Certified Behavioral Health Pharmacist (CBHP)

CBHP (BHP-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the advanced clinical knowledge to serve as a psychopharmacology expert on an interdisciplinary behavioral health team.

Domain 1: Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology (40%)

• Depressive and Bipolar Disorders: Manage the pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder and bipolar disorders, including treatment selection, monitoring for efficacy and toxicity, and managing side effects.
• Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders: Manage antipsychotic therapy, including the selection of agents, monitoring for metabolic side effects and movement disorders (e.g., tardive dyskinesia), and managing treatment resistance.
• Anxiety and Related Disorders: Manage therapy for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, PTSD, and OCD, including the appropriate use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
• Neurocognitive Disorders: Describe the pathophysiology and management of dementia and delirium.

Domain 2: Clinical Management and Patient Assessment (35%)

• Patient Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive patient assessment, including a review of psychiatric history, comorbidities, and social determinants of health.
• Treatment Planning: Develop an evidence-based, patient-centered pharmacotherapy plan, including setting therapeutic goals and monitoring parameters.
• Polypharmacy and Interactions: Identify and manage complex drug-drug and drug-disease interactions common in patients with behavioral health conditions.
• Patient Counseling: Provide effective, empathetic counseling to patients and caregivers to improve medication adherence and self-management.

Domain 3: Substance Use Disorders (15%)

• Opioid Use Disorder: Describe the pharmacology and clinical use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
• Alcohol Use Disorder: Manage the pharmacotherapy for alcohol withdrawal and relapse prevention.
• Nicotine Dependence: Develop a comprehensive smoking cessation plan, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies.

Domain 4: Practice and Systems Management (10%)

• Measurement-Based Care: Utilize standardized rating scales (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7) to monitor symptoms and treatment response.
• Legal and Ethical Issues: Describe the legal and ethical considerations in psychiatric pharmacy, including patient confidentiality and capacity to consent.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to sit for a CPS certification exam, candidates must meet the criteria outlined in one of the two pathways below.

Pathway 1: For U.S. Licensed Pharmacists

This pathway is for pharmacists licensed to practice within the United States, regardless of country of graduation.

• Hold an active and unrestricted pharmacist license in any state or territory of the United States.
• Meet educational requirements by being a graduate of an ACPE-accredited school of pharmacy or holding a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee® (FPGEC) Certificate.
• Fulfill the specialty experience requirement as outlined below.

Pathway 2: For International Pharmacists (Non-U.S. Licensed)

This pathway is for pharmacists who practice outside of the United States.

• Hold an active and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in their country of practice. A certified English translation of the license must be provided if the original is not in English.
• Hold a professional degree in pharmacy equivalent to a U.S. pharmacy degree, such as a Bachelor’s degree (BPharm), Master’s degree in Pharmacy Practice (MPharm), or Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD).
• Fulfill the specialty experience requirement as outlined below.

Specialty Experience Requirement (for all pathways)

To ensure candidates have foundational knowledge in the specialty, one of the following criteria must be met:

• Standard Pathway:
  Completion of at least one year of professional experience in a practice setting directly related to the certification area.
• Certificate Pathway:
  The one-year specialty experience requirement is waived for candidates who hold an active certificate of completion from a nationally recognized provider in a related subject matter. This includes, but is not limited to, the completion of a relevant PGY residency, fellowship, certificate/training program, or a relevant graduate degree (e.g., a Master's degree in the specialty field). Recognized providers of certificate programs include, but are not limited to:
  • American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
  • American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
  • American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP)
  • American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP)

Career Path for CBHP Professionals

The CBHP certification is for pharmacists dedicated to advancing the care of patients with mental health and substance use disorders. It is ideal for professionals in psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, ambulatory care clinics, managed care, and correctional facilities.

Target Candidates

• Pharmacists with PGY2 residency training in psychiatric pharmacy.
• Clinical pharmacists in ambulatory care or inpatient mental health settings.
• Consultant pharmacists serving long-term care facilities with high psychotropic utilization.
• Pharmacists working in substance use disorder clinics.

Primary Job Roles:

• Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacist
• Behavioral Health Specialist
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (Mental Health)
• Substance Use Disorder Pharmacist
• Managed Care Pharmacist (Psychiatry)

Career Advancement:

A CBHP is positioned for leadership roles in mental healthcare. They can advance to become a Director of a Psychiatric Pharmacy Program, a clinical coordinator for a mental health service line, or a consultant for health plans on psychotropic formulary management and utilization.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CBHP exam with resources designed for this complex clinical specialty.