CCCP Exam Content Outline

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Certified Cardiometabolic Care Pharmacist (CCCP)

Official Examination Content Outline

This document provides the official content outline for the Certified Cardiometabolic Care Pharmacist (CCCP) examination. The exam certifies that a pharmacist possesses the specialized clinical knowledge to provide comprehensive, integrated care for patients with cardiometabolic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity, with a focus on cardiovascular risk reduction, lifestyle intervention, and health equity.

Examination Specifications

Name of Credential Certified Cardiometabolic Care Pharmacist (CCCP)
Certification-Issuing Body The Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS)
Designation Awarded CCCP
Target Population Pharmacists specializing in ambulatory care, primary care, and cardiology.
Examination Length 120 multiple-choice items
Administration Time 3.0 hours

Examination Content Outline

The CCCP examination is weighted according to the five domains listed below, covering an integrated approach to managing interrelated cardiometabolic conditions, from comprehensive assessment and lifestyle intervention to clinical management and quality improvement.

Domain 1: Comprehensive Assessment & Care Planning 20%
Domain 2: Lifestyle & Behavioral Interventions 15%
Domain 3: Clinical Management of Cardiometabolic Diseases 40%
Domain 4: Practice Management, Outcomes & Quality Improvement 15%
Domain 5: Patient-Centered Communication & Education 10%

Domain 1: Comprehensive Assessment & Care Planning (20%)

Task 1: Perform a comprehensive cardiometabolic risk stratification.
  • Synthesize a patient's medical history, medication history, and lifestyle factors to inform a clinical assessment.
  • Interpret relevant laboratory and diagnostic data to establish a baseline for management.
  • Apply validated tools (e.g., ASCVD Pooled Cohort Equations, MESA, Reynolds Risk Score) to quantify global cardiovascular risk.
  • Evaluate risk-enhancing factors (e.g., family history, inflammatory conditions, ethnicity) to refine risk assessment.
  • Utilize advanced diagnostic tests (e.g., CAC scoring, Lp(a), hs-CRP) to personalize risk assessment in select patients.
Task 2: Design an integrated, patient-centered care plan.
  • Collaborate with the patient using shared decision-making to establish SMART goals for risk reduction.
  • Develop an integrated care plan that addresses lifestyle, medication therapy, and self-monitoring.
  • Incorporate patient-specific preferences, cultural values, and readiness for change into the plan.
  • Prioritize interventions based on the potential for risk reduction and the patient's capacity for change.
  • Establish a clear follow-up and monitoring plan to track progress toward goals.
Task 3: Identify and address health disparities and social determinants of health (SDOH).
  • Screen for and identify SDOH (e.g., food insecurity, transportation, housing, health literacy) that impact cardiometabolic health.
  • Analyze practice-level data to identify disparities in cardiometabolic outcomes among vulnerable populations.
  • Adapt care plans to mitigate the impact of identified barriers on treatment adherence and outcomes.
  • Connect patients with community-based resources and support services to address non-medical needs.
  • Apply culturally competent strategies to address disparities in care among diverse ethnic and socioeconomic populations.
Task 4: Evaluate and integrate digital health technologies.
  • Interpret data from digital health tools such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), remote blood pressure monitors, and wearable devices.
  • Utilize digital therapeutics and patient engagement platforms to support self-management and behavior change.
  • Incorporate patient-generated health data into ongoing clinical decision-making and monitoring.
  • Assess the usability, validity, and data security of various digital health technologies.
  • Develop workflows for the efficient integration of digital health data into the clinical practice.
Task 5: Manage medication access and affordability.
  • Navigate complex prior authorization processes and appeal denied claims for guideline-directed therapies.
  • Develop strategies to overcome formulary restrictions and step therapy requirements.
  • Implement programs to connect patients with financial assistance (e.g., manufacturer coupons, patient assistance programs) to mitigate cost-related nonadherence.
  • Select cost-effective therapies that align with the patient's insurance coverage and financial capacity.
  • Educate patients on navigating their prescription benefits and finding the lowest-cost options.
Task 6: Apply principles of precision medicine and pharmacogenomics (PGx).
  • Interpret PGx test results (e.g., CYP2C19 for clopidogrel, SLCO1B1 for statins) to personalize therapy.
  • Identify candidates for advanced therapies based on genetic markers or specific biomarkers.
  • Assess a patient's individual response and tolerance to medications to guide therapy adjustments.
  • Integrate pharmacogenomic data into clinical decision support tools to guide prescribing.
  • Counsel patients on the implications of their pharmacogenomic results for current and future therapy.

