Introducing the Pharmacy Operations & Management Suite

The modern pharmacy enterprise is a study in duality. It is, at its heart, a clinical engine dedicated to achieving the best possible patient outcomes. But to function, that clinical heart must be supported by a sophisticated operational nervous system—a complex network of finance, logistics, compliance, and leadership that ensures the entire enterprise runs safely, efficiently, and sustainably. For decades, our profession has rightly celebrated and standardized clinical acumen, yet the operational mastery that makes clinical excellence possible has remained in the background.

One cannot thrive without the other. World-class patient care is powered by world-class operations.

The Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS) has long recognized this essential synergy. Our landmark 2020 National Job Task Analysis (JTA) confirmed it with overwhelming data, revealing that a deep understanding of operational principles is now a critical competency for pharmacists at all levels. In response to this clear, data-driven mandate, we spent 2021 recruiting a blue-ribbon panel of the nation’s top pharmacy executives, directors, and managers to help us build a new standard.

Today, after a year of intensive development, CPS is proud to address this critical gap. We are officially launching the Pharmacy Operations & Management Suite—a groundbreaking portfolio of five distinct certification programs designed to recognize the experts who architect and lead the business of pharmacy. 

An In-Depth Look at the Operations & Management Suite

This portfolio is the first of its kind to offer a comprehensive, evidence-based pathway to validate the specialized, non-clinical skills required to lead a modern pharmacy. Each of the five certifications has been meticulously developed to represent a distinct and critical domain of pharmacy administration.

Certified Pharmacy Operations Manager (CPOM)

The Professional Imperative: The role of the pharmacy manager or supervisor is one of the most multifaceted in healthcare leadership. It requires a broad and dynamic skill set to orchestrate the complex interplay of people, processes, and technology that defines the daily function of a pharmacy department. The Scope of Practice: The CPOM is the quintessential generalist leader. Their expertise spans workflow design and optimization, human resource management (including hiring, training, and performance management), quality improvement methodologies (such as Lean and Six Sigma), and the effective implementation of new technologies. They are the leaders responsible for translating strategic goals into smooth, efficient, and safe daily operations. Who Should Certify: This certification is designed for pharmacy managers, supervisors, and aspiring leaders in any large-scale setting, including hospitals, health systems, and community pharmacy chains. It provides a comprehensive validation of the core competencies required for effective departmental leadership. Validated Competencies: The CPOM credential validates a manager’s skill in project management, staff development and engagement, creating and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring regulatory readiness, and fostering effective interdepartmental collaboration. Earning the CPOM signifies that a professional has the broad operational knowledge to lead a team, manage a complex workflow, and drive continuous quality improvement.

Certified Hospital Pharmacy Operations Pharmacist (CHPOP)

The Professional Imperative: While sharing core leadership principles, the inpatient pharmacy environment presents a unique set of high-stakes operational challenges. The safe, timely, and compliant delivery of medications within the walls of a hospital is a zero-error endeavor of immense complexity. The Scope of Practice: The CHPOP is a specialist in the intricate logistics of inpatient pharmacy. Their focus is on the operational integrity of sterile and non-sterile compounding services, the strategic management of automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) and other distribution technologies, the oversight of medication delivery systems throughout the facility, and ensuring unwavering compliance with standards from The Joint Commission, DEA, and Boards of Pharmacy. Who Should Certify: This certification is ideal for inpatient pharmacy operations managers, coordinators, and supervisors who are directly responsible for the medication-use system within an acute care setting. Validated Competencies: The CHPOP credential validates an expert-level understanding of USP chapter compliance, medication distribution models (from cart-fill to decentralized automation), the management of pharmacy kits and emergency trays, and the implementation of robust drug diversion prevention programs. A CHPOP-certified leader is a recognized expert in building and maintaining a high-reliability inpatient pharmacy operation.

Certified Pharmacy Supply Chain Manager (CPSCM)

The Professional Imperative: The pharmaceutical supply chain represents one of the largest and most volatile expense categories for any health system. Effectively managing this multi-million-dollar asset is critical for both the financial health of the organization and the continuity of patient care. The Scope of Practice: The CPSCM is an expert in the complete lifecycle of pharmaceutical products within an institution. Their expertise covers strategic drug procurement, GPO and 340B contracting, advanced inventory management (optimizing turnover rates and carrying costs), proactively managing and mitigating drug shortages, and ensuring compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). Who Should Certify: This certification is designed for pharmacy purchasing managers, supply chain specialists, business analysts, and inventory managers who are on the front lines of managing pharmaceutical expenditures. Validated Competencies: The CPSCM credential validates a professional’s skills in wholesaler and manufacturer relations, drug budget forecasting and variance analysis, implementing inventory control technologies (like RFID and carousel systems), and navigating the complex regulations of federal purchasing programs. This certification marks an individual as a key strategic partner in controlling costs while ensuring clinicians have the medications they need, when they need them.

