Recipe7

As it stands, in order to sit for the FPGEE you must be licensed to practice pharmacy in the country you earned your degree. If there is any concern, you must reach out to NABP regarding your specific situation.

That I can’t help you with unfortunately, i have no personal experience with visas.

To be eligible for the FPGEE you need to have completed a 5 year course, which is pretty much the 4 year BS and the 1 year clinical course. The only other option is to re-enroll in a pharmacy program in the US for the 2-3 year course for foreign graduates. There is no extra 1 year course to take in the US to make make the missing clinical year.

Jasmin posted a thread about a very similar situation she is involved in. Check it out here: http://www.www.urch.com/forums/fpgee/157935-licensure-requirment-us-citizens.html

I'm sorry for your predicament, Jasmin. You are not the only one in this situation, I assure you. There is a path to take, it will just take a very large amount of diligence and effort. I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Hi Jasmin. Here is what happened to me: I am a US born citizen and decided to go to the Philippines for pharmacy school. This was in 2006. Fast forward to 2010, I graduated with a BS in Pharmacy. I took up a 5th year for Clinical Pharmacy and finished 2011 in May. I did not take the board exam because I believed I did not need a license, just a degree. So I flew back to California and applied for the FPGEE exam. I was denied because I needed a "license to practice pharmacy in the country where I earned my degree". This was in the beginning of November 2011. In my case, I am a Philippine citizen as well. I flew back to the Philippines December 2011 and took the Philippine Pharmacy Licensure Exam in January 2012. I flew back to California, reapplied, and got the ok from the governing bodies to take the FPGEE on November 2012. That is my story. In regards to not being able to take the exam because you are not a citizen of the country where you got your degree seems to be a "Catch 22" situation. I had a classmate who was not a Philippine citizen and finished the same time I did. I lost contact with her and I am not sure what she has done about it. Last I heard she wanted some sort of affidavit from the government/board of pharmacy saying she should be exempt... but only the FPGEC can deem you exempt or not. The best recourse is to petition to be able to take the board exam in the country you got your degree even if you aren't a citizen. My information, however, is dated by about 5 years or so. It's best to call the FPGEC for a solid answer.

I'm not too sure about that, sorry.

http://i.imgur.com/AgdNBPx.jpg http://i.imgur.com/gwGoB2Y.jpg

That's correct.

I'm not too familiar with visas unfortunately, so I can't comment there. Regarding the exams and process: FPGEE is given every April and November. To be eligible you have to pass the requirements of the ECE and NABP. ECE evaluates your transcripts and related documents. Once ECE oks you, they will inform NABP that you are eligible and NABP will give you a date to take the exam. Upon passing the FPGEE, you will have to intern/volunteer as an intern at a pharmacy for 1500 documented hours. After which you will take the national and, depending on which state, the state law exam. I graduated from USC May 2011, passed the Philippine board January 2012, passed the TOEFL June 2012, passed the FPGEE November 2012, interned, passed National and State exams August 2014. A 3 year process for me.

Congrats to everyone who passed. What is the next step now? The waiting game for the certificate? Do we have anything else to submit to the FPGEC?

Thank you for your replies Shaila and (again) jojo! Was there a reason you only obtained only the management and calculation by mannon shroff? What about his other reviewers? There seems to be a lot by him and the amount of material seems quite drastic.

You're welcome!

Please let me know exactly what you have for sale. I am interested in the apha, cpr, and mannon shroff books in particular.

The program is actually 1.5 years; it is 2 full semesters and a summer internship at PGH in Malate. The tuition for the whole program is around 60k pesos, give or take a few thousand. However, this depends on the amount of students enrolled. The more students enrolled, the less the tuition, and vice versa. This does not include the expenses for the internship in Malate, as well as in Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu during the 2nd semester. During my time, there were about 25+ who enrolled.

Thanks for your reply jojo. So those two books were your only supplements for the FPGEE? Were there any other review materials you used? Did you attend a review class?

I'm glad I found this thread! I am a graduate from University of San Carlos. I graduated BS Pharmacy in 2010 and BS Clinical Pharmacy in 2011. I went back to the states (I am originally from California) in July of 2011 and applied for the FPGEE. The ECE confirmed my TOR and the FPGEC accepted it as well. However, there was one problem: I was not licensed in the Philippines. They told me I can't sit for the FPGEE unless I am licensed from the country where I got my degree. So this past December I had to fly back here to Cebu and take the Pharmacy Board Exam. This was this past Sunday and Monday. Thanks to the Lord, I passed. Now I am going back to California and submitting my last requirement. For those interested in BS Clinical Pharmacy (the 5th year) It is only offered (usually) every other year. So this year there is no 5th year program (Due to the fact that there needs to be at least 20 students for the program to run). Those who are in the Philippines and would like to take a 5th year program, San Carlos will probably offer the program this June 2012. However, it really depends on how many are willing to enroll. I will stick around in this thread and answer any questions anyone might have wherein my knowledge will be applicable =).

What books should I purchase? I know this is a very general question, but I would like the input of those who have previously taken the exam, or those who have done a lot of research in regards to what are the most valuable review materials. What I am thinking is the APhA and the CPR. The Mannan Shroff is a consideration, but the set is very expensive. Anyone's input is greatly appreciated. :panda:

Hello epharmacist. I would appreciate if you could send me those notes as well, they would be of great help! I truly appreciate your generosity.

I will be calling NABP in due time, anacleto. It's always good to be 100% sure. As for the Filipino who was in the same situation, I believe this may be the thread. http://www.www.urch.com/forums/pharmacy-forum/78980-am-i-us-citizen-eligible-fpgec-if-i-graduated-philippines.html It seems that the thread was not updated by her, nor has she been active with her account, it's been quite some time. I sent her a private message, I hope she still uses her e-mail account which is registered for this message board. *Crosses fingers*

Bryan, thanks again for your commitment to my thread. Now I thoroughly understand what you and anacleto are explaining now. Thanks for your inputs, I have a good idea of where I stand now, and what I have to do in the near future. I will keep you all in mind when I come up with more questions that pertain to my situation. Thank you again, guys. Much appreciated!

I don't exactly understand what you mean by that. What license/registration would I be submitting to them in this case? Thanks for your reply anacleto :)

Bryan, In this guideline for applying for the FPGEE ( FPGEE Documentation guidelines | Pharmainfo.net ), it states that: Step 2 Communicating with the FPGEC After ECE evaluation, submit following documents to NABP (FPGEC) Documents required Official Transcripts Detailed information of subjects you studied(0ptional) / Courses you completed with marks/grades issued by your principal or from university in an envelope sealed by the appropriate issuing body. ( Usually all the years subjects & marks they compile together and give it to you in a sealed envelope) *Proof of Degree : Photocopy ofOfficial proof of pharmacy degree (convocation/degree certificate) must be signed/certified by principal of college where you graduated indicating date of degree awarded in writing in an envelope sealed by the same issuing official. *Proof of Licence : Photocopy oflicense and/or registration certificate must be unrestricted and certified by the appropriate government official of the jurisdiction issuing the license in an envelope sealed by the same issuing official. It seems that they want a proof of license even if I am not capable of taking the exam in the first place. I don't want to doubt your expertise Bryan, but I can't help but ignore this source. Is it still the case that I don't need a license from the foreign country according to you? Thanks again Bryan, your time is much appreciated.

Thanks for your replies you Bryan and Monika. Thanks for enlightening me. I forgot to mention my question regarding the license. I understand throw the procedure that one must submit their license from the country of the obtained degree. I won't be able to do so since I am not a citizen of said country, so therefore will not even be able to sit for the licensure examination. Will I still be entertained by the FPGEC without a license, just a 5 year degree?

I will be obtaining my B.S. in Pharmacy from a foreign country in a short time. Soon after I will continue with the 5th year, in the meantime applying for the FPGEE. I am also a U.S. Citizen, but not a Philippine citizen (country where I am obtaining my degree). My question is, What is the current guidelines for foreign applicants for the FPGEE who are originally U.S. citizens but not a citizen of the country where the degree was obtained? Is there an alternate method of applying since I'm not capable of obtaining a license as of now? Another question: Do I have to take the TOEFL? PS: I did thorough searching for my answers, but didn't find what I needed. I'm sorry if I sound like a newbie.