Certified Hazardous Drug Handling Pharmacist (CHDHP)

CHDHP (HDH-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the comprehensive knowledge and skills to develop, implement, and manage a compliant hazardous drug handling program based on USP <800>.

Domain 1: USP <800> Standards and Facility Requirements (35%)

• Scope and Definitions: Apply the definitions and scope of USP <800> to all areas where hazardous drugs (HDs) are handled.
• Facility and Engineering Controls: Describe the requirements for HD storage areas, Containment Secondary Engineering Controls (C-SECs), and Containment Primary Engineering Controls (C-PECs).
• List of HDs: Develop and maintain an entity's list of HDs based on the NIOSH list.
• Assessment of Risk: Manage the process for performing an Assessment of Risk to determine alternative containment strategies for certain dosage forms.

Domain 2: Personnel and Procedural Management (40%)

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Identify appropriate PPE for all activities involving HDs, including receiving, compounding, and administration.
• Personnel Training: Develop a training and competency assessment program for all personnel who handle HDs.
• Safe Handling Procedures: Establish policies and procedures for every stage of the HD lifecycle: receipt, storage, compounding, dispensing, administration, and disposal.
• Spill Management: Develop and implement a comprehensive plan for managing HD spills.

Domain 3: Quality Management and Medical Surveillance (25%)

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Develop and maintain all required SOPs for the hazardous drug handling program.
• Environmental Monitoring: Describe the process for environmental wipe sampling to detect HD surface contamination.
• Medical Surveillance: Describe the components of a medical surveillance program for healthcare workers who handle HDs.

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 CHDHP Professionals

The CHDHP certification is for pharmacy professionals responsible for medication safety and compliance in any setting where hazardous drugs are handled, including health systems, infusion centers, and compounding pharmacies. This is a crucial credential for safety and compliance-focused roles.

Target Candidates

• Pharmacists or technicians working in sterile or non-sterile compounding.
• Medication safety officers and pharmacy compliance managers.
• Pharmacy leaders responsible for employee safety and regulatory compliance.
• Oncology pharmacists and technicians.

Primary Job Roles:

• Medication Safety Officer
• Pharmacy Compliance Manager
• Compounding Supervisor
• Director of Pharmacy (with compliance oversight)
• USP 800 Designated Person

Career Advancement:

A CHDHP is positioned to be an institutional leader in safety and regulatory compliance. They can advance to become a system-level Director of Medication Safety, a Chief Compliance Officer, or an independent consultant specializing in USP <800> compliance and facility design.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CHDHP exam with resources designed to master the comprehensive requirements of USP <800>.