Recertification

BCGP recertification is designed to ensure that Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacists continuously update their knowledge and skills, keeping pace with advancements in geriatric pharmacotherapy, new guidelines, and evolving patient care strategies. BPS offers two distinct pathways for recertification, both spanning a 7-year certification period:

Pathway 1: Recertification by Continuing Education (CE)

This is the most common pathway, allowing pharmacists to maintain certification through structured learning activities. Here's what you need to know:

CE Hours Required: You must complete a total of 100 hours of continuing education over your 7-year certification period.
Specialty-Specific CE: At least 60 of the 100 hours must be BPS-approved Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP) specific continuing education. These programs are specifically designed to address topics within the BCGP content domains and are often identified by a BPS program number.
General Pharmacy CE: The remaining 40 hours can be general pharmacy continuing education, provided it is ACPE-accredited and relevant to your professional practice.
Approved Providers: All CE must be provided by an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) accredited provider. For the specialty-specific hours, ensure the program is also BPS-approved for BCGP.
Tracking and Reporting: It is your responsibility to track your CE hours meticulously. BPS provides an online portal where you can report your completed CE, and it's wise to do so regularly rather than waiting until the last minute. Maintain certificates of completion for your records.
Timeline: CE hours can be accumulated at any point during your 7-year cycle. However, a proactive approach, spreading out your CE over the years, is highly recommended to avoid last-minute stress.

Pathway 2: Recertification by Re-examination

For those who prefer a comprehensive assessment or have not accumulated the required CE hours, the re-examination pathway is available. This involves successfully passing a proctored examination:

Exam Content: The recertification examination covers the same content domains and blueprint as the initial BCGP certification exam. It assesses your current knowledge and skills in all aspects of geriatric pharmacotherapy.
Preparation: Candidates choosing this pathway should prepare as rigorously as they did for their initial certification. This includes reviewing core geriatric pharmacotherapy principles, current guidelines (e.g., AGS Beers Criteria, STOPP/START criteria), and recent literature. Our BCGP Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist practice questions can be an invaluable resource for this preparation.
Exam Administration: The re-examination is administered during specific testing windows, similar to the initial exam. You must register and pay the associated fees within the specified deadlines.

Annual Maintenance Fees and Deadlines

Regardless of your chosen recertification pathway, all BCGP certificants are required to pay annual maintenance fees to BPS. These fees ensure the ongoing administration and integrity of the certification program. Missing these annual payments or your recertification deadline can lead to the lapse of your certification, potentially requiring you to reapply and pass the initial exam again to regain your credential.

How It Appears on the Exam (Recertification by Re-examination)

If you opt for the recertification examination, you will encounter questions designed to test your mastery of current geriatric pharmacotherapy principles, just like the initial exam. The format will be multiple-choice, often case-based, requiring you to apply your knowledge to realistic patient scenarios.

Question Styles: Expect questions that present patient cases (e.g., an 82-year-old female with polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities, and declining renal function). You'll need to identify the most appropriate medication, adjust dosages, identify drug interactions, recommend deprescribing strategies, or evaluate therapeutic outcomes.
Common Scenarios: Topics frequently covered include pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the elderly, management of common geriatric syndromes (e.g., delirium, dementia, falls, incontinence), chronic disease management (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, heart failure) in older adults, pain management, palliative care, and end-of-life care. Emphasis is placed on guideline-driven care and evidence-based practice tailored to the unique physiology and vulnerabilities of older patients.
Focus on Updates: The re-examination will reflect the latest clinical practice guidelines, drug approvals, and safety warnings relevant to geriatric populations. This ensures that certificants demonstrate current competence, not just knowledge from seven years prior.

Study Tips for BCGP Recertification

Effective preparation is key, whether you're accumulating CE or studying for the re-examination.

