A Milestone of Excellence: CPS Celebrates Our 5,000th Certified Professional

Every great movement, every significant change, begins with the commitment of an individual. In the world of pharmacy, it begins with a single practitioner deciding to go further—to pursue a higher standard, to master their specialty, and to validate their expertise for the benefit of their patients. It is a personal commitment to the principle of lifelong learning and professional excellence.

For the past several years, the Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS) has had the distinct honor of witnessing this individual commitment ignite and spread across the nation. Today, we are incredibly proud and deeply humbled to celebrate the moment that this dedication, multiplied twenty-five thousand times over, has become a powerful, national movement.

It is with immense pride that we officially welcome our 5,000th certified professional to the CPS community. This remarkable milestone is not just a number; it is a testament to the collective passion, skill, and unwavering dedication of pharmacy professionals who are actively elevating the standard of care in every community they serve.

Meet Our Milestone Professional: Dr. Aisha Sharma, PharmD, CCCP

To put a face to this incredible number, we wanted to introduce you to the individual who represents this milestone. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Aisha Sharma, a clinical pharmacist in the ambulatory care department of a large, urban teaching hospital, and now, our 5,000th certificant. Dr. Sharma recently earned her Certified Cardiometabolic Care Pharmacist (CCCP) credential, and we had the opportunity to speak with her about her journey.

CPS: Dr. Sharma, congratulations on this wonderful achievement! Can you tell us a bit about your practice and what motivated you to pursue the CCCP certification?

Dr. Sharma: “Thank you so much, I’m truly honored! I work primarily in a pharmacist-led clinic focused on managing patients with complex, uncontrolled chronic conditions. The majority of my patients are dealing with a combination of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and kidney disease. I realized over the past few years that the complexity of their medication regimens and the pace of new guideline updates required a level of expertise that went beyond my generalist training. I was managing these patients every day, but I wanted to be absolutely certain I was practicing at the highest possible evidence-based standard. For me, pursuing the CCCP was about gaining that deep, validated confidence and ensuring I was providing the absolute best care for my incredibly vulnerable patient population.”

CPS: That’s a powerful motivation. Why did you choose a CPS certification specifically to meet that goal?

Dr. Sharma: “It really came down to rigor and recognition. I followed the development of the CPS Clinical Care Specialties Portfolio and was incredibly impressed that it was built on a national Job Task Analysis. It wasn’t just an academic exercise; it was defined by what practicing pharmacists are actually doing. That evidence-based approach gave me confidence that the exam would be a true measure of real-world competence. Additionally, our health system is part of the CPS ‘Partners in Excellence’ program, and the CCCP is now a recognized credential on our clinical ladder. My director was very supportive, which made a huge difference. It just felt like the gold standard.”

CPS: How do you believe this new certification will impact your career and, more importantly, your patients?

Dr. Sharma: “For my patients, I believe it will lead to better outcomes. The process of studying for the exam was an incredible deep dive into the latest clinical trials and guidelines, which has already changed how I approach certain therapeutic challenges. For my career, it’s about solidifying my role as a specialist. It gives me greater confidence when collaborating with cardiologists and endocrinologists, knowing that my expertise has been validated against a national benchmark. My long-term goal is to help expand our pharmacist-led services, and holding the CCCP credential provides a level of authority and credibility that will be invaluable in making the case for that expansion.”

The Ripple Effect: The Collective Impact of 5,000 Certified Experts

Dr. Sharma’s story is a powerful example of one individual’s commitment. Now, imagine that impact multiplied. 5,000 is more than just a number on a certificate.

It represents 5,000 guardians of medication safety, applying their expertise to prevent errors in our hospitals. It is 5,000 leaders in operations, ensuring the efficient and compliant delivery of pharmacy services. It is 5,000 experts in public health and 340B compliance, protecting our most vulnerable populations. It is 5,000 specialists in complex clinical care, managing the chronic diseases that affect millions of Americans.

This community of certified professionals creates a powerful ripple effect. It raises the baseline of practice, drives the adoption of best practices, and strengthens the voice and influence of the entire pharmacy profession in the broader healthcare landscape. Every single certified professional contributes to a safer and more effective healthcare system for all.

A Journey of Purposeful Growth

Reaching this milestone is a moment to reflect on our journey together. From the launch of our Foundational Portfolio in 2019 to our rapid pivot to remote proctoring in 2020, every step was a learning experience. The subsequent launches of our Clinical Care Specialties in 2021, the Operations & Management Suite in 2022, and our most recent Compliance & Regulatory Affairs Portfolio have all been direct responses to the evolving needs of the profession. This milestone is the result of a deliberate, strategic plan to build a comprehensive and credible credentialing home for every facet of pharmacy practice.

A Community of Excellence

This achievement does not belong to us alone; it belongs to our entire community.

• To our 5,000 Certificants: Thank you for your trust, your dedication, and your unwavering commitment to your patients. You are the embodiment of our mission.

• To our thousands of Subject Matter Experts: Thank you for your selfless volunteerism. Your expertise is the bedrock of our credibility, and none of this would be possible without you.

• To our Partners in Excellence: Thank you for your leadership in formally recognizing and supporting the value of certification within your institutions.

As we celebrate this incredible milestone, our eyes are already fixed on the future. We are inspired and energized by your commitment, and we look forward to welcoming the next 5,000 leaders, innovators, and experts to our growing community.

Congratulations again to Dr. Sharma, and to every one of our 5,000 certified professionals. You are the standard of excellence.

The Leadership Team, Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS)