Criteria for specialist pharmacist accreditation

Pharmacists who wish to be registered as a specialist must first gain accreditation by the Pharmacy Specialist Accreditation Board of Singapore (PSAB).

Once application is successful, the PSAB will issue the pharmacist with a Certificate of Specialist Accreditation. The pharmacist can then apply for specialist registration with the certificate through the Singapore Pharmacy Council (SPC). For more information, please refer to SPC’s website at http://www.spc.gov.sg.

Application for Specialist Accreditation (entry level) 

The Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board (“PSAB”) invites pharmacists who have a valid specialty certification recognised by the Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board (PSAB), necessary training and experience to apply for specialist accreditation in the following specialties recognised by the PSAB: 

1. Cardiology Pharmacy

2. Geriatric Pharmacy

3. Infectious Diseases Pharmacy

4. Psychiatric Pharmacy

5. Oncology Pharmacy

6. Critical Care Pharmacy

7. Paediatric Pharmacy

Criteria for Specialist Accreditation (entry level)

For all specialties, pharmacists must meet the following criteria for specialist accreditation at the point of application:

1. Fully registered with Singapore Pharmacy Council, holds a valid practising certificate, and is currently practising in Singapore;

2. Possesses a valid specialty certification that is recognised by the Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board (PSAB)¹;

3. Possesses relevant formal postgraduate education(s); and

4. Successfully completed relevant residency training(s);

   1. Completed one year of full-time residency training in broad-based pharmacotherapy that is recognised by the PSAB (i.e. National R1 programme); and

   2. Completed one year of full-time residency training in the specialty applied for that is recognised by the PSAB (i.e. National R2 programme).

5. Accumulated at least one year² (continuous or otherwise) of specialty practice experience in the specialty applied for after completion of the PSAB-recognised specialty residency training, in the three years preceding the application.

6. With effect from 1 September 2022, all applicants are to meet the Competency Standards set out in the Evaluation Guidance for Specialist Practice Scope at Entry Level [PDF, 165 KB] and may submit up to 3 recent and relevant evidence examples only for each competency standard using the CV template [DOCX, 741 KB]; and 

7. Met the necessary criteria set out by the PSAB.

¹Specialty certification refers to one of the following qualifications:

1. Cardiology Pharmacy
   Board certification in Cardiology Pharmacy (BCCP) or Pharmacotherapy with Added Qualifications in Cardiology from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

2. Geriatric Pharmacy
   Board certification in Geriatric Pharmacy (BCGP) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA (formerly known as Board Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy from the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy, USA)

3. Infectious Diseases Pharmacy
   Board certification in Infectious Diseases Pharmacy (BCIDP) or Pharmacotherapy with Added Qualifications in Infectious Diseases from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

4. Psychiatric Pharmacy
   Board certification in Psychiatric Pharmacy (BCPP) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

5. Oncology Pharmacy
   Board certification in Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

6. Critical Care Pharmacy
   Board certification in Critical Care Pharmacy (BCCCP) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

7. Paediatric Pharmacy
   Board certification in Pediatric Pharmacy (BCPPS) from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties, USA

²Both patient care and specialty practice experience do not include any time spent in full-time postgraduate education and residency training programmes (both local and overseas). 

Documentation requirement

Soft-copy documents to be submitted by the applicant for Specialist Accreditation to the Secretariat via email.

1. Certified true copy of NRIC/passport (front and back)³

2. Letter of verification on period of pharmacy study to be submitted directly from the university of postgraduate pharmacy degree study (Applicant to request)⁴

3. Certified true copy of postgraduate pharmacy qualification (degree scroll)³

4. Certified true copy of Certificate of Pharmacy Residency or the equivalent that is recognised by the PSAB in the specialty area³

5. Certified true copy of specialty certification¹ that is recognised by the PSAB³

6. Completed Application Form [DOCX, 1.8 MB] for Specialist Accreditation

7. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) using the CV template [DOCX, 741 KB] provided. Applicant may submit up to 3 recent and relevant evidence examples only for each competency standard set out in the Evaluation Guidance for Specialist Practice Scope at Entry Level [PDF, 165 KB].

8. The PSAB may, when assessing an application for Specialist Accreditation, require an applicant to provide such documentary evidence as may be necessary to verify the applicant’s satisfaction of the accreditation criteria, including documentary evidence to verify the applicant’s number of years of specialty practice and log cases. 

³The original documents shall be verified by Head of Pharmacy.

Mailing Address:

⁴For documents to be sent directly to the Secretariat via registered mail or couriered services, please send to:

Secretariat
Pharmacy Specialists Accreditation Board (PSAB)
C/o: Secretariat of healthcare Professional Boards (SPB)
81 Kim Keat Road
NKF Centre, Level 10
Singapore 328836

Email: PSAB@spb.gov.sg