The PharmPAC is pleased to announce the availability of the collaboration between the Veterans Health Administration Pharmacy Benefits Management Educational Advisory Committee (VHA PBM EdAC) and USPHS PharmPAC that allows all PHS Pharmacists (Civil Service, Commissioned Corps, Tribal Urban) preparing for a Board of Pharmacy Specialty (BPS) exam to access the VHA PBM EdAC’s BPS certification exam online study courses at no cost to PHS Pharmacists. This collaboration, known as the VA-PHS BPS Certification Exam Online Study Courses, has online courses available for BPS exam study preparation for the following BPS exams:

• Ambulatory Care (BCACP)
• Geriatrics (BCGP)
• Oncology (BCOP)
• Pharmacotherapy (BCPS)
• Psychiatry (BCPP)

Course content includes online lectures and self-study clinical cases. Online lectures are presented live once weekly with recordings made available after the lecture. PHS pharmacists who participate in the live lecture can earn CE credit. After each lecture supplementary study resources such as clinical case studies with quiz questions pertaining to the lecture will be made available to further engage with the content.

Registration

PHS pharmacists interested in participating should register by completing the following:

1. Register on the VA-PHS BPS Certification Exam Online Study Courses email listserv at (https://www.ihs.gov/listserv/topics/signup/?list_id=591) to receive assistance with registration or accessing course materials, and stay abreast of the annual study preparation agenda, deadlines, and available training content at the Indian Health Service listserv sign-up website.
2. Register on the VA Pharmacy Online Classroom to access study materials and supplementary resources at the VA Pharmacy Training website.
3. Register on the VA Website at VA Talent Management System (TMS) in order to earn CE credits. Create an account by using the instructions at the TMS Resources websitemax.gov login required. In addition, pharmacists must register through TMS for each online lecture; please see course study schedules below.

Study Series

Online courses generally begin/open annually in January and run through September in preparation of a Fall BPS exam testing window. PHS Pharmacists may choose to participate in as many series as desired. Links to the most current schedules for BPS exam study preparation can be found by clicking on the link to the MAX.gov pages below or from sending an email to the listserv. Study Materials from previous years are also available. Each BPS exam series has a coordinator assigned. Please utilize the links and the listserv for general questions about each series.

• Ambulatory Care (BCACP): Overlaps with BCPS series; additional information can be found at the BCACP General Information websitemax.gov login required
• Geriatrics (BCGP); additional information can be found at the BCGP General Information websitemax.gov login required
• Oncology (BCOP); additional information can be found at the BCOP General Information website max.gov login required
• Pharmacotherapy (BCPS): Overlaps with BCACP series; additional information can be found at the BCPS General information websitemax.gov login required
• Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP); additional information can be found at the BCPP General Information websitemax.gov login required

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many opportunities for PHS pharmacist officers to get involved in presenting, developing cases and supplementary materials, as well as supporting the delivery and maintenance of the content. Interested PHS Pharmacists can find additional information at the BPS Study Course Volunteer Opportunities website.