After 7 weeks wait, my Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination(FPGEE) result was received yesterday and I am still in awe. I was waiting for it the whole week and it was only yesterday that I went out to buy some things for our church wedding when it finally came. First, before I share my experience I would like to thank God for making things happen for the best as always. Secondly, my family that has been very supportive of me in my dreams and aspiration, who prays for my good health and well-being. And of course most especially to my hubby who has been there with me all the way (waking up early to drop me off the library, giving up his weekend for my review…) and for never loosing faith in me that I am gonna do very good in my test. It gave me a pressure and encouragement at the same time:)Thanks baby, whatever sacrifices that we gave it has been all worth it for God has answered our prayer.
As I posted in Dec, FPGEE got me busy after I had a miscarriage. It was August when I started to study for the exam. At that time I had a hard time since I was at the same being hospitalized often due to arrhythmia. It has been very hard to focus so I was praying really hard that God guide me through all this since I am giving my best to achieve my dream. I think it was about 3-4 hospitalization with monthly check-up and after an ablation for pvc, my heart beat finally has been normal again. Anyways with so many things happening in my life, with my illness and while I am still adjusting to my new home and environment, I know there is no excuse not to pass the test. But surely, I gave my best.
My day of studying, just like when I was in medicine is a routine. Everyday I would go at Rancho Cucamonga Library at 8am and I will be finish studying by 8pm. On weekends, we have like a group study in LA. My husband would really complain since initially my plan is no books on weekends but then I would end up asking him to spend time with me studying at Starbucks. But despite that effort, I would still feel that I need to study more. Since I didnt get my degree here in America and with little knowledge of the practice of pharmacy here, its hard to gain that confidence. And not to forget the fact that my exposure for quite a while is being a doctor of radiology in which the responsibility and role is different from a pharmacist.
Anyways for those who will take the test, there is no specific book that the FPGEE recommends. But what has been helpful for me basically is Leon Shargel “Comprehensive Pharmacy Review”, but that wouldn’t be enough. I read Shargel twice and its hard, since only in August that I started, thats why in studying you should have a time table and should be strict in complying with it. After reading Shargel, its time to dig in the basics of chemistry(organic,inorganic and general) in which I used Schaum’s outline. The key here is if you don’t understand something….research and try to figure things out yourself. There are different books available in amazon where I buy them. But before I do, I search online which books others recommend and at the same time I borrowed more than 20 reference book from the library. This includes Easy Way and Dummies for anatomy, for physiology, for organic chemistry, and several other books. I also searched the internet most of the time, I am happy to find out that there are many students here in America shares their lecture notes which when coupled with the reference books helps me refreshens my memory. Since I took these basic subjects more than 10 yrs ago, it made me easier to recall the basic subjects specially the chemistry part. Another book that I used is my set of Manan Shroff which I ordered from pharmaexam.com, I know there are some who used just either Shargel or Shroff for the test but to be sure study both, they are very good and works hand in hand together. I put more time in the areas which are my weaknesses and this will be Pharmaceutical Calculation(since we didnt have the same calculation in Med School) and of course Chemistry subjects.
Whatever your techniques are or method of studying is, as long as this is how you learn easily then go with it. What works for me might not work for others. I am just sharing my experience in the process of achieving my goal. My weapon ever since I would want to attain something especially with my studies and career has always been PRAYERS and HARD WORK. These for me is a powerful combination that leads to the road of fulfilling my dreams. I was praying to St. Jude, Divine Mercy, San Buenaventura, our Lady of Perpetual Help, its like everyday I have different novena prayers.They say that when you pray to God be specific in what you ask for, so when I was starting to study I would pray to God to help me get a score of 97 scaled score(score ranges from 1-150 with 75 as a passing score) and I would be very happy. As the days goes by as it approaches the exam day…I was praying Lord “75 please” just let me pass, I am now being realistic since now I don’t know if I covered everything for the test. After the test was done, I keep telling my husband that I really had a hard time with the test and all I can think of is my mistakes in the test which I am very certain that its wrong. Despite that fact, I still continued praying and wishing that things will turn out as I wanted it to be. And with Gods blessing, I still can’t believe it up to now that not only did I pass but I went over my goal and reach over 100.
To all test takers in the future….study hard and best of luck to everyone.
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Hi Abby,
Your blog is very useful. I am planning to take the FPGEE. Do you think if I study from CPR together with Manan Shroff management book is enough for the exam? CPR is good but its very long and there are some topics like anatomy and physiology not covered in it.
Thanks alot for your support
Thanks Noha, CPR and Shroff are good enough but you would have to answer mostly from those reference correctly otherwise other resources(physiology,anatomy, statistics, etc) no matter how small the point is counts. Sayang di ba kung meron ka ma miss na mabilis lang i analyze. Like for instance what hormones comes from anterior and posterior pituitary? this type of question di na kailangan ng malalim na pag analyze compared to patient profile di ba, analyze muna bago ka maka answer kaya sayang if you would miss those question na madali sagutan. You don’t need to know everything in detail naman, just the must knows. Good luck.
hi abby r still residing n LA? am a Filipino presently residing hr n SHV, LA…wanna know what books/reviewr to buy or wr can I get it at a lesser price..do you have any idea if it’s ok if an H4 visa (dependent from H1B) visa is allowed to take?tnx..
Hi Mari I m not familiar with the eligibility of visa, in terms of the books I used I made an detailed review of what I used from FPGEE, NAPLEX and CPJE. Please do a search in our website. Thanks
Mari, anyone could take the FPGEE regardless of the type of visa you have as long as you are qualified to take the exam. Visit NABP website and read the updated bulletin re FPGEE
Hi again Abby,
I am so sorry but I dont understand what you wrote. Do you mind answering my questions again in English?
Thank you
What I am trying to say is even if physiology and anatomy has very few items in the total exam you have to consider that every point counts. The type of question from these topics are quite direct and not need to be analyzed in depth compared to profile questions in which you have to study the patient profile to be able to answer the question correctly. It doesn’t hurt to browse to the basic topics although it would take some more time from the major subjects but don’t take the risk. Good luck. Sorry if I answered in Tagalog I thought you were Pinoy.
Hi Abby,
I started studying for my FPGEE, but there are alot of equations especially the pharmacokinetic ones. Do I have to memorize them for the exam?
Thank you
Whatever the kinetics equations seen in Shargel I did memorize.
Hi Abby!
I am writing on behalf of my husband. He is intending to sit for the FPGEE soon. However, we are getting frustrated with the whole process since he has been trying to apply since 2006. Medyo pinahirapan sya ng FPGEC sa dami ng hinihingi. Nung una, kung wla kang lisensya sa PI they required a certification that you will be allowed to practice Pharmacy in PI should you have a license. We got that and submitted it to them. Then bigla nlng binago yung requirement na kailangan may lisensya na bago mag-apply. He got his license in PI for that. You can just imagine how much emotional torture this gave him but I supported him all the way.
Right now we are waiting for the certified photocopies of his license and registration from the PRC in a sealed envelope. Will this be enough or kailangan pa po ba na may red ribbon? Naaawa na ako sa asawa ko, he has invested a lot of time and effort in this. Andito sa amin ang original but ang alam ko kailangan naka-seal yung docs kaya nag-request kmi ng certified copies. Ayoko ko lang po na ma-disappoint sya uli. Hope you can shed some light on this. Thank you very much.
Sorry to hear what your husband went through. If I remember right, I submitted the certified copy myself. Kumuha ako ng sealed copy from PRC then brought it here in USA with me then submitted it to ECE. Pero all of my other collegues directly PRC daw yung nag mail for them so PRC ang nag submit sa ECE. Yun ang sabi nila pero lahat naman kami did not have problems with it. I think what you have form PRC is enough di na kailangan yung red ribbon pero I did get one myself din pero di naman hiningi. Kasi nga hard to take care of it pag andito ka sa USA tapos andun sa PI yung mga documents na kailangan thats why I just brought everything na pwede nilang hingiin. Lets hope for the best for your husband.
Yung transcript nya sa ECE namin sinubmit pero ok na yun. Yung sa PRC nlng yung hinihintay namin para ipasa sa NABP. Alam nyo po ba if they count Pharmacy Technician experience towards internship hours? Thank you in advance.
Hi Miss Mari! pued po kayo ang magpasa sa NABP nun mga documents from PRC bsta ipalagay nyo lang sa envelope and ipaseal sa knila. ibigay nyo lang sa knila yung address ng NABP yung PRC na yun magtype po nun. I’m a 2004 Pharm grad kaya ng PharmD po ako so i could take the exam. And thankfuly. with God’s blessing, I was able to pass the April 2011 exam
Goodluck po sa husband nyo!
Thanks Mishka for sharing, this has been always a question for me…please share how you were able to sit in for the test considering you were a graduate after 2003, let our fellow kabayans know the steps you took to be able to be eligible for the test.
Best of luck, hope you keep us updated.
Congratulations
thanks for your input. hopefully maging ok na. nakaka-stress talaga. sana malapit lang yung pilipinas para di syado mahirap ano? share mo naman yung experience mo sa fpgee mishka kasi fresh pa. congrats!
For those Filipino BS pharm grad after 2003 who only took a 4 year course could now sit in FPGEE if you could be able to finish a Doctor of Pharmacy post baccalaureate course (CEU Makati is the only school offering it as of now).
It was difficult for us because of the technical glitch we experienced. The exam was almost 3 hours delayed and so me and my friends were drained na even before the exam actually started. Hmmm, the exam was simple, not complicated at all, but the thing was, we haven’t encountered those questions before (di tlaga siya napagaralan sa school or even sa review center). Mostly, the questions are from pharmacoeconomics and management, a few p.chem questions and about 3-6 calculations. Me and my friends we’re lucky enough that the Lord heed our prayers to pass the exam
Congratulations, you all deserve it. Good luck on your next journey.
Thanks Ms. Abby! God Bless!
Hi Ate Abby! Eto na naman ako. Nakapag-submit na kmi ng application for FPGEE tapos PRC na nagpadala directly ng certified copies. Now the hard part is waiting. Di ko na matandaan kung gaano ba katagal mag-respond ang FPGEC. I am a bit confused kasi when we called NABP the representative said that all documents are placed in a holding area and that wala naman daw tao na in-charge doon. Medyo napa-paranoid ako kasi sa dami ba naman ng applicants baka di nila mahanap. Yung mga kasama nyo po ba na PRC na nagpadala may identifier silang pinalagay sa envelope? Yung sa amin yata wala. Tracking number lang ng DHL yung meron kami. We already emailed NABP informing them of the situation and they replied that they could not give information regarding my husband’s file. Kinakabahan na ako and to be honest, this is the most stressful thing I have ever encountered. To think hindi naman ako ang mag-eexam.
I know it takes it awhile, kasi ako nga binitbit ko yung PRC documents I had it sealed and signed tapos ako na nag mail dito, pero alam ko lahat ng kasabay ko they did it through the usual process like what you did. From the time approximately it got here( your documents) in USA, has it been a month? if not then no need to worry kasi usually there is a time table I think napansin ko lang with the different agencies here in America usually you would here something about your case in a months time. Kung talagang matagal na more than 8 weeks then you should really try hard to get in touch with them.
Best of luck.
Nice blog I have a question about sa photograph na ipapass pwde ba ung passport picture taken from walgreens or walmart? sabi kc sa bulletin dapat di digital e halos lahat nowadays digital picture na e.What kind of picture ba ang send niu? thanks
I used the one from Costco so I think that it would be fine since I was able to sit for the test.
Hi. I’m planning to take the FPGEE this september but I dont have any idea of what books i should use. Meron pa po ba kayong alam where i could buy kahit 2nd hand lang? Thanks!
I did a detailed review of the books I used from FPGEE< TOEFL and NAPLEX, whether it is obsolete or not I am not sure but it was pretty helpful for me at that time. try amazon.com you can find 2nd hand books there.
Hi Abby, there are a lot of detailed FPGEE, TOEFL & NAPLEX books out there, do you mind telling us the author and title of each book? Big thaannks and congrats!
I did a thorough review of the books with authors in our website you just have to search for my blog. From FPGEE all the way to CPJE. Hope that will help
Hi Abby…kumusta na po kayo… I tried my first attempt on FPGEE last June 2007, but I didn’t make it…kulang ako sa review because when the time my registration to take the exam was approved,I was busy applying for a visa. So glad you made it through self study. Well my concern is, ok pa po ba ang mga International Pharmacy Graduates mag apply sa US?..kasi I want to take another try, either US or Canada. I just want to know how is it going there in the US basically for IPG who are still planning to take. NAg a-accept pa po ba sila nga mga foreign pharmacists? Cause se-seryousohin ko na po talaga itong 2nd try despite of my hectic schedules with work and kids.
It is quite rough right now with the economic situation of USA. Medyo nag higpit sill accepting and sponsoring foreign grads. I have been thru a couple of job interviews, the relocation and some other allowances were not as good before the economic breakdown some few years back. Even some of my friends are telling me the big chains are hardly doing the sponsorship cause they are expecting a surge of the local pharmacy graduates whom does not require sponsorship. This are base from what I see and what I have heard from friends and my boss so it is upon your decision if you are willing to take that risk. Syempre if you are lucky enough you may be able to find one that will sponsor you medyo mahirap pero meron pa run slim chance of getting it. I don’t want to discourage but at the same time I do not want to give false hopes as well kasi alam ko medyo magastos and matagal ang process so I am giving you a scenario of whats going on here in CA right now. I am not sure sa bang states how badly they still needed pharmacist kasi ditto medyo madami ata kami looking for jobs.
Good luck.
Hi,
Iam thinking about taking the FPGEE, just wanted to ask few questions
1-should all the transcripts sent be in a sealed envelope and the diploma too?
2- Does a higher score means higher chance of finding ineternship?
3-I have a B2 visa can i take the exam while going to usa on it?
4- how easy is to find internship and get an H1b visa (i am currently not in USA)?
5- are there a reasonable chance of getting employed after getting liscence?
Thank you very much for your kind help (please answer in english)
hi abby,
To be honest with you, ngayon lang ako nakakita ng blog na encouraging! kasi most of what i have read, matatakot ka nang mag try kasi scary yung mga kwento nila about FPGEE. I’m presently residing here in PA. Could it be much easier to attend review class since i haven’t been practicing my profession for almost 10 years?Can you suggest any? And when you apply for FPGEC certification, were you here in US or in the Phils. Thank you very much and more power, God bless!!
Hi there, I applied here in USA, I have been a graduate of pharma for 9 years when I studied for the FPGEE. I know its hard to change your schedule and make time for studying specially if your starting a family as well. They say Morris Cody is good but as I say in my blogs its person to person basis kasi some would prefer independent study as oppose to attending classes. The CPR is really helpful but it assumes that you know the basics already. Kaya dapat you have the basic books on the side like organic chem, anatomy, physiology,etc….it wouldn’t go to in depth kasi nga review na dapat ‘to. I did attend a class in LA every Sat which is about less than 10 classes but for most part I was on my own studying. If you can find a study group then it is helpful but studying alone is not that bad at all, you just have to keep pushing yourself to study more and meet your everyday study goals. Thanks and God bless too.
Hi Abby, do you still have the info of the LA class you took? Looking for a refresher or review-like center here for the looongest time…just not lucky to find one. I’ve been googling but nothing’s pulling up. Thaaanks
I am not sure if Tito Manny still does it, its close to Kaiser Vermont sunset in LA, he owns a store Farmacia San Jose. Don’t have any contact info besides that. Sorry
Thanks Abby, sharing is caring
We appreciate your help 
any study group in dubai 2 be shared regarding the FPGEE
Hello there I found this very helpful but I’m in desperate desperate need of your help I’m very frustrated can u please list me all the books I need to buy or study from I will be forever grateful please please please
If u make a search in our website about fpgee or naplex, u will find entries of my blogs including the books that I used for these tests including toefl. I gave a detailed reviews about it. Thanks for visiting our site and good luck.
Hi Abby,
I searched your blog but I couldn’t find the books you used for NAPLEX. Are they the same books that you used for FPGEE? Also, I heard that it is hard nowadays to get an internship, is that true?
FPGEE BOOKS
NAPLEX BOOKS
Please click on which book your interested and you will be directed to my blog. Thanks.
Your blog is quite informative , no offence but for people who donot know ur language they cannot understand, i would appreciate if you guys can share with people like me who donot know your language.
CONGRATS & THANKYOU
None taken, but most of the stuff that we usually use our language are matters regarding the process that relates to our home country system whether it is school related, or documents needed from government agencies. You are free to ask question. Thanks for bringing this is up and I wish you the best.