Pharmacy Supply Chain & Inventory Management Certificate
| ACPE Numbers: Pending for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians Release Date: February 18, 2026 - currently available to pre-order Expiration Date: February 18, 2029 ACPE Numbers: Various – see below |
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Overview
The curriculum of the Pharmacy Supply Chain & Inventory Management Certificate is intended as a comprehensive resource for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians involved in these functions. The topics addressed in this certificate range from fundamental to complex and include the following:
- Role of regulatory, accreditation, and standard-setting organizations in the pharmacy supply chain
- Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) and other major legislation regulating the drug supply chain
- Basics of the FDA drug approval process and drug manufacturing
- Principles of formulary management and relationship to the pharmacy supply chain
- Key pharmacy supply chain partners internal and external to health systems including, but not limited to, group purchasing organizations and drug wholesalers
- Pharmacy classes of trade
- Fundamentals of procurement, receiving processes, storage, and inventory optimization
- Controlled substance purchasing; receipt; security; storage; returns, waste, and disposal/destruction; inventories; and best practices for preventing and identifying potential diversion
- Financial management and cost control strategies
- Pharmacy supply chain contracts – types, components, workflow, and considerations
- Vendor management
- Supply chain synergies
- Impact of 340B on inventory management procedures
- Preparing for and responding to drug shortages and supply chain crises
- Logistics, distribution, and cold chain management
- Selecting an outsourcing pharmacy
- Use of information technology, data sources, and analytics in managing the pharmacy supply chain
- Centralized and consolidated pharmacy service centers
Pharmacy Supply Chain & Inventory Management Certificate Requirement
Once a learner has completed the educational curriculum, they will have the opportunity to complete an online comprehensive exam. Once the learner passes the exam (minimum 80% passing rate; unlimited attempts permitted), they will earn the professional certificate.