Introduction
In order for someone who went to pharmacy school to practice pharmacy in the US they have to pass two licensing examinations, the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX ®) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination ® (MPJE ®). You are regarded as a foreign pharmacy graduate if you graduated with your primary pharmacy degree from a recognized pharmacy school that is not accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The only criterion for being classified as a foreign pharmacy graduate is the location of your pharmacy study, regardless of your citizenship. US individuals who received their pharmacy education from institutions not recognized by the ACPE are referred to as foreign pharmacy graduates. Graduates from non-US institutions with ACPE accreditation are not. FPGEC ® Certification is required before a foreign pharmacy graduate can apply for pharmacy licensing exams in the US (NAPLEX ® and MPJE ®). 

The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee™ (FPGEC ®), which operates under the direction of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP ®), oversees the FPGEC ® Certification procedure and awards certification. The FPGEC ® assesses the credentials of foreign-trained and licensed pharmacists who desire to obtain a license to practice pharmacy as a pharmacist, in a US state or jurisdiction.

Those who qualify for the FPGEC ® Certification procedure can take the FPGEE®. You are informed through your NABP e-Profile when you are qualified. Once a year, The FPGEE ® exam is held at Pearson VUE testing centers across the United States of America.

The FPGEE® is a thorough pharmacy examination that emphasizes an understanding of the biological, pharmacological, behavioral, and clinical sciences related to Pharmacy Practice. You must first apply for and complete the FPGEC ® Certification requirements to be eligible for the  FPGEE®.  

In order for you to be rewarded the FPGEC ® Certification you must:
1- Complete and submit the FPGEC ® Certification application with the necessary supporting documentation.

2- Pass the TOEFL® iBT, the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language.

3- Achieve an acceptable score at the  FPGEE®.

Application and Fees For FPGEC® 
Fill out the application form in your NABP e-Profile with the necessary details. When you submit your application, you must also pay using a credit or debit card. Cash, bank drafts, personal cheques, and any other unapproved means of payment are not accepted.

The $550 non-refundable FPGEC® application fee consists of a document evaluation fee of $450 and a $100 administrative fee.

Attestation Form for FPGEC® 
One of the documents you must mail as part of the application procedure is the FPGEC Attestation. Print the form, then follow these instructions:

1- The certification statement should be read.

2- Sign (do not print) your full name (in English) on the first line specified in the presence of a consular representative, a first-class magistrate, or a notary public. Use a blue or black ink pen.

3- The final two lines of the FPGEC® Attestation form must be filled up by the official.

In addition to the form, among the materials you will need to provide as part of the application procedure are two identical images. They must be taken within three months of the date you submit your FPGEC® application, be of passport quality (51 x 51 mm), and show your whole face. Use tape or glue to secure one of the images in the box provided in the form. Avoid using staples. The notarial seal, stamp, or signature on this photo must fully overlap with a piece of the attached photo and the application form, be legible throughout, and be in the English language. Your face in the picture cannot be covered by the seal or signature. The second photo cannot be signed, notarized, or otherwise annotated.

An official photocopy of your current, valid photo ID is also required. For information on required translation and photocopy certification, see the documentation requirements guidance provided by the NABP®. Original identification should not be provided because it will not be returned.

Evaluating Your Credentials
You must submit an application for the General Evaluation Report together with the necessary supporting documentation to Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), the entity that will certify your degree credentials, as part of the  FPGEC ® Certification  process. You must ask for a General Evaluation Report when submitting your application to (ECE). Additionally, a second copy of the report must be ordered and delivered directly to the FPGEC®. The (ECE) website lists the current prices for these services. You don't have to send the FPGEC® an additional set of academic credentials.

You will be required to submit the following documents as part of this process: your official transcripts from pharmacy school, along with any proof of pre-pharmacy, bachelor's degree, or post-baccalaureate coursework that qualifies; and official documentation of your pharmacy degree, which must include the degree's name and the date it was awarded.

The guidelines below must be followed for any official material provided to (ECE).
1- You must have graduated from a pharmacy program that is recognized or accredited in a nation or jurisdiction other than the United States or from a US institution that is not ACPE approved in order to be eligible for the  FPGEC ® Certification  Program. For example, the pharmacy school must be regionally recognized (meaning that nations in the school's geographic region must recognize the pharmacy school's professional degree program as meeting regionally adopted standards) or accredited by an organization that certifies or accredits professional degree programs in pharmacy.

