SPECIAL FEATURES Credentialing and privileging of pharmacists: A resource paper from the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy

Processes for the credentialing and privileging of health professionals are of increasing importance and value to the U.S. health care system and to society. As efforts continue to provide and reward more efficient, afford-able, and higher quality health care (the “triple aim ” described by Berwick et al.1), the ability to ensure the capabilities and competence of the health professionals, including pharmacists, who practice within an increasingly complex and sophisticated system has become both more relevant and es-sential. Currently, all U.S.-educated pharmacists attain a fundamental set of cre-dentials to qualify to enter practice—an accredited professional pharmacy degree and a license awarded upon successful completion of a national postgraduation examination administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy on behalf of state boards of pharmacy. This process provides an established framework to assure stakeholders of the ability of pharmacists to provide care and services that reflect sound, entry-level prac-tice. However, evolving patient care and health system needs and demands have heightened the requisite skills needed by pharmacists to deliver more complex services. Ongoing professional development and competency as-sessment are integral parts of health professionals ’ expectations to main-tain a contemporary practice. This resource guide on the credentialing and privileging of pharmacists has been developed to supplement the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy (CCP)1 Guiding Principles for Post-licensure Credentialing of Pharmacists2 and to assist those who are introducing or en-hancing a credentialing and privileging system for pharmacists within their health care settings. CCP does not provide the guide for use as a standard of practice nor intends to represent the content as best or expected practices. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2014;54:e354–e364