My fiance recently arrived (Jan. 5) and he's been a pharmacist in the UK for nearly 10 years.

Is there anyone else out there that has to go thru the pain and suffering of the FPGEE and
state board certification that would wanna mull over all the gorey details with us?

Our wedding is in 10 days, so that brings on the whole AoS thing, and with that the ideas of actually
working sometime in the not too distant future. We were looking for others who have come to the US and transferred their pharmacy degree, or are planning to in the near future, you know, kinda like a support group for all of these woes!

Anyone out there?

Hello, I'm glad to finally discover another pharmacist-to-be here !!

I'm from Indonesia and I'm working on my FPGEE now. You can read all the requirement at http://nabp.net
but just to give you a glimpse of what your fiance need to do:
- pass the FPGEE test (minimum passing score is 75)
- pass TOEFL IBT
- do internship for 1000-ish hours, depends on which state your fiance want to be registered
- pass NAPLEX/MPJE exam

My suggestion for you guys is apply as soon as possible. They only have 2 exams per year, one in June and another one in December. I sent my application back in October last year and haven't heard anything ever since. I heard that the ATT for June exam is already out so if I don't get anything this week, I probably have to wait until the next 6 months. Another support group that you might want to look into is http://www.urch.com/forums/fpgee/. They don't have as many members as VJ, so it takes a while to get response there, but they do have very good information. And if you think that USCIS is bad on responding or processing the cases, wait until you deal with NABP. Don't mean to discourage you or anything, but they are WORSE !!

Good luck for your fiance !!

Woo, glad there's another pharmy out there! (and a Garfield fan too! )

C's gotten a couple of books but hasnt started to study for the FPGEE really hard yet.
I think he's hopefully aiming for the Dec exam, but as per your warning, he'll have to see about getting registered quickly.

What study guides are you using to prepare for the FPGEE?

Its too bad you will have to redo the internship, because he's been a practicing pharmacist for about 8 years now, its not like he's some fresh graduate. Silly state requirements.

Thanks for the additional information, and keep in touch, maybe you folks can muddle through this together.. hehe

Not much help to ya, but read an article regarding on how short they are on pharmacists. Students still in school have jobs lined up, many with big signing bonuses and very nice salaries. Best of luck

Hehe, yea, I'm a big Garfield fan !!

Books that will be helpful are CPR (I believe it's Comprehensive Pharmacy Review) by Leon Shargell, they said it's impossible to pass without it. Another thing you might want to look at is Manon Sharaff (not sure the correct spelling) Q&A book, and maybe Morris Cody for management part. I haven't even touched anything at all, I'm waiting for ATT first, then start going crazy with studying !!

Oh, and regarding the shortage of pharmacists, we are fully aware about that so is NABP, but still they make this whole process really hard. I know that they are probably doing this for all the good deeds, but please, what so difficult about at least giving a status update of each application ?? Some of us have been waiting for 2 years and hear nothing, while some can get their ATT in 2 months ... That is just nuts to me ! I think they are harder on some countries where there are only few applicants, but pretty fast for some other countries like Phillipines or India where they have tons of applications from them.

Good news then, he's got the Comprehensive Pharmacy Review.
And another book but I cant remember what it is, more on the physiology of things.

I think he was figuring that it was study first, then apply, but I guess the proper course of action is apply first, then study while you wait to find out, coz it'll be at least 6 months if not more before you're allowed to sit the exam. There's one in June and one in Dec, correct?

Whoda thunk that it'd be so darned hard to work in this country. I told him he should just enroll in the university and go to pharmacy school all over again. It should be easy, and at this rate, likely faster

Well, I don't know about your fiance, but for me going back to pharmacy school from scratch is pain in the @$$. It's way too expensive here and I cannot imagine having to re-take all the courses that I already knew ?? In this case, patience is virtue ... which I'm lacking of right now... HAHA !

Patience, what's that? All this work for him to actually get to come over here and he cant even work in his field for what could be years at this rate. Its not like we've had to have enough patience to deal with USCIS anyway, but now this?

