TestMagic

knok · 03-23-2008, 07:19 PM

Yeah!

You are right. Forget about earning dollars back home. Trade-off is huge. You lose several opportunities for coming here. Compared to ten years ago when US dollar value was strong, it is a different story from today.

1. Check US dollar value before you make a move if income is the only reason to start the FPGEE process. Seventy five percent of candidates will not get US pharmacy licenses in one year as I calculated in another thread. News broadcast that US economy is in recession. I don't know how long it is going to be. The next election in November will tell us more about what the economy will be. As far as I know, today, Euro dollar value is stronger than US dollar value.

Check this out:

Foreclosure: washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines

Recession: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/bu...html?th&emc=th

2. Working conditions in the US, especially in drugstores, are factors to think about. High prescription volume and medication errors occurring from speedy in filling prescriptions are problems of working in some chain drugstores. No bathroom, no lunch break, and standing all day are common here.

3. Acquiring licenses in another country, especially in the USA, is a lengthy process. You will loss economic opportunities during those years. Emotional distress, embarrassment because of not passing English exam, rigid rules and bureaucratic process of authority, including, NABP, state board of pharmacy, INS, H-1B process, and green card process always remain common among immigrants. In other words, no matter, how much you earn, what work you have done, you are the second class. This seems to be the most painful factor among others.

4. Cost of education is another factor. In many countries, you pay a little for undergraduate level. International students in the USA pay 3-4 times higher than US residents. In my opinion, I suggest a difference. I’d suggest all Americans who complain that they have to pay high tuitions for their pharmacy programs to study abroad where tuitions are cheaper and come back to take FPGEE in the US. I hope that all those students will pass all sections of TOEFL iBT in their first attempt. Why do you have to pay more when you can choose other options? We are in globalization era. You cannot stop people to mobilize. We find the best option ourselves. The system will be balanced out, eventually. It is called, “dynamic.”

Likewise, these phenomena happen to physicians on daily basis. When there are not enough schools to attend, many Americans go to study in medical schools in other countries and come back to take American board examination. The costs of airplanes tickets are cheap when compared to 20 years ago. Probably, tuitions and costs of living outside the country will help to reduce pressure and frustration of those candidates.

5. You will be away from your family members. According to immigration rules, you can’t move your whole extended family members here. You must teach your children yourself. Your children may have to be in daycare instead of being raised by your family environment. This is a big issue to deal with.

6. Enjoy your journey! I hope that coming to the USA brings you joy more than sorrow!

americandream · 03-23-2008, 11:41 PM

What are working conditions as a pharmacist in Canada like? I can't find much info about this...I guess it's pretty much like the US?

farmagenius · 03-23-2008, 11:49 PM

Hello everybody!
Helpful hints!

-

knok · 03-24-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmagenius

Hello everybody!
Helpful hints!

-

I don't get you.

farmagenius · 03-24-2008, 08:12 AM

Great facts to consider whether it is really worth trying to be a Licensed Pharmacist in the USA or UK.Or be a pharmacist of your own country and forget living in the first world countries which I think is very stressful and depressing.!

Got it knok? You are really a very knowledgeable person as I can see with all your posts. Very helpful. Are you a Licensed Pharmacist in the USA? Are you working as a RPh there?

-

knok · 03-24-2008, 09:21 PM

Farmagenius,

Thank you for your compliment. I have been here, in the US, to fulfill my advanced degrees. I happened to learn from professors who are knowledgeable about all these issues. I have Master of Business Administration and Master of Science/ Management Information System and went on to Speech Communication from U.S. accredited universities.

Even though I have Intern licenses in many states, I cannot move because of family obligation.

I did a lot of research about pharmacist shortage, pharmacy operation, and outsourcing. Medicare part D. seems to be a big issue that phases out pharmacy and medical industry.

I feel that operating management should be added to pharmacy program. I took this class long time ago since my second year of my pharmacy school. Then, when I came to USA, my professor told me that I had to retake all those business courses since they were taken over 8 years. Marketing Strategies and Operating Management have changed over time. I found that taking these classes in my business schools in recent years was useful.

I have strong feeling about how pharmacists have been put in unacceptable working conditions where speed is an issue. When medication errors occur, pharmacists are responsible for those errors.

I wish that every party come together to solve this problem.

Best wishes,

Knok

gordie · 03-25-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Even though I have Intern licenses in many states, I cannot move because of family obligation.
Knok

Knok:

I'm a bit confused, I've read some of your post and I know your experiences with TOEFLiBT especially the speaking part and also know that you still don't have FPGEC certificate, correct me if I'm wrong but, Is'nt that a requirement for most state for a foreign graduate to have an intern license?

knok · 03-25-2008, 06:57 PM

I passed FPGEE since June 2003. At that time, there were many states that did not require a FPGEC certificate to work as an Intern, including CA. FL required only 500 Internship hours and no FPGEC certificate at all. Many states do not require the FPGEC certificate. Some of them waived FPGEC certificate for foreign graduates so that they could sit for NAPLEX and receive pharmacy licenses. Later on, many people could not pass TSE or TOEFL iBT, they moved to those states. Right now, there are many states that do not require the FPGEC certificate to work as an an Intern but not as many as a couple of years back.