2- If you received your diploma before January 1, 2003, you were required to have finished at least a 4-year pharmacy program. If you received your diploma on or after January 1, 2003, you were required to have finished at least a 5-year pharmacy program.

Coursework, internships, continuing education certificates, and job experience must be completed before graduation to count toward the minimum curriculum duration.

Post-baccalaureate degrees with patient-care experience in a clinical pharmacy practice context will be evaluated on an individual basis, at the sole discretion of the FPGEC®, to see if they can be applied to the minimum necessary curriculum duration.

3- You must send authentic transcripts of all pre-pharmacy, bachelor's degree, and post-baccalaureate pharmacy studies to (ECE) in order to be considered for certification. An official transcript is also necessary if there were any further coursework requirements for graduation.

Official transcripts must either be supplied directly from the university in a sealed envelope. They must contain the following information: dates of attendance at pharmacy school, the title (name) of each course studied, the number of hours of study, grades or other documents attesting to completion, and an authentic inked or dry school seal or stamp.

General Evaluation Reports for (ECE) are kept on file for two years. The ECE General Evaluation Report that the FPGEC® receives will be used for all current and future FPGEC® applications for the 2 years period, otherwise, a new report will be required. 

4- You must provide (ECE) with official documentation of your pharmacy degree, including the degree's name and the date it was granted. You must include the title of the credential or degree received as well as the date of issuance if you are submitting information regarding another credential or degree obtained from a pharmaceutical school. Your pharmacy degree or credential must be the professional degree that led to your registration or licensure to practice pharmacy.

Licenses And Registrations 

All applicants must possess a permanent, unrestricted license, registration, or both (License/Registration), as required for the unrestricted practice of pharmacy in the nation or jurisdiction where the applicant received their pharmacy degree or in the nation where they worked as a pharmacist.

Candidates for FPGEC® Certification who have been granted refuge in the US but who lack or are unable to show proof of holding an unrestricted, permanent pharmacy license or registration outside of the US are not eligible.

The qualified government official of the jurisdiction giving the credential must certify the License or Registration, and you must send documentation of it in accordance with the rules of the particular country.

All official documents must include the following: 

1-The issuance date of the license and/or registration

2- The license number and/or registration number (If the issuing body requires both to practice pharmacy, then both numbers are needed); 
3- A seal or stamp of the issuing body; 
4- The signature in ink of the person from the issuing body authorized to certify the document; and the license number and/or registration number (both if both are required by the issuing body);

5- The documents should be sealed by the issuing authority. If the document is a photocopy, it must include an "Attested True Copy" stamp with the original inked initials or signature of the person from the issuing authority. An official's seal, stamp, or signature must overflow the flap closure of the envelope.

The issuing body or yourself can mail the License/Registration envelope to the FPGEC® after it has been sealed, Documents sent electronically won't be accepted. A certified translator must provide an official, word-for-word English translation of any documents that are not written in English or that have non-English stamps or seals.

TOEFL® iBT
The only English language proficiency test allowed for candidates pursuing FPGEC® Certification is the TOEFL® iBT, and admission to take the  FPGEE® requires a passing score on the TOEFL® iBT. All international pharmacy graduates, even those who are native English speakers, are required to take the TOEFL® iBT.These standards are rigorous and cannot be waived. The TOEFL® iBT at-home or remotely proctored scores are not accepted by the FPGEC®. They also do not accept "My Best" scores. Scores required per section

(Reading 22, Listening 21, Speaking 26, and Writing 24)

Before being permitted to take the  FPGEE®, you must pass the TOEFL® iBT if your application was filed on or after January 1, 2020. Before evaluation may start, the TOEFL® iBT score report and other necessary documentation must be supplied. After the test's administration date, passing scores are valid for the FPGEC® program for two years.

The 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, and 10 Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan) represent the jurisdictions where TOEFL® iBT score reports are only accepted from ETS test centers for NABP®.

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) shall provide the FPGEC® with an official score report containing the results for all four sections. Your score report won't be approved if you receive less than the minimum needed score in any section during the exam's attempt.

