Hi everyone, it has been a while since I last blogged.
It’s just a month to go then I will be completing my internship hours. I know that after passing the FPGEE and TOEFL this is another obstacle since the recession made it difficult for foreign grads to find internship position in the location most accessible to them.
It has been a great experience overall since the practice of pharmacy in Philippines is totally different. Pharmacist here are called “doc,dr” and they do deserve it, they know not just the drug but they can even diagnose which I did not know how after graduating from a pharm school. Maybe I do but not as in depth from what they studied here but it can be learned through books, reading and experience. It is a plus factor being a doctor of medicine of course but I know if I did not pursue graduate school it is not impossible to pass FPGEE but it will just take more effort and patience.
Anyways, I worked with clerk and technician in an independent pharmacy and mostly we handle derma prescription since we are next to dermatologist. It is not as busy as the big chain so I was able to learn everybody’s task, which is good so that if you don’t have the tech or clerks you still know how to manage on your own. It is a whole new experience for me answering a call, dealing with the customers, greeting everyone “Hi , How are you, How may I help you, Thank you and Have a good day”……. we did not have these in Philippines. I do not remember going to pharmacy being greeted like this well hindi lang siguro ako sanay since when I got here I have to get accustomed to that not just in pharmacy but in any establishment here. Being able to compound some RX is nice too since not a lot does that. What I had difficulty with at the beginning is running the computer, there are commands that you have to know so you can transmit to the insurance. Wala din insurance sa Phi to transmit the prescription bills, mostly its cash in Phi. Well in the end I guess in any field thats why there is such a thing called internship is for us to get used to the ways and system so that it will be easier to troubleshoot and work when we become full-pledge professionals.
I know everybody has different experiences, good or bad share it here so that others can learn from it and expect these things to come.
Abby and Win’s Blog
Our Blog 2 Share 4 All
Hi Abby,
It’s good that I’ve found your website because I have a lot of things that I need to know. I used to work as certified pharmacy technician in Tracy,California. Now I am here in the Philippines taking up B.S. Pharmacy but it makes me sad knowing that the Board of Pharmacy is not accepting anymore foreign pharmacy graduates with a 4 yr. curriculum. It is not a guarantee that after taking a B.S. Pharmacy and then pursuing a Doctorate degree will qualify me to take the FPGEE. That’s why I am trying to finish my subjects for this sem so that I can present it na lang as my continuing education to renew my PTCB certification. Do you know of any university/college here in the Philippines that offers a 5 yr. Pharmacy course? How about the B.S. Industrial Pharmacy in UP? It is a 5 yr. course. Is it acceptable? Thanks and hope to here from you.
Hi Abby,
Congratulations. You’re almost a rph in the United States and just for the record, your fighting spirit is just so inspiring. I’m from UST also BATCH ’89 (ang tanda ko na no). I’ve taken fpgee before and I’ve failed a lot of times already. Maybe because it has been a long time since I’ve graduated. I could hardly remember much what I’ve learned from school. I’m from New York.I don’t want to be a pharmacy tech anymore. I feel that I’m too old for this job. Do you think that I still have the chance to pass fpgee? Goodluck to you and keep it up.
Almost, hopefully everything goes well and I stick to my schedule of study. Having a son is a new responsibility for me that I did not have when I studied in the past, so I hope I will be able to have enough energy to study. Thanks so much for visiting the site and for your kind words.
I know as we get older it changes but it shouldn’t be a hindrance, meron ako nakasabay sa test she is batch 75 UST and it took her several years too, 5 or 6 times until she passed it. It just takes more effort I guess, kahit ako nafru-frustrate sa sarili ko kasi I am used to studying and memorizing faster than what my study pace right now is. But we can’t do anything about our aging process what we can do though is cope up and put some extra effort and energy. What we may have right now will be more motivation because we are more mature and we have family depending on us.
I keep my outlook positive as I believe that it is not impossible for you to pass so must you. As I said if you fail once then do better the next times and put more heart and effort. And I always believe in praying a lot, ask for guidance that you will be able to study or touch up whatever questions that may be asked for FPGEE. “Asked, knocked and beg and it shall be given unto you”.
Keep your hopes up. Best of luck ! Keep me posted.