*pulls hair out*

hehe, its just sickening, all of this hurry up and wait stuff.

Going to have to contact NABP though.. this degree is British, but he says its only a 3 year degree, however its a bachelor of science I believe (he's finding it right now in his box of paperwork to confirm). I read that he has to have a 4 year degree to qualify for sitting the FPGEE

my wife is a pharmacist overseas - however her degree was from a 4 year program, and to register for the fpgee you need a 5 year degree - they won't budge - although she was midway through her program when they changed the requirement - and now her school won't be offering a 5 year degree until 2008 - the only other alternative is to go to school here, ALL OVER.

it's a ridiculous barrier to entry when there is an apparent shortage.

^^ *comfort* that's just stupid, and not overly reassuring. What is your wife going to do in the US instead of pharmacy if she cant transfer her degree?

I'm hoping C's just mistaken and his degree really does qualify as a 4 year degree (he graduated prior to 2003 so he doesnt hit the 5 year rule)

If you don't meet the 4-year or 5-year (after 2003) degree requirement, then it's going to be difficult. Not sure if there is any pharmacy school here in US that accepts transfer, so that you can add another year or two into your degree. Starting all over again is just not an option for me. I am thinking of pursuing an MBA degree instead and work in business consultant field, it's more reasonable and cost-effective, considering you will get graduate degree instead of another $$$$-ing undergraduate degree in the same major. But it's just me...

That's actually a pretty good idea...
I cant see him starting all over, its not fair to anyone. And working at somewhere like Wal-Mart the rest of his life is just too depressing to think about seeing as how he's been practising pharmacy for nearly 10 years now.. lol. He suggested even a lower pharm tech positition, but wouldnt that need the same degree/licensure issues in the long run?

He's contacted the NABP to see what they can tell him. Of course he's getting the run around, but hopefully he'll get a response soon about it all. No one needs this sort of stress! Will keep ya updated as to what we find out in the near future.

Dont you just call the Business and Professions Board in the state where you live and find out what the requirements would be to take the test????

Unfortunately they'll tell ya to contact the NABP coz they're the national conglomeration of the state boards, and also the ones that administer the FPGEE exam. Getting in touch with them thru their phone number we're finding is like trying to get any useful information out of a consulate office or embassy

I wish it's that simple, but all states AFAIK require FPGEE (Foreign Pharmacist Graduate Equivalency Examination) certification before they even consider giving you any internships. NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacists) is the only authorized entity to give this FPGEE test and regulate the entire pharmacist and pharmacies business in this whole country. After passing FPGEE and English proficiency test, then you can contact your state board to find out the other requirements such as residency and internship. The average internship requirement across the country is around 1500 hours which translates into about 1 year having to work under supervision of registered pharmacist before you can apply for NAPLEX (the real pharmacist licensure exam).

tamarae, pharmacy tech requires some kind of license, again depends on what state you live in. Not sure about the difficulties though. I don't want to do that myself since in my state the average salary is not decent enough to even bother taking the whole tests. Oh, and I did some work in lousy chain restaurant for a while and believe me, it's DEPRESSING.

Same thing happens in canada. Many people from other countries come over as Doctores, nurses, etc and end up driving cabs or janitors (not thats a bad job)

Well, today's update led to an email to the NABP. He was told to phone them when he inquired before he left the UK, and seems to remember being sent an application. So when he phoned the NABP yesterday they told him that if he received the application stuff then he's clear to apply, that his degree will qualify.

But, we're not entirely sure yet, so he's emailed the NABP again today to see if he can get someone to respond who may have an answer. We've got our fingers crossed here. I really hope that it'll all work out for the best for him, would hate to see his morale crushed by not being able to work after all of the school and experience.

Hi everyone
I'm a pharmacist overseas too
and I have been working as a pharmacy tech since last year... but I really wanna get my license to work here, I kinda confused about the test... I studying for the toefl ibt test and take it next year... so what should I do 1st??