Domain 2: Lifestyle & Behavioral Interventions (15%)

Task 1: Design and implement medical nutrition therapy plans.
  • Assess a patient's dietary patterns and their impact on cardiometabolic risk factors.
  • Provide education on evidence-based dietary approaches (e.g., DASH, Mediterranean, low-carbohydrate).
  • Collaborate with registered dietitians to provide comprehensive nutrition counseling.
  • Develop individualized meal plans that consider patient preferences, cultural background, and budget.
  • Counsel patients on practical skills such as label reading, portion control, and healthy cooking.
Task 2: Develop personalized physical activity plans.
  • Assess a patient's current physical activity level and any physical limitations or contraindications.
  • Provide a "physical activity prescription" that aligns with national guidelines for aerobic and resistance exercise.
  • Counsel patients on strategies to overcome barriers and incorporate physical activity into their daily routine.
  • Collaborate with physical therapists or exercise physiologists for patients with complex needs.
  • Educate patients on the benefits of physical activity for glycemic control, blood pressure, and weight management.
Task 3: Manage comprehensive weight management programs.
  • Provide evidence-based counseling for weight loss and maintenance, integrating nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral strategies.
  • Identify appropriate candidates for anti-obesity medications or bariatric surgery.
  • Manage pharmacotherapy for weight management, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual incretin therapies.
  • Monitor for and manage adverse effects of anti-obesity medications.
  • Provide long-term support for weight maintenance and relapse prevention.
Task 4: Implement tobacco cessation interventions.
  • Assess a patient's readiness to quit tobacco and provide counseling based on their stage of change.
  • Design evidence-based pharmacotherapy regimens, including nicotine replacement therapy and non-nicotine options.
  • Provide behavioral counseling and connect patients with quitlines and other support resources.
  • Manage side effects and withdrawal symptoms associated with cessation therapies.
  • Develop a relapse prevention plan with patients who have recently quit.
Task 5: Apply motivational interviewing and behavioral change strategies.
  • Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to explore ambivalence and enhance motivation for change.
  • Apply principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy to help patients identify and modify unhealthy habits.
  • Assess and enhance a patient's self-efficacy and activation in managing their own health.
  • Assist patients in developing problem-solving skills to overcome barriers to self-management.
  • Employ goal-setting and self-monitoring strategies to support long-term behavior change.
Task 6: Facilitate team-based and interprofessional care.
  • Collaborate effectively with primary care providers, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and dietitians.
  • Define and communicate the pharmacist's role within the interdisciplinary care team.
  • Participate in team huddles, case conferences, and shared medical appointments.
  • Develop referral pathways to connect patients with other members of the care team.
  • Manage interprofessional communication to ensure a coordinated and seamless patient experience.

Domain 3: Clinical Management of Cardiometabolic Diseases (40%)