Hello Abby! I am also a Licensed Intern Pharmacist here in the Bay Area but have not even started getting hours for internship. It’s been tough finding an internship position. I currently work as a Team Leader for Pharmacy Services in one of the biggest Health Plans in California. This position is not considered an Intern position as far as I know. Although I closely work with Drug Utilization Review Clinical Pharmacists. I went through FPGEE and TOEFL, then now, awaiting for calls from hospitals and chain/independent pharmacies for internship. I have experience what you went through. I’ve worked at a teaching hospital at UCSF, at Walgreens and now in Managed Care. Managed care is the best for me . We get to know the new FDA drugs approved before they go out in the market. Learn the different indications of all these drugs. Hopefully, I can get my foot on the door and start my internship hours. Email me if you know of anyone needing an intern. I am available even on a part time basis for now. You have a bright future ahead of you. Good luck for the NAPLEX and CPJE. Thank you for having this blog for people like us.
Thanks for visiting our site, hopefully if you encounter some of the questions coming from our kababayans feel free to reply and answer their inquiries. I would want to work and be exposed to what you are doing now. I find that interesting and I think my background as an MD with be very useful to be on that kind of field. Hopefully when I pass I will be able to find that kind of position in our area. I will inform you if I come across some position. I know it is difficult that is the reason why I ended up doing volunteer for awhile. Well you have to do what you have to do, right?
Wishing you all the best, keep me posted.
Hi Abby and Win. Thank you so much for sharing with us your experiences. I passed the FPGEE April 2010 and already done with the TOEFL. After the euphoria of passing both exams, I am now at loss on what to do. All I know is that I am now eligible to take internship in the US after being given the FPGEC certification.
I am still uncertain as to which state I would like to apply. Do you know any openings for interns there in CA? My friends who passed the SEpt 2009 still couldnt get an internship job. Most employers would prefer applicants already in the US as this saves them the trouble of sponsoring the VISA etc etc.
Can you please share with us how you found one after passing? Thank you very much.
I know it hard to find internship specially if you have to be sponsored. Unfortunately I do not know any company willing to sponsor other than the the big ones like cvs, walgreens, and rite aid. But from what I heard they are cutting back on these ones too. You can try and go to their websites to apply.
Best of luck
Hi! abby, I am also an intern pharmacist in CA,i am currently based here in th e bay area.im happy for you that you are going to be done with your internship.will you help find websites where i can apply as an intern.as of now walgreens and rite-aid are already not accepting interns while cvs doesnt support the 1500 hours internship anymore.im afraid that my license would expire and haven’t started with my internship.i would also like to ask if you have any contact info of “LJAM”.?i hope to hear or see a reply from you.
I only applied through the website, I ended up doing independent retail though. I will try to look for the. Contact info and email you. It’s getting tougher to find internship positions even my friends working for the big retail companies says they are really cutting back.
Best if Luck
hi! abby thank you for the reply.i don’t need a sponsor because i am a permanent resident already.all i need now is somebody who can refer/endorse me to such companies.i have also tried applying to hospital pharmacies like kaiser but i dont get any response.how will i be able to look up for small/independent pharmacies here in our place?
hello, pot, I just received my intern license a couple of months ago. it’s a challenge talaga maghanap ng intern ngayon, I’m also looking but very difficult because I also have a full time job which i’m not willing to give up. The best way is to go to small independent pharmacies not on chain, they don’t take foreign graduates anymore. I was just informed on my last visit at a vons pharmacy that they have 1000 students graduating this year so they are our competition. go the the stateboard of pharmacy in california website to see local listing of pharmacies in your area or google it. Good luck!
Thanks for sharing. Good luck.
Hello Pot! You are in the same situation I am. I know it’s been difficult. I can’t find anything close to home. If ever there is one, maybe in Napa, Stockton or Sacramento. Go ahead and contact me via email. Thanks!
Dear Abby and everyone,
I would like to sit for the FPGEE on September 2010 so I sent my documents to NABP last week. This morning I received a deficiency letter from NABP. It says that after careful review of my application materials, the following deficiencies were identified:
APPLICATION
TRANSCRIPT
We await the arrival of the ECE General Evaluation Report. Please note that the evaluation process will not proceed until the General Evaluation Report is received from ECE. Upon receipt of the report, the FPGEC will notify you in writing as to the status of your program file.
DIPLOMA/DEGREE
LICENSE/REGISTRATION
OTHER
(So what does this mean? I’m deficient of my application form? But of course I submitted an application form! I also submitted a red-ribboned authenticated copy of my license/registration. And my transcript of proof of degree I sent to ECE. What should I do? I feel very saddened by this letter. Please help me.)
hi Vienna when did you submit your ECE letter, it seems to me that they are waiting for the confirmation that ECE evaluated your file and is deemed eligible. If you haven’t received your copy yet then most likely they(NABP) haven’t too. Contact ECE and follow-up the status of your application. Keep us posted.
hi nelia diloy, st. paul university in tuguegarao offers a 5-yr curriculum. i graduated year 2005 at the said school and have passed FPGEE 2yrs ago but too bad i’m stuck with TOEFL.
Hi Abby, thanks sa paggawa ng blog.im losing my hope in becoming a US RPh.
Yeah I submitted my documents to ECE already. I called them up a while ago and they said my evaluation report isn’t finished yet. I’ll keep you posted, Abby. Thanks so much. This blog of yours is really helpful!
Lala, don’t lose hope! Just think how lucky you are to have already passed the FPGEE! Good luck on your TOEFL. You might want to purchase Kaplan’s TOEFL iBT book.
I have toefl reviewers if you need some, cd and books from morris cody. Also have FPGEE books and cds as well. let me know if any want them. it’s quite easy really. practice lang and toefl.
Hello Abby and everyone C:
I needed advice from the experts..cause I’m new to all of this and I know that you guys can help me.
I’m a fresh graduate from UST and I just got here in New York last April. I didnt have the chance to take the recent Pharmacy Board Exam last June 2010 because I needed to go back here to save my residency. I’m so frustrated cause I still needed a year to study to complete that 5year-curriculum requirement and I also don’t have the license from the Philippines. What do you think is the best thing I could do? Do I need to pursue my studies here in US ?
Thanks so much. I really wish that someone would share her time to help me. GODBLESS
You may need to do a completion course to be able to be qualified to seat in for fpgee. After that you can try to apply to ece and have your credentials evaluated if they do require the license then there is no other way but to go back and pass the PRC boards for pharma. You can read some more info on what others have experienced by reading thru the comments since they are on the same predicament. But this is my personal opinion. Hope this helps.
hey everyone, im also in US right now. i didn’t take the fpgee coz im not allowed, so i took the pharm tech exam instead. i’ve already passed it but it is indeed very hard to find a job here esp if the companies are going to sponsor you. what can we do instead?
Hello, Gelly! I’m a UST graduate too. I graduated in 2009, and then I studied in UIC Davao for 1 year and graduated again last March 2010. I took the board exam in the Philippines and I got my PRC license last April 2010. Now I am here in California, waiting for my approval letter from NABP, so I could sit for the FPGEE on September 30. I sent the NABP and ECE requirements last June 21.
Gelly, I think it would be best for you to do the same: Take the board exam in the Philippines, enroll in UIC Davao, then apply for FPGEE. Good luck to you!
hi Abby! i’m a foreign registered pharmacist in Philippines but I live in California. I got married to my long time boyfriend. he was from my country but he is already a citizen in the US since 1995.
Abby, I practiced as community pharmacist from 2001 up to 2010 in my own pharmacy business in the Philippines. Do I still need the internship in California? pls help me on how to apply the Pharmacy Licensure Exam for Pharmacist since I am a foreign pharmacist. I still have no work since I migrated in Ca few months ago. What are the forms needed for me to fill out.
Pls email me to penelope232ph@yahoo.com thank you.
Hi! Thank you so for your replies, I really appreciate
@abby Thank you so much. I’m planning to go back to school but it’s so hard to enroll here in NY unless you’re a recent US graduate. But I really do hope that I would complete all the requirements as soon as possible.
@RozuHime Ive heard so much about UIC, and its a good school too.I hope I could get back soon in the PH to follow what you did. If you have a chance, would you please give me some info regarding the school? Thank you so much po for your help, it really means a lot to me
PS. Ive been wanting to take pharmtech exam for the mean time, do you have any suggestions on how to pass the exam? Thank you C:
Hi, Gelly! I took the PharmTech exam just yesterday and I passed! I’ll receive my license within 3 weeks. It was really easy, especially for pharmacy graduates like us. I bought “Pharmacy Technician Certification Review & Practice Exam” by Linda Y. Fred last week. The book is very thin and concise (108 pages only). You can read it in just two sittings. If you’re good at basic calculations, I’m very confident that you will pass. I advise that you take it ASAP so you can also apply for a job ASAP.
