Applicants who graduated on or after January 1, 2003, need to have completed a minimum 5-year pharmacy curriculum.
TOEFL iBT
Foreign Pharmacy Graduates must pass the TOEFL iBT before submitting their FPGEC application. Check with the ETS for dates and locations for the exam. You’ll have to travel to the US or Canada to take the test if you are from a different country. International test site locations are not accepted by the FPGEC. All 4 sections of the exam must be completed in 1 testing session.
TOEFL iBT Score Requirements (For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026- A new 1 to 6 band scale)
Reading: 4, Listening: 5, Writing: 4.5, Speaking: 5; Scores are valid for 2 years.
FPGEC Certification
You will need an NABP e-profile and ID number to submit the online FPGEC application. This profile is used for submitting the FPGEC certification application, FPGEE registration and tracking the status.
Submit your FPGEC application in the Foreign Pharmacy section of your NABP e-Profile. The fee for submitting your application and evaluation is $750. Send all supporting documents to NABP at the time of submitting your application. FPGEC applications are only valid for 2 years. Evaluation of your FPGEC application will not begin until all documents are received. During this application, you will submit:
- Pharmacy degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Government-issued identification
- Passport-sized photograph
- Application fee
Your documents will then undergo verification. The review process may take several months, depending on your university and country. Only after your credentials are approved can you proceed toward FPGEC certification.
The FPGEE
Once your application is approved, you'll become eligible to sit for the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE). The FPGEE is a 200-question exam in a computerised format administered over a 4.5-hour testing period. After passing FPGEE, you become eligible for FPGEC Certification.
Choose the State
Unlike many countries, pharmacy licensure in the USA is regulated by individual state boards, not the federal government.
Each state has different requirements regarding:
- Internship hours
- Intern registration
- Background checks
- Jurisprudence exams
- Licensing procedures
Obtain a Visa and Work Authorisation
International pharmacists must have legal authorisation to work in the USA. Common visa pathways include: H-1B Visa, Permanent Residency (Green Card) or other employment authorisation depending on immigration status.
Register as a Pharmacy Intern and Find a Pharmacy Internship
This is often the most challenging stage. You need a licensed pharmacist willing to supervise your internship. Internships are available in community pharmacies and hospital Pharmacies
Complete Required Internship Hours
The required internship hours vary by state.
Most states require approximately:
- 1,500 internship hours
Some states accept hours completed during pharmacy school, while others require additional supervised hours for foreign graduates.
During an internship, you gain practical experience in:
- Dispensing medications
- Prescription verification
- Drug interactions
- Patient counselling
- Pharmacy software
- Insurance billing
- Vaccination services
- Inventory management
- Controlled substances regulations
After completing internship requirements, you become eligible for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Many states require the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). After completing the steps, the state board grants your pharmacist license. You can then practice independently as a licensed pharmacist in that state.
