Yes i do beleive that you can start your internship before receiving your FPGEC, however i would confirm that with a simple email question with California board of pharmacy, they take 3 days and reply to your email, their email can be easily found on their website, just Google the phrase "California board of pharmacy" and then under contact us, chose the email pharmacy interns, and now specific to your second question, it really depends on how lucky you are and how financially stable you are, some companies don't pay their inters like the independent company, will offer internship without payment, they'll use you in order to provide you with the hours you need, other professional companies will not accept you just because they have to pay you $ 40 an hour, they would rather hire a pharmacist instead. so i would go to all the chain pharmacy companies out there, and sign up for every one of them, and by the time any one respond to you am sure your FPGEC will be with you. i wish you all the luck, if you have any more questions ask me and i will try to help.