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Advance your Education
Continuing Education
Qualifying continuing education programs must be related to MTM competencies or knowledge domains consistent with the NBMTM body of competency and knowledge. You may earn all 50 recertification credit units required within the 5-year recertification period through continuing education activities.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of Credit Units for continuing education activities is calculated based on the actual educational time spent in the program. A minimum of 1 educational
hour is required for a continuing education activity to qualify for credit units.
Credit units are calculated in 15-minute increments. Each 15-minute increment = .25, or a quarter, of one hour.
Examples:
- 1-hour educational program = 1 credit unit
- 1-hour-and-15-minute concurrent conference session = 1.25 credit unit
- 3-hour e-learning course = 3 credit units
Courses Taken for Degree Programs
You may earn recertification credit by taking an undergraduate or graduate course from an accredited college or university. If the course is graded, you must
earn a grade of C or better to receive recertification credit. It is the responsibility of the credential-holder to determine the credit system the educational institution is using.
For audited, ungraded or noncredit-hour courses, one course equals 10 credit units, the maximum permitted per 5-year recertification period.
Qualifying content need be related to an MTM-specific knowledge domain.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of credit units per course taken for credit is calculated as follows:
- Semester system: 1 credit hour = 15 credit units
- Trimester system: 1 credit hour = 12 credit units
- Quarter system: 1 credit hour = 10 credit units
E-Learning: Self-Paced Videoconferences and Webcasts
You may earn recertification credit by attending conferences, seminars or workshops that relate to MTM competencies or knowledge domains, as outlined in the exam content outline. You may earn all of the 50 credit units required within the 5-year recertification period through conferences, seminars and workshops.
Calculating credit units
The number of credit units for concurrent sessions at conferences, seminars, and workshops is calculated based on the actual time spent in the session. In order for sessions to qualify, they must be at least 1 hour in length.
Credit is not awarded for time spent in the exhibit hall or for time spent eating meals or taking breaks. Professional development programs held during working lunches are acceptable as long as the program is a minimum of 1 hour in length.
There are no limits to how many recertification credits can be obtained by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops. BCMTMS credential-holders can obtain all 50 recertification credits by attending conferences, seminars, and workshops.
E-Learning: Self-Paced Videoconferences and Webcasts
Self-paced/self-directed/e-learning programs are programs that do not require real-time interaction or engagement with a live instructor or other participants.
Examples of self-paced e-learning activities include passive learning activities such as video conferences and webcasts.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of PDCs for passive learning activities is calculated based on the actual educational time spent in the activity.
Advance your Organization
Work Projects
You may earn recertification credit for projects you worked on that meet or support organizational goals and provide opportunities to advance your capabilities in MTM competencies. You must upload documentation to your Certification Portal to support your work project.
To be awarded credit, you must provide the following information about your work project in your recertification application:
- Clearly defined project objectives and desired outcomes that are aligned to organizational needs and verified by your supervisor
- A brief description of the project, including your level of involvement and the time you spent on each initiative
- How stated goals were met or supported
- Which MTM competencies were utilized and how they were applied to achieve the project goal
Calculating Credit Units
A qualifying work project will fall into one of only two categories, in which the number of credit units is calculated as follows:
- 50+ hours of time spent on the project and a minimum period of 3+ months = 10 credit units
Example:
- 100+ hours of time spent on the project and a minimum period of 6+ months = 20 credit units
Advance your Profession
NBMTM recognizes the value of activities that contribute to the continued development of the pharmacy profession and the community. These include thought leadership activities, such as making presentations, teaching, conducting research and writing, as well as volunteering for nonprofit organizations.
Presentations
You may earn recertification credit by:
- Creating and presenting a course based on MTM-related competencies and/or knowledge domains.
Examples:
- Courses for conferences, seminars, certification preparation, chapter programs, state council
programs, webcasts, e-learning - Serving as a subject matter expert in a panel
discussion.
Presentation activities are subject to the following limitations:
- Credit is awarded only for the first time the presentation is made during a 5-year recertification period. The same presentation can be made during the next 5-year recertification period if the content has substantially changed.
- Credit is not awarded for presenting updates on company policies.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of credit units for presentations is calculated as follows:
- 1 hour of presenting (includes preparation time) = 2 credit units
- A maximum of 20 credit units are awarded for presentations that span more than 10 educational hours
Examples:
- Presenting a 1-hour-and-15-minute concurrent session at a conference on Increasing Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR) Completion Rates = 2.5 credit units
- Making a 3-hour presentation on Medication Adherence Innovations = 6 credit units
Acceptable Audit Documentation
If you are selected for audit, acceptable supporting documentation includes:
- The course syllabus that includes name, class times and topics for university/college courses.
- Outline for a workshop or seminar being presented with the presenter’s name and PowerPoint presentation with the presenter’s contact information.
Researching, Writing, and Publishing
You may earn recertification credit by:
- Conducting primary research on an MTM-related competency or knowledge domain, and publishing that research.
- Authoring a book, article, white paper, or blog post on an MTM-related topic, published by a third party.
These additional qualifications apply:
- Research, writing, and publishing activities must occur outside of your own organization.
- The content of the materials must:
- Be related to the NBMTM body of competency and knowledge.
- Include at least 750 words.
- Not be solely opinion-based.
- Include factual information and data analysis.
- Include at least one reference to an external resource.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of credit units for writing and research related to the NBMTM body of competency and knowledge is calculated as follows:
- Authoring a book = 20 credit units
- Authoring an article for a journal or periodical = 10 credit units
- Co-authoring an article or other published work = 10 credit units
- Authoring a white paper or blog post = .5 credit units per quarter (6 credit units maximum per 5-year recertification period)
Acceptable Audit Documentation
If you are selected for audit, acceptable supporting documentation includes:
- Copy of or link to a published article, blog post, white paper, book, or research conducted.
Volunteering
NBMTM recognizes the value of providing your time and services to help support volunteer organizations, which in turn helps develop your leadership capabilities and
other competencies. Volunteer activities that qualify for recertification credit are those in which you perform:
- A pharmacy services role
- Without compensation
- For a pharmacy association, pharmacy membership organization, or another nonprofit.
Examples:
- Serving as a membership chair for your local chapter
- Providing pharmacy expertise while serving on the board of a nonprofit organization
- Providing compensation and benefits services for a religious organization
Calculating Credit Units
The number of credit units for volunteering is calculated on an annual basis (not per 5-year recertification period). You must wait until the end of your volunteer commitment before entering credit units into the portal.
Activities include but are not limited to:
- Actively participating in exam or item development = 10 credit units per activity
- Serving as a board member, officer or committee chair = 5 credit units per year
- Serving as a committee/panel member = 3 credit units per year
- Participating in a formal mentorship program = 3 credit units per year
- Participating in a focus group = 1 credit unit per activity, up to 2 credit units per year
- Writing an MTM-related letter or making a call to Congress/state legislature = 1 credit unit per year
- Peer-reviewing white papers or articles = 1 credit unit per year
- Participating in an MTM survey = 1 credit unit per year
- Participating in the BCMTMS Exam Advisory Board = 3 credit units per year
- Participating in Capitol Hill visits = 3 credit units per year
- Participating in a research workshop = 2 credit units per activity per year
- Participating in a standard-setting/item review meeting = 3 credit units per year
Acceptable Audit Documentation
If you are selected for audit, acceptable supporting documentation includes:
- Documentation verifying volunteer position, including name and time frame.
- Letter from organization supporting certificant’s volunteer leadership position.
- Certificate of appreciation.
Professional Membership
NBMTM recognizes the value of joining the wider community of pharmacy professionals, which can expose you to new ideas and broaden your perspectives. You
can earn recertification credit by being a member of a:
- NBMTM affiliate organization.
- National membership organization whose primary focus is MTM.
Calculating Credit Units
The number of credit units for professional membership is calculated as follows:
- 3 credit units per year (9 credit units maximum per 5-year recertification period)
Acceptable Audit Documentation
If you are selected for audit, acceptable supporting documentation includes:
- Copy of membership card.