However, at the end, you must get this certificate to take NAPLEX. It is complicated. I know that many people are licensed as Pharmacists in other states but they cannot move because of family reason.

One of my friends moved to FL. He has greencard. I talked to him yesterday that he was so busy with his horrible work schedules that he decided to send his two children back home to study in my home country because he was not satisfied with quality of school near where he worked, which is located in remote area here. He sent his children to a better quality school in my home country and has his extended family members take care of his children.

knok · 03-25-2008, 09:23 PM

Actually, this friend is the one I discussed in another thread. He was offered $67 an hour to work in a remote area. He accepted the offer. Guess what?....

He could not withstand the working conditions of this big chain. He had almost gone crazy because of lousy working conditions and inappropriate trained coworkers. After a year of suffering, he decided to move back to work with his previous employer and still cannot sell the house that he just bought after moving to this town. The house market is bad. In a small town, it is hard to sell a house in this market situation. Now, he is living in a small apartment on his own with no kids and no family as his previously planned.

"Money means nothing."

He keeps complaining, "I am not sure I made a right decision to come here. After a lengthy process of getting my license and processing all these documents for migration. This is what I get. I owned a drugstore and worked as an executive in one of the best hospitals in my home country. Now, what? I have no family here. Let's see how long I can survive all this. "

gordie · 03-26-2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knok

I passed FPGEE since June 2003. At that time, there were many states that did not require a FPGEC certificate to work as an Intern, including CA. FL required only 500 Internship hours and no FPGEC certificate at all. Many states do not require the FPGEC certificate. Some of them waived FPGEC certificate for foreign graduates so that they could sit for NAPLEX and receive pharmacy licenses. Later on, many people could not pass TSE or TOEFL iBT, they moved to those states. Right now, there are many states that do not require the FPGEC certificate to work as an an Intern but not as many as a couple of years back.

However, at the end, you must get this certificate to take NAPLEX. It is complicated. I know that many people are licensed as Pharmacists in other states but they cannot move because of family reason.

One of my friends moved to FL. He has greencard. I talked to him yesterday that he was so busy with his horrible work schedules that he decided to send his two children back home to study in my home country because he was not satisfied with quality of school near where he worked, which is located in remote area here. He sent his children to a better quality school in my home country and has his extended family members take care of his children.

But you still can not take Naplex in any state you were previously an intern? Right? And for what reason, not having an FPGEC certificate because of not having completed the requirement for certification.

What happens to your intern licenses? I know it's good for 2 years and have a chance to renew it but you can not forever be an intern. I know some state that will give only one chance to renew the intern license and complete the requirement to be eligible for Naplex and pass it within that period otherwise, the intern license can not be renewed anymore.
You will need to reaaply again once your requirement is complete.

One more thing, rules are changing in most state. I know somebody who is a foreign graduate, already working as a pharmacist in New York but since the rules and regulation of New York Board of Pharmacy has changed as a foreign graduate his pharmacist licensed was stopped and has to take the process of being accepted to sit for FPGEE, the whole 9 yards and when he completed the requirements he was able to get back his pharmacist licensed.

03-23-2008, 07:19 PM	#21 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	Yeah! You are right. Forget about earning dollars back home. Trade-off is huge. You lose several opportunities for coming here. Compared to ten years ago when US dollar value was strong, it is a different story from today. 1. Check US dollar value before you make a move if income is the only reason to start the FPGEE process. Seventy five percent of candidates will not get US pharmacy licenses in one year as I calculated in another thread. News broadcast that US economy is in recession. I don't know how long it is going to be. The next election in November will tell us more about what the economy will be. As far as I know, today, Euro dollar value is stronger than US dollar value. Check this out: Foreclosure: washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines Recession: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/bu...html?th&emc=th 2. Working conditions in the US, especially in drugstores, are factors to think about. High prescription volume and medication errors occurring from speedy in filling prescriptions are problems of working in some chain drugstores. No bathroom, no lunch break, and standing all day are common here. 3. Acquiring licenses in another country, especially in the USA, is a lengthy process. You will loss economic opportunities during those years. Emotional distress, embarrassment because of not passing English exam, rigid rules and bureaucratic process of authority, including, NABP, state board of pharmacy, INS, H-1B process, and green card process always remain common among immigrants. In other words, no matter, how much you earn, what work you have done, you are the second class. This seems to be the most painful factor among others. 4. Cost of education is another factor. In many countries, you pay a little for undergraduate level. International students in the USA pay 3-4 times higher than US residents. In my opinion, I suggest a difference. I’d suggest all Americans who complain that they have to pay high tuitions for their pharmacy programs to study abroad where tuitions are cheaper and come back to take FPGEE in the US. I hope that all those students will pass all sections of TOEFL iBT in their first attempt. Why do you have to pay more when you can choose other options? We are in globalization era. You cannot stop people to mobilize. We find the best option ourselves. The system will be balanced out, eventually. It is called, “dynamic.” Likewise, these phenomena happen to physicians on daily basis. When there are not enough schools to attend, many Americans go to study in medical schools in other countries and come back to take American board examination. The costs of airplanes tickets are cheap when compared to 20 years ago. Probably, tuitions and costs of living outside the country will help to reduce pressure and frustration of those candidates. 5. You will be away from your family members. According to immigration rules, you can’t move your whole extended family members here. You must teach your children yourself. Your children may have to be in daycare instead of being raised by your family environment. This is a big issue to deal with. 6. Enjoy your journey! I hope that coming to the USA brings you joy more than sorrow! _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do." Last edited by knok : 03-24-2008 at 01:36 AM.

03-23-2008, 11:41 PM	#22 (permalink)
americandream Eager! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 31	What are working conditions as a pharmacist in Canada like? I can't find much info about this...I guess it's pretty much like the US? Last edited by knok : 03-24-2008 at 01:33 AM.

03-23-2008, 11:49 PM	#23 (permalink)
farmagenius Eager! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 31	Hello everybody! Helpful hints! - Last edited by knok : 03-24-2008 at 01:33 AM.

03-24-2008, 08:12 AM	#25 (permalink)
farmagenius Eager! Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 31	Great facts to consider whether it is really worth trying to be a Licensed Pharmacist in the USA or UK.Or be a pharmacist of your own country and forget living in the first world countries which I think is very stressful and depressing.! Got it knok? You are really a very knowledgeable person as I can see with all your posts. Very helpful. Are you a Licensed Pharmacist in the USA? Are you working as a RPh there? - Last edited by knok : 03-24-2008 at 09:03 PM. Reason: Indent between paragraphs

03-24-2008, 09:21 PM	#26 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	Farmagenius, Thank you for your compliment. I have been here, in the US, to fulfill my advanced degrees. I happened to learn from professors who are knowledgeable about all these issues. I have Master of Business Administration and Master of Science/ Management Information System and went on to Speech Communication from U.S. accredited universities. Even though I have Intern licenses in many states, I cannot move because of family obligation. I did a lot of research about pharmacist shortage, pharmacy operation, and outsourcing. Medicare part D. seems to be a big issue that phases out pharmacy and medical industry. I feel that operating management should be added to pharmacy program. I took this class long time ago since my second year of my pharmacy school. Then, when I came to USA, my professor told me that I had to retake all those business courses since they were taken over 8 years. Marketing Strategies and Operating Management have changed over time. I found that taking these classes in my business schools in recent years was useful. I have strong feeling about how pharmacists have been put in unacceptable working conditions where speed is an issue. When medication errors occur, pharmacists are responsible for those errors. I wish that every party come together to solve this problem. Best wishes, Knok _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do." Last edited by knok : 03-25-2008 at 01:02 AM.

03-25-2008, 06:57 PM	#28 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	I passed FPGEE since June 2003. At that time, there were many states that did not require a FPGEC certificate to work as an Intern, including CA. FL required only 500 Internship hours and no FPGEC certificate at all. Many states do not require the FPGEC certificate. Some of them waived FPGEC certificate for foreign graduates so that they could sit for NAPLEX and receive pharmacy licenses. Later on, many people could not pass TSE or TOEFL iBT, they moved to those states. Right now, there are many states that do not require the FPGEC certificate to work as an an Intern but not as many as a couple of years back. However, at the end, you must get this certificate to take NAPLEX. It is complicated. I know that many people are licensed as Pharmacists in other states but they cannot move because of family reason. One of my friends moved to FL. He has greencard. I talked to him yesterday that he was so busy with his horrible work schedules that he decided to send his two children back home to study in my home country because he was not satisfied with quality of school near where he worked, which is located in remote area here. He sent his children to a better quality school in my home country and has his extended family members take care of his children. _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do." Last edited by knok : 03-25-2008 at 08:23 PM.

03-25-2008, 09:23 PM	#29 (permalink)
knok TestMagic Guru Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,045	Actually, this friend is the one I discussed in another thread. He was offered $67 an hour to work in a remote area. He accepted the offer. Guess what?.... He could not withstand the working conditions of this big chain. He had almost gone crazy because of lousy working conditions and inappropriate trained coworkers. After a year of suffering, he decided to move back to work with his previous employer and still cannot sell the house that he just bought after moving to this town. The house market is bad. In a small town, it is hard to sell a house in this market situation. Now, he is living in a small apartment on his own with no kids and no family as his previously planned. "Money means nothing." He keeps complaining, "I am not sure I made a right decision to come here. After a lengthy process of getting my license and processing all these documents for migration. This is what I get. I owned a drugstore and worked as an executive in one of the best hospitals in my home country. Now, what? I have no family here. Let's see how long I can survive all this. " _ _ _ _ SIG _ _ _ _ "Every reason that tells you that things will never change disappears." "I did what I had to do because it is the right thing to do."

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

TestMagic

Free GMAT, GRE, SAT Test, TOEFL practice tests