FPGEC Certification Steps: From Application to Passing the FPGEE

Foreign-educated pharmacists who want a US license usually need FPGEC certification from NABP first. Certification has three parts: a review of your education, an English communication requirement, and a passing score on the FPGEE. Here is the usual order of steps, based on NABP’s current instructions.

The steps

• Check that you qualify. You need an unrestricted pharmacist license or registration in another country. A degree granted on or after January 1, 2003 must come from a program of at least 5 years (4 years for earlier degrees).
• Submit the FPGEC application in your NABP e-Profile, with the attestation and a photo ID. Wait until the application is submitted before sending other documents.
• Pass an approved English exam: the TOEFL iBT, or the OET for Pharmacy (accepted for exams taken from January 11, 2027). Check the bulletin for the current minimum scores.
• Have your degree evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE): transcripts, proof of degree and translations, plus ECE’s fee.
• Send proof of your license or registration in sealed envelopes, as NABP describes.
• Wait for the evaluation. NABP says it takes about 12 weeks, and any resubmission can add another 12 weeks.
• Once accepted, register for the FPGEE. You have 2 years to take and pass it, and up to 5 attempts.

After FPGEC certification

Most state boards of pharmacy then require supervised internship hours in the US, followed by the NAPLEX and a law exam (the MPJE or a state law exam). Requirements differ by state, so check with the board in the state where you plan to work.

Practical advice

• Start the paperwork early. Document delays are the most common reason candidates miss an exam year.
• Keep copies of everything you send and note the date.
• Begin studying while your evaluation is in progress, since the FPGEE is offered only once a year.

This is a summary for planning only. Follow the current FPGEC Candidate Application Bulletin on the NABP website for official requirements.