Certified Cardiometabolic Care Pharmacist (CCCP)

CCCP (CCC-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the advanced clinical knowledge to provide comprehensive, integrated pharmacotherapy management for patients with cardiometabolic conditions.

Domain 1: Diabetes Mellitus Management (35%)

• Glycemic Management: Manage complex, multi-drug regimens for Type 2 Diabetes, including the titration of insulin and the application of newer drug classes (e.g., GLP-1 RAs, SGLT2i, DPP-4i).
• Cardiovascular and Renal Risk Reduction: Select antidiabetic agents that provide cardiovascular and/or renal benefits in high-risk patients, based on the latest clinical evidence.
• Complication Management: Manage common complications of diabetes, such as neuropathy and retinopathy.

Domain 2: Hypertension and Dyslipidemia Management (35%)

• Hypertension: Apply guideline-directed medical therapy to achieve blood pressure goals, including management of resistant hypertension.
• Dyslipidemia: Manage lipid-lowering therapies beyond statins, including ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and other agents, to achieve LDL-C goals.
• Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD): Manage antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy for primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD.

Domain 3: Obesity and Lifestyle Management (20%)

• Obesity Pharmacotherapy: Manage anti-obesity medications as an adjunct to lifestyle modifications.
• Lifestyle Counseling: Provide evidence-based counseling on nutrition, physical activity, and other lifestyle changes to improve cardiometabolic health.

Domain 4: Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Reduction (10%)

• Integrated Care: Develop a holistic care plan that simultaneously addresses all of a patient's cardiometabolic risk factors.
• Heart Failure: Manage guideline-directed medical therapy for patients with heart failure, particularly in the context of diabetes.

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 CCCP Professionals

The CCCP certification is for pharmacists who provide advanced care for patients with chronic diseases, primarily in ambulatory care, primary care, and community settings. This credential demonstrates a high level of expertise in managing the most common and costly chronic conditions.

Target Candidates

• Ambulatory care pharmacists managing chronic disease states.
• Clinical pharmacists in primary care or family medicine clinics.
• Managed care pharmacists focused on population health and disease management.
• Community pharmacists with collaborative practice agreements for chronic care.

Primary Job Roles:

• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (Cardiology/Endocrinology/Primary Care)
• Clinical Pharmacist Specialist (Cardiometabolic)
• Managed Care Pharmacist (Disease Management)
• Community Pharmacist with advanced clinical services

Career Advancement:

A CCCP is positioned to lead chronic disease management programs. They can advance to become a clinical coordinator for a primary care or specialty service line, a director of a pharmacist-run cardiometabolic clinic, or a population health leader focused on improving quality measures for diabetes and cardiovascular care.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CCCP exam with resources focused on the integrated management of cardiometabolic disease.