Pharmacist Primary Care Certificate Training Program
This program aims to prepare pharmacists to engage in direct patient care and develop the skills and expertise necessary to succeed in the outpatient primary care setting and be more competitive in the job market.
Next cohort start date: March 30, 2026.
The profession of pharmacy continues its transformation toward a practice model centered around direct patient care clinical services. Pharmacists must be prepared to take on these expanded roles and provide additional patient care services.
Clinical Support Team
Faculty Facilitators
Kelsey Frederick, PharmD
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science
kfrederick@uthsc.edu
Nikki Bozarth, MBA
Senior Conference Specialist
Continuing Professional Development
sbozarth@uthsc.edu
Pharmacist Testimonials
Kayla Agee, PharmD
The Pharmacist Primary Care Certificate Training Program is valuable in that it enhances pharmacist knowledge in direct patient care. As the role of the pharmacist is continually changing, it is crucial to be adequately prepared to serve our patients in a more "clinical" role. This program included didactic learning that was a good review of the most common disease states addressed in the primary care setting. Additionally, the program took the learning process a step further by including experiential training that allowed us to practice what we had learned. Overall, I feel much better equipped to care for my patients and provide services outside of the scope of the traditional dispensing role.
What are you doing now, and how has the Pharmacist PCC Training Program facilitated your success or prepared you for your transition and new roles?
I am presently the Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) of an independent pharmacy in a rural area, and one of my dreams has always been to initiate DIabetes Education classes. While completing the Pharmacist PCC Training Program, I was paired with a clinical coach who was already performing these education classes in his independent pharmacy. He was able to direct me on the right path for how to get the process started. Additionally, he allowed me to join his classes to see how he conducted them. I am currently still working through the weeds of getting things up and running, but I feel adequately prepared to not only teach the classes, but also bill for my services. Overall, I can confidently say this course helped me find ways to better serve my patients.
Joanna Buxkemper, PharmD
The UTHSC College of Pharmacy's Pharmacist Primary Care Certificate Training Program provides a link for pharmacists who have been away from formal education for a while, by giving them the chance to reconnect with changes to practice and to find new opportunities for ways to practice that may not have existed, or existed in a format that wasn't as accessible when they were in pharmacy school.
What are you doing now, and how has the Pharmacist PCC Training Program facilitated your success or prepared you for your transition and new roles?
I am transitioning into a hybrid role where I will wear many hats: as dispensing pharmacist, as manager, and as leader in implementing new services. The Pharmacist PCC Training Program truly equipped me with an arsenal of updated information to present to my employers. A presentation that I made leaning heavily on resources gleaned from this program became a turning point in my career so far. It was the final puzzle piece in paving the way forward for my transition from a full-time traditional community pharmacist to my new role where a significant portion of my time will be spent collaborating with primary care clinics to implement pharmacist services within their operations. I'm still at the very beginning of this transition, so it remains to be seen where the road ahead will lead. But I cannot deny that this program came along at just the right time for me, and it was invaluable in convincing stakeholders at my once-PRN, and now full-time, employer of the value pharmacists can bring to their practice.
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Primary Care Certificate Program Syllabus
Program Overview
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy (UTHSC COP) Office of Continuing Professional Development is offering the tenth cohort of the Pharmacist Primary Care Certificate Training Program, beginning March 30, 2026. This program prepares pharmacists for direct patient care in the outpatient primary care setting and improves competitiveness in the job market.
This ACPE-accredited program includes 30 hours of didactic and experiential training over 12 weeks. Twenty hours are completed through web-based home study modules, and 10 hours through hands-on experiential learning and simulation. Clinical care coaches also serve as mentors, with meeting schedules arranged based on mutual availability.
No partial credit will be awarded.
