Certified Renal Pharmacotherapy Specialist (CRPS)

CRPS (RPH-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the advanced clinical knowledge to manage complex medication regimens for patients with acute and chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis and post-transplantation.

Domain 1: Foundations of Renal Pharmacotherapy (25%)

• Renal Function Assessment: Interpret serum creatinine and calculate estimated kidney function using appropriate equations (e.g., Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD, CKD-EPI) and understand their limitations.
• Principles of Drug Dosing: Apply pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic principles to adjust medication regimens in patients with renal impairment.
• Drug-Induced Kidney Disease: Identify key nephrotoxic drugs and develop strategies for prevention and management.

Domain 2: Management of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (35%)

• CKD Staging and Progression: Manage therapies to slow the progression of CKD, including management of hypertension and proteinuria.
• CKD-Mineral and Bone Disorder (MBD): Manage phosphate binders, vitamin D analogs, and calcimimetics based on patient laboratory values.
• Anemia of CKD: Manage erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and iron supplementation.
• Cardiovascular Risk Management: Manage dyslipidemia and other cardiovascular risk factors in the CKD population.

Domain 3: Pharmacotherapy in Dialysis (25%)

• Drug Removal by Dialysis: Determine if a medication is significantly removed by hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis and adjust dosing accordingly.
• Management of Intradialytic Complications: Manage common complications that occur during a dialysis session, such as hypotension and cramps.
• Vascular Access Care: Describe the pharmacologic management of vascular access complications, including thrombosis and infection.

Domain 4: Pharmacotherapy in Kidney Transplantation (15%)

• Immunosuppression Management: Manage induction, maintenance, and rejection treatment regimens, including therapeutic drug monitoring for agents like tacrolimus and cyclosporine.
• Management of Post-Transplant Complications: Manage opportunistic infections, cardiovascular risk, and other long-term complications in transplant recipients.

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 CRPS Professionals

The CRPS certification is ideal for pharmacists practicing in settings with a high prevalence of kidney disease, such as health systems, dialysis centers, transplant clinics, and ambulatory care clinics focused on chronic disease management.

Target Candidates

• Pharmacists in inpatient internal medicine or critical care.
• Ambulatory care pharmacists managing patients with CKD.
• Pharmacists working in dialysis centers or transplant clinics.
• Pharmacists with PGY2 residency training in internal medicine, critical care, or solid organ transplant.

Primary Job Roles:

• Renal Clinical Pharmacist
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (Nephrology/CKD Clinic)
• Solid Organ Transplant Pharmacist
• Dialysis Center Clinical Pharmacist
• Internal Medicine Clinical Pharmacist

Career Advancement:

A CRPS is well-positioned for leadership roles within a nephrology or transplant service line. They can advance to become a clinical coordinator for nephrology pharmacy services, a manager of a transplant pharmacy program, or a consultant for managed care organizations on renal disease management strategies.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CRPS exam with resources focused on this intricate and high-stakes area of pharmacotherapy.