Announcing New Appointments to Our Examination Development Committee

At the heart of every trusted professional credential lies a single, unwavering commitment: to the quality, integrity, and validity of its examination process. A certification is more than a certificate on a wall; it is a promise to the public and the profession that the holder has met a rigorous, impartial, and meaningful standard of excellence. At the Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS), upholding this promise is our most solemn responsibility, and it is a responsibility we entrust to a dedicated group of leading practitioners.

It is with this in mind that we are exceptionally proud to announce the appointment of a new cohort of distinguished professionals to our Examination Development Committee (EDC). The EDC is a cornerstone of our organization, a long-standing body of experts tasked with overseeing the entire lifecycle of our certification exams. The periodic appointment of new members is a vital part of our governance, ensuring that we continually infuse our processes with fresh perspectives, diverse expertise, and a direct connection to the front lines of contemporary pharmacy practice.

The Critical Role of the Examination Development Committee

To fully appreciate the significance of these appointments, it is essential to understand the pivotal role the Examination Development Committee plays within our organization. The EDC is far more than a simple question-writing group; its members are the principal guardians of our examinations’ psychometric soundness and professional relevance. Their mandate is comprehensive, requiring a deep understanding of both clinical practice and the science of assessment.

The work of the EDC can be seen across the entire examination lifecycle:

• Upholding Psychometric Standards: The committee ensures that every examination we administer is valid, reliable, and fair. Validity means the exam accurately measures the knowledge and skills required for competent practice, as defined by our national Job Task Analyses. Reliability ensures that the exam is consistent and precise in its measurement. Fairness guarantees that every question is free from bias and focuses solely on assessing professional competence. The EDC works closely with our staff psychometricians to review statistical data and maintain these exacting standards.

• Overseeing Content Development: Committee members are deeply involved in every stage of content creation. They review and approve the examination blueprints, ensuring the topics are weighted appropriately to reflect real-world practice. They undergo extensive training to write, review, and approve every single question (or “item”) that appears on an exam, ensuring each one is clear, accurate, and relevant.

• Guiding the Standard-Setting Process: One of the EDC’s most critical functions is to participate in and guide standard-setting studies, often called “cut-score studies.” This is the methodical, evidence-based process used to determine the passing score for an examination. It is a deliberative process that links the score required to pass directly to the level of knowledge and skill deemed necessary for competent practice, ensuring our passing standard is defensible and meaningful.

This meticulous, expert-driven oversight is what gives a CPS certification its weight and authority. The professionals who serve on this committee are not just volunteers; they are stewards of the profession’s trust.

Welcoming a Wealth of Diverse Expertise

The new members joining the EDC were selected through a rigorous national search process. While we maintain the privacy of our volunteer experts, we want to highlight the incredible breadth of experience and the diverse practice settings this new cohort represents. Their collective wisdom will be a tremendous asset to the Council and the profession we serve.

Among our new appointees is a highly respected Medication Safety Officer from a large academic medical center. With extensive experience in health-system pharmacy, this individual has dedicated their career to designing and implementing systems that reduce medication errors and improve patient outcomes. Their deep expertise in risk assessment, root cause analysis, and just culture will be invaluable as we continue to develop certifications that emphasize patient safety as a core competency. This perspective ensures our examinations assess not just discrete knowledge but also the critical thinking skills required to practice safely within complex healthcare systems.

We are also thrilled to welcome a senior Director of Pharmacy Operations from a multi-state regional health system. This leader brings a crucial perspective on the administrative, logistical, and financial challenges facing modern pharmacy departments. With a background focused on enhancing pharmacy workflow, managing complex budgets, and integrating technology to improve efficiency, this member’s expertise will be particularly vital as CPS continues to explore standards related to pharmacy management and leadership. Their input ensures our certifications remain grounded in the practical realities of running a successful and compliant pharmacy service.

Finally, rounding out our new cohort is a distinguished Clinical Pharmacist specializing in Ambulatory Care from a large network of outpatient clinics. A leader in Medication Therapy Management (MTM), this expert has been instrumental in developing and scaling pharmacist-led chronic care management programs that have demonstrated significant improvements in patient adherence and clinical outcomes. Having served as a preceptor and mentor to hundreds of students and residents, their front-line clinical expertise and passion for patient education will directly inform the development of exams that reflect the nuances of contemporary patient care and collaborative practice.

A Commitment to Excellence in Service

The selection of our committee members is a meticulous process, beginning with a national call for volunteers and followed by a multi-stage review conducted by a governance subcommittee. We seek not only expertise but also a demonstrated commitment to professional service and ethical practice. Upon appointment, all new members undergo rigorous training in psychometric principles, best practices in item writing, and mitigating unconscious bias to ensure their contributions meet the highest standards of quality and fairness.

We extend our deepest gratitude to these new appointees and to all our continuing committee members. Their willingness to dedicate their time and talent to this intensive work is a testament to their professionalism. The strength of a CPS certification is, and always will be, a direct reflection of the expertise and unwavering commitment of these remarkable volunteers.