Certified Deprescribing Pharmacist (CDP)

CDP (CDP-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the advanced clinical knowledge and communication skills to lead the process of deprescribing in collaboration with patients and the healthcare team.

Domain 1: Principles of Deprescribing and Patient Assessment (35%)

• Deprescribing Frameworks: Apply a systematic, evidence-based framework for the deprescribing process (e.g., assess, identify, plan, implement, monitor).
• Patient Identification: Identify high-risk patients who are most likely to benefit from deprescribing, with a focus on older adults and those with multiple comorbidities.
• Medication Review: Conduct a comprehensive medication review to identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), considering the patient's goals of care, life expectancy, and clinical status.
• Evidence-Based Tools: Utilize established criteria and tools (e.g., Beers Criteria, STOPP/START criteria, medication appropriateness index) to guide decision-making.

Domain 2: Management of High-Risk Medication Classes (40%)

• Psychotropics: Develop deprescribing plans for benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, and antipsychotics in older adults.
• Cardiovascular Agents: Evaluate the ongoing need for and potential harms of agents like statins, antiplatelets, and antihypertensives in the context of a patient's goals.
• Anticholinergics: Identify medications with high anticholinergic burden and recommend safer alternatives to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and falls.
• Other Key Classes: Manage the deprescribing of proton pump inhibitors, NSAIDs, and hypoglycemic agents.

Domain 3: Implementation and Monitoring (25%)

• Shared Decision-Making: Employ patient-centered communication techniques to engage patients and caregivers in a shared decision-making process about stopping a medication.
• Tapering and Withdrawal: Design safe and effective tapering schedules for medications with significant withdrawal potential and manage any resulting symptoms.
• Monitoring and Follow-up: Develop a monitoring plan to assess for the re-emergence of treated conditions, adverse drug withdrawal events, and the overall impact on the patient's quality of life.
• Interprofessional Communication: Formulate and communicate clear, evidence-based deprescribing recommendations to prescribers and other members of the healthcare team.

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 CDP Professionals

The CDP certification is essential for pharmacists working in geriatrics, ambulatory care, and long-term care settings. This credential demonstrates a proactive commitment to patient safety and quality of life, aligning with modern principles of value-based healthcare.

Target Candidates

• Pharmacists with board certification in geriatrics (BCGP) or ambulatory care (BCACP).
• Consultant pharmacists serving long-term care or assisted living facilities.
• MTM pharmacists who manage complex patients with polypharmacy.
• Clinical pharmacists in primary care or geriatric clinics.

Primary Job Roles:

• Geriatric Clinical Pharmacist
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
• Consultant Pharmacist (Long-Term Care)
• Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Pharmacist
• Medication Safety Specialist

Career Advancement:

A CDP is positioned to lead clinical initiatives focused on improving geriatric care and reducing medication-related harm. They can advance to become a Director of a Geriatric Pharmacy Program, a clinical leader within a PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) organization, or a consultant for health plans focused on reducing polypharmacy in high-risk members.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CDP exam with resources designed to master the evidence-based practice of deprescribing.