Task 1: Manage pharmacotherapy for glycemic control in diabetes.
  • Apply current guidelines to design and adjust patient-specific medication regimens for type 2 diabetes.
  • Select agents based on their impact on glycemic control, weight, and cardiovascular/renal risk reduction.
  • Manage complex combination therapies, including oral agents, non-insulin injectables, and insulin.
  • Design and titrate complex insulin regimens, including basal-bolus and pump therapy.
  • Develop protocols for preventing, recognizing, and treating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Task 2: Manage pharmacotherapy for hypertension and dyslipidemia.
  • Design patient-specific antihypertensive regimens based on guidelines, compelling indications, and patient comorbidities.
  • Manage resistant hypertension through systematic optimization of the medication regimen.
  • Design statin-based regimens of the appropriate intensity and manage statin-associated side effects.
  • Incorporate non-statin therapies (e.g., ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, inclisiran, bempedoic acid) for high-risk patients.
  • Manage complex lipid disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia.
Task 3: Implement guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for ASCVD, CKD, and HF.
  • Design comprehensive secondary prevention regimens for patients with established ASCVD (post-MI, stroke, revascularization).
  • Optimize the "four pillars" of therapy for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
  • Implement evidence-based treatments for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
  • Design pharmacologic regimens with SGLT2 inhibitors, RAAS inhibitors, and finerenone to slow the progression of CKD.
  • Ensure seamless transitions of care to optimize GDMT upon hospital discharge.
Task 4: Manage emerging and novel therapeutic agents.
  • Evaluate the evidence for and incorporate novel agents into practice, such as dual GIP/GLP-1 RAs for diabetes/obesity.
  • Apply evidence for emerging therapies such as inclisiran, finerenone, and vericiguat in appropriate patient populations.
  • Assess the expanding indications for existing drug classes (e.g., SGLT2 inhibitors in CKD/HF, GLP-1 RAs for primary prevention).
  • Manage the unique administration, monitoring, and access challenges of these novel therapies.
  • Monitor the pipeline of new cardiometabolic drugs to anticipate future changes in practice.
Task 5: Manage cardiometabolic conditions in special populations.
  • Adapt care plans for older adults, considering polypharmacy, fall risk, and cognitive function.
  • Manage cardiometabolic diseases during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
  • Design safe and effective regimens for patients with severe renal or hepatic impairment.
  • Address the unique challenges of managing type 1 diabetes, including advanced technologies.
  • Develop care plans for adolescents and young adults transitioning to adult care.
Task 6: Manage and prevent cardiometabolic disease complications.
  • Implement strategies to screen for and manage diabetic microvascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy).
  • Optimize antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy to prevent thrombotic events in high-risk patients.
  • Manage common comorbidities such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  • Coordinate care to prevent and manage diabetes-related foot complications.
  • Design regimens to minimize the risk of adverse drug events and drug-drug interactions in patients with multimorbidity.

Domain 4: Practice Management, Outcomes & Quality Improvement (15%)

Task 1: Design and manage pharmacist-led cardiometabolic care services.
  • Develop and practice under collaborative practice agreements for the management of cardiometabolic diseases.
  • Implement innovative practice models, such as pharmacist-led clinics, team-based care, and telehealth services.
  • Develop a business plan and demonstrate the value proposition of pharmacist services to stakeholders.
  • Design efficient workflows for patient identification, referral, documentation, and billing.
  • Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and institutional requirements for clinical practice.
Task 2: Implement population health management strategies.
  • Utilize disease registries and data analytics to identify and risk-stratify high-risk patient populations.
  • Design and implement team-based care models to close gaps in care and improve quality metrics.
  • Develop proactive outreach programs for patients who are overdue for monitoring or follow-up.
  • Apply population health principles to manage care within value-based payment models (e.g., ACOs).
  • Implement evidence-based clinical pathways to standardize care for common cardiometabolic conditions.
Task 3: Measure and report on quality and outcome metrics.
  • Design and monitor a dashboard of key performance indicators (KPIs) for a cardiometabolic service.
  • Analyze the impact of interventions on payer-facing quality measures (e.g., HEDIS, CMS Star Ratings for A1c/BP control, statin use).
  • Track and report on clinical outcomes, such as changes in HbA1c, BP, LDL-C, and MACE rates.
  • Evaluate the economic impact of pharmacist services, including return on investment (ROI) and total cost of care.
  • Utilize outcomes data to justify and expand clinical services.
Task 4: Lead and participate in quality improvement (QI) initiatives.
  • Apply formal QI methodologies (e.g., PDSA cycles, Lean) to identify and address gaps in care.
  • Utilize QI tools, such as root cause analysis and process mapping, to improve clinical workflows.
  • Lead interprofessional teams in the design and implementation of QI projects.
  • Measure the impact of QI interventions on processes of care and patient outcomes.
  • Foster a culture of continuous quality improvement within the practice setting.
Task 5: Document pharmacist impact for justification and billing.
  • Utilize standardized systems to document clinical interventions and their impact on patient care.
  • Generate documentation that justifies pharmacist services for various billing models (e.g., MTM, "incident-to," chronic care management).
  • Translate clinical activities into quantifiable metrics of value (e.g., clinical outcomes, cost avoidance).
  • Develop reports and presentations to communicate the value of pharmacist services to administrators and payers.
  • Align documentation practices with the requirements of collaborative practice agreements and value-based care contracts.
Task 6: Navigate payer models and value-based care.
  • Differentiate between fee-for-service and various value-based payment models.
  • Align clinical services with the quality and cost metrics of value-based contracts.
  • Manage billing and coding for pharmacist services, including appropriate use of CPT and ICD-10 codes.
  • Develop partnerships with payers to support shared goals in cardiometabolic care.
  • Articulate the pharmacist's role in helping the organization succeed in value-based care.

