UK pharmacist wanting to work in america

[RRudling]

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Hi all,

Looking for some advice. My husband and I are seriously considering moving to America probably Florida. I am wanting to know if anyone has done this move?

I have been qualified for 10 years now and have lots of hospital pharmacy experience. I understand there are a few exams that need to be completed but other than that I have no clue and am finding it difficult to find any helpful information.

Thanks

Ruth

 

[rxkrafted]

Seriously reconsider... Research the pharmacy job market right now and re-evaluate your decision. Your application will probably fall behind those with experience in the U.S. and behind residency-trained pharmacists.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

It's pretty difficult for Americans to get jobs in desirable places like Florida and California. I'm not sure you'll be able to find someone to sponsor a visa when they have hundreds of applicants for each job positing. Good luck, though.

 

[mentos]

Florida is one of the hardest places for Americans to get a job, much less foreign pharmacists.

 

[right500]

Coming from the UK helps because you *obviously* speak the lingua franca of the US and even if we are complaining about pay cuts it is more than the NHS pays. Finding a visa sponsor will be difficult but companies with UK operations (Boots and Walgreens are the same company now) would be good places to start. Drug names are different in the US and Canada compared to the UK (USAN vs, INN conventions) and the law exam will likely be more difficult than the clinical exam for you. Perhaps someone here knows a comprehensive source for Federal drug law to recommend.

Licensing info (each state is distinct): State Licensing Requirements for Pharmacists
Continuing education: Pharmacy State CE Requirements | Continuing Education

 

[steveysmith54]

Why?

10 years post graduation, you're going to need to study at least several months to pass two exams. You're going to need to earn intern hours. Then face difficulties landing a job.

Why?

 

[Hels2007]

I have been qualified for 10 years now and have lots of hospital pharmacy experience. I understand there are a few exams that need to be completed but other than that I have no clue and am finding it difficult to find any helpful information.

You need to go to each state's Board of Pharmacy to see what their specific requirements are for licensing foreign pharmacists. It will vary, although in general you can expect to do some intern hours (about six months, give or take), at least two exams, and all kinds of bureaucratic paperwork and going around.

Your 10 years of ex-US experience aren't worth much. Once you get licensed, you will be in the same boat as all the other newly minted pharmacists, except without the alumni network.

 

[BidingMyTime]

First things first. And there are 3 tests you will have to pass. You need to go here FPGEC | National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to learn if your schooling is eligible for transfer to the US, and then what you will need to do to apply for the FPGEE.

First, you will have to take the TOEFL, there are no exceptions, even if you are from a country where your native language is English. Many people say TOEFL is the hardest test to pass, although it will obviously be easier for you since your native language is English.

Most likely your education from England will qualify you to take the FPGEE (the licensing test for foreign pharmacists.) Possibly not if you had graduated years ago when only a Bachelor's was required. This exam is usually the easiest of the 3 exams.

Actually, I think you can take the above tests in any order, but you have to pass them both to be eligible for licensure.

After passing the FPGEE, *then* you will need to contact the state board of Florida or whatever state you want to work in, and take their law exam. This exam is usually tougher than the FPGEE, but easier than the TOEFL.

BUT, your real issue will be getting a work visa. It will probably be easier to become a permanent resident, then to get a work visa. Pretty much nobody sponsors work visa's for pharmacists, and the few that are sponsored, have been sponsored for many years, or are being sponsored in jobs which nobody in the US will touch.

So do not count on getting a work visa, it won't happen. But assuming you do get licensed and become a permanent resident so you can work, then the next hurdle will be getting a job. As mentioned, Florida is a state of high saturation, it will probably take quite some time to find a job, and your first job will probably be part-time.

 

[Emmet2301]

It's probably easier to find work in a pharmaceutical company or something outside of being a pharmacist but using that knowledge.

 

[Lubeckd]

Why not try Eu? First? Australia? New Zealand?

 

[Hels2007]

It's probably easier to find work in a pharmaceutical company or something outside of being a pharmacist but using that knowledge.

