A More Intuitive Journey: Introducing a Streamlined Application Process on the CPS Candidate Portal

At the Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS), we believe that the rigor of our certification standards should be matched by the clarity and simplicity of our processes. Earning a professional certification is a demanding journey that requires your full focus and dedication. The administrative process of applying for that certification should empower your journey, not complicate it. Your path to demonstrating your expertise should be as seamless and professional as the standards we uphold.

For the past year, we have been on a mission to reimagine our digital front door. We have listened intently to your feedback, studied how you interact with our systems, and invested significantly in developing a better way forward. We believe your experience with us, from the very first click to your final recertification, should be exceptional.

Today, after months of intensive development, user testing, and a commitment to continuous improvement, we are thrilled to launch the newly redesigned and completely streamlined CPS Candidate Portal. This is not just a cosmetic update; it is a ground-up rebuild of our application and certification management system, designed with one person in mind: you. 

The “Why” Behind the Upgrade: A Commitment to Your Experience

This project began with a simple question: How can we make the administrative side of certification feel as professional and high-quality as the credential itself? To answer that, we turned to the true experts—our community of candidates and certificants.

Through a series of surveys, virtual focus groups, and one-on-one user testing sessions, you told us what you needed. We heard a clear and consistent desire for:

• A more intuitive, modern interface that is easy to navigate.

• A clearer, at-a-glance view of application status and certification deadlines.

• A simpler, more organized way to submit and manage required documentation.

• A centralized location for all official communications regarding your account.

The new CPS Candidate Portal is the direct result of that feedback. Every new feature, every redesigned screen, and every simplified workflow was conceived to address a specific need you identified. We didn’t just build a new portal; we collaborated with you to build the portal you asked for.

A Tour of the New CPS Candidate Portal: Key Features & Benefits

We invite you to log in and experience the changes for yourself. You will find a faster, cleaner, and more powerful platform designed to put you in control of your certification journey. Here are some of the key enhancements you will discover.

1. Your Personalized Certification Dashboard

The moment you log in, you will land on your new, personalized dashboard. This is your central hub, providing a complete, at-a-glance overview of your entire relationship with CPS. The intuitive, widget-based layout immediately shows you what you need to know, eliminating guesswork and searching. Key features include:

• My Certifications: A clear and prominent display of all your active CPS certifications, including your certification number and, most importantly, your upcoming expiration date.

• My Applications: For those in the process of applying, this widget provides a real-time status tracker. A simple, visual progress bar will show you exactly where your application stands: Draft, Submitted, Under Review, Awaiting Information, or Approved.

• Important Alerts: This section at the top of the page will display any critical, time-sensitive notifications, such as an upcoming recertification deadline or a request for additional information for an application.

2. The Guided, Step-by-Step Application

We have completely retired our old, single-page application form. In its place is a new, intelligent, and guided application “wizard.” The application is now broken down into logical, bite-sized sections (e.g., Personal Information, Education, Practice Experience, Attestations). This new format offers several major benefits:

• Save and Resume: Your progress is automatically saved at every step. You can begin your application, log out, and return days later to pick up exactly where you left off.

• Real-Time Validation: The new system has built-in checks to help prevent common errors. For example, it will help ensure your license number is in the correct format or that all required fields are complete before you can move to the next step, significantly reducing the chance of delays due to incomplete information.

• Clarity and Focus: By tackling one section at a time, the application process feels less overwhelming and more manageable.

3. The Secure Document Upload Center

One of the most significant upgrades is our new, centralized Document Center. For certifications that require you to submit supporting documentation (such as academic transcripts, letters of experience, or CVs), this feature provides a simple and transparent solution. You can now easily upload all required files in one secure location. Crucially, you can also see the status of each document you upload—Received, Verified, or Action Required—giving you full visibility into your application’s progress.

4. An Integrated Communications Hub

Say goodbye to searching through your email inbox for important messages from CPS. The new portal includes a secure, integrated messaging hub. All official communications from our credentialing staff regarding your application or certification status will now be sent and stored directly within your portal. This creates a single, permanent, and searchable record of your entire communication history with us, ensuring you never miss a critical update.

The New Application Journey: A Walkthrough

To illustrate how these new features come together, let’s follow the journey of a fictional candidate, Dr. Jenkins, as she applies for the Certified Pharmacy Operations Manager (CPOM) certification.

• Step 1: The Dashboard View. Dr. Jenkins logs into the new portal. Her dashboard is clean and simple. She immediately sees a prominent button inviting her to “Start a New Application.”

• Step 2: The Guided Application. She begins the application wizard. She completes the personal information and education sections. When she gets to the practice experience section, she realizes she needs to gather some specific dates from her records. She simply clicks “Save and Exit.” The next day, she logs back in and is taken directly back to the practice experience section to continue.

• Step 3: The Document Upload. The CPOM requires a current CV and a letter from her supervisor verifying her managerial experience. She navigates to the Document Center and easily uploads both PDF files from her computer. She receives an on-screen confirmation and sees the status of both documents change to “Received.”

• Step 4: Submission and Tracking. After completing all sections, she submits her application. On her dashboard, the status of her CPOM application immediately changes to “Under Review.” A few days later, she receives an email notification prompting her to log in to the portal for a new message. In the secure messaging hub, a credentialing specialist has asked for a minor clarification on her job description. She replies directly in the portal.

• Step 5: Approval and Next Steps. Once her clarification is received and her application is fully approved, her dashboard updates again. The status changes to “Approved to Test,” and a new, prominent “Schedule Your Exam” button appears, guiding her to the final step of her journey.

Dr. Jenkins’ experience is clear, organized, and transparent at every stage, allowing her to focus her energy on preparing for her exam, not on navigating the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I already have an application in progress in the old system. What happens to it? A: All of your data from an in-progress application has been seamlessly and securely migrated to the new portal. Simply log in with your existing credentials, and you will see your application ready for you in the new, guided format.

Q: I am already certified. Do I need to do anything right now? A: No immediate action is required. We do, however, encourage you to log in, explore the new dashboard, and verify that your contact information is up to date. You will use this new, enhanced portal when it is time to submit your future recertification application.

Q: Who can I contact if I have technical trouble with the new portal? A: Our Candidate Support team is ready to assist you. You can find their contact information and operating hours by clicking the “Support” link, which is now conveniently located on every page within the portal.

This new portal is more than just a tool; it is a reflection of our deep and ongoing commitment to providing you with a world-class experience, from your first point of contact to your continued professional development. We are proud of this new platform and are confident it will make your certification journey with CPS a more positive and empowered one.

We invite you to log in and explore today.

The Technology & Candidate Experience Team, Council on Pharmacy Standards (CPS)