You must ask ETS to send the FPGEC® your TOEFL® iBT score report (all four sections from a single test session) directly. Use the FPGEC® identifier 9103. Only official score reports obtained directly from ETS will be accepted by the FPGEC®.

Additionally, your e-Profile information must exactly match what is on the official score report.The submission of score reports containing inconsistencies in the name, photo ID, or date of birth is prohibited.

Documentation Review
After NABP® obtains the necessary supporting evidence, including a valid TOEFL® iBT score, the FPGEC® starts the application evaluation process. About 8 weeks will pass while the evaluation is being conducted. The review of your application will be delayed by incomplete applications, insufficient documents, or the provision of documentation that does not adhere to all standards. Time frames are not guaranteed and are subject to change during periods of high application demand.

 

Three weeks before the registration deadline for the subsequent planned exam, NABP® stops accepting applications. After the exam date, NABP® will once again accept applications. Your e-Profile contains information about the status of your FPGEC® Certification application. The updated status will be displayed as soon as it changes. A glossary of FPGEC® status terms can be found in the Help area of the e-Profile website. NABP® is unable to give status information that is present in your e-Profile due to high traffic.

Email [email protected] if you want to withdraw your application rather than let it expire. The administration and evaluation costs as well as the FPGEC® application fee are non-refundable. To get your testing cost reimbursed if you are registered to take the  FPGEE®, you must also cancel your exam with Pearson VUE  within five business days of the scheduled date.

Application Closure or Expiration
In the following circumstances, your application may be closed and money may be forfeited to the FPGEC®:

1- if it is found that your credentials don't fulfill the requirements for eligibility for the FPGEC® Certification Program after assessment of the provided evidence.

2- In the event that you are still unable to meet the requirements to be eligible for the FPGEC® Certification Program after repeated requests for the necessary paperwork.

If your file has been closed, you have 30 days to appeal the judgment. If you do, the FPGEC® will evaluate your appeal individually.

In the following circumstances, your application will expire and money will be forfeited to the FPGEC®:

1- if, within two years of application submission, you do not fulfill all application conditions. This also applies to the TOEFL® iBT prerequisite for applications received after January 1, 2020.

2- if, within two years of acceptance into the FPGEC® Certification Program, you are unable to pass the FPGEE®.

Appealing expired applications is not possible. Expiration date extensions are not given by the FPGEC®. 

Once your application has been rejected, you can reapply if you haven't taken the  FPGEE® more than five times in your lifetime and want to seek FPGEC® Certification. You will have to retake the application and exam, pay the full fees, and provide your supporting paperwork. Candidates must meet all current requirements in order to be accepted, even if they were previously eligible for FPGEC® Certification in past years.

FPGEE® Exam Registration 

Only after your FPGEC® application has been reviewed and accepted will you be allowed to sign up for the exam. Your acceptance to take the test will be communicated to you via your e-Profile. You will be mailed an  FPGEE® Identification Card (FIC) to the address on your e-Profile following registration for the  FPGEE® and receipt of an Authorization to Test (ATT). After receiving ATT, you can make an  FPGEE® appointment online at Pearson VUE, any future modifications to your test appointment has to be addressed with Pearson VUE . Without an ATT, you cannot book your exam. On the day of your exam, the FIC is necessary. You won't be allowed to take the test and will lose your money if you don't show your ID at the testing location.

If you need to reschedule your FPGEE® appointment, you must do so at least five working days in advance. If you cancel with Pearson VUE , your Authorization to Test (ATT) is still in effect, and your eligibility period is still in effect for the following exam. You must cancel both with Pearson VUE  and NABP® via your e-Profile at least 5 days before the scheduled exam to be eligible for a refund of the exam fee.

Finish the FPGEE® registration process in your NABP e-Profile. Make sure your contact information is accurate in NABP® e-Profile before registering for the exam. The  FPGEE® costs $650 to take. Retaking the exam through the same application will cost you $750.

The Candidate Application Bulletin has more information regarding exam registration, missed appointments, and how to reschedule your test.

