Background

The California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) spearheaded a bill also known as SB 493 signed by Governor Jerry Brown on October 1, 2013. This bill not only recognizes pharmacists as health care providers, but also develops a new classification of pharmacists known as Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APh). According to the California State Board of Pharmacy’s website, “An advanced practice pharmacist is a licensed pharmacist who has been recognized by the board, pursuant to Section 4210. A board-recognized advanced practice pharmacist is entitled to practice advanced practice pharmacy, as described in Section 4052.6, within or outside of a licensed pharmacy. The advanced practice pharmacist license shall be coterminous with the licensee’s pharmacist license.”

CPhA partnered with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) to develop an Advanced Practice Pharmacist (APP) certificate program that satisfies:

  • 4210(a)(2)(A): “Earn certification in a relevant area of practice, including, but not limited to, ambulatory care, critical care, geriatric pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy, nutrition support pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, pediatric pharmacy, pharmacotherapy, or psychiatric pharmacy, from an organization recognized by [ACPE] or another entity recognized by the board.”

Click here to learn more about this program.