I have a foreign master degree in pharmacology. I really want to work in my professional area here in USA, but I feel that it will be so complicated to reach my goal.
If you have a foreign career, were you able to work on it in USA?
How long do you wait for?
How much did it cost to you?
Did you have to take university classes?

This is a good post. I too am interested in knowing advice from others who have already experienced this. My wife has a college degree from Brazil, and I want to know how much employers weigh a foreign degree when hiring for a job that requires a college degree. I know that you can pay to have the degree translated, but is it really necessary?

For you you must

1) have your degree transcripts evaluated, if found acceptable then ...

2) take and pass the TOEFL

3) take and pass the FPGEE

4) take and pass the NAPLEX

I think it's going to depend on the degree, the job and the language the degree was taken in.

If it's not in English, i would say it's VITAL to have an English translation available (certified/ notarised copy etc).

I was able to get a job based on my foreign degree. First off, I had my transcript of records evaluated by link. At that time, my purpose(s) for the evaluation of my credentials was/were for: employment, further studies (graduate studies), and eligibility for license application. I was preparing to apply for license as clinical lab scientist, to broaden my options for jobs.

The company I am now at honored this and accepted my resume. When you asked "how long do you wait for?", I take it that you meant how long did I wait before I got the job, it was after a week of wait before the HR manager called me up for a panel interview. If you meant the waiting period before I got my degree evaluated, I think it was a month-long.

I did not take university classes since the degree was accredited. But I plan to take graduate studies next year, based on this eligibility.

I opted for a course-by-course evaluation and if I remember correctly, I paid a little over $190 for the total cost.

Good luck. I applied for a job related to my field.

I was able to get a job based on my foreign degree (but was not the deciding factor why the company hired me, I learned later on from my interviewers). First off, I had my transcript of records evaluated by link. At that time, my purpose(s) for the evaluation of my credentials was/were for: employment, further studies (graduate studies), and eligibility for license application. I was preparing to apply for a license as a clinical lab scientist, to broaden my options for jobs.

The company I am now at honored this and accepted my resume. When you asked "how long do you wait for?", I take it that you meant how long was the wait before I got the job. The HR manager called me up for a panel interview after a week of nothing. It took me another week to finish the interviews and the background check, and the paperwork (including I-9, etc). If you meant how long was the wait until I received the evaluation, I think it was a month-long.

I did not take university classes since the degree was accredited. But I plan to take graduate studies next year, based on this eligibility.

I opted for a course-by-course evaluation and if I remember correctly, I paid a little over $190 for the total cost.

Good luck. I applied for a job related to my field (I was a chemist by profession back in my country).

ETA: sorry for the double post, edited for clarity.

Malego, do you mind me asking what your degree was in? Also, was the job that you got here in the US related to your degree?

Thanks!

I believe the question was for me. I was a chemist by profession back in my country. I am currently working as a formulation scientist here in CA. I am heavily involved in research and development of personal care and household products.

The job and salary options will also vary based on your area/location.

Yes, the question was for you krakatoa! Sorry for the mix up. Thank you for your feedback!!!

I got a job based on my foreign degree too. It took me like a year before I landed into this job. ( I have a degree in Computer Science/IT )
When I first came here, It is pretty hard for me to get a job because I have to compete with IT graduates, so I just work with whatever job
while building up my portfolio. I do freelance services, and help a friend with his website and all.

Until a year after that, I applied for web design/IT tech and my boss do look at my degree and also past works and current portfolio. He doesnt
seem to care that my deg isnt US degree. But I do have to brush up my English a lil bit. He did asked few questions on programming and so.

Maybe I got hired because of my 1 year experience of freelance over here......but recently he did brought up that he also hired me because of my college degree.

Thanks a lot all for share me info.

Krakatoa, your professional profile is very similar with my profile, I think. You see, I studied a career named Chemist Pharmacist and Biologist. After that I studied a master degree in pharmacology.
I see that you're in research field, I was too. I was a neuroscience student for 4 years and I have international publications (articles of scientist research).
Well the info that I wrote before is in order to ask you if you know if when we submit the credencial evaluations they consider international publications as a plus in order to give a profesional degree comparation in a "higher level"??
Also, when I asked for how long did you wait for? I mean how long did you wait for your credential evaluation?
Where are you from? (your homecountry, I wasn't able to identify it in your member profile)
Thanks a lot for your info and for your time.

Thanks a lot! I was reviewing the FPGEE program/requirement but I didn't see something related with the TOEFL... However I know that it's the way that "they" can know that I'm able to perform my professional duties in this country...
Is the NAPLEX different of the FPGEE? I was reading the NABP webpage but I understood that I need to do two steps after I'll get my credential evaluation complete, 1) Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination® (FPGEE®) and 2) Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee ™ (FPGEC®) Certification but now I don't know if the NAPLEX is another thing that I need to do too.
Thanks.

http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/infocist/foreigngrad.htm

I believe you already got a job (I read somewhere you are in your training period). Congratulations! And also, my sympathy to your brother and family.. I hope you get your problem fixed with the employer in no time.

I have had publications too (thesis, among other collaborative dissertation/coursework with my professors and peers in specific organizations) and it did help me advance in my current job. However, it did not bear any weight on the credential evaluation itself. I am from the Philippines, as my timeline would show.