BCPS EXAM 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS BOARD CERTIFIED
PHARMACOTHERAPY SPECIALIST (BCPS)
STUDY GUIDE, CLINICAL PHARMACY
REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION EXAM
PREPARATION GRADE A+ STUDY
RESOURCE
COPD group B treatment preference - CORRECT ANSWER LABA
or LA anticholingeric
three cardinal symptoms in COPD exacerbations
when should abx be used - CORRECT ANSWER increase dyspnea
increased sputum volume
increased sputum purulence
abx if all three, or if two AND one is sputum purulence
,Best time to.check uric acid for gout - CORRECT ANSWER 2 weeks
after flare
Indications for urate lowering therapy - CORRECT ANSWER
Tophus
2 or more attacks in year
Ckd stage 2 or more
Past urolithiasis
Duration of gout ppx - CORRECT ANSWER Longest of:
6 MO
3 MO after urate levels achieved (less than 5)
6mo after urate levels achieved in pt with tophi
First line xoi - CORRECT ANSWER Initial: Allopurinol (max dose
800mg/dose; can use >300mg/dose in CKD)
Added: Probenecid (1st line)
Losartan (2nd line)
Febuxostat (2nd line)
Prop treatment options for gout - CORRECT ANSWER Low dose
Colchicine
,Low dose nsaids w/ppi if necessary
Oral corticosteroids (use if above two is CI or cant use)
Topical Ice (adjunctive therapy prn)
*Tx should start within 24 hours (Colchicine start < 36 hrs)
Prop treatment options for gout - CORRECT ANSWER Low dose
Colchicine
Low dose nsaids w/ppi if necessary
Oral corticosteroids (use if above two is CI or cant use)
Topical Ice (adjunctive therapy prn)
*Tx should start within 24 hours (Colchicine start < 36 hrs)
Meningococcal vaccine indicated for? - CORRECT ANSWER College
students thru age 21
No revac
Tdap indicated - CORRECT ANSWER All adults
Each pregnancy
, Give regardless of years since td or tdap
Zoster indicated - CORRECT ANSWER Zostavax (live/attenuated)
Age 60
Shingrix (recombinant) age ≥ 50
Early pneumococcal vaccine indicated - CORRECT ANSWER Lung
disease, smokers, other chronic conditions
Egg free flu vaccine - CORRECT ANSWER Riv 13 reserve for pts
with anaphylaxis
Hives can have all but not live attenuated
Pcv indicated - CORRECT ANSWER At age 65 13 then 23 in 6-12
MO
If had 23 previously after age 65 then 13 1 yr after 23
effects on lamotrigine by VPA, phenytoin - CORRECT ANSWER
VPA increases levels, pheny reduces
meds notorious for causing edema - CORRECT ANSWER CCB
gabapentin, pregabalin
Pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia)
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
CORRECT ANSWERS BOARD CERTIFIED
PHARMACOTHERAPY SPECIALIST (BCPS)
STUDY GUIDE, CLINICAL PHARMACY
REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION EXAM
PREPARATION GRADE A+ STUDY
RESOURCE
COPD group B treatment preference - CORRECT ANSWER LABA
or LA anticholingeric
three cardinal symptoms in COPD exacerbations
when should abx be used - CORRECT ANSWER increase dyspnea
increased sputum volume
increased sputum purulence
abx if all three, or if two AND one is sputum purulence
,Best time to.check uric acid for gout - CORRECT ANSWER 2 weeks
after flare
Indications for urate lowering therapy - CORRECT ANSWER
Tophus
2 or more attacks in year
Ckd stage 2 or more
Past urolithiasis
Duration of gout ppx - CORRECT ANSWER Longest of:
6 MO
3 MO after urate levels achieved (less than 5)
6mo after urate levels achieved in pt with tophi
First line xoi - CORRECT ANSWER Initial: Allopurinol (max dose
800mg/dose; can use >300mg/dose in CKD)
Added: Probenecid (1st line)
Losartan (2nd line)
Febuxostat (2nd line)
Prop treatment options for gout - CORRECT ANSWER Low dose
Colchicine
,Low dose nsaids w/ppi if necessary
Oral corticosteroids (use if above two is CI or cant use)
Topical Ice (adjunctive therapy prn)
*Tx should start within 24 hours (Colchicine start < 36 hrs)
Prop treatment options for gout - CORRECT ANSWER Low dose
Colchicine
Low dose nsaids w/ppi if necessary
Oral corticosteroids (use if above two is CI or cant use)
Topical Ice (adjunctive therapy prn)
*Tx should start within 24 hours (Colchicine start < 36 hrs)
Meningococcal vaccine indicated for? - CORRECT ANSWER College
students thru age 21
No revac
Tdap indicated - CORRECT ANSWER All adults
Each pregnancy
, Give regardless of years since td or tdap
Zoster indicated - CORRECT ANSWER Zostavax (live/attenuated)
Age 60
Shingrix (recombinant) age ≥ 50
Early pneumococcal vaccine indicated - CORRECT ANSWER Lung
disease, smokers, other chronic conditions
Egg free flu vaccine - CORRECT ANSWER Riv 13 reserve for pts
with anaphylaxis
Hives can have all but not live attenuated
Pcv indicated - CORRECT ANSWER At age 65 13 then 23 in 6-12
MO
If had 23 previously after age 65 then 13 1 yr after 23
effects on lamotrigine by VPA, phenytoin - CORRECT ANSWER
VPA increases levels, pheny reduces
meds notorious for causing edema - CORRECT ANSWER CCB
gabapentin, pregabalin
Pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia)
