Certified Transitions of Care Specialist (CTCS)

CTCS (TCS-001) Exam Objectives

This exam certifies that the candidate has the clinical and operational knowledge to lead and provide comprehensive transitions of care pharmacy services, with a focus on improving safety and reducing readmissions.

Domain 1: Medication Reconciliation (40%)

• Best Possible Medication History (BPMH): Utilize a systematic, multi-source process (patient/caregiver interview, pharmacy records, prior records) to obtain a BPMH.
• Patient Interviewing: Employ effective communication techniques (e.g., open-ended questions, medication display) to elicit an accurate medication and adherence history.
• Discrepancy Identification and Resolution: Systematically compare the BPMH against admission or discharge orders to identify and categorize discrepancies and intervene with prescribers to resolve them.

Domain 2: Patient and Caregiver Education (30%)

• Discharge Counseling: Provide patient-centered discharge counseling that confirms patient understanding of their medication regimen, including any changes made during hospitalization.
• Health Literacy Assessment: Apply techniques to assess a patient's health literacy and tailor education accordingly.
• Adherence barrier Assessment: Identify and address potential barriers to medication adherence post-discharge, such as cost, complexity, or side effects.

Domain 3: Care Coordination and Handoffs (20%)

• Interprofessional Communication: Provide a clear and concise handoff of the patient's medication plan to the next provider of care (e.g., primary care physician, community pharmacist, skilled nursing facility).
• Follow-up Processes: Describe the components of effective post-discharge follow-up, such as follow-up phone calls, to ensure patient understanding and resolve issues.
• Community Resource Navigation: Connect patients to resources to overcome barriers, such as patient assistance programs or transportation services.

Domain 4: Program Management and Quality Improvement (10%)

• Workflow Development: Design efficient workflows for providing transitions of care services within a health system.
• Quality Metrics: Identify key quality metrics used to measure the success of a transitions of care program (e.g., 30-day readmission rates, adverse drug event rates, patient satisfaction).

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 CTCS Professionals

The CTCS certification is highly sought after for pharmacists in health systems, ambulatory care, and managed care organizations focused on improving patient safety and reducing healthcare costs. This credential demonstrates a specialized skill set that is central to value-based care initiatives.

Target Candidates

• Hospital pharmacists involved in admission or discharge medication reconciliation.
• Ambulatory care pharmacists managing patients post-discharge.
• Community pharmacists engaged in medication synchronization and MTM programs.
• Managed care pharmacists developing programs to reduce readmissions.

Primary Job Roles:

• Transitions of Care Pharmacist
• Medication Reconciliation Pharmacist
• Hospital Clinical Pharmacist
• Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
• Population Health Pharmacist
• Medication Safety Specialist

Career Advancement:

A CTCS is positioned for leadership roles in quality improvement and patient safety. They can advance to become a Manager or Director of Transitions of Care Services, a Medication Safety Officer, or a leader in a health system's population health or value-based care division.

Study Resources

Prepare for your CTCS exam with resources designed to master the art and science of safe care transitions.