Registration process and scope for overseas pharmacists in the US

1. Registration process and scope
for overseas pharmacists in the
US
Gyanendra R Joshi PharmD
Pharmacist
HCA FL Blake Hospital

2. Background
• Importance of pharmacist licensure for patient safety and
quality healthcare.
• Need for foreign educated pharmacists
• Current situation

3. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
NABP
• The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) is a
nonprofit organization founded in 1904.
• Works with state boards of pharmacy , and conducts examinations
that assess pharmacist competency, pharmacist licensure transfer and
verification services, and various pharmacy accreditation programs.
• https://nabp.pharmacy

4. FPGEC certification
The FPGEC Certification includes:
• A review of your education and licensure/registration
• A passing score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language
Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT)
• A passing score for the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency
Examination® (FPGEE®)
• Its not a license to practice.

5. Who are foreign graduates:
• Anyone who received primary pharmacy degree from a recognized
school of pharmacy that is not Accreditation Council for Pharmacy
Education (ACPE) accredited, irrespective of US citizenship.

6. Step 1:
TOEFL iBT
• Testing center to be in the US or Canada.
• Single sitting, Mybestscores not accepted, home testing not accepted
• Valid for 2 years
• Scores:

7. Step 2:
• Complete Your FPGEC Application,
• Pay Application Fee, and
• Submit Documentation
• Transcripts directly from issuing body
• Pharmacist License
• Letter of good standing from Nepal Pharmacy Council
• Photo

8. Step 3
Submit Evaluation Report Application to ECE
• your official pharmacy school transcripts, including any qualifying pre-
pharmacy, bachelor’s degree, or post-baccalaureate degree; and
• official proof of your degree in pharmacy, which must indicate the title of
the degree and the date of issuance.
Minimum program length:
• If you graduated prior to January 1, 2003, you must have completed at
least a 4-year pharmacy program at the time of graduation.
• If you graduated on or after January 1, 2003, you must have completed at
least a5-year pharmacy program at the time of graduation

9. Step 4
Submit Your Pharmacist License and/or Registration, ID, and Supporting
Documentation

10. Expiration of application
• If, after evaluation of submitted documentation, it is determined that your
credentials do not meet the criteria for eligibility for the FPGEC Certification
Program.
• If your submitted documentation is deficient in any way and you remain unable
to comply with the requirements in order to qualify for the FPGEC Certification
Program.
• If you fail to complete all application requirements within 2 years of submitting
your application.
• If you fail to pass the FPGEE within 2 years of being accepted to the FPGEC
Certification Program.
• Your application may be closed, and fees may be surrendered to the FPGEC if the
FPGEC has reason to believe you submitted fraudulent documents or participated
in exam misconduct (as defined in this Bulletin), or have failed to pass the FPGEE
after five attempts.

11. Step 5: Take FPGEE and get FPGEC
• 10% - Basic Biomedical Sciences
• 33% - Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 22% - Social/Behavioral/Administrative Sciences
• 35% - Clinical Sciences
• The FPGEE is a 200-question exam using a computerized format
administered over a 4.5-hour testing period.
• Examination result will be available via your e-Profile about 8 weeks
after you take the exam.

12. Internship
• 1200 -2080 hours – any pharmacy setting
• Paid/unpaid
• State specific requirements

13. NAPLEX
• The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination®
• NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process and is used by
the boards of pharmacy to assess a candidate’s competence to
practice as a pharmacist.
• The NAPLEX is a 6-hour exam composed of 225 questions that are
delivered in a computerized, fixed form. Of the questions, 200 will be
used to calculate your exam results.
• 5 attempts max

14. MPJE
• The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®)
• Must take the MPJE for each participating state/jurisdiction in which
you want to be licensed. There is a unique MPJE developed for each
state/jurisdiction.
• The MPJE is a 2.5-hour exam composed of 120 computer-based
questions. The exam uses adaptive technology to deliver selected-
response questions. Of the questions, 100 will be used to calculate
your exam results.

15. Opportunities for Pharmacists in the US
• Retail Pharmacy- Independent and chains
• Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Academia and Research
• Other Opportunities
• MSL
• Medical writing
• Remote jobs

16. Challenges of foreign grads
• Immigration
• Passing TOEFL iBT
• Finding internship
• Finding a job
• Language barriers
• Cultural differences
• Away from home

17. What helps:
• Visa status
• Language skills
• Networking

18. Questions: