Just wondering if any Foreign pharmacists here

[Florianns Man 7]

Hi there!

Just wondering if any foreign pharmacist here in VJ..Let's share some info..

Any tips in finding a job in pharmaceutical companies or in pharmacy set up (like CVS, Wallgreens etc..) without taking yet the equivalency exams.

Also anyone who has experience in pharmaceutical regulatory? How did you start finding a job..

I would really appreciate your kind help and information. A billion thanks in advance!!!

[Meg and Nigel 21]

Who is looking for the job? Where is your degree from? You can't get a job as a pharmacist at a hospital or retail setting (CVS, Walgreens) without exams/license, but you could work as a technician in a pharmacy while you get that stuff done. Also, many industry jobs do not require a license, just a degree. Medical writers, medical science liaisons, medical information specialists, etc. Many will want to see some experience in the industry field, but some won't require it. Medical writing is probably a good place to start looking. I would go to individual pharma company websites and search their career pages. Also look at CROs (contract research organizations) like Quintiles, PRA, etc. More info on your background would be helpful for a better answer to your question.

Edited March 18, 2011 by Meg and Nigel

[Florianns Man 7]

Who is looking for the job? Where is your degree from? You can't get a job as a pharmacist at a hospital or retail setting (CVS, Walgreens) without exams/license, but you could work as a technician in a pharmacy while you get that stuff done. Also, many industry jobs do not require a license, just a degree. Medical writers, medical science liaisons, medical information specialists, etc. Many will want to see some experience in the industry field, but some won't require it. Medical writing is probably a good place to start looking. I would go to individual pharma company websites and search their career pages. Also look at CROs (contract research organizations) like Quintiles, PRA, etc. More info on your background would be helpful for a better answer to your question.

Hi there,

Thanks for the information.

And yes I am aware about the equivalency and licensure exams for any foreign pharmacy graduates to be able to work as a pharmacist in the US which I know this will be a long road with all the internships after taking the exams.I got my degree in the Philippines and a licensed through Phil Board of Pharmacists.I do have plan to take the exams in the near future, but for the meantime I want to work as pharmacy technician ( both pharmacy Set up or hospital set up) and I successfully registered as pharmacy technician recently.However, all the job online they preferred with experience as technicians or certified technicians.

I am more into regulatory affairs works for ages i handled regulatory works in pharmaceutical company and I have a hand on knowledge & experience for Asia,SE Asia, Middle East and African countries. I also search online the list of pharmaceutical companies and submitted my resume directly to their websites.....sadly all the job they wanted a hand on US regulatory.

Now, I am open any jobs which is closely related to my degree and the info you stipulated surely I appreciated and noted.

[Meg and Nigel 21]

If your preference is to work in retail/hospital, then I would suggest continuing to look for a job as a technician or intern. Getting certified is just taking a test, so you may want to look into that. It does not require you to take classes, at least in MO. Are companies telling you personally that they want someone with experience, or is it just listed in the requirements on a job post? I would think that a pharmacy degree would count as some kind of experience and they would want to have someone about to become a pharmacist. But maybe since your Philippines experience is mostly industry, they don't think you'd know enough about their processes?

Are you interested in continuing to work for pharma? If you are interested in industry, there has to be an area of the company (maybe just not regulatory) where they could really use someone with knowledge and experience in that part of the world. Have you only looked at regulatory jobs? The areas I mentioned before might be a good way to get your foot in the door. Is there any particular company you have experience with/would like to work for/has a presence in your area? Are you able to relocate? I work in the pharma industry, but I am new to it. I do have a few good contacts though, so I will try to help if I can in any way.

[Wilaieab 0]

Hello guys, I am one of a foreign pharmacist who is looking for a pharmacy technician job before I can clear all of the pharmacy licensing exams. I just got my ChPT from PTCB, but I need to register with CA board of pharmacy to get a technician license. I don't really know how easy I can get a job as a technician. I never work in the US, but I used to work in a hospital and drugstores in Thailand. Do you have any suggestion about getting any pharmacy job before I finish all the pharmacy licensing exams? Thank you.

[chris39 0]

My wife is completing her intern hours. PM me, and I will ask her to give you some feedback. I do know it is a long hard road.

