Introduction

CCGP mandates periodic recertification of an individual who is certified as an assurance to the public and the profession that certified practitioners undergo periodic evaluation of their specialized knowledge and skill. The intent of this process is to ensure that the certificant at least maintains, or ideally enhances, his or her level of competence in geriatric pharmacy practice. A competent geriatric pharmacist must keep pace with changes in technology and available drugs for diagnosis and treatment.

Recertification is required every five (5) years, in accordance with processes established by the CCGP Board of Commissioners. The 5-year period was developed and approved by the CCGP Board when the program was launched in 1997. This timeframe was considered to reflect the rate of change in geriatric pharmacy practice while being practically attainable.

Recertification may be achieved either by retaking the CGP examination or by means of the Professional Development Pathway.

Certificants must maintain active pharmacist licensure in their regulatory jurisdiction. In the United States, mandatory continuing education is generally required. The continuing pharmacy education credit that is approved by CCGP for the Professional Development Pathway is also approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Thus, certificants who complete CPE credits for purposes of recertification can use those same credits for maintenance of pharmacist licensure.

ACGP = Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy

ICGP = Introductory Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy

Both of the above courses can be accessed at: http://education.ascp.com/gpr

Live workshops:

• Clinical Update for the Geriatric Pharmacist (10 hours)
• Geriatric Assessment for the Senior Care Pharmacist (15 hours)

In July 2011, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists launched a new continuing education Web site. This new ASCP Professional Development CEnter is located at: http://education.ascp.com. The new Web site replaces older ASCP Web sites located at www.scoup.net and www.geriatricpharmacyreview.com.

The GeriatricPharmacyReview modules, approved for recertification for Certified Geriatric Pharmacists, are available on the Professional Development CEnter at: http://education.ascp.com/gpr.

The new GeriatricPharmacyReview contains 55 hours of continuing education credit in 20 modules (Introductory Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy package) and a separate package of Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, with 12 modules containing 26.5 hours of continuing education. Three of the modules are contained in both packages:

• Introduction to Geriatric Syndromes
• Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
• Falls in Older Adults

The entire GeriatricPharmacyReview contains 81.5 hours of continuing education. An additional module of 1.5 hours will be added in the Fall of 2011, bringing the total to 83 hours of continuing education credit. For recertification through the Professional Development Pathway, 75 hours of continuing education credit are needed.

The future plan for GeriatricPharmacyReview is to add additional continuing education modules each year in July. The basic 20 modules, used primarily to assist pharmacists in learning geriatric pharmacotherapy principles and preparing for the Certified Geriatric Pharmacist examination, will be periodically updated and revised.

Future plans for adding content to the Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy are:

• Add 15 hours in July 2012
• Add 17 hours in July 2013
• Add 15 new hours of content in July of each following year

The following are the approved pathways for recertification by professional development, effective September 1, 2011. During the transition process, substitutions of other approved continuing education may be made with approval of CCGP staff. The only continuing education credits that have been approved for use in recertification are:

• The online continuing education credits at GeriatricPharmacyReview
• The live workshop on Clinical Update for the Geriatric Pharmacist
• The live workshop on Geriatric Assessment for the Senior Care Pharmacist

Pharmacists who became certified or recertified on or after January 1, 2010 should use the following program for the Professional Development Pathway:

• 75 hours of continuing education credits from the “Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview

Pharmacists who became certified or recertified between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 should use the following program for the Professional Development Pathway:

• At least 60 hours of continuing education credits from the “Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview
• Up to 15 hours of continuing education credits from the “Introductory Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview

Pharmacists who became certified or recertified between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 should use the following program for the Professional Development Pathway:

• At least 43 hours of continuing education credits from the “Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview
• Up to 32 hours of continuing education credits from the “Introductory Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview

Pharmacists who became certified or recertified before January 1, 2008 should use the following program for the Professional Development Pathway:

• 28 hours of continuing education credits from the “Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview
• Up to 47 hours of continuing education credits from the “Introductory Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy” of GeriatricPharmacyReview; or a combination of approved live workshops and online introductory courses
• Live workshops may also be used to substitute for up to 25 hours of Advanced Courses in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy

Approved by the CCGP Board of Commissioners September 13, 2011