Domain 5: Patient-Centered Communication & Education (10%)

Task 1: Provide comprehensive patient education and self-management support.
  • Deliver education on medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle modifications using plain language.
  • Train patients on essential self-management skills, such as blood glucose monitoring and medication administration.
  • Utilize the teach-back method to confirm patient understanding and address knowledge gaps.
  • Develop and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials.
  • Empower patients to take an active role in their care through ongoing support and skill-building.
Task 2: Promote medication adherence and persistence.
  • Assess for and identify patient-specific barriers to medication adherence.
  • Develop individualized adherence plans that may include strategies like medication synchronization, reminders, and simplified regimens.
  • Utilize motivational interviewing to address patient ambivalence about taking long-term medications.
  • Evaluate the impact of interventions on adherence rates using measures like PDC or MPR.
  • Collaborate with the care team to address system-level barriers to adherence.
Task 3: Facilitate effective interprofessional collaboration.
  • Collaborate with cardiologists, endocrinologists, dietitians, and case managers to optimize team-based outcomes.
  • Serve as the primary medication expert and drug information resource for the interdisciplinary care team.
  • Communicate therapeutic recommendations to other providers in a clear, concise, and evidence-based manner.
  • Participate actively in interprofessional team rounds, clinics, and case discussions.
  • Navigate and resolve professional disagreements to ensure optimal patient care.
Task 4: Apply principles of shared decision-making.
  • Present all reasonable treatment options, including their risks, benefits, and costs.
  • Elicit and respect patient values, preferences, and goals for their care.
  • Assist patients in evaluating treatment options in the context of what is most important to them.
  • Collaboratively arrive at a treatment decision that is both evidence-based and aligned with the patient's preferences.
  • Document the shared decision-making process and the resulting care plan.
Task 5: Address health literacy and numeracy challenges.
  • Assess a patient's health literacy and numeracy skills using validated tools or informal methods.
  • Adapt verbal and written communication to match the patient's level of understanding.
  • Utilize visual aids, simple language, and concrete examples to explain complex concepts.
  • Confirm patient understanding of key instructions, such as medication doses and schedules.
  • Engage family members and caregivers, with the patient's permission, to support understanding.
Task 6: Coordinate care transitions across settings.
  • Perform timely and accurate medication reconciliation during transitions of care between ambulatory, inpatient, and specialty settings.
  • Communicate effectively with providers across different settings to ensure a safe and seamless handoff.
  • Provide enhanced education and follow-up for patients during vulnerable transition periods.
  • Implement strategies to prevent medication-related problems that lead to hospital readmissions.
  • Ensure that all members of the care team are aware of the patient's most current care plan.

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