[topaz 0]

To the OP i know it's late reply but you might read this. I am also a foreign pharmacist from the Philippines. I took the FPGEE (Foreign Pharmacy Graduates Equivalency Exam) last April but 2 points lacking to pass the exam (frustrated!). I took again last month and waiting the result as of now. I hope i will pass this time. It will take between 6-8 weeks to get the result online. For the 1st time it's $800 for the exam and $600 for retake (expensive huh!). I am now studying for TOEFL ( Test of English as a foreign language). I think maybe you know this already that in order to get FPGEC (certificate from NABP) you have to pass both FPGEE & TOEFL in order to apply as Pharmacy graduate Intern in retail,hospital,specialize pharmacy,nuclear pharmacy etc. Im not sure if NABP accept internship from industrial pharmaceutical. Internship hours depends of what state you belong. In my state the internship hours requirement is 1500 hrs. I have a friend said that her internship rate was $13/hr.,$34/hr. after completing internship hours, and then $50+/hr. after passing licensure exam for pharmacist which is NAPLEX and also MPJE. She just passed the NAPLEX & MPJE so she is now a licensed pharmacist and earning a lot. She works in a retail drugstore. The rates varies in every state. I have another college friend who is now working in a retail chain as a licensed pharmacist. She said it's better to apply first as a phar.tech,just to get your foot in the door. If i will not pass the exam (hopefully i will pass) my option is to take PTCB to be certified and apply as phar. tech. I know mostly retail/hospital they required with experience at least 1 yr. but for me im fine to volunteer just to get in...The FPGEE test is every April and September. You can check on www.nabp.net for FPGEE requirements. They are very strict of requirments like the transcript of records should be in an envelope from your school (w/school logo) & signed by registrar that is overlap on the cover.

[Florianns Man 7]

To the OP i know it's late reply but you might read this. I am also a foreign pharmacist from the Philippines. I took the FPGEE (Foreign Pharmacy Graduates Equivalency Exam) last April but 2 points lacking to pass the exam (frustrated!). I took again last month and waiting the result as of now. I hope i will pass this time. It will take between 6-8 weeks to get the result online. For the 1st time it's $800 for the exam and $600 for retake (expensive huh!). I am now studying for TOEFL ( Test of English as a foreign language). I think maybe you know this already that in order to get FPGEC (certificate from NABP) you have to pass both FPGEE & TOEFL in order to apply as Pharmacy graduate Intern in retail,hospital,specialize pharmacy,nuclear pharmacy etc. Im not sure if NABP accept internship from industrial pharmaceutical. Internship hours depends of what state you belong. In my state the internship hours requirement is 1500 hrs. I have a friend said that her internship rate was $13/hr.,$34/hr. after completing internship hours, and then $50+/hr. after passing licensure exam for pharmacist which is NAPLEX and also MPJE. She just passed the NAPLEX & MPJE so she is now a licensed pharmacist and earning a lot. She works in a retail drugstore. The rates varies in every state. I have another college friend who is now working in a retail chain as a licensed pharmacist. She said it's better to apply first as a phar.tech,just to get your foot in the door. If i will not pass the exam (hopefully i will pass) my option is to take PTCB to be certified and apply as phar. tech. I know mostly retail/hospital they required with experience at least 1 yr. but for me im fine to volunteer just to get in...The FPGEE test is every April and September. You can check on www.nabp.net for FPGEE requirements. They are very strict of requirments like the transcript of records should be in an envelope from your school (w/school logo) & signed by registrar that is overlap on the cover.

Hi there,

Thanks for the info and I am also aware and explored the NABP website too how foreign pharmacists processing for all those exams. I also have some friends working as a licensed pharmacists in the US.I know it would be a long road for us...but everything is worth with those rates now a days.My friends works in retail pharmacy as pharmacist and I agreed its-60-70 bucks/hr...Wow!!!! I plan to take the exam next year. Dont worry I will include you in my prayers at this time you will passed, just keep believing.

I work as regulatory affairs pharmacist for ages, so not really into retail pharmacy though;-). But now I am open both retail or regulatory once I pass the licensing (as license).

By the way, I work in CVS, Indeed its a good exposure to get your feet in again in pharmacy world.I am so blessed I was given a chance to get back in my career. Keep in touch and nice to meet you.:-)

[topaz 0]

Hi there,

Thanks for the info and I am also aware and explored the NABP website too how foreign pharmacists processing for all those exams. I also have some friends working as a licensed pharmacists in the US.I know it would be a long road for us...but everything is worth with those rates now a days.My friends works in retail pharmacy as pharmacist and I agreed its-60-70 bucks/hr...Wow!!!! I plan to take the exam next year. Dont worry I will include you in my prayers at this time you will passed, just keep believing.

I work as regulatory affairs pharmacist for ages, so not really into retail pharmacy though;-). But now I am open both retail or regulatory once I pass the licensing (as license).

By the way, I work in CVS, Indeed its a good exposure to get your feet in again in pharmacy world.I am so blessed I was given a chance to get back in my career. Keep in touch and nice to meet you.:-)

Hello there,

Nice to meet you here too. Good for you that you work in CVS. Yes it is a long road for us. I have a friend who is a Phil. pharmacist too and frustrated of taking FPGEE again after taking many times but his wife is already a license pharmacist here and starting salary is $60/hr. in a retail pharmacy somewhere in California. California state has highest paying rate,Maine,New Hampshire,Minnesota & Alaska come next. I have a plan to take PTCB but we'll see...Thank you for including me in your prayer. Hopefully i will pass this time. If i will pass i will give you my CPR book if you want. I have 2 CPR books 7th & 5th edition. I've got 5th edition from my college friend who is already a licensed pharmacist here.

