PREPARING FOR U.S. PHARMACY PRACTICE: REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR FOREIGN PHARMACY GRADUATES

Mousa Abkhezr*, Valerie U. Oji

Practicing abroad in the global health arena is a desired objective by many foreign pharmacy graduates. By definition, a pharmacist whose undergraduate pharmacy degree was conferred by a recognized school of pharmacy outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico is considered a foreign pharmacy graduate. These pharmacists in order to be licensed in the USA have to pass four tests including: 1-foreign pharmacy graduate equivalency examination (FPGEE), 2- test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL), 3- North American pharmacist license examination (NAPLEX), and 4-multistate pharmacy jurisprudence examination (MPJE). There is a last requirement to complete 1500 hours internship; this may be required before or after passing NAPLEX and MPJE, depending on the specific state of intended practice. This internship has to be under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist known as preceptor. Studying and practicing abroad may be challenging, but there are opportunities and resources to navigate through the process.