How to Become a Licensed Pharmacist in the USA if You Graduated From a Foreign Country

Confirm that you need FPGEC certification

If your primary pharmacy degree is from a recognized school outside the US and not from a US entry-level ACPE-accredited pharmacy program, you are generally treated as a foreign pharmacy graduate for this pathway.

FPGEC certification is required before most foreign pharmacy graduates can apply for pharmacy licensure in the United States and most US territories.

Start with the main FPGEE page and the FPGEE exam info page so you understand the certification process before working on state licensure steps.

Create your NABP e-Profile and review your eligibility

NABP requires FPGEC candidates to have an e-Profile. This is where your application status, exam eligibility, and later certification information are managed.

• Create or confirm your NABP e-Profile.
• Read the FPGEC bulletin carefully before submitting anything.
• Check education-length requirements for your graduation year.
• Make sure your pharmacy school and license/registration documents will meet the application rules.

Pass the TOEFL iBT

NABP states that the TOEFL iBT is the only English-language exam accepted for FPGEC candidates, and it must be completed before application evaluation can begin.

• All four sections must come from one test session.
• Scores must be sent directly to FPGEC by ETS.
• Name and identifying information must match your NABP records exactly.
• The at-home TOEFL iBT is not accepted for FPGEC.

Here you will find more info on TOEFL IBT

Submit your FPGEC application and required documentation

The next major step is the FPGEC certification application. This includes the application itself plus required credential and licensure documentation.

• Submit your FPGEC application through NABP.
• Arrange the required degree and credential documents.
• Submit foreign license and/or registration documents if required.
• Make sure any non-English documents are translated correctly.

Keep this page focused on the flow. Your detailed prep and exam details should still live on the main FPGEE page and FPGEE exam info page.

Become eligible for and pass the FPGEE

Once your FPGEC application is accepted, you can register for the FPGEE. NABP says the FPGEE is offered once per year in the continental US, uses a computerized format, has 200 questions, and a scaled passing score of 75.

• Watch your NABP e-Profile for acceptance and registration eligibility.
• Register, receive your ATT, then receive your FPGEE Identification Card (FIC).
• Schedule your appointment at Pearson VUE.
• Bring your FIC and matching ID on exam day.

For dedicated details on registration, ID rules, and exam day, link users back to FPGEE Exam Info.

Receive FPGEC certification

After you meet the FPGEC requirements, your proof of certification appears in your NABP e-Profile. This is the milestone that usually makes you eligible to move into state-level pharmacist licensure steps.

This is a big milestone, but it is not the same as being licensed to practice as a pharmacist. Your actual pharmacist license comes from the state board where you want to practice.

Choose your target state and apply for intern or examination eligibility

After FPGEC certification, the most important practical decision is where you want to practice. Each state board sets its own rules for intern registration, practical experience, application timing, and examination eligibility.

• Pick the state where you want to become licensed.
• Read that board’s pharmacist licensure rules carefully.
• Confirm whether you must register as an intern first.
• Confirm how many internship or practical-experience hours are required.
• Check whether the state wants hours completed before exam approval, after certification, or under specific supervision rules.

Internship requirements vary by state, so this page should guide students to the board rather than try to list every state rule in one place.

Complete internship or practical-experience hours required by your state

This is where many foreign graduates slow down, because internship rules depend heavily on the jurisdiction. Some states have very specific hour totals, supervision rules, paperwork, and deadlines.

The right message for students is simple: your internship hours depend on the state where you want to practice. Choose that state early and follow its board instructions carefully.

Pass the NAPLEX

NABP states that the NAPLEX is one component of pharmacist licensure and is also taken by foreign-educated pharmacists who have earned FPGEC certification.

• Apply for exam eligibility through the state/NABP process.
• Submit transcripts or other required records if your board requires them.
• Purchase the exam and receive your ATT.
• Take and pass the NAPLEX.

Pass the state law exam: MPJE, UMPJE, or a state-specific law exam

Many states require a pharmacy law exam as part of original licensure, but not every state uses the same pathway. As of April 1, 2026, NABP says most states still require the MPJE, while several have started transitioning to the UMPJE, and a few jurisdictions use their own jurisprudence exam.

• Check whether your target state uses the MPJE, UMPJE, or its own law exam.
• Do not assume another state uses the same law exam.
• If you change states, re-check the law-exam requirement before applying.

Use the support pages: Which States Require the MPJE or UMPJE and MPJE vs UMPJE.

Complete the state board’s final licensure requirements

After passing the required exams and completing internship hours, the final licensure step is handled by the board of pharmacy in your target state.

• Submit final pharmacist licensure forms and fees.
• Complete any background check or fingerprint requirement.
• Confirm the board has your exam results and practical-experience record.
• Wait for license issuance from that state.

Once the board issues your license, you can practice as a licensed pharmacist in that jurisdiction.