So you’re considering pursuing the BCACP credential in 2026. It’s one of the more recognized specialty certifications for pharmacists working in ambulatory care settings and can help you demonstrate advanced practice, differentiate yourself, and open doors to new roles (for example, in clinics, outpatient care, and chronic-disease management). Below is a breakdown of key logistics, requirements, preparation strategy, and what’s new for 2026.

Requirements to Sit for the BCACP Exam

Before you schedule your exam, you’ll want to ensure you meet the prerequisites. Key requirements for the BCACP (as published in the specs and candidate guide) generally include:

• You must hold an active pharmacist license (in the U.S. or Canadian province) in good standing.
• 1 of the following 3 criteria must be met:
  • 4 years of being a practicing pharmacist with 50% of your time performing activities in the BCACP content outline (need an employer to sign a letter attesting to this)
  • PGY1 + 2 years of experience performing BCACP activities at least 50% of the time
  • PGY2 in ambulatory care

Exam Length, Time-Per-Question & Structure

The exam length and structure has remained the same for 2026. Here are the logistics as of the most recent specifications:

• The exam is 150 items in total, which includes 125 scored items and 25 unscored (pilot) items.
• The administration time is 3 hours and 45 minutes (i.e., 225 minutes) for the full exam.
• If you do the math: 225 minutes ÷ 150 questions ≈ 1.5 minutes per question (i.e., roughly 90 seconds per item). Note: because 25 items are unscored, you still must treat them like scored ones (you don’t know which are which) — so you should plan your pacing as though all 150 count.
• The exam is primarily multiple-choice questions with four possible answers and only one being correct.

Why it matters
Pacing is critical, especially if you are a slow test taker. Many candidates report that not finishing the exam because they spent too long on certain items is a key risk. The “time per question” (≈90 sec) means you need to keep moving, know when to flag and return, and develop test-taking stamina. (This is especially relevant if you’re balancing full-time practice + studying.)

Content Outline Change For 2026 BCACP Exam

The content outline for the BCACP has changed for 2026. In my experience of following these exams for over a decade, when the content outline changes, the pass rates tend to drop as well. Hopefully, that isn’t true this tim,e but this has been the historical trend.

The good news is that the content outline did not change dramatically. The clinical/pharmacotherapy based topics went from 75% of the exam to 79% of the exam. I actually like this in general, as I think we should primarily be tested on our pharmacotherapy and clinical knowledge. The “Professional Practice” portion of the exam is 21%. This would include statistics, public health, and other regulatory items. This is still significant enough that it could make or break your exam, so I would not overlook this area when preparing for your exam.

What’s New for 2026: Immediate Results

Here’s the good news: For the 2026 BCACP exam cycle, BPS is implementing a change — candidates will receive their results immediately (or as soon as the exam ends / in the testing center), rather than waiting the previous number of weeks. This means you walk out of the exam knowing your status.

Why this matters

• Eliminates weeks of waiting/anxiety after the exam
• Allows you to plan next steps sooner: e.g., if you passed, you can update your credential, inform your employer, pursue new roles; if you didn’t pass, you can analyze weaknesses and plan a retake sooner
• Encourages better pacing and focus during the exam: you know the end‐result is immediate
• For those balancing work/family, immediate results reduce the “hangover” of uncertainty.

What you should do

• Have a plan ready before you take the exam for both outcomes (pass/fail) so you can act immediately
• If you pass: CELEBRATE! It is a hard exam; take pride in knowing you put in the work to pass.
• If you don’t pass: take some notes, identify weaknesses and areas you struggled in, adjust your study plan accordingly

2026 BCACP Study Materials

We’ve updated over 20 videos as well as our regulatory PDF to help you be better prepared for the new content outline. Here’s the link to the 2026 study materials.

Meded101 BCACP Study Materials

Video Breakdown – 2026 BCACP Exam