I wouldn't count on it. Most US-based positions won't be interested in someone with neither US healthcare system experience nor pharma work experience. There may be a position eventually, but it will be at least as difficult to get as a pharmacy practice position. I know of a couple of European pharmacists who were looking for pharma jobs in the US... even though they had worked for pharmaceutical companies in Europe, it still took them a couple years to land a position, and it was often not in the functional area of their preference. An agency job may be easier to get... but it won't be a sure thing either.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Why not try Eu? First? Australia? New Zealand?

Assumption is because her husband wants to move to Florida.

 

[Cyto_3A4]

I'm curious as to how pharmacy is in the UK and Europe. How is the pay? I'd love to live there but I don't know if I could deal with the European government systems, though if the US continues its leftward plunge I might as well head over.

 

[Hels2007]

I'm curious as to how pharmacy is in the UK and Europe. How is the pay? I'd love to live there but I don't know if I could deal with the European government systems, though if the US continues its leftward plunge I might as well head over.

You do realize that "Europe" is more than 40 different countries with vastly different laws, healthcare systems, cost of living, etc.? Not to mention languages?

 

[Emmet2301]

I'm curious as to how pharmacy is in the UK and Europe. How is the pay? I'd love to live there but I don't know if I could deal with the European government systems, though if the US continues its leftward plunge I might as well head over.

What do you mean? The US is pretty conservative as compared to Europe.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I'm curious as to how pharmacy is in the UK and Europe. How is the pay? I'd love to live there but I don't know if I could deal with the European government systems, though if the US continues its leftward plunge I might as well head over.

I really hope you aren't planning on going to Europe to run from a country that is going to far to the left for your liking. The US is among the most right winged counties in the Western world.

 

[Cyto_3A4]

I really hope you aren't planning on going to Europe to run from a country that is going to far to the left for your liking. The US is among the most right winged counties in the Western world.

I know. I’m just saying in the future if we end up becoming Europe with today’s progressive trends I might as well live there. Aside from politics I think it would be a great part of the world to live in.

 

[Cyto_3A4]

You do realize that "Europe" is more than 40 different countries with vastly different laws, healthcare systems, cost of living, etc.? Not to mention languages?

Yes but for the purpose of this discussion I’d say most of Western Europe is similar enough.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Yes but for the purpose of this discussion I’d say most of Western Europe is similar enough.

Sounds like your knowledge of geography is even less than mine! (and mine is pretty low!) But even I know there is a HUGE difference between the UK and Germany and Albania and Poland.

If I were going to pick a European country, it would be Austria. Aren't they like the chocolate headquarters of Europe or something? Plus I liked the movie Sound of Music, and I'm sure the entire country of Austria is just like that.

 

[thumbz]

Sounds like your knowledge of geography is even less than mine! (and mine is pretty low!) But even I know there is a HUGE difference between the UK and Germany and Albania and Poland.

If I were going to pick a European country, it would be Austria. Aren't they like the chocolate headquarters of Europe or something? Plus I liked the movie Sound of Music, and I'm sure the entire country of Austria is just like that.

I also choose to believe there are shrines to Schwarzenegger and Herman Maier everywhere, and if you don't know the latter I encourage everyone to watch this 42 second video.

 

[spacecowgirl]

Ugh, Florida. A nice place to visit wouldn't want to live there.

 

[braineddetermined]

I’m curious if the big chains still sponsor foreign pharmacists for their intern license? Otherwise they’ll be “stuck” with the all process. No internship no unrestricted license.

 

[Hels2007]

Within the last couple months I met a guy who was a pharmacist in one of the Arab countries who was working as an intern at Walgreens hoping to get his pharmacist license... don't know whether he was hired as any other tech/intern would have been or if the chain sponsored him.

 

[Hedgehog32]

The hospital network I used to work as an intern at has some sort of arrangement with the Saudi Arabian government, whereby the SA gov't. pays for their citizens to attend pharmacy school here in the US, and then they actually pay the hospital network to allow the Saudi citizens (usually a handful of 4-5) to complete their residencies with the hospital network.