The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee™ (FPGEC®) oversees the FPGEC certification process and grants FPGEC certification under the auspices of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®).
The FPGEC evaluates the qualifications of pharmacists licensed and educated outside the United States who wish to become licensed pharmacists in a state or jurisdiction of the US.
FPGEC certification is required before a foreign pharmacy graduate can apply for pharmacy licensing in the US and most US territories. The pharmacy licensing exams are required to achieve licensure and include the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination® (NAPLEX®) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® (MPJE®).
To be eligible to take the NAPLEX and MPJE, the following groups need FPGEC certification:
FPGEC certification is not a license to practice pharmacy. To practice in the US, you must be licensed by the state or jurisdiction in which you practice. Because licensure requirements vary by state, you should directly contact the board(s) of pharmacy for the state(s) in which you want to practice. This is the best way to obtain up-to-date information on state laws and requirements. Contact information for the boards of pharmacy is available on the NABP website.
NABP reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse to accept any application, registration form, documentation, or payment that does not conform to applicable US laws and regulations and FPGEC candidate requirements.
The information in this Bulletin will guide you through the steps of the FPGEC process, including registering to take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination® (FPGEE®). It answers the most frequently asked questions about the FPGEC application process and contains important exam policies and procedures.
Read this Bulletin thoroughly to ensure that you understand all the requirements, policies, and procedures before you submit your application.
Unless otherwise stated, the policies and procedures specified in this Bulletin apply to all open applications regardless of submission date.
FPGEC does not waive or make exceptions to any FPGEC requirement.
FPGEC does not extend any FPGEC program expiration dates.
All FPGEC certification candidates are required to have an NABP e-Profile®. If you do not have an e-Profile, you may create one using the instructions on the NABP website.
If you applied to the FPGEC prior to May 2018, your EE number has been assigned an e-Profile ID number and you do not need to create a new e-Profile ID number. Contact NABP customer engagement at help@nabp.pharmacy if you are unable to determine your e-Profile ID number.
If you are creating a new e-Profile, FPGEC recommends choosing “Pharmacist” when you are prompted to select your profession. This will allow you to enter your foreign-education record into the e-Profile. If applicable, you will still be able to enter your technician and intern licensure information when you select “Pharmacist” as your profession.
To obtain FPGEC certification, you must:
Upon FPGEC certification, a paper certificate is not available. Proof of your FPGEC certification, including your certification date, will be available for you to view in your NABP e-Profile. Your FPGEC certification date is also visible to all the boards of pharmacy.
June 2024