For the CE Pathway:

Plan Ahead: Don't wait until your final year to start accumulating CE. Spread out your 100 hours over the 7-year cycle. Aim for 15-20 hours annually to make it manageable.
Prioritize BPS-Approved CE: Actively seek out programs specifically designated as BPS-approved BCGP CE. Many national pharmacy organizations offer these programs.
Identify Knowledge Gaps: Use your clinical practice to identify areas where you might need more education. Are there new guidelines you're less familiar with? New drugs for common geriatric conditions? Focus your CE on these areas.
Track Your Progress: Regularly log your completed CE hours in the BPS online portal. This helps you monitor your progress and ensures you don't miss any requirements.

For the Re-examination Pathway:

Review the BCGP Exam Blueprint: This is your roadmap. It outlines the content domains and their respective weightings, helping you focus your study efforts.
Utilize Practice Questions: Practice questions are invaluable for familiarizing yourself with the exam format and identifying areas of weakness. PharmacyCert.com offers extensive BCGP Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist practice questions, and you can also try our free practice questions to get started.
Consult Core Resources: Revisit foundational texts and guidelines. Key resources include:
- American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
- STOPP/START Criteria
- Current clinical practice guidelines from organizations like ADA, ACC/AHA, KDIGO, etc., with a focus on geriatric-specific recommendations.
- Geriatric pharmacotherapy textbooks.
Form a Study Group: Collaborating with other BCGP candidates can provide different perspectives, reinforce learning, and keep you accountable.
Time Management: Create a realistic study schedule well in advance of the exam date. Dedicate consistent time to review, rather than attempting to cram.
Stay Current: Regularly read pharmacy journals and attend relevant conferences to stay updated on the latest research and practice changes in geriatric pharmacotherapy.

Common Mistakes to Watch Out For

Avoiding these common pitfalls can save you significant stress and ensure a smooth recertification process:

Procrastination: Waiting until the last few months of your 7-year cycle to accumulate CE or begin studying for the re-examination is a recipe for disaster. The volume of material and required hours can be overwhelming.
Misinterpreting CE Requirements: Not all ACPE-accredited CE counts towards the 60 specialty-specific hours. Always verify that a program is BPS-approved for BCGP before counting it towards that requirement.
Neglecting Annual Fees: Forgetting to pay your annual maintenance fees can lead to a lapse in certification, even if you've fulfilled your CE or exam requirements.
Underestimating the Re-examination: Assuming that because you passed the initial exam, the recertification exam will be easy is a mistake. The re-examination is comprehensive and tests current, up-to-date knowledge.
Poor Record Keeping: Failing to properly track and report your CE hours can lead to difficulties when your recertification deadline approaches. Always keep copies of your CE certificates.
Ignoring BPS Communications: BPS regularly sends out important updates regarding policies, deadlines, and available CE. Make sure your contact information is current and check your emails.

Quick Review / Summary

Maintaining your Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (BCGP) certification is a testament to your ongoing dedication to excellence in patient care. The recertification process, whether through continuing education or re-examination, ensures that you remain a highly competent and current practitioner in the specialized field of geriatric pharmacotherapy. As of April 2026, the key takeaways for successful recertification are:

Two Pathways: Choose between completing 100 hours of BPS-approved CE (60 specialty-specific, 40 general) over 7 years, or passing a comprehensive recertification examination.
Proactive Planning: Start accumulating CE early in your cycle or begin your re-examination study well in advance.
Stay Informed: Keep abreast of BPS requirements, deadlines, and policy changes.
Utilize Resources: Leverage practice questions, study guides, and core geriatric pharmacotherapy resources to ensure your knowledge is current and robust.
Pay Fees: Do not forget your annual maintenance fees, as these are critical to keeping your certification active.

Your BCGP credential signifies a commitment to the highest standards of geriatric pharmacy practice. By diligently adhering to the recertification requirements, you not only maintain your professional status but also continue to make a profound difference in the lives of older adults.

Maintaining Your BCGP Certification: A Comprehensive Recertification Guide for Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacists