Please read the FPGEC Candidate Application Bulletin thoroughly to ensure that you understand all the policies
and procedures for taking your examination. This bulletin contains information for all FPGEC applications and
scheduling of all FPGEE appointments beginning January 1, 2020, as well as open applications submitted
before January 1, 2020.
FPGEE
FPGEC
®
®
™
Includes instructions for applying to take the
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee
Candidate Application Bulletin
Certication
ii
©2020 by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the Executive Director/Secretary of the National
Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The items “National Association of Boards of Pharmacy,” “NABP,” “Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination
Committee,” “FPGEC,” “Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination,” “FPGEE,” and “Pre-FPGEE” are trademarks of the National Association
of Boards of Pharmacy. Violation of the copyright will lead to prosecution under federal copyright laws.
052020
Copyright 2020
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee
1600 Feehanville Drive
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
USA
847/391-4406
www.nabp.pharmacy
Lemrey “Al” Carter, PharmD, MS, RPh
Executive Director/Secretary
Mission Statement of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
NABP is the independent, international, and impartial Association that assists its member boards and
jurisdictions for the purpose of protecting the public health.
Vision Statement
Innovating and collaborating today for a safer public health tomorrow.
FPGEC
®
Candidate Application Bulletin
The policies and procedures specied in the FPGEC Application Bulletin are subject to change without notice.
iii
Table of Contents
Essential Information .............................................................................................................1
About the FPGEC ....................................................................................................................6
The FPGEC ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Denition of a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate .................................................................................. 6
FPGEC Certication ........................................................................................................................ 6
Qualications for the FPGEC Certication Program .................................................................... 7
TOEFL iBT Requirements ............................................................................................................... 7
Contact Information ....................................................................................................................... 9
Your FPGEC and ECE Application ..........................................................................................12
General Information...................................................................................................................... 12
FPGEC Application and Fees ....................................................................................................... 13
FPGEC Application Withdrawals and Refunds ........................................................................... 17
ECE Application and General Evaluation Report......................................................................... 17
Pharmacist Credentials .......................................................................................................18
Submitting Ocial Supporting Documentation .......................................................................... 18
Submitting Transcripts and Degree Documentation Through ECE ........................................... 18
Ocial Proof of Licensure and/or Registration .......................................................................... 19
Submitting Additional Supporting Documentation ................................................................... 20
General Information ..............................................................................................................22
Closed and Expired Applications ................................................................................................. 22
Testing Accommodations ............................................................................................................ 22
Scheduling for Testing Accommodations .................................................................................. 22
FPGEE Information ...............................................................................................................23
FPGEE Overview .......................................................................................................................... 23
Testing Administration ................................................................................................................ 23
Registering for the FPGEE ............................................................................................................ 23
Authorization to Test From Pearson VUE ................................................................................... 24
Scheduling Your Examination Appointment ............................................................................... 24
Canceling/Failing to Attend Your Examination Appointment .................................................... 24
FPGEE Competency Statements ................................................................................................. 26
FPGEE Sample Questions ............................................................................................................ 29
FPGEE Administration ..........................................................................................................32
On the Day of the Examination .................................................................................................... 32
Examination Administration ........................................................................................................ 33
Break Information ......................................................................................................................... 34
Identication Requirements ........................................................................................................ 34
Acceptable Forms of Photo Identication .................................................................................. 34
iv
Table of Contents (cont.)
Name Changes ............................................................................................................................. 35
Test Center Restrictions ............................................................................................................... 35
What to Do in Case of Inclement Weather .................................................................................. 36
If Your Computer Experiences Technical Diculties ................................................................. 37
Security Measures ........................................................................................................................ 37
Misconduct ................................................................................................................................... 37
Notication to Authorities ............................................................................................................ 39
Atypical Testing Circumstances .................................................................................................. 39
FPGEE Score Withholding, Cancellation, or Invalidation ............................................................ 39
Re-take Policy ............................................................................................................................... 40
Score Results .......................................................................................................................41
Your FPGEE Score Results ........................................................................................................... 41
FPGEE Rescore ............................................................................................................................. 41
1
Essential Information
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee™ (FPGEC
®
) Certication is required for
foreign-educated pharmacists seeking to apply for the pharmacy licensing exams (including the North
American Pharmacist Licensure Examination
®
(NAPLEX
®
) and Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence
Examination
®
(MPJE
®
)) in the United States and NABP member jurisdictions. To obtain FPGEC
Certication, a candidate must have their required documentation and application accepted, including
a passing score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT), and
pass the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination
®
(FPGEE
®
). The information below is
provided to guide you through the key steps in applying for FPGEC Certication, including instructions
for registering to take the FPGEE. It answers the most frequently asked questions about the FPGEC
application process. Please read this information carefully and refer to the appropriate sections of this
Application Bulletin for detailed information. If you have additional questions that are not covered in
this Application Bulletin, refer to the “Contact Information” section beginning on page 9.
FPGEC 2020 Program Change Summary
¾ The FPGEE will be offered once per year, in the fall.
¾ Some exam day procedures have changed. See the FPGEE Administration section.
¾ The test format is different. See the FPGEE Administration section.
¾ Candidates whose applications are submitted after January 1, 2020, must pass the TOEFL iBT
before sitting for the FPGEE. This requirement does not apply to open applications submitted before
January 1, 2020.
¾ Applications submitted before and after January 1, 2020 have different Attestation pages to
complete. See pages 15 and 16 for examples.
Key
Important Information or Note:
The exclamation mark icon indicates important information that should be reviewed
carefully.
Cross Reference:
The question mark icon indicates that related information is available in another section of
the Bulletin.
!
?
This Bulletin
• Contains Important Exam Policies and Procedures. Please read the Bulletin thoroughly to ensure
that you understand all the policies and procedures for taking your examination.
• Is Not a Contract. The Bulletin and its policies and procedures are not a contract between you and
NABP.
• Terms May Change. The policies and procedures specied in the FPGEC Candidate Application
Bulletin are subject to change without notice.
• Open Applications Submitted Before January 1, 2020. The policies and procedures specied in this
FPGEC Candidate Application Bulletin apply to these applications unless stated otherwise.
2
• Applications Submitted After January 1, 2020. The policies and procedures specied in this FPGEC
Candidate Application Bulletin apply to these applications unless stated otherwise.
Your FPGEC Application
To begin the FPGEC Certication process, you will need an NABP e-Prole and e-Prole ID. If you
need to create an e-Prole, instructions for doing so begin on page 3.
Do not create a new e-Prole if you applied to the FPGEC prior to May 2018. See page 3 for
more information.
After you are logged in to your e-Prole, you will be able to access the application to the FPGEC
program. The application and evaluation fees (see page 13) are part of the online application
submission process.
To ensure a timely review, please submit the following documentation by mail to FPGEC before or
shortly after completing your online application. FPGEC applications are evaluated once all required
documentation to support the application is received by NABP. The following documents are required:
• FPGEC Attestation. The completed attestation and two identical, passport-size, full-face
photographs must be sent. See “Submitting the Attestation and Photograph” on page 13.
• Licensing and/or Registration Documentation. Proof of licensure and/or registration to practice
pharmacy in the country or jurisdiction where you earned a degree is required. See “Ocial Proof of
Licensure and/or Registration” on page 18.
• Certied Copy of ID. You must submit a certied photocopy of a current form of photo identication
to the FPGEC. See “Submitting Additional Supporting Documentation” on page 19.
• ECE Report/Documentation. See “Your ECE Application” below.
• Passing TOEFL iBT Score Report. For applications submitted after January 1, 2020. See “TOEFL iBT”
below for more information.
Once an application and all appropriate documentation is received by NABP, the review process may
take at least eight weeks. Incomplete applications, decient documentation or receipt of documentation
that do not follow the requirements as described in the FPGEC Application Bulletin, are cause for
additional review time and will signicantly delay the review of your application. Any documents
with names that do not match the name as stated on the application will also require supporting
documentation as described in the FPGEC Application Bulletin. Time frames are not guaranteed and may
uctuate during high application time periods. See page 20 for more information on name changes.
FPGEC Certication Status. All status information related to the progress of your FPGEC application
and receipt of your documentation is posted in your e-Prole. As the status changes, the new status will
be posted online in your e-Prole. Due to high volume, FPGEC and NABP Customer Engagement cannot
provide status information that is available in your e-Prole. For more information on the questions that
FPGEC and NABP Customer Engagement can answer, see the Contact Information section on page 8.
Your ECE Application
Additionally, you must submit an application and documentation to Educational Credential Evaluators
(ECE), the organization that will verify your degree credentials. ECE requires you to submit the following:
• ECE Application. The ECE application can be accessed online at www.ece.org/nabp. More
information on the ECE Application and General Evaluation Report can be found on page 16.
• Ocial Transcripts. Pharmacy school transcripts, including any qualifying pre-pharmacy, bachelor’s
degree, or post-baccalaureate coursework. See “Ocial Transcript(s)” on page 18.
Essential Information
!
3
Essential Information
• Ocial Proof of Degree. Proof of a degree in pharmacy must indicate the title of the degree and the
date of issuance. See “Ocial Proof of Degree” on page 19 for more information.
All ocial documentation submitted to ECE must comply with the requirements under “Submitting
Additional Supporting Documentation” beginning on page 20.
TOEFL iBT
• If your application was submitted after January 1, 2020, you must complete the TOEFL iBT
requirement to be accepted for the FPGEE.
• If your application was submitted before January 1, 2020, you are eligible to complete the TOEFL iBT
requirement after taking the FPGEE.
• There are no waivers for the TOEFL iBT requirement. See page 7 for the minimum passing
standards and other details on the TOEFL iBT requirement.
Registering for the FPGEE
• Register with NABP. Once your FPGEC application has been evaluated and accepted, you will be
eligible to register for the FPGEE. Your status changing to “accepted” under Active Applications in
your NABP e-Prole will be your notication that you have been accepted to the FPGEC program.
You may then register for the next exam. When you are notied via your e-Prole status change that
you are accepted, FPGEC will also send your FPGEE Identication Card (FIC) via mail. To register for
the FPGEE, you will need to log in to your e-Prole, click on the FPGEC tile, and click the “Purchase
FPGEE” button. Follow the instructions to complete and pay for the exam registration. Evaluations
continue year-round and you have two years from your FPGEC accepted date to take the FPGEE
examination. Registration for the annual FPGEE opens ve months before the exam, which is usually
held in October. See the NABP website for specic dates.
• FPGEE Identication Card (FIC). After you are accepted to take the FPGEE, you will be sent a FIC,
which will serve as your primary identication for the exam. It can take two to four weeks to receive
your FIC depending on your location and allowing for postal delivery time. If you do not receive the
FIC within two to four weeks of your FPGEE accepted status, please email [email protected] to
verify your mailing address and, if necessary, request a new card. FPGEC advises you not to wait until
the exam nears to request another card as, depending on your location, we cannot guarantee delivery
prior to the exam date. In addition, when registering for the FPGEE, be aware of the time it will take to
receive your FIC and when you need to make travel arrangements.
• Testing Appointment. Once you register with NABP and purchase the examination through your
e-Prole, Pearson VUE (NABP’s testing vendor) will email you an Authorization to Test (ATT). You
may not schedule your testing appointment with Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com/nabp) until you
have your ATT. See page 24 for additional scheduling information.
Before You Take the FGPEE
• Consider Taking the Pre-FPGEE. More information about the pre-exam can be accessed by visiting
the Programs page on the NABP website (www.nabp.pharmacy).
Creating a New e-Prole
If you applied to the FPGEC prior to May 2018 and obtained an EE number, you do not
need to create an e-Prole. An e-Prole ID has already been assigned to you. If you need
your e-Prole ID instructions, email [email protected]. For all other candidates, please
create an e-Prole by following the steps below.
!
4
Essential Information
1. Click on the e-Prole link found on the FPGEC or FPGEE program page at www.nabp.pharmacy/
programs.
Select the Customers tile on the e-Prole landing page.
2. Create a Login
Click on “Create a login” and enter your email address. Next, an email will be sent to you that
includes a verication code. Enter the verication code and create a password. Once a password
has been created, you may sign in with your email and new password.
• The email address you use for your login is the only email address that the FPGEC will use to
correspond with you. Therefore, if you wish to correspond via email with the FPGEC, you must
do so with this email.
3. Create an e-Prole
Select Create an e-Prole from the available options.
Name
Review the information regarding providing your legal name in your e-Prole before you enter your
name.
Important: Your name – including last, rst, middle name or initial, and suxes –
must match the name that appears on your supporting documentation. The FPGEC
understands the naming conventions in most countries. If a candidate uses their
father’s and/or grandfather’s names or patronymic names as part of their name as
shown on their transcripts, please enter in the space provided for middle names. The
family, tribe, or surname is to be entered in the space provided for “last name.”
Demographic Information
Provide your profession, school information, and birthdate.
4. Contact Information
Enter your home or business address, phone number(s), and other contact information.
• Enter a mailing address where you wish to receive documents by mail. The mailing address
you enter here will be the address that will appear on your documents and any documents
that must be mailed to you will be sent to this address.
5. Review Information and Receive e-Prole ID Number.
Please review information carefully and use the back buttons or the link provided to correct any
information entered erroneously.
On Examination Day
• Arrive Early. Arrive at the Pearson Professional Center at least 30 minutes prior to your testing
appointment.
• Bring Acceptable Identication. Bring your FPGEE Identication Card (FIC) and your primary ID
approved by the FPGEC. Acceptable identication is dened and examples are provided beginning on
page 34.
• Do Not Bring Prohibited Items into Test Room. Be aware of items that are prohibited from the testing
room at the Pearson Professional Center. You may wish to leave these items at home. See page 36
for a list of prohibited items.
!
Essential Information
5
After the Examination
• Review Your Score. Your examination score will be available via your e-Prole approximately eight weeks
after the examination administration. See page 41 for more information about your results.
Essential Information
6
About the FPGEC
The FPGEC
The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee
™
(FPGEC
®
) oversees the FPGEC
certication process and grants FPGEC Certication. The FPGEC operates under the auspices of the
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
®
(NABP
®
). Established in recognition and fulllment of
responsibilities for public health care and education, the FPGEC’s goals are to:
• Evaluate the qualications of foreign pharmacy graduates who apply for FPGEC Certication.
• Oversee the development of the FPGEE.
• Inform foreign pharmacy graduates about the FPGEC Certication Program and the Foreign
Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination
®
(FPGEE
®
).
• Cooperate with other agencies concerned with foreign pharmacy graduates.
Denition of a Foreign Pharmacy Graduate
The FPGEC denes a “foreign pharmacy graduate” as a pharmacist whose pharmacy degree was
conferred by a recognized school of pharmacy that is not ACPE-accredited and is typically outside of
the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. US citizens who have completed their
pharmacy education outside the US are considered to be “foreign pharmacy graduates,” while foreign
nationals who have graduated from ACPE-accredited schools in the US are not.
FPGEC Certication
NABP provides the FPGEC Certication Program to document the educational equivalency of
a candidate’s foreign pharmacy education, as well as their license and/or registration to practice
pharmacy. To achieve FPGEC Certication, candidates must:
• Provide documents that verify their education background.
• Provide documents that verify licensure and/or registration to practice pharmacy.
• Pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT).
• Pass the FPGEE.
Candidates who receive an FPGEC Certicate may be qualied to take the pharmacy licensing
examination in jurisdictions that accept this Certication. All 50 US states, the District of Columbia,
Guam, and Puerto Rico require foreign-trained pharmacists to achieve FPGEC Certication before
applying for a license from a state board of pharmacy.
Important: The FPGEC Certicate is not a license to practice pharmacy. In order to practice in
the US, you must be licensed by the state in which you wish to practice.
Note: Because licensure requirements vary by state, NABP encourages you to directly
contact the board(s) of pharmacy for the state(s) in which you are seeking licensure.
Contacting the board(s) directly will also allow you to obtain the most up-to-date information
on state laws and requirements. A listing of board of pharmacy contact information is
available in the Boards of Pharmacy section of the NABP website, located at www.nabp
.pharmacy.
!
!
7
As a candidate for FPGEC Certication, you are responsible for being knowledgeable of all policies
and procedures contained within this Bulletin.
The FPGEC reserves the right to change the requirements for FPGEC Certication published in this
Application Bulletin without notice to any candidate or prospective candidates. Such changes will take
effect when adopted by the FPGEC. The FPGEC further reserves the right to discontinue the program at
any time without advance notice to any candidate or prospective candidate.
NABP reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to refuse to accept any application, registration form,
documentation, or payment that does not conform to applicable US laws and regulations and FPGEC
program requirements.
Qualications for the FPGEC Certication Program
Education
To be considered as a candidate for the FPGEC Certication Program, you must have graduated
from a recognized or accredited school of pharmacy in a non-US country or jurisdiction or a US school
that is not ACPE-accredited. Specically, the school of pharmacy must be accredited by a competent
organization that accredits or certies professional degree programs in pharmacy or the school must
be regionally recognized, meaning nations in the geographical region of the school must recognize the
professional degree program of the school as meeting regionally adopted standards.
The FPGEC requires that if you graduated prior to January 1, 2003, you must have completed at
least a four-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation. If you graduated on or after January
1, 2003, you must have completed at least a ve-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation.
The change from a four-year to ve-year educational curriculum requirement has enabled the FPGEC
Certication Program to be consistent with the revised standards of US pharmacy school curriculum.
See “Ocial Transcript(s)” and “Minimum Curriculum Length” on page 19 for important
information about submitting your qualications.
Licensure
All candidates must also provide documentation that they are licensed and/or registered for the
unrestricted practice of pharmacy in the country or jurisdiction where the pharmacy degree was earned
or in the country where you were a practicing pharmacist. Please refer to the “Pharmacist Credentials”
section beginning on page 18 for complete details on providing documentation.
TOEFL iBT Requirements
The TOEFL iBT is the sole English language prociency examination accepted for candidates
seeking FPGEC Certication, and a passing score on TOEFL iBT is required for acceptance to sit for
the FPGEE. The TOEFL iBT must be completed by all foreign pharmacy graduates, even those who are
native English speakers. There are no exceptions or waivers to these requirements. The at home TOEFL
iBT is NOT accepted by the FPGEC program (see Secure Testing Environment below). Open applications
submitted prior to January 1, 2020, remain eligible to complete the TOEFL iBT requirement after being
accepted to sit for the FPGEE. If you apply after January 1, 2020, you must pass the TOEFL iBT before
being accepted to sit for the FPGEE.
The minimum score requirements for the TOEFL iBT are as follows:
• Reading – 22
• Listening – 21
• Speaking – 26
• Writing – 24
About the FPGEC
?
8
You must complete all four sections in one testing session; scores for the four sections must be
reported to FPGEC on one ocial score report directly from international educational testing service
(ETS). If you score less than the minimum score in any section, your score report will not be accepted.
The FPGEC will not consider a total score on the TOEFL iBT.
If your open application was submitted prior to January 1, 2020, you remain eligible to complete
the TOEFL iBT requirement after your acceptance to sit for the FPGEE. You must complete the TOEFL
requirements within ve years of receiving a passing FPGEE score.
Applications submitted after January 1, 2020, are required to complete the TOEFL iBT requirement
in order to be accepted for the FPGEE.
Passing TOEFL scores are valid for the FPGEC program for two years from the date of the TOEFL iBT.
This applies to both applications submitted before and after January 1, 2020.
Secure Testing Environment
In every analysis of the profession, communication ranks near the top of necessary skills for safe
and effective pharmacy practice. Pharmacists’ communication with other health care providers
is essential in interdisciplinary practice both when pharmacists are directly involved and when
pharmacists serve as knowledgeable intermediaries. Independently, pharmacists communicate with
patients more than any other health care practitioner and must translate technical jargon to patients
with various levels of health literacy. It is a public health issue that pharmacists can clearly articulate,
gather pertinent patient health information, and communicate that information verbally and in writing.
American pharmacy students learn communication skills in didactic settings and with their
preceptors to ensure their verbal, written, speaking, and listening skills are acceptable to perform tasks
essential to pharmacy practice. Requirements include the ability to participate in dynamic discussions
in interdisciplinary care; hear a prescription from a physician over the phone; read a prescription;
and communicate dicult drug names and diseases with healthcare specialists, patients and their
caregivers.
While the TOEFL iBT exam is used by thousands of organizations throughout the world, the majority
of examinees who take the TOEFL iBT are university candidates who, once accepted, would have their
communication skills observed and improved under the supervision of faculty over several years. The
FPGEC program does not rely on such training and mentoring but is dependent on the integrity of the
TOEFL results.
For these reasons, the TOEFL is a high-stakes exam for prospective pharmacists. In accord with
our other high-stakes exams, we require a secure testing environment within the United States.
Furthermore, NABP does not accept “My Best” scores or scores taken outside of the secure testing
center.
Test Center Restrictions
TOEFL iBT score reports are only accepted from ETS test centers located in NABP member and
associate member jurisdictions, including the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto
Rico, Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and ten Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New
Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and
Saskatchewan).
TOEFL iBT Reports
As a candidate for FPGEC Certication you must request your TOEFL iBT score report be submitted
to the FPGEC directly by ETS. Use the FPGEC identication number 9103. FPGEC will only accept
ocial score reports received directly from ETS.
About the FPGEC
9
Note: ETS reports TOEFL iBT scores for two years after a test. Contact TOEFL Services for
further details.
Your name on the TOEFL iBT score report must match your name as it appears on your e-Prole. In
addition, the date of birth on the ocial score report must also be exactly the same as it appears in
your e-Prole. Score reports with discrepancies in the name, photo identication, or date of birth will
not be accepted for certication. If you have changed your name since applying for FPGEC Certication,
you must notify the FPGEC in writing and submit appropriate documentation of the name change.
See “Candidate’s Name” on page 21 for more information on name changes.
Contact Information
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)
For additional information regarding foreign transcript evaluation, contact:
Mail: ECE
PO Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
USA
Phone: 414/289-3400
Website: www.ece.org
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
For additional information and instructions regarding the TOEFL iBT, contact:
Mail: ETS
PO Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
USA
Phone: 609/771-7100
Website: www.ets.org
Pearson VUE
For additional information about scheduling a testing appointment, contact:
Mail: Pearson VUE
5601 Green Valley Dr
Bloomington, MN 55437-1099
USA
Phone: 952/681-3000
Websites: www.pearsonvue.com
https://home.pearsonvue.com/nabp
About the FPGEC
!
?
10
FPGEC
The status of your FPGEC application and the status of your supporting documentation is available
by logging in to your e-Prole. Review the timelines for NABP review of documentation beginning on
page 2. After reviewing your e-Prole, if you still have questions, you may contact the FPGEC for the
following:
• Questions regarding your FPGEC application.
• General inquiries regarding your documents.
Use your full name as it appears in your e-Prole in all communications with the FPGEC and your
e-Prole ID.
Important: If your email or mailing address changes, you must update the address(es) in your
e-Prole. The FPGEC will only respond to the email and/or mailing address that is in your
e-Prole.
Send ocial inquiries and submissions to:
Email: [email protected]
Mail: NABP
Attn: FPGEC
1600 Feehanville Drive
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
USA
Fax: 1-847/391-4502
If you would like to receive a receipt of mail delivery, NABP recommends sending your
communication via private courier service or United States Certied Mail, return receipt requested. The
FPGEC is not responsible for delayed, lost, or misdirected mail. It may take an additional 30 business
days for international mail to be delivered and 10 business days for mail sent within the US.
Due to the high volume of received correspondence, the FPGEC cannot conrm receipt of email,
faxes, or mail.
NABP Customer Engagement
Customer Engagement can only assist you with basic program information.
All status information related to the progress of your FPGEC Certication are posted in your e-Prole.
As the status changes, the new status will be posted online in your e-Prole. In addition, all program
processes and procedures are included in this Bulletin and many can also be found on our website.
Please review both the Bulletin and the website thoroughly before contacting Customer Engagement.
To ensure the privacy and protection of all candidates, Customer Engagement can only assist
candidates directly, and is unable to speak or correspond with anyone calling or writing on a candidate’s
behalf, including third parties on the phone or on speaker phone.
Contact Customer Engagement using one of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-847/391-4406
About the FPGEC
!
11
About the FPGEC
When contacting Customer Engagement, please provide the following information as listed on your
e-Prole:
• e-Prole ID (provided to you at registration)
• Full name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Last four digits of your Social Security Number (if you have one)
• Phone number
12
General Information
This Application Bulletin explains exactly what materials and documents are required for your FPGEC
Certication application. The FPGEC processes all applications and materials as quickly as possible
after they are received. The FPGEC evaluates each application and all supporting documentation for
accuracy, authenticity, and fulllment of program requirements. The FPGEC will notify you of the status
of your application, including any deciencies, online in your e-Prole. You will have the opportunity
to correct any deciencies identied by the FPGEC. You are responsible for ensuring all supporting
documentation is submitted to FPGEC in a timely manner.
To begin the FPGEC Certication process, you must apply online via your e-Prole and submit hard
copies of the following information via mail to FPGEC for evaluation:
• Your licensing and/or registration documentation.
• A certied copy of FPGEC Attestation (see page 14 for details).
• A notarized copy of the photo identication (see page 14 for details).
You are required to submit the following information to the Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc
(ECE):
• The ECE application for verication and evaluation
• Your educational credentials including:
» Proof of degree (credential or degree earned)
» Your pharmacy school transcript
When submitted, your ECE application is used to create an ECE evaluation report that is sent directly
to FPGEC. The ECE evaluation report does not conrm acceptance to sit for the FPGEE.
A link to the ECE application can be found on the ECE website. Application information can be found
in the FPGEC section at www.nabp.pharmacy.
In addition to the documentation listed above, you must submit a passing TOEFL iBT score report to
the FPGEC via your ETS account if your application was submitted after January 1, 2020.
Open applications submitted prior to January 1, 2020 remain eligible to complete the TOEFL iBT
requirement after being accepted to sit for the FPGEE.
The minimum score requirements for the TOEFL iBT are as follows:
• Reading – 22
• Listening – 21
• Speaking – 26
• Writing – 24
Passing TOEFL scores are valid for the FPGEC program for two years from the date of the TOEFL iBT.
See page 18 for more information on submitting supporting documentation, and page 17 for
more information on applying to ECE.
Note: The FPGEC may request additional information as determined necessary to establish
your eligibility requirements for the program.
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
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Candidates have two years from the application date to meet all requirements for acceptance into
the FPGEC Certication Program. When all requirements have been met, you will be notied via your
e-Prole that your application has been accepted and you will be eligible to purchase and register for
the FPGEE. You have two years from the date of acceptance to take and pass the FPGEE.
Applications submitted after January 1, 2020, will be eligible for certication after taking the FPGEE,
as the TOEFL iBT was a prerequisite. If your open application was submitted before January 1, 2020,
you have ve years from passing the FPGEE to take and pass the TOEFL iBT.
If you do not meet the required timelines, you will need to purchase/submit a new FPGEC application
to become eligible for the FPGEE if you have not exceeded ve exam attempts (see Re-take Policy
on page 40). Candidates who were eligible to take the FPGEE in previous years are not guaranteed
acceptance upon reapplying to take the examination and must meet all current requirements.
Prohibited Activities
The FPGEC reserves the right to bar a candidate from sitting for the FPGEE, to terminate a
candidate’s examination session, to invalidate the results of the candidate’s examination, to disqualify
the candidate from the FPGEC Certication Program, to withhold an FPGEC Certicate, to revoke a
Certicate, and/or to take other appropriate actions. Activities that may prompt the preceding actions
include, but are not limited to:
• Providing false information on any application required for the FPGEC Program.
• Submitting falsied documentation, including but not limited to, educational documents to the
FPGEC or ECE.
• Submitting any falsied FPGEC documents to other organizations or agencies.
• Giving or receiving aid, or engaging in any misconduct as dened in this Bulletin (see page 37), in
connection with the FPGEE, or any other examination required for FPGEC Certication.
• Violating any examination or program policies of the FPGEC Certication Program.
FPGEC Application and Fees
Application Form
The FPGEC application is available online. If you already have an NABP e-Prole you may click on
NABP e-Prole Login in the upper right-hand corner of the NABP website to begin your application. If
you do not have an e-Prole, see page 3 for instructions on how to create your account.
Once you complete all the required elds you will pay the applicable fees and submit your
application. You are also required to submit your FPGEC Attestation, photograph, license and/or
registration, and a photocopy of your current ID by mail to:
NABP
Attn: FPGEC
1600 Feehanville Drive
Mount Prospect, IL 60056-6014
Photographs
Two identical, full-face photographs of passport size (51 x 51 mm) and quality must be submitted by
mail with your FPGEC Attestation. You must adhere one of the photographs to the FPGEC Attestation
using glue or tape (do not staple).
The other photograph must not be signed, notarized, or marked in any way; it will be uploaded
into your e-Prole. The photographs must have been taken within three months of your application
submission date.
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
14
Important: The entire notarial seal, stamp, or signature of the ocial who arms the FPGEC
Attestation must be legible, in English (FPGEC requires a translation from a credentialed
translator), and must overlap a portion of both the attached photograph and the application
form. The seal or signature must not cover the face in the photograph.
Submitting the Attestation and Photograph (samples on pages 15-16)
• Read the certication statement.
• Sign (do not print) your full name (in English) on the rst line indicated in the presence of a
Consular Ocial, First-Class Magistrate, or Notary Public. You must sign and write your name in
blue or black pen.
• Ask the ocial to complete the last two lines of the Attestation Form.
• Attach one of the required photographs in the box provided using tape or glue. Do not use a
staple.
• Ask the ocial to apply his or her stamp, seal, or signature attesting to your signature. The
ocial’s stamp, seal, or signature must be legible and must overlap a portion of both the attached
photograph and the Attestation Form. The face of the photograph must not be covered. If the
ocial title and/or seal of the ocial is not in English, the FPGEC requires a translation from a
credentialed translator.
Important: The absence of the appropriate signatures, or any alterations or erasures of any
kind, will void your application.
Application and Examination Fees
You must submit your payment online using a credit or debit card at the time you submit your
application. Personal checks, bank drafts, and cash or other unapproved forms of payment are not
accepted.
Fees to NABP
Total Fee Fee Application
FPGEC Application
Fee
$550 (non-refundable) Includes $100 administrative
fee and $450 document
evaluation fee
FPGEE Fee $650* rst examination
FPGEE Re-take Fee $750** Additional examinations;
$100 non-refundable
administrative fee and $650
examination fee
*The rst examination scheduled/attempted under a newly approved FPGEC application does not include a $100 administration
fee.
**Additional examinations scheduled and/or attempted within the two-year acceptance period will include a $100 non-refundable
administrative fee.
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
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15
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
12
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
FPGECAttestation(Application submitted before 1/1/2020)
IherebycertifythattheinformationIhaveprovidedtoNABPrelatedtothisAttestationistrue,accurate,andcompletetothebest
ofmyknowledge,andthatIhaveenclosedarecentphotographofmyselfconsistentwiththerequirementsintheForeignPharmacy
GraduateEducationCommittee(FPGEC)CandidateApplicationBulletin(Bulletin).
IherebyacknowledgethatthisAttestationispartofmyFPGECapplication.
IagreetoseparatelysubmitthefollowingFPGECapplicationdo
cumentsasfurtherdescribedintheBulletin:
1. AnonlineFPGECapplication;
2. Acopyofmylicenseand/orregistrationfromthecountrywhereIamcurrentlylicensed;and
3. AnapplicationandrequiredfeestoEducationalCredentialEvaluators(
ECE).
IacknowledgethatifIdonottimelysubmitacompleteFPGECapplication,NABPmayclosemyFPGECapplicationwithoutissuinga
refund.IfNABPclosesmyFPGECapplicationbecauseitisincompleteandIstillwishtoachieveFPGECcertification,Iacknowledge
thatwillhavetosubmitanew,completeFPGECapplicationandpaythethenapplicableapplicationfee.PleaseseetheBulletinfor
furtherdetails.
IherebycertifythatIhavenotandwillnotengageinanyprohibite
dactivitiesormisconductasdescribedinthisAttestation,the
onlineapplication,ortheBulletin,suchasfraudorcheating,relatedtomyFPGECapplication,theFPGECCertificationprogram,or
FPGEE.
IherebyauthorizeNABPtosharewithpharmacyregulatoryorlawenforcementauthorities
anyinformationregardingmyFPGECapplication,includingthisAttestationandphotograph(s),
myparticipationinordisqualificationfromtheFPGECCertificationprogram,ormyTOEFLiBT
orFPGEEtest(s)including,withoutlimitation,scores,status,ormisconduct.
IfurtherauthorizetheFPGECtoprovideanyinformationrelatedto
myFPGECapplication,
includingthisAttestationandphotograph(s),orinformationthatmayotherwisebecomeavailable
totheFPGEC,toanyorganizationorindividualwhomayassistNABPinreviewingmyFPGEC
application,evaluatingthevalidityofFPGECapplication‐relatedinformation,determiningmy
eligibilityforFPGECCertification,orwhohasorhadarelationshiporconnectiontomeand,inthe
reasonablejudgmentoftheFPGEC,mayhavealegitimateinterestinsuchinformationincluding,
withoutlimitation,aschoolofpharmacythatIattendedoratestingorganizationthatadministered
atesttomethatisrequiredbytheFPGECCertificationprogram.
IherebyattestthatIreadthisAttestationandtheBulletinandIherebyagreewiththeirterms
andrequirements.
IfurtherattestthatIhaveand,tothebestofmyabilitywillcontinueto,complywiththeAttestationandBulletintermsand
requirements.
Applicant must print and sign his/her full name in English on the first lines below, but only in the presence of one of the
following individuals: a Notary Public, Consular Official, or First-Class Magistrate.
______________________________________________
S
ignatureofApplicant
____________________________________________
Full Name (in black or blue pen)
The following is to be completed by a Notary Public, Consular Official, or First-Class Magistrate in English:
Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me this _______________day of ___________________, 20________.
Signature of Notary Public, Consular Official, or First-Class Magistrate:
____________________________________________________OfficialTitle__________________________________
Ifofficialtitleand/orsealisnotinEnglish,FPGECrequiresanofficialtranslation.Alterations or erasures of any kind on this page
will void the Attestation.
ATTACHONEPHOTOGRAPH
HERE
Use glue or tape to attach
the photo. DO NOT STAPLE
Oneadditionalidentical
photographmust
accompanythisapplication.
Seal,stamp,orsignatureof
officialmustcoveraportion
oftheattachedphotograph
andtheapplication.
16
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
12
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
FPGECAttestation(Application submitted after 1/1/2020)
IherebycertifythattheinformationIhaveprovidedtoNABPrelatedtothisAttestationistrue,accurate,andcompletetothebest
ofmyknowledge,andthatIhaveenclosedarecentphotographofmyselfconsistentwiththerequirementsintheForeign
PharmacyGraduateEducationCommittee(FPGEC)CandidateApplicationBulletin(Bulletin).
IherebyacknowledgethatthisAttestationispartofmyFPGECapplication.
IagreetoseparatelysubmitthefollowingFPGECapplicationdocumentsasfurtherdescribedintheBulletin:
1. AnonlineFPGECapplication;
2. Acopyofmylicenseand/orregistrationfromthecountrywhereIamcurrentlylicensed;and
3. AnapplicationandrequiredfeestoEducationalCredentialEvaluators(ECE).
4. A non-expired, passing Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) score report.
IacknowledgethatifIdonottimelysubmitacompleteFPGECapplication,NABPmayclosemyFPGECapplicationwithoutissuinga
refund.IfNABPclosesmyFPGECapplicationbecauseitisincompleteandIstillwishtoachieveFPGECcertification,Iacknowledge
thatwillhavetosubmitanew,completeFPGECapplicationandpaythethenapplicableapplicationfee.PleaseseetheBulletinfor
furtherdetails.
IherebycertifythatIhavenotandwillnotengageinanyprohibite
dactivitiesormisconductasdescribedinthisAttestation,the
onlineapplication,ortheBulletin,suchasfraudorcheating,relatedtomyFPGECapplication,theFPGECCertificationprogram,or
FPGEE.
IherebyauthorizeNABPtosharewithpharmacyregulatoryorlawenforcementauthorities
anyinformationregardingmyFPGECapplication,includingthisAttestationandphotograph(s),
myparticipationinordisqualificationfromtheFPGECCertificationprogram,ormyTOEFLiBT
orFPGEEtest(s)including,withoutlimitation,scores,status,ormisconduct.
IfurtherauthorizetheFPGECtoprovideanyinformationrelatedto
myFPGECapplication,
includingthisAttestationandphotograph(s),orinformationthatmayotherwisebecomeavailable
totheFPGEC,toanyorganizationorindividualwhomayassistNABPinreviewingmyFPGEC
application,evaluatingthevalidityofFPGECapplication‐relatedinformation,determiningmy
eligibilityforFPGECCertification,orwhohasorhadarelationshiporconnectiontomeand,inthe
reasonablejudgmentoftheFPGEC,mayhavealegitimateinterestinsuchinformationincluding,
withoutlimitation,aschoolofpharmacythatIattendedoratestingorganizationthatadministered
atesttomethatisrequiredbytheFPGECCertificationprogram.
IherebyattestthatIreadthisAttestationandtheBulletinandIherebyagreewiththeirterms
andrequirements.
IfurtherattestthatIhaveand,tothebestofmyabilitywillcontinueto,complywiththeAttestationandBulletintermsand
requirements.
Applicant must print and sign his/her full name in English on the first lines below, using black or blue ink, but only in the
presence of one of the following individuals: a Notary Public, Consular Official, or First-Class Magistrate.
______________________________________________
S
ignatureofApplicant
____________________________________________
Full Name (in black or blue pen)
The following is to be completed by a Notary Public, Consular Official, or First-Class Magistrate in English:
Subscribedandswornto(oraffirmed)beforemethis_______________dayof___________________, 20________.
SignatureofNotaryPublic,ConsularOfficial,orFirst‐ClassMagistrate:
____________________________________________________OfficialTitle__________________________________
Ifofficialtitleand/orsealisnotinEnglish,FPGECrequiresanofficialtranslation.Alterations or erasures of any kind on this page
will void the Attestation.
ATTACHONEPHOTOGRAPH
HERE
Use glue or tape to attach
the photo. DO NOT STAPLE
Oneadditionalidentical
photographmust
accompanythisapplication.
Seal,stamp,orsignatureof
officialmustcoveraportion
oftheattachedphotograph
andtheapplication.
17
Your FPGEC and ECE Application
Registering to Re-take the FPGEE
If you wish to re-take the FPGEE, you must log in to your e-Prole and purchase a new FPGEE
registration.
You will be required to pay the FPGEE re-take fees if you took the exam, did not pass, and there is still
time left in the two-year acceptance period. You have two years from your acceptance date to take and
pass the FPGEE. If you have not passed the FPGEE within two years of application acceptance, your
FPGEC application will expire and you will be required to submit a new application to the FPGEC.
You are permitted a lifetime total of ve attempts to take the FPGEE. Your FPGEC le will be closed
permanently if you exhaust all allotted attempts for the FPGEE. This lifetime total includes any attempts
prior to 2012.
Note: Candidates who have been granted eligibility to take the FPGEE in past years are not
guaranteed eligibility upon reapplying to take the examination.
FPGEC Application Withdrawals and Refunds
If you withdraw from the program once the application process has begun, but your application is
not in a Decient status, you must log in to your e-Prole to submit a withdrawal request. The FPGEC
application fee (includes administration and evaluation fees) is non-refundable. Your application
materials will be returned to you upon your request. If your status is Application Decient and you want
to withdraw your application instead of letting it expire, you must email the FPGEC; the option is not
available in your e-Prole.
If you withdraw from the program and you are scheduled to take the FPGEE, you must also cancel
your scheduled examination with Pearson VUE and NABP within ve business days to receive a refund
for the test. See “Canceling/Failing to Attend Your Examination Appointment” on page 24 for details.
ECE Application and General Evaluation Report
FPGEC candidates are required to submit an application to ECE with the appropriate fees. The online
ECE application may be accessed from ECE’s website, www.ece.org/nabp. Questions about the ECE
application may be directed to ECE by calling 1-414/289-3400.
ECE Application Fees
You should request the General Evaluation Report from ECE. You must order an extra copy of the
report to be submitted to the FPGEC. Please see the ECE website for current fees. (See page 9 for
contact information.)
Refund or Withdrawal of ECE Application
Inquiries regarding refunds and withdrawals from ECE must be submitted to ECE directly.
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18
Submitting Ocial Supporting Documentation
All candidates are required to submit supporting documentation, including sending to ECE an ocial
transcript and proof of degree (credential or degree earned), and sending to FPGEC your proof of
license and/or registration to practice pharmacy. All ocial documentation must:
• Include an inked or impressed seal or stamp of the issuing body.
• Include an inked signature of the individual from the issuing body authorized to certify the
document.
• Be sealed in an envelope by the issuing body. A seal, stamp, or signature of an ocial must
overlap the ap closure and the envelope.
The sealed license/registration envelope may be submitted to the FPGEC by you or the issuing body.
Ocial documentation that is not in English, or that contains non-English stamps or seals, must be
accompanied with a word-for-word English translation from a credentialed translator.
See the “Translation of Non-English Documents” section on page 21.
The FPGEC, at its discretion, may require further documentation to qualify you for certication.
Electronically submitted documents will not be accepted.
Note: ECE General Evaluation Reports are retained for only two years if you have not
submitted an application. Once FPGEC has an ECE General Evaluation Report on le, you do
not need to resubmit these documents to ECE for subsequent FPGEC applications.
Submitting Transcripts and Degree Documentation Through ECE
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc, (ECE) is a not-for-prot public service organization
specializing in the evaluation of foreign educational credentials. As a candidate for the FPGEC
Certication Program, you must have your ocial pharmacy school transcripts and proof of degree
(credential or degree earned) evaluated by ECE. Additionally, ECE will verify the applicable accreditation
or recognition status of your school of pharmacy.
You are required to submit your pharmacy education documentation, the ocial transcript and
ocial proof of degree, directly to ECE according to the instructions and requirements indicated in this
section.
See page 17 for details on submitting an application to ECE.
You must request that ECE submit the General Evaluation Report directly to the FPGEC along with
your supporting documentation. The FPGEC will not accept General Evaluation Reports submitted by
candidates.
Note: ECE does not make any determination of eligibility for the FPGEC Certication Program.
Pharmacist Credentials
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Ocial Transcript(s)
To be considered for certication, you must submit ocial transcripts of all pre-pharmacy, bachelor
of science, and post-baccalaureate pharmacy studies to ECE. If there were additional coursework
requirements for graduation, an ocial transcript is also required.
Ocial transcripts must include:
• An original inked or dry school seal/stamp
• Signature (in ink) of a pharmacy school ocial
• Dates you attended pharmacy school
• The title (name) of each course taken
• The number of hours of study
• Grades or other documentation proving completion
Unocial photocopies of transcripts will not be accepted.
Transcripts are not returned.
Minimum Curriculum Length
• Four-Year Degree: If you were issued a pharmacy degree prior to January 1, 2003, you must have
completed a minimum four-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation.
• Five-Year Degree: If you were issued a pharmacy degree on or after January 1, 2003, you must
have completed a minimum ve-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation.
Pre-pharmacy coursework, completed at the equivalent of a US college or university and required of
all students for admission, may be considered in determining minimum curriculum length requirements.
The following completed after graduation cannot be considered for determining the minimum
required curriculum length:
• Coursework
• Internships
• Continuing education certicates
• Work experience
Post-baccalaureate pharmacy degrees will only be considered when the degree obtained and the
coursework completed to obtain the degree satisfactorily show that the candidate obtained patient
care experience in a clinical pharmacy practice setting.
At the sole discretion of the FPGEC, post-baccalaureate degrees will be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis to determine whether they may be applied to the minimum required curriculum length.
Ocial Proof of Degree
Ocial proof of the pharmacy degree, indicating the title of the degree and the date of issuance,
must also be submitted to ECE. If you are submitting information about another credential or degree
earned from a pharmacy school, it must indicate the title of the credential or degree earned and the
date of issuance. The pharmacy degree or credential you received must be the professional degree
leading to licensure and/or registration to practice pharmacy.
Ocial Proof of Licensure and/or Registration
To qualify for the FPGEC program, you must demonstrate that you have the required license and/
or registration to practice pharmacy in a country outside the US, typically in the country or jurisdiction
where you attended pharmacy school. Some countries require registration as a pharmacist in that
Pharmacist Credentials
20
country or jurisdiction; some countries require a license; some countries require both a license and a
registration; and very few countries do not require either.
Each license and/or registration must be unrestricted and certied by the appropriate government
ocial of the jurisdiction issuing the license or registration. The documentation must include the date
that the license and/or registration was issued, and must contain the ocial stamp and signature from
the issuing body. This document must be received in a properly sealed envelope.
If your license and/or registration is from a different country than where you earned your pharmacy
degree, or you were not a citizen of the country or jurisdiction where your pharmacy degree was earned,
and therefore were unable to obtain licensure and/or registration to practice pharmacy in that country
or jurisdiction where you attended school, you must submit:
• Ocial proof of licensure and/or registration in whichever country or jurisdiction the license and/
or registration was obtained; AND
• An ocial statement, issued by the appropriate government ocial of the country or jurisdiction
where your degree was earned, conrming that you would be eligible for licensure and/or
registration if you were a citizen.
If neither a license or registration are required to practice pharmacy in the country or jurisdiction
where you earned a pharmacy degree, you must submit with the application materials:
• A request for an “Adavit for Failure to Obtain Licensure in a Foreign Jurisdiction” (the FPGEC will
provide further information concerning this procedure to eligible candidates); AND
• Ocial documentation in a properly sealed envelope by the issuing body, veried by the pharmacy
school or the applicable government agency that neither licensure nor registration was required
to practice pharmacy.
Submitting Additional Supporting Documentation
All non-English supporting documents must be accompanied by a word-for-word English
translation from a credentialed translator.
Photo Identication
You must also submit to the FPGEC a certied photocopy of a current passport. Refer to
“Photocopies of Documents” (below) for details on certifying copies of photo identication. Your name
on the identication must match your name on your FPGEC application and supporting documentation.
Photocopies of Documents
Certied photocopies of documents, such as birth certicates, marriage certicates, court orders
approving a name change, or state-issued identication cards, may be submitted to the FPGEC for
review. Certied photocopies of the documents are those that include the attestation statement “I
have reviewed the original document and attest that this is a true and exact copy of the original” is
are written directly on the photocopy by a notary public, Consular Ocial, or First-Class Magistrate
and includes the ocial’s seal and signature. If a document is longer than one page, each page must
be certied. Present both the original document and a photocopy to the notary public for proper
certication. The FPGEC will not accept photocopies of documents that have been certied by you or
that are not properly certied. In addition, the FPGEC will not accept “True Copy,” “Certied True Copy,”
or “Attested Copy” in lieu of the attestation statement indicated above.
If you are unable to submit properly certied photocopies of your additional supporting
documentation, the original documents must be submitted directly to the FPGEC. You must request,
in writing to the FPGEC, to have original documents returned.
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21
Translation of Non-English Documents
Any document, including all seals and/or stamps, not in English must be accompanied by an ocial
word-for-word English translation, prepared and certied as correct by an ocial translator. The FPGEC
considers an ocial translator to be a certied translator, a certied court interpreter, an authorized
government ocial, or an ocial from the pharmacy school where you obtained your pharmacy degree.
You may also obtain an ocial translation from a professional translation service or an appropriate
language department at any university. The FPGEC must be able to identify the name of the translator.
Each page of the translation must be signed and dated by the translator and must appear on ocial
stationery. The translator must provide an attestation statement regarding the accuracy of each
translation. Proof of the translator’s credentials must accompany each translation. You may not
prepare your own translations.
Candidate’s Name
Your name on the FPGEC application must match the name that appears on your supporting
documentation. If you have changed your name, you must send a properly certied photocopy of a
marriage certicate or other legal document, such as a court order, that indicates the full former and
current names.
If you change your name after receiving your FIC, you must ensure that there is enough time
to update your name with NABP in order to receive a new FIC for your FPGEE date. Supporting
documentation for the name change must be submitted to the FPGEC (see page 10 for contact
information) no later than 30 days before your examination appointment. Questions on this process
may be sent to [email protected].
Note: Identication such as a driver’s license, Social Security card, or permanent resident
card cannot be considered as legal documentation of a name change. Be sure that the
information submitted on the application form matches the information on all supporting
documentation.
Note: The FPGEC understands the naming conventions in most countries. If a candidate
uses their father’s and/or grandfather’s names or patronymic names as part of their name
as shown on their transcripts, please enter in the space provided in the online application for
middle names. The family, tribe, or surname is to be indicated in the space provided for “last
name.”
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Closed and Expired Applications
Your application may be closed and fees may be surrendered to the FPGEC in the following
situations:
• If, after evaluation of submitted documentation, it is determined that your credentials do not meet
the criteria for eligibility for the FPGEC Certication Program.
• If, after repeated requests for appropriate documentation, you remain unable to comply with the
requirements in order to qualify for the FPGEC Certication Program.
Your application will expire and fees will be surrendered to the FPGEC in the following situations:
• If you fail to complete all application requirements within two years of submitting your
application. This includes the TOEFL iBT requirement as well, for applications submitted after
January 1, 2020.
• If you fail to pass the FPGEE within two years of being accepted to the FPGEC Certication
Program.
• If you fail to pass the TOEFL iBT within ve years of passing the FPGEE. This applies to open
applications submitted before January 1, 2020, only.
The FPGEC will post a notication of le closure in the candidate’s e-Prole. Candidates will have 30
days to appeal the le closure decision of the FPGEC. The FPGEC will review each appeal on a case-by-
case basis. Expired applications cannot be appealed. There are no extensions given on expiration dates.
If you wish to pursue FPGEC Certication once an application is closed, the application process, full
fees, supporting document review, and examination process starts over as if you were a new candidate.
Note: Candidates who have exhausted the number of allowed lifetime attempts to take the
FPGEE may not reapply for certication. The number of lifetime attempts includes those
attempts prior to 2012.
Testing Accommodations
NABP abides by all applicable federal and state statutes relating to disabled individuals. To ensure the
security and integrity of its examinations, NABP will evaluate accommodation requests.
To submit an accommodation request, please download and complete the Accommodation Request
form. Upload the completed form and supporting documentation in your NABP e-Prole during the online
application process. If you do not upload your form at this time, your request may be delayed.
Testing accommodations will be made only with the authorization of NABP. Pharmacy regulatory
authorities may be provided with information about the nature of the accommodations that were granted.
Scheduling for Testing Accommodations
Candidates approved for testing accommodations by NABP must schedule their examination
appointments by contacting Pearson VUE’s accommodation department. (See contact information on
page 9.)
Failure to schedule with a Pearson VUE accommodation representative will result in accommodations
not being available to the candidate at the testing center. It is the candidate’s responsibility to
appropriately schedule their testing appointment, and instances where the procedure has not been
followed will result in the forfeiture of the testing opportunity and examination fee. Candidates who elect
to test without accommodations are advised that adjustments will not be made to the test score.
General Information
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FPGEE Information
FPGEE Overview
The FPGEE is based on a nationally uniform content blueprint. The blueprint, effective April 2016,
provides important information about the topics covered on the examination and the competency areas
in which candidates will be tested. The blueprint is on pages 26-29 of this Bulletin and is also available on
the NABP website at www.nabp.pharmacy/programs under FPGEE.
The examination is a comprehensive measure of knowledge in four major pharmacy content areas:
• 10% – Basic Biomedical Sciences
• 33% – Pharmaceutical Sciences
• 22% – Social/Behavioral/Administrative Sciences
• 35% – Clinical Sciences
The FPGEE is a 200-question examination using a computerized format administered over a four-
and-one-half hour testing period. Questions are presented in multiple-choice, multiple-response,
constructed-response, ordered-response, and hot spot formats. (See pages 29-31 for information on
the question format and sample questions.)
Testing Administration
The FPGEE is administered by Pearson VUE at its more than 200 Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs)
in the continental US. The FPGEE is not available at PPCs in Alaska or Hawaii. One test date is offered
annually in the fall, usually in October. Current dates are available on the NABP website. Only those
candidates whose applications have been accepted by the FPGEC and have not expired before the exam
will be allowed to register and schedule for the examination.
Registering for the FPGEE
Register With NABP
Once your FPGEC application has been evaluated and accepted, you will be eligible to register for
the FPGEE during the open registration period. To register for the FPGEE, you will need to log in to your
e-Prole, click on the Active Applications tab, and click Purchase. Follow the instructions to complete
and pay for the exam registration. See the NABP website for the important dates pertaining to the test
date, such as registration dates.
FPGEE Identication Card (FIC)
After you are accepted to take the FPGEE, you will be sent an FIC. Your FIC is required to be allowed
in the testing center. If you do not bring your FIC to the examination, you will not be admitted. You will be
required to reapply for the FPGEE and pay the examination fee again. If you change your name after your
FIC is issued, you must request a new one no less than 30 days before the exam. See page 21 for more
information.
See “Application and Examination Fees” on page 14 for payment information.
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FPGEE Information
Authorization to Test From Pearson VUE
Once you register for the FPGEE, you will receive your ATT letter via email from Pearson VUE. The
ATT letter includes instructions for scheduling your test and other important information. You may not
schedule your testing appointment with Pearson VUE until you have your ATT. (See contact information
on page 9.)
Note: You should contact NABP if you have not received your ATT within two days of
registering with NABP.
Note: Registration and ATT information will not be given via phone or fax.
Scheduling Your Examination Appointment
Upon receipt of your ATT, you may schedule an appointment to test. Your ATT letter will indicate the
time frame within which you may schedule your appointment. Please note that scheduling will close
one week prior to the date of the examination. Appointments are made on a rst-come, rst-served
basis.
Note: We recommend you schedule early. Waiting to schedule your testing appointment may
signicantly decrease the availability of your preferred test center, as each PPC has only a
select number of seats available.
You must adhere to the following procedures when scheduling your appointment:
• ATT Needed to Schedule Examination: You cannot make a testing appointment until you have
received your ATT.
• Scheduling Your Examination: You may schedule your examination at a PPC through the Pearson
VUE website (www.pearsonvue.com/nabp) or by calling Pearson VUE customer service at
1-888/709-2679.
» Online: If you live in the US, you can schedule your examination online by visiting https://
home.pearsonvue.com/nabp. Follow the instructions to set up a web account and select your
preferred testing location. Locations of the testing centers (PPCs) are also available online at
https://home.pearsonvue.com/nabp.
» Phone: If you live outside the US, you can schedule your examination via phone by calling
Pearson VUE customer service at 1-888/709-2679. If you choose to call Pearson VUE’s customer
service department to schedule an appointment, you will be asked to verify your identity, including
verication of your e-Prole ID, last and rst name, as well as other demographic information.
The Pearson VUE customer service agent will search by location. If you have a preferred
examination site, the agent can search that site for appointment availability.
• Examination Conrmation: Once your appointment has been scheduled, you will receive a
conrmation email from Pearson VUE that provides the details of your examination appointment,
directions to your selected test center, and additional instructions for the FPGEE. If you have not
received a conrmation email from Pearson VUE, then you have not completed the examination
appointment. Ensure that you have received your FIC; notify the FPGEC if you have not received
your FIC within two weeks of your acceptance date.
Canceling/Failing to Attend Your Examination Appointment
All cancellations of scheduled examination appointments must be made through both NABP and
Pearson VUE at least ve business days before the examination appointment if a refund is requested.
For example, if you are scheduled to test on October 20, you must cancel your appointment by the
end of business hours on October 13.
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If you cancel your scheduled exam with NABP and Pearson VUE ve business days or more before
the exam date, you may receive a refund for the examination fee (the $100 administrative fee is non-
refundable, this applies to the second exam purchased on an application).
Note: Refunds will only be issued to the credit card owner’s name.
If you cancel your appointment with Pearson VUE, but plan to take the next scheduled exam, your
ATT will still be valid and you can schedule with Pearson VUE during open registration for the next
exam. In this situation, do not cancel your exam registration/purchase in your NABP e-Prole.
You will not receive a refund for your FPGEE exam fees under the following circumstances:
1. If you cancel with Pearson VUE and NABP less than ve business days before the examination;
2. If you fail to arrive for your scheduled exam appointment;
3. If you cancel with NABP, but do not cancel with Pearson VUE; or
4. If you cancel with Pearson VUE, but do not cancel with NABP (in this situation, you will still be
able to schedule with Pearson VUE during open registration for the next exam. You do not need to
register again with NABP).
5. If you are turned away at test center for improper ID.
There is no exception to this policy.
If your situation falls under any of the rst three circumstances, you will need to register again for the
next FPGEE and pay the required fees. Remember that you have two years from the date of acceptance
to the FPGEC Certication Program to take the FPGEE: if your acceptance expires before the next exam,
you will not be able to register or schedule. If you have registered, you may cancel with NABP to receive
a refund.
See “Application and Examination Fees” on page 14 for payment information.
FPGEE Information
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Pre-FPGEE
Prepare for the FPGEE with the only practice exam using past questions.
The Pre-FPGEE can be accessed by logging in to your e-Prole. More information about the pre-
exam can be accessed by visiting the Programs page on the NABP website (www.nabp.pharmacy).
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FPGEE Competency Statements
The FPGEE Competency Statements serve as a blueprint of the topics covered on the examination.
They offer important information about the knowledge, judgment, and skills you are expected to
demonstrate while taking the FPGEE. A strong understanding of the Competency Statements will aid
you in your preparation to take the examination.
Area 1.0 Basic Biomedical Sciences (Approximately 10% of Test)
1.1 Physiology
1.1.1 Function of the major body systems and homeostatic impact at organ and system level
1.2 Biochemistry
1.2.1 Chemistry and utilization of biomacromolecules including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic
acid, intermediary metabolism of energy and nutritional molecules
1.2.2 Enzymology and coenzymes and kinetics
1.2.3 Cell chemistry, signal transduction pathways
1.2.4 Transport and mobility
1.2.5 Recombinant DNA and molecular biotechnology
1.2.6 mRNA translation and protein synthesis
1.3 Microbiology Related to Human Disease
1.3.1 Structure, function, and characteristics of microorganisms: microbe classication, structure,
metabolism, genetics
1.3.2 Pathogenic microorganisms of humans
1.4 Immunology
1.4.1 Innate and adaptive immunity
1.4.2 Principles of antibody actions
1.4.3 Hypersensitivity and types of reactions
Area 2.0 - Pharmaceutical Sciences (Approximately 33% of Test)
2.1 Medicinal Chemistry
2.1.1 Physicochemical properties of drugs in relation to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and
excretion (ADME)
2.1.2 Chemical basis for drug action
2.1.3 Fundamental pharmacophores for drugs used to treat diseases
2.1.4 Structure-activity relationships in relation to drug-target interactions
2.1.5 Chemical pathways of drug metabolism
2.1.6 Applicability to making drug therapy decisions
2.2 Pharmacology and Toxicology
2.2.1 Mechanisms of action of drugs of various categories including biologics
2.2.2 Pharmacodynamics of drug binding and response
2.2.3 Adverse effects and side effects of drugs
2.2.4 Mechanisms of drug-drug interactions
2.2.5 Drug discovery and development
2.2.6 Acute and chronic toxic effect of xenobiotics, including drug and chemical overdose and antidotes
2.3 Pharmacognosy and Dietary Supplements
2.3.1 Concepts of crude drugs, semi-puried, and puried natural products
2.3.2 Classes of pharmacologically active natural products
2.3.3 Science and regulation of dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, and herbals)
2.4 Pharmaceutics/Biopharmaceutics
2.4.1 Biopharmaceutical principles of drug delivery to the body via dosage forms: liquid, solid, semisolid,
controlled release, patches, implants
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2.4.2 Materials and methods used in preparation of drug forms
2.4.3 Physicochemical properties relating to drug entities and dosage forms
2.4.4 Principles of drug and dosage form stability, including chemical degradation and physical instability
2.5 Pharmacokinetics
2.5.1 Basic principles of in-vivo drug kinetics (linear and nonlinear)
2.5.2 Principles of bioavailability and bioequivalence
2.5.3 Physiologic determinates of drug onset and duration, including disease and dietary inuences on
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion
2.6 Pharmacogenomics and Genetics
2.6.1 Molecular genetics, genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic principles that serve as a foundation for
pharmacogenomics and the genetic basis of disease
2.6.2 Genetic variants affecting drug action and metabolism, adverse drug reactions, and disease risk
that inuence the practice of personalized medicine
2.7 Sterile and Nonsterile Compounding
2.7.1 United States Pharmacopeia guidelines on sterile and nonsterile compounding, hazardous drugs,
and FDA regulation of compounding
2.7.2 Techniques and principles used to prepare and dispense individual extemporaneous prescriptions,
including dating of compounded dosage forms
2.7.3 Dosage form preparation calculations
2.7.4 Sterile admixture techniques, including stability, clean-room requirements, sterility testing, and
dating
Area 3.0 – Social/Behavioral/Administrative Sciences (Approximately 22% of Test)
3.1 Health Care Delivery Systems and Public Health
3.1.1 Organization of health care delivery systems at the national, state, and local levels: various settings
where pharmacy is practiced and the structure of health care delivery systems such as managed
care organizations, accountable care organizations, health departments
3.1.2 Health care delivery nancing in the United States
3.1.3 Social, political, and economic factors that inuence the delivery of health care in the United States
3.1.4 Public Health and Wellness: chronic disease prevention, health promotion, infectious disease
control, demographics, physical, social, and environmental factors leading to disease, comparing
and contrasting public health with individual medical care
3.1.5 The health care delivery system compared and contrasted with that of other industrialized nations
3.2 Population-Based Care and Pharmacoepidemiology
3.2.1 Data sources and analytic tools that provide an estimate of the probability of benecial or adverse
effects of medication use in large populations
3.2.2 Application of epidemiological study designs to evaluate drug use and outcomes in large
populations
3.2.3 Methods for continually monitoring unwanted effects and other safety-related aspects of
medication use in large populations
3.3 Economic and Humanistic Outcomes of Health Care Delivery
3.3.1 General microeconomic and general macroeconomic principles
3.3.2 Pharmacoeconomic analysis and its application to improve the allocation of limited health care
resources
3.3.3 Humanistic outcomes and their application to improve the allocation of limited health care
resources
3.4 Pharmacy Practice Management
3.4.1 Management principles (planning, organizing, directing, and controlling pharmacy resources)
applied to various pharmacy practice setting and patient outcomes
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3.4.2 Personnel management
3.4.3 Planning, including delineation between business and strategic planning
3.4.4 Marketing of goods and services: product versus service pricing, distribution, promotion
3.4.5 Accounting and nancial management
3.4.6 Budgeting
3.4.7 Risk management
3.5 Pharmacy Law and Regulatory Affairs
3.5.1 Legal and regulatory principles applied to pharmacy practice: dispensing, professional services,
drug use control
3.5.2 Administrative, civil, and criminal liability
3.5.3 Authority, responsibilities, and operation of agencies and entities that promulgate or administer
laws, regulations, or guidances related to practice and prescription and nonprescription
medications
3.6 Biostatistics and Research Design
3.6.1 Research study designs used in medical research
3.6.2 Application and interpretation of statistical tests and data collection instruments
3.7 Ethical Decision Making
3.7.1 Principles of biomedical ethics
3.7.2 Ethical dilemmas in the delivery of patient-centered care including, conicts of interest, end-of-life
decision making, use of codes of ethics, oaths of the pharmacist
3.7.3 Research ethics
3.8 Professional Communication
3.8.1 Communication abilities (appropriate verbal, nonverbal, visual, and written) with patient and
caregivers, including empathetic communication
3.8.2 Communication abilities with other health care providers
3.8.3 Assertiveness and problem-solving techniques in relation to dicult social and professional
conicts and situations
3.8.4 Measurement and use of health literacy in pharmacy communications
3.8.5 Development of cultural competency in pharmacy personnel such that services are respectful of
and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of diverse patient
populations
3.9 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmacy Practice
3.9.1 Health-, illness-, and sick-role behaviors of patients
3.9.2 Principles of behavior modication
3.9.3 Patient adherence to therapies and recommendations
3.9.4 Caregiving throughout the lifecycle
3.9.5 Death and dying
3.10 Medication Dispensing and Distribution Systems
3.10.1 Systems for safe and effective preparation and dispensing of medications in all types of practice
settings
3.10.2 Role of automation and technology: pharmacy informatics, information management
3.10.3 Continuous quality improvement programs or protocols in the medication-use process, including
identication and prevention of medication errors, and establishment of error reduction programs
Area 4.0 – Clinical Sciences (Approximately 35% of Test)
4.1 Evidence-based Practice
4.1.1 Interpret and evaluate drug information
4.1.2 Apply drug-information skills for the delivery of medication therapy management
4.1.3 Evaluate the reliability of various sources of information
4.1.4 Interpret guidelines as they apply in a clinical setting
4.1.5 Utilize core scientic and systems-based knowledge in the patient care decision-making process
4.1.6 Utilize basic science principles in the development and/or implementation of drug treatment
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protocols and clinical practice guidelines
4.1.7 Evaluate clinical trials that validate clinical appropriateness
4.2 Clinical Pathophysiology
4.2.1 Apply concepts of pathophysiology to clinical decision making
4.3 Clinical Pharmacokinetics
4.3.1 Utilize pharmacokinetics to calculate, evaluate, and individualize drug therapy
4.3.2 Interpret clinical pharmacokinetics of commonly used and low-therapeutic-index drugs
4.4 Clinical Pharmacogenomics
4.4.1 Utilize pharmacogenomics to calculate, evaluate, and individualize drug therapy
4.5 Disease Prevention and Population Health
4.5.1 Recognize the proper use of nonpharmacologic therapies, including complementary and alternative
medicines
4.5.2 Describe measures to promote wellness and disease prevention
4.5.3 Identify the role of immunizations in disease prevention and health promotion
4.6 Patient Assessment
4.6.1 Describe techniques for obtaining a comprehensive patient history
4.6.2 Describe how to perform patient physical assessments: inspection, palpation, percussion,
auscultation
4.6.3 Differentiate between normal physical assessment ndings and modications caused by common
disease states and drug therapy
4.6.4 Interpret common clinical laboratory values and diagnostic tests
4.6.5 Perform calculations related to patient assessment: BMI, CrCl, lab adjustments
4.6.6 Describe the use of OTC point-of-care testing devices: glucometers, pregnancy tests, home testing
for HbA1c, drug screening
4.7 Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic Decision Making
4.7.1 Make therapy recommendations based on dosage calculations, specic uses and indications of
drugs and nutritional and support therapy
4.7.2 Interpret therapeutic drug concentrations
4.7.3 Assess pharmacotherapy considering contraindications, therapeutic duplications, dietary
interactions, adverse drug reactions and interactions, and allergies
4.7.4 Triage and identify when to refer patients to other health professionals
4.7.5 Design patient-centered, culturally-relevant treatment plans
4.7.6 Apply evidence-based decision making to patient care
4.7.7 Recommend nonprescription and natural product therapies
4.7.8 Identify and manage drug toxicity, drug-induced diseases, and misuse or abuse
4.7.9 Monitor drug therapy for misuse, abuse, and non-adherence
FPGEE Sample Questions
The following are examples of question types that candidates may encounter when taking the
FPGEE. These questions are presented as examples to familiarize candidates with their formats
and are not intended to represent content areas on the FPGEE. Every examinee is presented with
the opportunity to take a tutorial at the testing center prior to initiating the FPGEE. The tutorial
instructs examinees on how to respond to all of the types of questions that could be presented on the
examination. Candidates are encouraged to take the tutorial in order to become familiar with how to
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FPGEE Information
submit responses in the computer-based examination.
Multiple-Choice Question Format
Which of the following vaccines is contraindicated in immunocompromised patients?
A. Pneumococcal polysaccharide
B. Varicella
C. Meningococcal conjugate
D. Subcutaneous inuenza
Multiple-Response Question Format
What counseling information should a pharmacist provide to a patient taking oral tacrolimus?
(Select ALL that apply.)
A. Avoid live virus vaccinations
B. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice
C. If a dose is missed, double up on the next dose
D. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication
E. Medication levels need to be monitored
Constructed-Response Question Format
Griseofulvin oral suspension contains 125 mg/5 mL. A physician prescribed 250 mg bid for 2 weeks
for a patient. How many milliliters of griseofulvin should be dispensed in order to ll this prescription?
(Answer must be numeric; round the nal answer to the nearest WHOLE number.)
Ordered-Response Question Format
Rank the following topical corticosteroids from highest to lowest potency.
(ALL options must be used.)
Left-click the mouse to highlight, drag, and order the answer options.
Unordered Options Ordered Response
Fluocinonide 0.05%
Hydrocortisone acetate 1%
Halobetasol propionate 0.05%
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FPGEE Information
Unordered Options Ordered Response
Mometasone furoate 0.1%
Hot Spot Question Format
Using the diagram below, identify where in the HIV life-cycle maraviroc exerts its mechanism of
action. (Select the TEXT response, and left-click the mouse. To change your answer, move the cursor,
select alternate TEXT response and click.)
32
On the Day of the Examination
Review the following information before your examination administration.
Arrive Early
• Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled testing time to allow for
check-in procedures. If you arrive at the test center 30 minutes after your scheduled examination
time, you will forfeit your appointment. If you forfeit your appointment, there will be no refund
of your testing fee and you will be required to reapply for the FPGEE and submit the appropriate
retake fee in order to retest.
Bring Identication
• When you arrive at the test center, you will be required to present your FIC and a primary form of
identication (ID) that contains a recent photograph and signature. It is also recommended that
you bring a secondary ID that contains your name and signature. (More information is included in
the “Identication Requirements” section that follows.) Your test administrator will instruct you to
put all personal belongings in a locker and will provide instructions on where to keep your ID. Each
time you enter and leave the testing room, your identity will be veried.
Follow Security Procedures
Pearson VUE testing center staff will take a digital photograph of each examination candidate,
and each candidate will provide his or her digital signature and a palm vein scan.
• For palm vein scans, a device will be used to digitally record the pattern of the candidate’s palm
veins.
• Candidate palm vein patterns are digitally encrypted and securely transmitted to Pearson VUE.
If you do not provide the required identifying information, you will not be permitted to take the
examination.
• In the event that you are unable to provide a digital signature or palm vein pattern, you must
contact NABP at least 30 days prior to your examination date.
• For more information about the check-in process and palm vein scans, please contact Pearson
VUE customer service at 1-888/709-2679.
Remain Seated
• Once you have been admitted, the test center administrator will escort you to a workstation. You
must remain in your seat during the examination, except when authorized to leave by a test center
administrator in accordance with NABP policies and procedures.
• You may not leave the testing room without the test administrator’s permission.
• You may not leave the test center building for any reason during your entire scheduled
examination appointment.
• Your exam score may be invalidated, you may forfeit your appointment to test, and you may be
required to reapply for the examination if:
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33
» you leave the testing room without permission,
» you leave the test center building for any reason after being admitted but prior to initiating the
examination or prior to completing your examination, or
» you access your cell/mobile phone anytime while at the testing center including breaks.
Refer to Misconduct During the Examination on page 38.
Supplies
• The administrator will provide you with an erasable note board and a pen to use during your
examination. You may not remove the note boards or pen from the testing room at any time. You
will not be allowed to take your own scratch paper or pencil/pen into the testing room.
• You can activate an on-screen calculator during the examination. The on-screen calculator can be
used in a scientic and ve-function mode. If you request a handheld calculator for any reason,
you will only be supplied with a ve-function calculator by Pearson VUE. Personal calculators of
any kind are prohibited.
• Raise your hand to notify the administrator of the following:
» You think you have problems with your computer.
» You need to take a break.
» You need the administrator for any other reason.
Examination Administration
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Before starting the FPGEE, you will be required to read the terms and conditions of the NABP Non-
Disclosure Agreement for NABP Examinations. If you agree, select the box to conrm that you agree to
the Non-Disclosure Agreement and proceed to the application. You will not be able to proceed if you do
not accept the terms of the Agreement.
Examination Duration and Breaks
• Before beginning the FPGEE, you will be allotted 10 minutes to complete a mandatory tutorial.
• You will have 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete the examination.
• The FPGEE consists of 200 questions.
• The examination will begin when the rst question appears on the screen.
• Two 15-minute breaks are offered after 90 minutes and 180 minutes. Your palm vein pattern
must be scanned when you re-enter the testing room. These breaks will not count toward the 4
hours and 30 minutes allotted to complete the FPGEE.
• At the end of the examination, you will have 15 minutes to complete a brief optional survey.
Format and Option to Review Questions
The format of the examinations requires that all test questions be answered in the order in which
they are presented. You will not be allowed to skip a question or return to a previous question.
Completing the Examination
When you have completed your time on the examination there is an optional end-of-examination
survey, after which the test administrator will collect your note board and marker and walk you through
the check-out process.
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Break Information
Two 15-minute breaks are offered after 90 minutes and 180 minutes.
Important: All test center restrictions, security measures, and codes of conduct also apply
during the break. Your palm vein pattern must be scanned any time you re-enter the testing
room.
Identication Requirements
You must bring the following identication to the testing center to be granted admission to the exam:
• Your NABP-embossed FIC
• A primary form of ID that contains a recent photograph and signature
Note: Without your FIC and primary form of ID, you will not be admitted to the examination. You
will be required to register to re-take the FPGEE and pay the required fees again (see page
14).
Important: Your name on your identication must match your name on your FIC.
If your forms of identication are not in English, NABP highly recommends that you provide an ocial
translation of the identication.
See the “Translation of Non-English Documents” section on page 21.
Your signature on your IDs must match your digital signature provided on the day of the examination
as well as your signature on your FPGEC attestation. It is also recommended that you bring a secondary
form of ID that contains your name and signature. Forms of ID that have expired are not considered to be
valid.
If the name(s) on your primary ID does not match the name on your FIC, you must correct the
discrepancy by contacting the FPGEC in writing at least 30 business days prior to the date of your
scheduled examination. If the name on your FIC is different from the name on your IDs, you will not be
permitted to test. Name updates cannot be completed at the test center.
Acceptable Forms of Photo Identication
Primary ID
You must present one of the following acceptable primary IDs, which must be current (not expired)
and contain a recent recognizable photograph and signature. Note: International-issued passports with
embedded (not visible) signatures are acceptable.
• Passport
• Other valid government-issued IDs including:
» US-issued or foreign driver’s license
» US state identication card
Secondary ID
A secondary ID may be requested at the testing center. Acceptable forms of secondary ID, which
must be current, include the following:
• US-issued or foreign driver’s license
• Passport
• State-issued ID card
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FPGEE Administration
• US passport card
• US military ID
• Valid debit/credit/ATM cards (must be Visa, Discover, Mastercard, or American Express)
Unacceptable ID documents include, but are not limited to, the following:
• ID with no photo (unless accompanied by another primary form of ID with photo)
• Expired passport
• Expired driver’s license
• Draft classication card
• Letter of identity from a notary
• Social Security card
• Employee ID
• Green card
• International driver’s license
Temporary IDs
All candidates using temporary forms of identication must follow the same guidelines listed under
“Acceptable Forms of Photo Identication.” The identication must match the name on your FIC.
All temporary forms of identication must be current (not expired) and must contain a recent
recognizable photograph with your signature. A secondary form of identication may be required.
Acceptable forms of temporary identication include only:
• State-issued temporary driver’s license (with a photo)
• State-issued temporary ID cards (with a photo)
• State-issued learner’s permit (with a photo)
Candidates using any forms of identication other than the ones listed above must contact NABP
and present the identication for validation at least 30 business days prior to their test administration.
Failure to Present Proper ID
You will not be admitted to the examination without the proper ID, and you will not have an
opportunity to reschedule your testing appointment at the test center. There will be no refund of your
testing fee.
See page 17 for information on reapplying to take the FPGEE.
Name Changes
Candidates who have had their name legally changed must contact the FPGEC in writing at least
30 days prior to the examination day. Name changes cannot be completed at the test center and
documentation brought to the test center conrming your name change will not be accepted.
See the “Candidate’s Name” section on page 21.
If the name on your FIC is different from the name on your IDs, you will not be permitted to test.
Test Center Restrictions
To ensure that examination results for all candidates are earned under comparable conditions and
represent fair and accurate measurement of each candidate’s individual knowledge and skills, it is
necessary to maintain a standardized and secure testing environment. All candidates must adhere to
the following policies:
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FPGEE Administration
• No reference, study, or other materials or devices may be brought into the testing center.
• Candidates will not be allowed to take anything into the testing room at the PPC other than those
items given to them by the test center administrator and their ID documents (eg, passport, driver’s
license).
• Prohibited items will not be allowed into the testing room. Prohibited items include, but are not
limited to, the following:
» Beverages
» Books
» Book bags or backpacks
» Briefcases
» Calculators
» Cell phones
» Computers/tablets
» Computer bags
» Contents of pockets
» Food
» Handbags/purses
» Other electronic or
digital devices (watches,
activity wristbands,
PDAs)
» Outerwear (coats, hats)
» Pagers
» Photographic devices
» Recording devices
» Wallets
» Weapons
• Secure storage located outside the testing room will be provided for personal items, but space is
limited. Test centers assume no responsibility for candidates’ personal belongings.
• Even if no secure storage is available, you will be required to leave all other personal belongings,
including prohibited items, outside the testing room.
Important: Candidates may access the following items outside the testing room on
scheduled or unscheduled breaks
• Beverages
• Food
• Handbags/purses
• Wallets
• Smoking, regardless of substance, is not allowed in the testing room or in the testing center building.
• Friends or relatives who accompany you will not be permitted to wait in the test center building or
test room during your admission or during your examination and are not permitted to contact you
while you are taking the examination or during the optional break.
• You may not leave the test center building during the examination appointment or optional
break. If you leave the testing room or test center building, including the check-in and secure
storage area, without the permission of the test site administrator at any time during the
examination appointment or optional break, you may be suspended from the test administration
and your score may be invalidated.
• You may not access your cell phone during your break.
What to Do in Case of Inclement Weather
In the event of a testing center closing due to inclement weather, Pearson VUE will attempt
to contact the candidate. However, it is the responsibility of the individual candidate to contact
Pearson VUE to determine if the test center is open. If the Pearson Professional Center (PPC) where
the candidate is scheduled to test is open and the candidate does not keep his or her scheduled
appointment, the candidate forfeits all fees and no portion of the examination fee will be refunded.
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If Your Computer Experiences Technical Diculties
On rare occasions, technical diculties occur at the testing center. If you experience a computer
technical diculty, notify the test center administrator immediately. Every effort will be made to correct
any diculties as quickly as possible. Should the testing center experience a loss of power, back-up
systems are in place and every reasonable effort will be made to retrieve testing data. Once power is
restored, candidates will be able to continue their testing sessions from the point at which they were
interrupted.
If technical issues cause you to wait more than 30 minutes after your scheduled appointment
time, or a restart delay lasts longer than 30 minutes, you will be given the choice of continuing to
wait until after the delay to begin/continue your examination or rescheduling your appointment at
the next scheduled FPGEE administration without an additional fee. If you choose to reschedule your
appointment or the technical issue cannot be resolved, you will be allowed to test at the next scheduled
FPGEE administration at no additional charge; however, if your FIC or application expires, you will
need to reapply. Your testing results will be invalidated. If you choose not to reschedule, but rather to
continue testing after a delay, you will have no other options and your testing results will be considered
valid.
Security Measures
The FPGEE is the property of NABP and is a condential examination that is protected by trade
secret law, copyright law, and other applicable state and federal laws and regulations. The FPGEE will
be made available to the examination candidate solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for
FPGEC Certication.
Numerous security measures will be enforced during the test administration to ensure the integrity
of the program. Be aware that you will be observed at all times while taking the examination. This
observation may include direct observation by test center staff, as well as video and audio recording of
your testing session.
Misconduct
Individuals are expressly prohibited from engaging in misconduct at all times in connection with
the FPGEE, including misconduct related to exam questions, answers, or question format (individually
and collectively “Exam Content”). Misconduct in connection with Exam Content or the FPGEE include,
without limitation, the following:
• Selling
• Offering
• Disclosing
• Making available any portion or the entirety of Exam Content
• Transmitting
• Copying
• Reproducing
• Requesting
• Purchasing
• Receiving, acquiring, or utilizing Exam Content without specic NABP authorization
• Attempting, arranging, or having an individual take the FPGEE for you
• Attempting, arranging, or taking the examination for another individual
Misconduct in connection with the FPGEE or Exam Content is prohibited at all times, including prior
to registering, scheduling, or taking the examination, during an examination appointment session
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as described in this Bulletin, and after taking the examination. Misconduct can involve individuals,
candidates, or groups of individuals or candidates such as classmates, co-workers, friends, family,
study groups, organizations, or entities. Individuals or groups of individuals who engage in any of
the misconduct described in this section may be subject to one or more of the actions listed in the
“Actions” subsection of this Bulletin below.
Misconduct During the Examination
Individuals who engage in any of the following misconduct or exhibit any of the following behaviors
during their examination appointment session may be subject to one or more of the actions listed in
the “Actions” subsection of the Bulletin below. The examination appointment session begins when the
candidate is checked in to the test center, includes scheduled and non-scheduled breaks, and ends
when the candidate is dismissed from the center.
Examples of misconduct during the examination appointment session include, but are not limited to:
• Attempting to take the examination for someone else or taking the examination for someone
else.
• Attempting to have someone else take the examination for you or having someone else take the
examination for you.
• Taking the examination for any purpose other than determining the eligibility for FPGEC
Certication, unless otherwise approved by NABP and the board(s) of pharmacy.
• Accessing a cell phone or any other electronic communications devices.
• Using notes, books, reference material, or other aids.
• Attempting to aid an individual or receive aid to complete the examination.
• Bringing any materials, devices, or items to the examination appointment session that may
compromise the security or validity of the administration.
• Failing to follow an administrator’s instructions.
• Creating a disturbance of any kind.
• Removing or attempting to remove from the test center scratch paper, note boards, writing
materials, or the like.
• Copying or memorizing examination questions, answers, or any other examination content and/or
removing such information.
• Tampering with the operation of the computer or attempting to use it for any function other than
taking the examination.
• Leaving the testing room without permission.
• Leaving the testing center building for any reason.
• Selling, offering, disclosing, copying, reproducing, transmitting, requesting, purchasing, receiving,
utilizing without specic NABP authorization, or making available any portion or the entirety of the
FPGEE in any form.
Individuals who engage in any of the misconduct described in this section or who exhibit any of the
behaviors described in this section prior to, during, or after their examination appointment session may
be subject to one or more of the actions listed in the “Actions” subsection of this Bulletin below.
Actions
If NABP obtains information that an individual engaged in any misconduct, as dened in the Bulletin,
NABP, in its sole discretion, may take one or more actions, including but not limited to:
• Placing a hold on the individual’s ability to schedule an examination appointment.
• Placing a hold on the individual’s ability to register for an examination.
• Suspension of the test administration.
• Forfeiture of all testing fees.
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FPGEE Administration
• Termination of the test administration.
• Withholding the reporting of the examination score or invalidation or cancellation of an
examination score as described in the FPGEE Score Withholding, Cancellation, or Invalidation
section.
• Disqualication from the FPGEC Certication Program or revocation of your FPGEC Certicate.
• Notication to one or more boards of pharmacy or state or federal law enforcement agencies.
• Initiation of civil, criminal, and/or administrative proceedings against the candidate that may
result in civil penalties, criminal punishments, and/or disciplinary action, including denial of
licensure or licensure revocation by one or more board(s) of pharmacy.
Individuals have 30 days from the date of FPGEC’s disqualication or revocation notice to submit a
petition for an appeal. The disqualication or revocation notice will provide the appeal process.
Notication to Authorities
NABP reserves the right to share with pharmacy regulatory or law enforcement authorities
information concerning the withholding, cancellation, or invalidation of a candidate’s score on any
examination that is required for FPGEC Certication, the status of an FPGEC application, including
candidates’ le closure, the withholding of an FPGEC Certicate, candidate misconduct, the
disqualication of a candidate from the FPGEC Certication Program, or the revocation of a candidate’s
FPGEC Certicate.
Atypical Testing Circumstances
In the rare event that a problem arises in the administration of an examination, it may affect an
individual or a group of test takers. Problems may include, without limitation, power failures, defective
equipment, or other disruptions of the exam administrations such as natural disasters or other
emergencies. When these atypical circumstances occur, Pearson VUE will conduct an investigation to
provide information to NABP. Based on this information, NABP, at its sole discretion, may not score the
test, may withhold the reporting of a score while NABP reviews the matter, or may cancel or invalidate
the test score. Affected test takers will be notied of the reason for the cancellation and their options
for retaking the test at the next scheduled FPGEE administration. There is no appeal of any decision
made due to atypical testing circumstances.
FPGEE Score Withholding, Cancellation, or Invalidation
NABP reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion and at any time, whether to withhold
the reporting of an examination score or to cancel or invalidate one or more examination scores
of an individual or a group of individuals. The withholding, canceling, or invalidating of one or more
examination scores of an individual or a group of individuals may occur prior to, during, or after
examination administration.
NABP may cancel or invalidate an examination score or withhold the reporting of an examination
score for any reason including, without limitation, the following:
• Atypical testing circumstances
• Misconduct by one or more individuals as described in this Bulletin
• Testing irregularities
• Noncompliance with policies by one or more candidates
• Observed irregular behavior of one or more candidates
• Discrepancy or falsication of an examination candidate’s identication
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FPGEE Administration
• Impersonating an examination candidate or allowing an unauthorized person to take an
examination
• Unusual answer patterns
• Unusual or large score variances among a candidate’s examinations
• Unusually low score
• Psychometric review
• Leaving a testing center facility
• Accessing examination content prior to taking the exam
• Stealing exam content
• Communicating with other test takers during an examination appointment session
• Disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting an exam, in whole or in part, in any form and
by any means, whether verbal, written, electronic, or mechanical, for any purpose
NABP’s right to determine whether to withhold, cancel, or invalidate an examination score is not in
any way waived or modied because NABP processed an examination registration form, authorized a
candidate to sit for an examination, scored an examination, or reported an examination score.
Re-take Policy
All current and new FPGEC candidates are allowed a maximum of ve attempts to successfully pass the
FPGEE. No FPGEC candidate will be allowed more than ve attempts, even if the ve attempts were prior to
2012.
Candidates that do not pass the FPGEE upon the nal allowed attempt will have their FPGEC le closed
and will be ineligible for further testing.
Candidates who did not pass the FPGEE before the acceptance expiration date and have not tested
the maximum number of times will need to submit a new FPGEC application and the appropriate fee.
See the “Application and Examination Fees” section on page 14.
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Your FPGEE Score Results
Your score result will be available in your e-Prole approximately eight weeks after the test
administration unless NABP has withheld, canceled, or invalidated your score as described in this
Bulletin.
The minimum acceptable passing score on the FPGEE is a 75. The score is a scaled, equated score.
It is not a tally of the number of questions answered correctly, nor is it a percentage score. It is equated
to ensure that any difference in the diculty of questions on a particular form of the FPGEE will not
affect the scaled score you receive, and that your scaled score will not be inuenced by the scores
of other candidates who take the same examination at the same time you do. The range of possible
scaled scores on the FPGEE is between 1 and 150.
Effective January 1, 2012, your FPGEE score will be valid for ve years from the date of the
examination, and will become invalid at that time if an FPGEC certicate has not been obtained.
Candidates who do not complete the FPGEC Certication process before their FPGEE score expires will
be required to retake the FPGEE if they wish to pursue certication in the future.
FPGEE Rescore
If you believe that your score is not accurate, you may request a rescore. Prior to the release of
FPGEE scores, all scores are carefully validated. However, on occasion, a candidate may believe that
the reported score is not accurate. Candidates may request an FPGEE rescore and verication via
the e-Prole for a fee of $100 within 60 days of release of scores. Rescores may take 2-4 weeks for
processing.
To request a rescore, log in to your e-Prole, click on Application History, click on the rescore link
next to the relevant examination, and follow the instructions to complete the request and submit your
payment.
Score Results
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
1600 Feehanville Drive
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
847/391-4406
www.nabp.pharmacy