Edited October 26, 2011 by topaz

[Florianns Man 7]

Hello there,

Nice to meet you here too. Good for you that you work in CVS. Yes it is a long road for us. I have a friend who is a Phil. pharmacist too and frustrated of taking FPGEE again after taking many times but his wife is already a license pharmacist here and starting salary is $60/hr. in a retail pharmacy somewhere in California. California state has highest paying rate,Maine,New Hampshire,Minnesota & Alaska come next. I have a plan to take PTCB but we'll see...Thank you for including me in your prayer. Hopefully i will pass this time. If i will pass i will give you my CPR book if you want. I have 2 CPR books 7th & 5th edition. I've got 5th edition from my college friend who is already a licensed pharmacist here.

Hi there again, Indeed a very long road for us..after FPGEE, we need to have internship and then another exmas. I lived in Minnesota so the rate is higher compared to other states.I dont mind to start the lowest rate as long as I can use again our profession and be recognized as a license pharmacist oneday:-) Also we can make a decent living:-) Oh! I love California though;-) except the way of living there kinda so spendy..:-) I would say its a call of LUCK that I was given a chance to be part with CVS.I also went through last of frustration in finding a job which is close to our profession.I keep praying that one day there's one door open for me in retail pharmacy...so here I am, my prayers was granted.Just keep believing...Now, I really wanted to learned how pharmacy set up in the US works, as we knw its too way different from the Phils.They are more stringent laws to follow and pharmacist here are more engaged with patients all the time.I always told my friends who are now licensed here that they are really really lucky and blessed:-) For us our journey is just to begin though;-) but we will get there oneday. Your welcome, prayers is all I can help for you and I know you will do the same too when my time comes..Oh! Thank you so much..I really appreciate your help..Of course I would love to have those references for the exams.Keep me posted once you get your result..Too bad we are far from each other, but who knows we can always find our way to meet up oneday...Maybe we have the same alma mater though;-) but I think I am way older than you...hehe.;-))). or could be we have some common friends...Pharmaceutical Industries in the Phils is always a close tight...so maybe someone you know could be happen a friend of mine or batchmate of mine..Keep in touch through Pm if you have some personal message..I love to meet new friends here in Vj, much more as a fellow pharmacists too! Take care and God Bless!

[aussie pharm 0]

Hi guys,

I was just wondering, for all of you foreign pharmacists waiting to write the license exams in the USA, did you guys have to take pharm D courses in the states to be qualified to write Fpgee exam?

I will be graduating this year with bachelor of pharmacy from Australia and I am looking into working in the states. It seems like I have to take pharm D courses which would take me at least 3 years before I would be qualified to write fpgee…is this the only way for foreign pharmacists with a 4 year degree in pharmacy to qualify for fpgee?

Thanks.

[marce&nick 0]

Hi! I am a pharmacist too but from Peru.I have just received my AOS confirmation and I know that I ll have to start looking for a job soon and I need help. As I told you I am a pharmacist and before coming to USA I stamped my degrees at the American embassy in my country so I could use them here(I dont know if they will work though).Also I have a masters degree in university education and I have been teaching English as a second language in Peru. I have certificates from Britan to prove my advance English level and work experience as a pharmacist and English teacher for 10 years. So can you give me some ideas of where or what to do? As many of you I don't want to earn the minimun wage cause I had good jobs in my hometown and move here cause of love so I'd be glad to receive any help. By the way I am 31years and living with my husband in Gainesville Georgia.

[erynaught 43]

Most, if not all states, now require a PharmD in order to take the exam to become a Registered Pharmacist.

Whatever your degree, you will need to pay a service to evaluate and certify its US equivalence.

[Nigel&Meggie 40]

Hi! I am a pharmacist too but from Peru.I have just received my AOS confirmation and I know that I ll have to start looking for a job soon and I need help. As I told you I am a pharmacist and before coming to USA I stamped my degrees at the American embassy in my country so I could use them here(I dont know if they will work though).Also I have a masters degree in university education and I have been teaching English as a second language in Peru. I have certificates from Britan to prove my advance English level and work experience as a pharmacist and English teacher for 10 years. So can you give me some ideas of where or what to do? As many of you I don't want to earn the minimun wage cause I had good jobs in my hometown and move here cause of love so I'd be glad to receive any help. By the way I am 31years and living with my husband in Gainesville Georgia.

Hey marce&nick, if you don't mind me asking, what languages are you fluent in?

Thanks!

[marce&nick 0]

Hey marce&nick, if you don't mind me asking, what languages are you fluent in?

Thanks!

Spanish of course and fluent English