Certificate Expectations
What Learners Can Expect
- Prompt access to program materials
- Accessibility to program directors and clinical coaches throughout enrollment
- Guidance and responses to questions
What the Program Directors and Clinical Coaches Expect
- Timely completion of program modules
- Consistent weekly effort toward learning and case completion
- Seeking help when appropriate
Clinical Faculty Support Team
- Drew Armstrong, Pharm.D., BCACP, AAHIVP – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist, Regional One Health
- Hamilton Borden, Pharm.D., MBA – Blount Discount Pharmacy
- Jennifer Campbell, Pharm.D., CDCES – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist, Regional One Health
- Ashley Ellis, Pharm.D., MBA, CDECS – Assistant Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation; Director for Practice Innovation, Tennessee Population Health Consortium
- Sarah Eudaley, Pharm.D., BCPS – Education Coordinator, Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists
- Shannon Finks, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCCP, ASHCP-CHC – President and Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services, ZüpMed; Professor, UTHSC College of Pharmacy
- Christa George, Pharm.D., BCACP, CDCES – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist, Methodist University Hospital; Associate Professor, UTHSC College of Pharmacy
- Jonathan Hughes, Pharm.D., BCACP – Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Manager, Ascension Medical Group
- Kajal Jain, Pharm.D., BCACP – Ambulatory Care Specialty Pharmacist, Yale New Haven Health System
- Joel Marrs, Pharm.D., MPH, BCACP, BCCP, BCPS, FAHA, FASHP, FCCP, FNLA – Professor and Coordinator of Clinical Outreach, UTHSC College of Pharmacy
- Tara Moore, Pharm.D. – Owner, Moore Wellness LLC
- Kelly Walls, Pharm.D. – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist, Primary Care Specialists (Regional One Health)
- James Wheeler, Pharm.D., BCPS – Associate Dean, Knoxville Campus, UTHSC College of Pharmacy
- Kelsea Woolfolk, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCACP – Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Yale New Haven Health System
Certificate Learning Experiences
Didactic Home Study
- 20 hours total (2 hours per module)
- 10 asynchronous modules:
- Collaborative Practice Agreement
- Billing and Reimbursement
- Medication Management
- Communication and Teamwork
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Diabetes
- Anticoagulation
- Chronic Lung Disease
- Acute Outpatient Care
- Each module includes:
- 1-hour lecture recording
- 1 hour of supplemental learning materials
- 4–6 case studies
Experiential Learning / Simulation
- 10 hours total integrated across the 12-week program
Course Materials
Upon enrollment, learners receive access to Canvas to complete assigned modules. Unique login credentials will be provided.
Course Schedule
Note: The full schedule contains extensive outcomes. If you would like this section built as an accordion, table, or multi-panel layout, I can format it accordingly.
Learner Assessment
Learners must complete all 10 home study modules, including assessments, and pass all four simulation activities (evaluated using the simulation scoring rubric).
Program Tuition
$2,000
No refunds are available. A two‑installment payment plan ($1,000 at enrollment and $1,000 at Week 6) may be requested. Failure to pay may result in suspension of access.
Questions / Contact
Administrative Contact
Nikki Bozarth, BS, CAP
Senior Conference Specialist
Office of Continuing Professional Development
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
1924 Alcoa Hwy, Box 117
Knoxville, TN 37920
Phone: tel:8659746605865‑974‑6605
Email: mailto:sbozarth@uthsc.edusbozarth@uthsc.edu
Program Director
Kelsey D. Frederick, Pharm.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy
301 S. Perimeter Park Drive, Suite 220
Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: 615‑532‑3401
Email: mailto:kfrederick@uthsc.edukfrederick@uthsc.edu
You may expect a response within 48 business hours.
Program Dishonesty Policy
Unauthorized assistance on assessments or program activities is prohibited and may disqualify a learner from earning the certificate.
Program Evaluations
Learners will complete evaluations to measure program quality, faculty performance, and achievement of objectives.
Continuing Education Information
UTHSC College of Pharmacy is accredited by ACPE. Successful completion provides 30 hours of CPE credit.
Universal Activity Number (UAN): 0064‑0000‑24‑240‑B01‑P
Pharmacists must include their correct NABP e‑Profile ID and birthdate to receive credit. Incorrect information may result in “rejected” status.
Full Disclosure Policy
Tara Moore owns stock in Abbott Laboratories, and her husband is a Senior Sales Representative for Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
How to Earn Credit
Participants must complete all components of the activity, including assessments, evaluation, and required documentation.
Disclaimer Statement
Opinions expressed in this activity are those of the presenters. Learners should consult complete prescribing information for medications before patient use.
How to Enroll
Interested learners may enroll by March 30, 2026 at: https://www.uthsc.edu/pharmacy/ce UTHSC Continuing Education Portal
Grievance Policy
Grievances may be directed to Associate Dean James Wheeler at: mailto:jwheele4@uthsc.edujwheele4@uthsc.edu or 865‑974‑6605.
Required Computer Hardware & Software
- Windows or Mac operating system
- Supported browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera
- Internet connection
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.