Finishing degree Equivalancy or GO to PharmD school

[marymar]

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Hello



I have a bachelor degree in pharmacy from a foreign country. Finished school 2012.

I am able to transfer my degree to US ( degree equivalency) by taking 4 tests FPGEE, Toefl, Naplex and MPJE+ internship. off course the degree will stay as bachelor.

I started my equivalency on 2015 the tests that are left to finish is NAPLEX, MPJE and internship.


one pro of finishing equivalency is that I won't end up with a student loan and I wont have to study everything again.
The bad thing about it is that my degree will still be bachelor, so my chances of getting a job will be less since employers will surely prefer pharmd and somebody who studied here over someone who studied outside US with bachelor degree.

another problem is that I am working FT technician, so studying naplex is very overwhelming, specially I feel like I forgot all the info I learned back in school. so by going to school, I will learn everything again which is good.



on the other hand, going to pharmacy will enable me to get pharmd and it might take less time to finish school. I think (not sure) I can use my degree transcript to skip taking some prerequisite...but I will end up with a student loan.


which path you think it is better to take? Pharmd school or finish my equivalency???money wise and employment wise



TIA

​

 

[BC_89]

That’s an interesting question.

On one hand your a foreign student but the BS pharm has been done away with. Although if you pass the NAPLEX and MPJE, getting a job may be difficult initially due to your experiences being outside the U.S.

If your worried on passing and forgot certain aspects, I’d say get your pharmD through a program just to be competitive (saturated field here in the states). I don’t know if institutes will make you start new or place you ahead a few semesters...No idea.

I think our faculty and clinically practicing pharmacists may be better to address this if they were looking at an individual in your shoes.

@lord999 (faculty) and @KidPharmD (specialized clinical pharmacist) perhaps could be of some assistance?

 

[Rouelle]

In my opinion PharmD pharmacists have little, if any, advantage over experienced BSpharm pharmacists. Unless you’re planning on doing a residency or working in a “specialty” role (something other than standard retail or hospital roles), I would suggest testing out and not going back to school.

 

[lord999]

That’s an interesting question.

On one hand your a foreign student but the BS pharm has been done away with. Although if you pass the NAPLEX and MPJE, getting a job may be difficult initially due to your experiences being outside the U.S.

If your worried on passing and forgot certain aspects, I’d say get your pharmD through a program just to be competitive (saturated field here in the states). I don’t know if institutes will make you start new or place you ahead a few semesters...No idea.

I think our faculty and clinically practicing pharmacists may be better to address this if they were looking at an individual in your shoes.

@lord999 (faculty) and @KidPharmD (specialized clinical pharmacist) perhaps could be of some assistance?

There's no general advice I have, it's really dependent on where the initial degree is from and the personal circumstances having been an FPGEC transcript evaluator. From India, Pakistan, or Thailand, you might as well get the license and immediately go to graduate school. From the old dominion territories that use USP (Puerto Rico and the Philippines) and the British Commonwealth which use BP (ANZAC, ZA, IR, UK), language becomes something else, and it's case-by-case. From Canada with a BPharm from an English Language of Instruction university (so not Laval or Montreal), they probably have the same chances as a US BS Pharmacy degree which is grim for hospital right now as entering (experienced hospital can pull it off).

 

[KidPharmD]

I agree with @lord999 . I have noticed that places really aren't looking for just a Pharm.D. anymore. Either they are fine with a licensed body or are looking for something more (relevant experience, residency, or board certification). From our perspective you would probably fall out much like any newly licensed pharmacist would. If you are looking for hospital practice, I might suggest finishing your equivalency in time to apply to the 2020 residency match. A residency won't incur you any debt (unless it doesn't pay the bills) and will overshadow much of the differences between your degree and a foreign degree. Your residency chances are likely associated with where your degree is from. Somewhere with good clinical instruction will probably suffice. Somewhere with less of that probably won't.

You would need to talk to individual pharmacy schools about their process for integrating foreign graduates into their program. Look at public in state schools to reduce your debt burden.

Where is your degree from (it will help alot)?

 

[Modest_anteater]

Hello



I have a bachelor degree in pharmacy from a foreign country. Finished school 2012.

I am able to transfer my degree to US ( degree equivalency) by taking 4 tests FPGEE, Toefl, Naplex and MPJE+ internship. off course the degree will stay as bachelor.

I started my equivalency on 2015 the tests that are left to finish is NAPLEX, MPJE and internship.


one pro of finishing equivalency is that I won't end up with a student loan and I wont have to study everything again.
The bad thing about it is that my degree will still be bachelor, so my chances of getting a job will be less since employers will surely prefer pharmd and somebody who studied here over someone who studied outside US with bachelor degree.

another problem is that I am working FT technician, so studying naplex is very overwhelming, specially I feel like I forgot all the info I learned back in school. so by going to school, I will learn everything again which is good.



on the other hand, going to pharmacy will enable me to get pharmd and it might take less time to finish school. I think (not sure) I can use my degree transcript to skip taking some prerequisite...but I will end up with a student loan.


which path you think it is better to take? Pharmd school or finish my equivalency???money wise and employment wise



TIA

.​

The time of accepting foreigners in the US for pharmacy is over man. Do you realize how saturated the pharmacy market has become in the US and Canada?You missed the ship by twenty years. No one is going to hire someone that can't speak perfect English unless you can speak Spanish or Chinese. Better to study tech. and come here to program. You will not be hired here as a pharmD.

 

[steveysmith54]

I’d use your degree to study for MCAT and go to medical school.

 

[bittersugar600]

The time of accepting foreigners in the US for pharmacy is over man. Do you realize how saturated the pharmacy market has become in the US and Canada?You missed the ship by twenty years. No one is going to hire someone that can't speak perfect English unless you can speak Spanish or Chinese. Better to study tech. and come here to program. You will not be hired here as a pharmD. .

Here we go again with the bashing of immigrants based on their accent . You read what he wrote , did it seem to be from someone who does not have a good knowledge of spoken and written English?

 

[pharmBear]

Tough road.
1st off this phrase...
"specially I feel like I forgot all the info I learned back in school. so by going to school, I will learn everything again"

is a bit concerning if you are looking to bypass necessary education and taking care of patients health. "

2nd: as working as a pharm tech, do you still love the field, and do you see job opportunities based on where you want to live? I suggest closely monitoring job boards.

3rd: if you have the chance to NOT take on student debts and still reach your destination. That is a golden ticket.

4. Now i know of bachelor pharmacist doing a extension learning program for pharmd if interested.
Most importantly contact the specific hr or the company as inquired about the specific degree requirement.

Goodluck! I remember the dang naplex made me sick literally. I was sniffling and in a fog during that exam. Bad memories, sure glad I nailed it.