WorldWide HealthStaff Associates Ltd. - European Licensed Pharmacist

European Licensed Pharmacist
Your Options in the United States

Achieving Pharmacy Licensure

To become licensed as a pharmacist in the United States, you must meet the requirements of the State in which you are seeking licensure. While requirements vary from State to State there are similarities with the licensure process generally consisting of three required elements.

Step 1 - Evaluation

The evaluation process is intended to confirm that each candidate has met the U.S. standard for educational preparation.

Candidates must be a graduate of a four year pharmacy program of study from an accepted, non-United States pharmacy school. Effective January 1, 2003, candidates will have to be graduates of a five year pharmacy program.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes the World Directory of Schools of Pharmacy. This publication lists all acceptable non-U.S. schools.

In most States, the evaluation process consists of three parts:

Step 2 - Internship

All state boards of pharmacy require candidates to complete an internship or externship before licensure. The practice experience usually consists of 1,500 hours.

It is important to note that internship experience completed outside of the U.S. may not meet a State’s internship requirements. Further, any internship or professional practice started before taking and passing the TOEFL, TSE and FPGEE exams will not be accepted as part of the internship requirement in some States.

Step 3 - Examination

The examination process generally includes the following exams:

a) North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)

c) A Practical Exam administered by the State Board of Pharmacy