Pharmacist with bachelors from outside USA

Started by lsexie
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

lsexie

Pharmacist
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I am asking for a friend who is a pharmacist in Nigeria and has a bachelors in Pharmacy. She is looking to move here, so i got curious as to what the process is and how long it will take for her to start working as a pharmacist here in US. Will she have to go back to pharmacy school here or can she just do a couple classes and exams? thanks in advance!
 
She needs to be licensed in her home country.

Her degree needs to have been at least 5 years before she allowed to practice (this can be a sticking point.)

After that, she would need to go through the process of getting the FPGEC certificate, then sitting for the FPGEE. You have to take the TOEFL English test even if it's your first language. The FPGEE is only sat twice a year IIRC.

After that you have to get an intern license, and depending on the state your going to practice in around 1500 practice hours. (Less in some states, depending on FPGEE score.) Often you cannot get hired as an intern and end up having to volunteer for those hours.

After you have those hours you have to sit for the NAPLEX.

The whole process can take upwards of two years. If your BPharm wasn't a five year degree you could have to go back to pharmacy school. Usually one of the accelerated 3 year programs is best for that. Then you can get your intern hours while going to school, mostly. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that people, not totally sure.) In the end the biggest difference would be the pile of debt you'd wrack up, and the ability to get residencies easier.