The Exam Details
The FPGEE® examination lasts 4.5 hours, and there is a total of 5.5 hours of seat time. Following the 90th and 180th minutes, there are two 15-minute rests offered. Your test time is not affected by these breaks. You can access food, drinks, handbags, purses, wallets, money, prescription drugs, or particular items from the Pearson VUE Comfort Aid List during breaks. You are not permitted to use your phone or any other devices during the appointment for the exam or leaving the testing facility during breaks.

The 200 questions in the test are presented in a computerized, standardized format. According to the exam's format, you must respond to each question in the order that it appears. You cannot skip a question or go back to a prior question. 75 is the scaled passing mark. Before the test, we advise you to do the following as part of your exam preparation:

1- To have a better grasp of the subject areas covered by the FPGEE®, which are listed in the competency statements.

2- To learn how exam questions are formatted, download the sample questions. In addition, consider taking the official practice test, the Pre-FPGEE®.

3- To avoid being denied entry to take the exam at the test center, read the Candidate Application Bulletin's instructions regarding the test day.

It is intended to gauge knowledge in four key areas of pharmaceutical content:

Basic biomedical sciences make up 10%, pharmaceutical sciences make up 33%.

Social, behavioral, and administrative sciences make up 22%. The Clinical Science topics make up for 35% of the exam.

The FPGEE competency statements, which are available on the FPGEE® page of the NABP® website, include a list of the subject areas covered in the test. The website also provides sample items that show the formats of the questions.

What is the Pre-FPGEE®?
The official practice test that includes questions similar to those on the FPGEE® is called the Pre-FPGEE®. Up to two attempts at the practice test may be made annually. It is offered online and each attempt costs $75. You will receive an estimated scaled score based on your responses at the conclusion of the practice test via your email account, which you can print for your records.

The Pre-FPGEE® has 66 questions, and you have 85 minutes to finish the practice test. The registration process and exit survey should take an extra 15-20 minutes to complete. You have seven days to take the Pre-FPGEE® after registering and paying for it. Exam practice is not eligible for a refund.

On The Test Day
In order to prevent being denied entry to the testing facility, read the Candidate Application Bulletin's policies and procedures for the test day. You must additionally take the following actions:

1- On the day of the test, visit the Pearson VUE  testing location with your FIC and a current main form of identification. The accepted photo ID that was accepted in your FPGEC evaluation should be presented as your valid primary identification. Your printed name must match the name on your FIC on both your primary and secondary forms of identification. You won't be allowed to take the test if you don't have the right IDs with you on test day.
 

 2- Be at the Pearson VUE exam location 30 minutes early. You will have ample time to finish the check-in processes, which include the following steps. Keep in mind, that you will lose your appointment if you show up at the testing location 30 minutes after the exam time.

• You will be photographed and asked to produce a digital signature.

• If this is your first time taking the test, you will be required to give a palm vein scan.

• You will be required to submit a digital fingerprint and a palm vein scan if you are retaking the test.
  
  

3- Once you have registered, you must not leave the testing facility during the examination appointment or any scheduled or unscheduled breaks unless the testing administrator has given your permission. Don't use your phone or any other restricted items once you've checked in; wait until you've finished the test and left the testing facility.

4-For use during the test, you will be given a notepad and a pen that are both erasable. You are not permitted to bring your own scratch paper, pencil, or pen into the testing room at any time, and you are not allowed to remove the board or pen from the testing room.

During the test, you can also use the on-screen calculator. This calculator has a 5-function mode and a scientific mode. Although you can ask for one, the handheld calculator will only have a 5-function mode. Any type of personal calculator is forbidden.

Results
About 8 weeks after you take the FPGEE® exam, your FPGEE® score will be accessible under the Foreign Pharmacy area of your NABP® e-Profile. To successfully complete the FPGEC® Certification application, you must receive a score of 75 or higher.

You may retake the exam by enrolling again for it and paying the FPGEE® retake fee if you do not earn a passing FPGEE® score and your 2-year eligibility term has not yet passed. If your 2-year eligibility term has passed, you must submit a fresh application for FPGEC® Certification. Before you are granted permission to repeat the FPGEE® exam, your previously supplied paperwork will be examined. Candidates for the FPGEC® are given a total of five chances to pass the FPGEE®. The Candidate Application Bulletin has more information regarding the results and attempt counts.