Because of the explosion of knowledge in health care and specialty pharmacy practice, more concentrated in-depth continuing education is beneficial for pharmacists either practicing in specialized areas or interested in moving to new practice settings. Certificate programs are intended to educate and teach new skills that enable practitioners to develop predetermined practice competencies. Upon meeting the predetermined requirements, a certificate of achievement is issued to the participant. A certificate program meets the following criteria:

1. The program is curriculum based.

2. The program is academically rigorous.

3. Satisfactory completion of lessons and/or examinations is required.

4. Both didactic and experiential elements are contained in the program.

5. The program has an outcome focus oriented on new practice competencies rather than providing information to assist practitioners to keep up in their practice areas.

The College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers several certificate programs. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and the Center for Pharmacy Management at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences have established a certificate program in Community Pharmacy Ownership. The certificate is awarded to Mercer graduates who have participated in over 60 hours of didactic work in the area of community pharmacy ownership and management.

The Certificate in Community Pharmacy Ownership is awarded to Mercer graduates who have successfully completed the Community Pharmacy Ownership PHA 505 elective and an advanced community pharmacy practice experience in the fourth professional year. Students receive experiential training in the distributive aspects of community pharmacy as well as involvement in the application of pharmaceutical care in the community practice setting.  For more information please contact Dr. Jackson jackson_r@mercer.edu

The Certificate in Diabetes Care is awarded to Mercer graduates who have successfully complete the following three items: Diabetes Care PHA 569 elective in the third professional year, either an ambulatory care advanced practice experience or an advanced community practice experience at a site with special emphasis in diabetes care, and a diabetes care practicum taken at the end of the fourth professional year.  For more information please contact Dr. Ryan ryan_gj@mercer.edu

The Certificate in Geriatrics is awarded to Mercer graduates who have successfully completed the Geriatric PHA 563 elective in the third professional year and either an inpatient geriatric advanced practice experience or a geriatrics-long term care advanced practice experience in the fourth professional year.  For more information please contact Dr. Miller miller_sw@mercer.edu

The Contemporary Compounding Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the elective course PHA 529 - Contemporary Compounding and an Advanced Practice Experience in a "predominantly compounding" pharmacy.  For more information please contact Dr. Strom strom_jg@mercer.edu.