Certified Pharmacy Billing & Reimbursement Specialist (CPBRS)

The Professional Imperative: The landscape of pharmacy reimbursement is notoriously complex, opaque, and constantly changing. The ability to navigate this system effectively is the difference between a financially sustainable pharmacy enterprise and one that bleeds revenue. The Scope of Practice: The CPBRS is a master of the pharmacy revenue cycle. Their expertise lies in the correct application of billing codes (J-codes, HCPCS, CPTs), a deep understanding of diverse payer policies (from Medicare Part B and D to commercial and state Medicaid plans), optimizing prior authorization workflows, and managing claims adjudication and appeals. Who Should Certify: This specialized certification is ideal for pharmacy revenue cycle managers, reimbursement specialists, financial analysts, and prior authorization team leaders. Validated Competencies: The CPBRS credential validates an expert’s ability to successfully navigate payer audits, develop strategies to reduce claim denials, manage and optimize patient assistance programs, and ensure the organization is accurately and compliantly capturing the full value of the pharmacy services it provides. A CPBRS-certified professional is a vital asset for protecting and enhancing the financial integrity of the pharmacy department.

Certified Pharmacy Audit Specialist (CPAS)

The Professional Imperative: In an era of increasing regulatory scrutiny, the ability to ensure and demonstrate compliance is paramount. Proactive, systematic auditing is the cornerstone of a safe, compliant, and high-quality pharmacy operation. The Scope of Practice: The CPAS is an expert in quality assurance and regulatory readiness. Their skills involve designing and conducting rigorous internal audits of pharmacy processes, preparing the department for successful external audits from bodies like the Board of Pharmacy, DEA, The Joint Commission, and HRSA (for 340B), and developing effective corrective action plans (CAPAs) to address any identified deficiencies. Who Should Certify: This certification is designed for pharmacy compliance officers, medication safety officers, quality managers, and other leaders who hold direct responsibility for auditing and regulatory affairs. Validated Competencies: The CPAS credential validates a deep knowledge of the key state and federal regulations governing pharmacy practice. It assesses expertise in formal auditing methodologies, risk assessment strategies, root cause analysis, and the principles of quality improvement documentation. A CPAS-certified pharmacist is a recognized leader in building a culture of continuous readiness and unwavering compliance.

The Organizational ROI: A Suite Designed for System-Level Success

This portfolio was explicitly designed to provide a tangible return on investment for healthcare organizations. A certified leadership team is an empowered leadership team, equipped with the validated skills to drive system-level improvements.

“This isn’t just about professional development; it’s about risk management and operational excellence,” noted a Chief Pharmacy Officer from a major academic medical center who served as a lead SME on this project. “When I see a CPS operations credential on a resume, it gives me confidence that this individual understands the business of pharmacy. Certifying our pharmacy leaders with CPS gives our entire executive team assurance that our multi-million-dollar pharmacy enterprise is being managed to a rigorous, national standard of excellence.”

Investing in this suite of certifications is an investment in your organization’s core health. It leads to enhanced financial performance, stronger regulatory compliance, greater operational efficiency, and ultimately, a more reliable foundation upon which to build world-class clinical services.

Forging a New Career Pathway in Pharmacy Leadership

For too long, the professional development pathway for pharmacists has been perceived as almost exclusively clinical. This portfolio changes that. It creates a clear, prestigious, and nationally recognized career ladder for pharmacists who are passionate about leadership, management, and the systems that underpin patient care. These credentials provide a new way for you to signal your expertise, distinguish yourself in a competitive job market, and take the next step in your journey from practitioner to executive.

Eligibility and Examination Details

These certifications are designed to recognize professionals with a demonstrated background in pharmacy management and operations. Eligibility is primarily experience-based, requiring a minimum number of years of practice in a relevant leadership or administrative role. The detailed eligibility pathways are available in the official Candidate Handbooks, now downloadable from our website.

Registration for the inaugural examination window for all five certifications opens on June 1, 2022. Examinations will be available via both Live Remote Proctoring and at our network of in-person test centers beginning September 1, 2022.

Clinical excellence is powered by operational excellence. The time has come to recognize the leaders who make it all possible.

Explore the Pharmacy Operations & Management Suite and validate your leadership today.

The Leadership Team, Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS)