CSP Study Guide 2026

Everything you need to pass the CSP exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.

📋 CSP Exam Format at a Glance

175

Questions

240 min

Time Limit

70%

Passing Score

Take a Full CSP Exam Simulation →

📚 CSP Topics to Study (21)

Clinical Patient Management & Counseling · 9 cards Pharmacoeconomics & Reimbursement · 9 cards Regulatory Compliance · 9 cards Specialty Drug Therapies & Disease Management · 9 cards REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 cards REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 cards REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 cards Clinical Management: Immunology · 6 cards Clinical Management: Infectious Disease · 6 cards Clinical Management: Oncology · 6 cards Fulfillment and Dispensing · 6 cards Intake and Patient Onboarding · 6 cards Patient Adherence and Outcomes · 6 cards Payer and Reimbursement Models · 6 cards Regulatory and Compliance Issues · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Clinical Management: Neurology and Rare Disease Questions and Answers · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Clinical Management: Neurology and Rare Disease Questions and Answers · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Clinical Management: Neurology and Rare Disease Questions and Answers · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Specialty Pharmacy Operations and Workflow Questions and Answers · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Specialty Pharmacy Operations and Workflow Questions and Answers · 6 cards CSP - Certified Specialty Pharmacist Specialty Pharmacy Operations and Workflow Questions and Answers · 6 cards

✍️ Sample CSP Questions & Answers

1. What is the primary function of a specialty pharmacy's patient assistance program (PAP) coordination service?

✓ To help financially eligible patients access free or reduced-cost specialty medications from manufacturers

PAP coordination connects patients who meet manufacturer income and insurance eligibility criteria with free or reduced-cost medication programs to eliminate financial barriers to specialty therapy.

2. Which of the following activities by a specialty pharmacy is the clearest example of potential healthcare fraud?

✓ Billing an insurer for a brand-name drug using a 'Dispense as Written' code when the generic equivalent was dispensed.

Fraud involves intentional deception for financial gain. Billing for a more expensive brand-name product when a cheaper generic was dispensed is a form of upcoding and a clear violation. The other options describe legitimate, and often required, functions of a specialty pharmacy: utilizing patient assistance programs, performing clinical management, and promoting adherence.

3. Under most REMS programs with ETASU, a specialty pharmacy may NOT dispense a REMS medication if which condition exists?

✓ The prescriber is not enrolled in the REMS program

If a REMS program requires prescriber certification, a pharmacy cannot legally dispense the medication unless the prescriber is enrolled and authorized under that REMS.

4. What does the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) regulate?

✓ It regulates controlled substances to prevent misuse and abuse

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is a federal law that categorizes drugs based on their potential for abuse and medical utility. It establishes a regulatory framework for the manufacture, distribution, and dispensing of controlled substances. The CSA aims to prevent their diversion, misuse, and abuse, thereby protecting public health and safety.

5. What does the term 'hub services' refer to in specialty pharmacy?

✓ Manufacturer-sponsored programs providing patient support, benefits investigation, and PA assistance

Hub services are manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs that assist with benefits verification, prior authorization, copay assistance, and patient education for specific specialty products.

6. What is a common method used in pharmacoeconomics to assess the economic burden of a disease?

✓ Using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)

Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) are a common metric used in pharmacoeconomics to measure the health outcomes of interventions, taking into account both the quantity and quality of life. A QALY combines the years of life gained from a treatment with a weighting for the quality of those years, where 1 QALY equals one year of perfect health. This allows for a standardized comparison of the economic burden and effectiveness of different diseases and treatments.

🎯 Free CSP Practice Tests

Pharmacoeconomics & Reimbursement · 9 questions Specialty Drug Therapies & Disease Management · 9 questions Clinical Patient Management & Counseling · 9 questions Regulatory Compliance · 9 questions REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 questions REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 questions REMS Programs and Risk Mitigation Strategies · 7 questions Patient Adherence and Outcomes · 6 questions Clinical Management: Oncology · 6 questions Clinical Management: Immunology · 6 questions

📖 CSP Guides & Articles

Your CSP Study Path

1. Learn with Flashcards → 2. Drill Practice Tests → 3. Take the Full Exam Simulation

🃏 Flashcards (141)🏆 Exam Simulation