What is a certified menopause practitioner (MSCP)?

MSCP stands for Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. It is a credential awarded by The Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society, or NAMS) to licensed clinicians who pass a competency exam on menopause care. It is the most direct signal in the US that a clinician has studied this field specifically, but it is not a medical specialty or a license, and plenty of excellent clinicians do not hold it.

Where the credential comes from

The Menopause Society is the main US professional organization for menopause medicine. It publishes the position statements that most US clinicians follow for hormone therapy and non-hormonal treatment. In 2002 it created a competency exam so that clinicians could demonstrate menopause-specific knowledge and so that patients could find them. Those who pass may use the letters MSCP after their name.

Before the organization’s name change, the same credential was called NCMP (NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner). If you see NCMP on an older profile, it refers to the same program.

Who can take the exam

Eligibility is broad. According to the 2026 Candidate Handbook, any licensed healthcare professional may apply, and the Society lists nurses, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians and physician assistants as examples. A copy of a current license has to be submitted with the application.

This is worth understanding when you read a clinician’s bio. MSCP tells you about menopause knowledge. It does not tell you what the person is licensed to do. A pharmacist with an MSCP cannot prescribe hormone therapy in most states; a nurse practitioner with an MSCP usually can. For prescribing and for problems that need an exam or a procedure, you still need to know the underlying license.

What the exam tests

The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, each with three answer options, and candidates have two hours. It is offered during one-month testing windows in June and October, by live remote proctoring or at a test center for an extra fee. There is no official study guide; the Society points candidates to its clinician textbook and other reputable sources.

The content outline is public. The two largest sections are the physiology of the menopause transition (19 percent of questions) and symptoms and concerns (20 percent), which cover sleep changes, sexual health, abnormal bleeding, hot flashes, weight, hair and joint pain. Premature ovarian insufficiency and surgical menopause have their own section (5 percent), including the timing, length and dosing of hormone therapy for those situations. The rest covers risk assessment, treatment options and counseling.

In practice, an MSCP should be comfortable with the questions that often go unanswered in a rushed primary care visit: whether your symptoms fit perimenopause, which hormone and non-hormonal options are appropriate for you, and how to weigh risks given your history.

Cost and renewal

The 2026 exam fee is $400 for members of The Menopause Society and $725 for non-members, with a $20 surcharge for in-person testing. Certification is valid for three years and expires on December 31 of the third year.

To renew, a practitioner either retakes the exam or documents 45 hours of continuing education related to midlife women’s health, at least 15 of them from The Menopause Society. Either route costs the same as the original exam. The renewal requirement is one reason the credential is meaningful: holding it means the clinician has kept up with the field within the past three years, not just passed a test once.

Why it matters

Menopause training in US medical education is thin. A 2019 survey of 183 residents in family medicine, internal medicine and OB-GYN programs found that 20.3 percent had received no menopause lectures at all during residency, and only 6.8 percent felt adequately prepared to manage patients going through menopause. More than a third said they would not offer hormone therapy to a symptomatic, newly menopausal woman with no contraindications, which contradicts current guidance.

Residents become practicing clinicians. That gap is why a 15-minute visit can end with “it’s just your age” and no plan. An MSCP has, at minimum, demonstrated knowledge of the current evidence. That does not guarantee a good fit, but it narrows the search.

How to find and verify one

Step	Where	What you learn
1. Search the directory	The Menopause Society’s online practitioner directory	MSCPs by location, with their profession and whether they offer telemedicine
2. Check the license	Your state medical, nursing, PA or pharmacy board website	License is active, no disciplinary actions
3. Confirm the NPI	The federal NPI Registry	The clinician is a real, enrolled US provider
4. Ask the office	Phone or patient portal	Whether they prescribe hormone therapy and non-hormonal options, visit length, insurance

The directory lists many kinds of professionals, including some who do not prescribe, such as physical therapists and social workers. Filter for the kind of help you need. Our own directory lists OB-GYNs, nurse practitioners, endocrinologists and other specialists by city if the Society’s list is sparse where you live; see how to find a menopause specialist for the full approach.

What the letters do not tell you

• How much menopause work they actually do. Someone could pass the exam and see three perimenopause patients a year. Ask.
• Their approach. Some MSCPs are enthusiastic about hormone therapy, others more conservative. Both can be evidence-based. If you have a preference, say so early.
• Whether they take your insurance or offer telehealth. The directory notes telemedicine availability, but confirm with the office.
• Scope of practice. As above, the license determines what they can prescribe or do in your state.

If no MSCP is nearby

Many MSCPs now practice by telehealth, and the directory shows who does. A clinician licensed in your state can see you by video for most perimenopause care. If you prefer in-person care and there is no certified clinician within reach, a well-informed OB-GYN or primary care clinician is a reasonable alternative. Bring a two-week symptom log from our symptom check and the questions in our guide to talking with your doctor. The quality of the conversation will tell you quickly whether you are in the right place.