The 2023 BCPS exam will not undergo significant changes compared to 2022. In the ten years I have spent following, studying, and providing study materials for this exam, there have been about 3-4 major changes. There are no planned changes to the content outline for 2023. In this article, I will outline previous pass rates, share a video from 2022 that is still very much applicable, and also share some of the frequently asked questions I get about the BCPS exam and study materials.

2022 Pass Rates

Pass rates for fall 2022 have been officially reported by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS). What’s the verdict for BCPS exam takers? Consistency. The overall pass rate remains in the low 60% range. Comparing it to the pass rate in 2021, the pass rate rose a whopping 1% from 62% in the fall of 2021 to 63% in the fall of 2022 but up from 56% in the spring of 2022. What’s the takeaway here? The BCPS exam is challenging with low pass rates. Preparation is a must.

BCPS Content Outline Changes for 2023?

The last update to the BCPS content outline was in 2020. Since that update, no changes have been made so I wouldn’t suspect any drastic changes to the number of questions from a given topic area. I went through those changes in this post back in 2020. Historically, they have updated the content outline for each exam every 3-5 years. Since I haven’t heard anything yet about changes in 2023, I don’t think it will happen this year. I think overall, that is generally a good thing for candidates, notably the 40% or so who are looking to retake. Maybe BPS will look to shake it up in 2024 or 2025? If you are considering taking BCGP in 2023, be sure you look at this post. Critical Care, Oncology, Pediatric, and Solid Organ Transplantation are also changing.

Many of these study principles from the video I put together in 2022 still stand for 2023.

2023 BCPS Exam – Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take the BCPS Exam if I am a retail/community pharmacist?	Yes, many candidates have. You do have to provide evidence/letter of attestation from your employer.
Is it too late to register?	Maybe or maybe you are too early? – See here for the registration windows for 2023
How many times can I take it if I fail?	There is no limit that I’m aware of
Can I take another exam (BCACP, BCGP, BCOP, etc.) in the same testing period as the BCPS exam (i.e. band-aid method of just getting what I want done)?	No, you can only take one exam per registration period (i.e. fall/spring)
There was a specific guideline change recently, do I have to know it?	It depends. If taking in Spring, the cutoff for finalizing the BCPS exam questions is January 1st. If taking in the Fall, the cutoff is July 1st.
Primary format of the exam?	Multiple choice, 1 answer
Number of questions?	175
Do I need to memorize brand names?	No (generic names are used in exams)
Are theMeded101 BCPS Study Materials up to date for 2023?	Yes
I’m a slow test taker, how much time do I have?	4 hours and 23 minutes. That’s 1 minute and 30 seconds per question. In my experience, doing a practice exam and ensuring you are setting a good pace is critical. I recommend a target of one minute per question to give you some buffer time at the end.
How does the BCPS exam compare to the NAPLEX?	From my own personal experience and feedback from customers – significantly more clinical decision-making type questions; significantly more statistics and regulatory type questions. There will be occasional questions on the BCPS exam that you have no idea which answer is correct. Don’t panic, no one thinks they crushed this exam after they take it.
I think I feel ok about the clinical side of things, do you cover Statistics and Regulatory topics in your study materials?	Yes. Our PDF Regulatory study guide is now up to over 40 pages. Our PDF Statistics study guide is 35 pages with a good number of practice questions included. I still hear from candidates that they were not prepared for these questions. Don’t make that mistake! Both of these PDFs are contained within the 6-month or 1-year All Access Pass but NOT the BCPS Question Bank Only Options.
Can I download the audio recordings in your BCPS package as MP3 files?	As of 2023, that is now possible! Thank you for the suggestion (previous candidates)!
Do I have to be a pharmacist in the United States of America to take the BCPS exam?	No. BPS has a link of tips for international candidates. Find that here.
How do I contact you?	Email: [email protected]

I hope this information provides a level of comfort with the BCPS exam and application process for 2023! If you have any more questions, feel free to shoot me an email at [email protected]

Best wishes in 2023!

Eric Christianson, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP