Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency as a Pathway to Board of Pharmacy Specialties Certification: 4 Years in Review

ABSTRACT

This paper provides historical background, assessment of the current state, and future recommendations related to the recognition of Canadian Pharmacy Residency Board (CPRB)‐accredited year 1 residency completion within the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) board certification eligibility framework. The Canadian Society of Healthcare‐Systems Pharmacy's Vision for Pharmacy includes the statement: “Pharmacy professionals meet complex practice needs in healthcare systems by engaging in formal training opportunities, including specialization and credentialling.” As of 2025, over 8400 BPS certifications were held in over 60 countries outside the United States, with 835 in Canada. There are approximately 250 year‐1 pharmacy residency positions in CPRB‐accredited programs across Canada. To earn board certification, pharmacists meet eligibility requirements and pass an examination. For most certifications, one eligibility pathway is completion of a postgraduate year 1 (PGY‐1) residency and 2 years of post‐licensure practice experience in that specialty area. CPRB‐accredited year 1 pharmacy residencies provide a structured, practice‐based learning experience building on competencies developed in Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programs. In 2021, a BPS task force convened, evaluating the recognition of year 1 Accredited Canadian Pharmacy Residency (ACPR) credentials. The task force concluded that CPRB standards, similar to American Society of Health‐Systems Pharmacist's (ASHP) standards, help prepare pharmacists for board certification and advanced practice. The BPS Board of Directors approved CPRB‐accredited year 1 residency programs as part of the eligibility criteria, effective January 2022. From January 2022 to December 2025, BPS received 22 applications via ACPR eligibility: 1 in 2022, 3 in 2023, 11 in 2024, and 7 in 2025. Recommendations are provided for researchers, employers, graduates, residents, and the broader profession. Both residency training and BPS board certification are mechanisms for developing and validating specialized or advanced competencies that equip pharmacists to deliver high‐quality patient‐centered care. Recognition and incentivization of credentials and continued promotion of their value could help ensure sustainability.