Countries > USA for Pharmacists > FPGEC / FPGEE
USA for Pharmacists — Foreign graduates
FPGEC & FPGEE
The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification program, administered by NABP, is the usual gateway for pharmacists who graduated from a pharmacy program that is not ACPE-accredited. Certification typically includes credential evaluation, documented English proficiency, and a passing score on the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) before you can sit NAPLEX through most state boards.
Pathway Snapshot
Create an NABP e-Profile, apply for FPGEC, submit credentials and English scores, sit the FPGEE, then use FPGEC certification to become eligible for NAPLEX and state licensure.
Complete Journey: Pharmacy degree (non-ACPE) → NABP e-Profile → FPGEC application & credential review → English proficiency → FPGEE → FPGEC certification → NAPLEX + MPJE / UMPJE → State licence.
Main Links
Eligibility
FPGEC is designed for graduates of pharmacy programs that are not accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Graduates of ACPE-accredited Doctor of Pharmacy programs generally do not use FPGEC and apply to a state board for NAPLEX eligibility through the standard graduate pathway.
You typically need a first professional pharmacy degree that NABP can evaluate as comparable, plus identity documents and, in most cases, an approved English language test. Exact document lists and degree comparability rules are published by NABP and can change — confirm the current FPGEC Bulletin before you apply.
Some U.S. jurisdictions have additional intern-hour or graduation-date rules even after FPGEC certification. Check the board of pharmacy in the state where you intend to licence.
FPGEC Application
Applications run through your NABP e-Profile. You will upload (or have institutions send) transcripts, degree certificates, and identification. NABP may require documents to arrive directly from the issuing school or a designated evaluation partner.
Processing times vary with how quickly your school responds. Incomplete files are the most common cause of delay. Keep scanned colour copies of everything you submit and monitor your e-Profile messages.
FPGEE Exam Details
The FPGEE is a computer-based examination that assesses whether your pharmacy education is equivalent to a U.S. professional degree. Content typically covers biomedical, pharmaceutical, social/administrative, and clinical sciences. NABP publishes the current content areas, number of items, and appointment length in the FPGEE/FPGEC candidate materials.
The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE centres. You must follow NABP scheduling windows and identification rules. Scores are reported to your e-Profile; a passing FPGEE is only one part of FPGEC certification.
What we offer
MCIQ will open an FPGEE-style question bank mapped to the NABP content areas, with explanations written for internationally trained pharmacists. Register to be notified when prep is available.
Notify me when FPGEE Prep is available →English Proficiency
NABP specifies accepted English tests and minimum scores for FPGEC (commonly TOEFL iBT with section minima). Scores usually have to be sent directly by the testing agency. Confirm the current test, score, and validity window in the official FPGEC instructions — they are updated periodically.
After Certification
Once FPGEC certified, you apply to a state board (or through NABP Gateway where used) for authorization to test on the NAPLEX and, in most states, the MPJE or Uniform MPJE. Many boards also require intern hours completed under a licensed preceptor in that state.
FPGEC certification is not itself a licence to practise. Only the state board issues a pharmacist licence.
Fees
All figures are approximate and based on 2026 public information. Always confirm exact fees on the official portals before payment.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
FPGEC application / evaluation |
Confirm on nabp.pharmacy | Includes credential review; extra fees if documents must be re-evaluated |
FPGEE examination |
Confirm on nabp.pharmacy / Pearson VUE | Paid when you are authorized to schedule |
English test (TOEFL iBT or accepted alternative) |
Set by ETS or the test owner | Not an NABP fee |
Later NAPLEX / MPJE |
See NAPLEX and MPJE pages | Separate NABP and state board charges |