Foreign Pharmacy
Pharmacists educated outside of the United States are required to achieve Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee™ (FPGEC®) Certification before applying for a pharmacy licensure exam or state board of pharmacy license.
The certification is not a license to practice pharmacy; it ensures that a foreign pharmacist’s education meets comparable requirements to pharmacists educated from US pharmacy colleges. Each state has different requirements for obtaining a license. Once you are FPGEC Certified, it is important that you check the board of pharmacy website for specific licensure requirements in the state or jurisdiction you wish to be licensed.
FPGEC Certification Includes:
Education Review
A review of your education and licensure/registration
Communication Skills Requirement
A passing score on an English language proficiency exam
FPGEE
A passing score for the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination® (FPGEE®)
Explore the Candidate Application Bulletin
Refer to the Bulletin for more details about the FPGEE testing process, including day-of procedures and restrictions. Review the Bulletin before you apply.
How to Apply for FPGEC Certification Apply for FPGEC
Gain a better understanding of the steps involved in receiving FPGEC Certification. The timeframes may vary during high-volume periods and are not guaranteed. Before applying for certification, read the FPGEC Candidate Application Bulletin thoroughly. Your evaluation may be significantly delayed if the documents are sent incorrectly the first time.
Application Qualifications
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Education Requirements
Graduate from a recognized/accredited school of pharmacy in a non-US country or jurisdiction.
- If you received a pharmacy degree prior to January 1, 2003, you must have completed a minimum 4-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation.
- If you graduated on or after January 1, 2003, you must have completed at least a 5-year pharmacy program at the time of graduation.
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License/Registration Requirements
Have a pharmacy license and/or registration from another country.
- The license and/or registration must be unrestricted. You must meet the licensing requirements according to the country in which you obtained your license and/or registration. If both are required, both must be submitted.
FPGEC Certification Steps
Complete the following steps to properly submit your FPGEC application and documentation:
You will need a NABP e-Profile account to submit the online FPGEC application. Read the Candidate Application Bulletin for more information.
Need help creating your e-Profile account? Visit our FAQ for guidance.
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Verify the requirements.
Ensure you have valid proof that you have obtained the requirements to practice pharmacy in another country without restrictions by reviewing the Candidate Application Bulletin.
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Complete and submit your FPGEC application
Submit your FPGEC application through your e-Profile. You’ll also need to include the FPGEC Attestation and your photo identification with your submission.
Do not submit supporting documentation until you have submitted your FPGEC application.
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Prepare for the English language proficiency exam.
You must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) or the Occupational English Test (OET) for Pharmacy before you can be accepted for the FPGEE.
- Starting November 1, 2026, you can submit MyBest® Scores to fulfill the acceptance requirement for the 2027 FPGEE administration. If your score was submitted prior to November 1, you will not be able to use MyBest Scores.
- The OET will be accepted for exams taken starting January 11, 2027. Exams taken before that date do not qualify.
Consider preparing and/or taking either exam before you submit your FPGEC application. You only need to complete one of the two English proficiency exams to fulfill this requirement. Have questions about the TOEFL iBT or OET? Visit our Support Center for more details.Refer to the Candidate Application Bulletin for score requirements.
Check with the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the TOEFL iBT, and OET for dates and locations for their exams. International test site locations are not accepted by the FPGEC.
TOEFL Discount for FPGEC Candidates: ETS is offering a 15% discount on the TOEFL iBT exam. Candidates may use code NABPTOEFL when purchasing the exam. Enter the code during the checkout process to receive the discount. Contact ETS with any questions.
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Collect your degree credentials and submit the following to Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE):
- Documentation of your education including official transcripts
- Official proof of your degree in pharmacy
- Translation of non-English documents
- Payment of the General Evaluation Report fee
ECE will verify your degree credentials and is the only organization that can evaluate your credentials on behalf of NABP.
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Ensure you have valid proof that you have obtained the requirements to practice pharmacy in another country without restrictions.
This may include a license, a registration, both a license and a registration, or neither.
If your documents are not in English, follow the translation requirements specified in the Candidate Application Bulletin. Documents must be submitted in a properly sealed envelope by the issuing body, with a seal, stamp, or signature of an official across the envelope flap closure, to ensure the confidentiality of the documents. Envelopes that are not sealed as outlined in the Candidate Application Bulletin or that appear tampered with will not be accepted.
Reminder
After submitting an FPGEC application, you will have 2 years to meet the requirements for acceptance to the certification program.
FPGEC Evaluation
Evaluation of your application and supporting documents will take approximately 12 weeks. The evaluation will not begin until all required documentation, including a passing English language proficiency exam score report, are received at NABP Headquarters. Evaluations are prioritized in the order they are received. The timeframes may vary during high-volume periods and are not guaranteed. Your evaluation status will be posted in your NABP e-Profile. Requesting a status update will not expedite the evaluation time.
Each time you submit corrected/required documents per your deficiency posting, they must be evaluated. It can take an additional 12 weeks from the time the documents are received by NABP for them to be evaluated.
Evaluation will not begin until all required or deficient documents are received at NABP Headquarters.
Acceptance to Take the FPGEE
You will be notified electronically that you are eligible to purchase and schedule your FPGEE once you have satisfied all the requirements of your FPGEC application. You will receive an acceptance notification in your NABP e-Profile. You will have 2 years to take and pass the FPGEE from your acceptance date. Expiration dates are final and will not be extended for any reason. Refer to the Candidate Application Bulletin for the FPGEC requirements and policies.
Taking the FPGEE
The FPGEE is administered once per year. Learn more about the FPGEE and review the important testing dates prior to scheduling the exam in your NABP e-Profile.
On the day of the FPGEE, you must present your primary ID. Your primary ID must exactly match your name in your NABP e-Profile and on your Authorization to Test (ATT). You will forfeit your test fee if these requirements are not met.
Your FPGEE scores will be available in your NABP e-Profile approximately 8 weeks after the test and will not be mailed to you. The minimum passing score for the FPGEE is 75.
Receiving FPGEC Certification
You will be granted your FPGEC Certification after completing all of the above steps and receiving passing scores on the English proficiency and FPGEE exams. A paper FPGEC Certificate will not be provided. Your NABP e-Profile will show your FPGEC Certification date; this date can also be viewed by the state boards of pharmacy.
What to Do After Receiving FPGEC Certification
Contact the state board of pharmacy where you wish to obtain your pharmacist licensure to receive information about that state’s requirements. Each state’s pharmacy licensure requirements may vary. We recommend checking the state’s eligibility requirements for the NAPLEX, MPJE, and UMPJE before registering for those examinations.
Resources
We have many resources available to help you throughout the FPGEC Certification process.
Support Center
Find answers to frequently asked questions or use the chat tool to contact Customer Engagement.
NABP e-Profile
Check the latest status updates for your application by logging in to your e-Profile.
Contact Us
For specific Certification questions, contact the FPGEC team:
- Email: FP@nabp.pharmacy
- Phone: 1-847/391-4406