Certified Pharmacist in Substance Use Disorders (CPSUD)

CPSUD (SUD-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the specialized knowledge to manage the complex pharmacotherapy of substance use disorders and provide harm reduction services.

Domain 1: Pathophysiology of Addiction and Patient Assessment (25%)

• Neurobiology of Addiction: Describe the neurobiological basis of substance use disorders.
• Patient Assessment: Utilize screening tools (e.g., CAGE-AID, DAST) to assess for substance use disorders. Conduct a patient assessment to determine appropriate level of care.
• Co-occurring Disorders: Identify and manage patients with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Domain 2: Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) (35%)

• Medications for OUD (MOUD): Manage the initiation and maintenance of buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
• Withdrawal Management: Manage the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
• Overdose Prevention: Counsel patients and caregivers on naloxone use for opioid overdose reversal.
• Special Populations: Manage OUD in special populations, such as pregnant patients and those with chronic pain.

Domain 3: Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol and Other SUDs (25%)

• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Manage medications for alcohol withdrawal (e.g., benzodiazepines) and relapse prevention (e.g., naltrexone, acamprosate).
• Tobacco Use Disorder: Design comprehensive tobacco cessation plans using nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline.
• Stimulant and Sedative Use Disorders: Describe the management strategies for patients with stimulant or benzodiazepine use disorders.

Domain 4: Harm Reduction and Regulatory Practice (15%)

• Harm Reduction Principles: Apply the principles of harm reduction to patient care, including non-judgmental counseling, and support for sterile syringe services.
• Legal and Regulatory: Apply knowledge of federal and state laws governing the treatment of SUDs and the prescribing of controlled substances (e.g., DATA 2000/waiver requirements).

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 CPSUD Professionals

The CPSUD certification is for pharmacists who are on the front lines of the addiction crisis. It is ideal for professionals in ambulatory care, behavioral health, community, and health-system settings who are dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based addiction treatment.

Target Candidates

• Pharmacists working in behavioral health or psychiatric settings.
• Ambulatory care pharmacists managing patients with co-occurring SUD and chronic diseases.
• Community pharmacists who offer harm reduction services (e.g., naloxone dispensing, syringe services).
• Health-system pharmacists who manage pain management and opioid stewardship programs.

Primary Job Roles:

• Substance Use Disorder / Addiction Pharmacist
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (Pain/Addiction)
• Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacist
• Community Pharmacist at a clinic providing MOUD
• Harm Reduction Program Coordinator

Career Advancement:

A CPSUD is positioned to become a leader in developing and managing addiction treatment services. They can advance to become a Director of a substance use disorder clinic, a clinical leader in a health system's pain and addiction service line, or a public health advocate shaping policy.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CPSUD exam with resources designed to master the clinical management of substance use disorders.