Regarding UIC: The tuition fee is somewhat like that in UST, 45k in 1st sem, 35k in 2nd sem. First sem is comprised mostly of classroom lectures and online assignments, while the entire second sem you will spend on clinical pharmacy internship (360 hours) either in Davao Doctors Hospital or San Pedro Hospital, plus Saturday classes.
Admission requirements are Transcript of Records, NSO birth certificate, Resume, and Honorable Dismissal. The dean also said that it is preferable if you already are a board passer when you take the 5th year program because license is required for the internship during the 2nd sem.
Good luck to you! Keep us posted. God bless.
Hi RozuHime,
Thank you so much for all the info. I purchased the book today, and I’m hoping that it’ll also help me pass. Did you try the PTCE Practice Exam on their Website? I’m planning to take the exam hopefully next month.
Those infos will be a really huge help for me. My parents and I are talking about UIC already
Thank you SO much. So you think I need to get a license first before enrolling in UIC?
Sorry for asking too much questions.. but I really appreciate your help.
God Bless
Hi Miss Abby,
I have a problem and I am hoping that you or someone can please help me.
I am a US citizen who went to pharmacy school in the PI and became licensed in the PI in 2003.
I am applying for the FPGEE and the NABP is citing a 2009 Filipino law, Republic Act No. 5921, Section 18 that states only natural born citizens of the PI may be a pharmacist in the PI.
Well, I have submitted letters from the PRC and a copy of my ID and certificate, and the NABP doesn’t believe me, as they still cite the 2009 law. I tried to explain that I was licensed in 2003.
Does anyone know of any amendment to the 2009 allowing foreigners to be licensed?
The 2009 law also reads that a Filipino pharmacist has to have a 5 year degree.
So, how do I make the NABP UNDERSTAND that the law changed, and previously, for example, one only needed a 4 year degree to be a pharmacist and that I am a pharmacist?
Hello, Philip! So you became licensed in 2003, but did you also graduate in 2003?
The FPGEC Bulletin states this:
“…if you graduated on or after January 1, 2003, you must have completed at least a five-year pharmacy curriculum at the time of graduation.”
I checked out the Pharmacy Law of 2009. Nothing has been said about the “natural-born citizens” in Section 18; but in Section 13, it has been stated that an applicant for the examination must be a citizen of the Philippines or a foreign citizen whose country/state has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of pharmacy.
Hello all. My niece just passed her Pharmacist board exam in June 2010.
How can she get a visa to come to the United States to take the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT? Besides marriage and employer sponsorship, is there any other way she can get a visa so she can take the exams?
Thank you for clarifing that, RozuHime. I believe your research sure helps other FPGEE takers who are in the same situation.
Hi Abby and everyone!
I am also a foreign grad, and after passing FPGEE and TOEFLibt, have recently started my internship. Like you Abby I had no luck from chain stores, so I found a spot in a private pharmacy. Since you are doing your internship in a similar setting I have a question that you might be able to answer:
If chain stores are NOT accepting foreign grads as interns anymore, and when they hire pharmacists, they prefer to hire their own interns who are now graduated, so that means that we, foreign pharmacy grads are NOT going to ever be hired in a chain pharmacy?
I am doing my internship but i am very hopeless that it is not going to land me any job in chain stores.
Have you ever had this thought? Please respond.
Hello, Jim. Congratulations to your niece! She can apply for a tourist visa so she could take the FPGEE and TOEFL iBT in the US. But in the end, she will still end up applying for employer sponsorship so she could get a working visa.
So glad to have found this blog of fellow kababayans in pharmacy. I finished my FPGEE and Toeflibt and is currently awaiting for my naplex results…
good luck to you. Please share your experience regarding naplex or fpgee. Thanks
Foreign pharmacy graduates like us, undergo quite an intensive amount of stress to get our license to practice, especially if you are also raising a family. Passing the FPGEE exams felt like I have finally passed through a needle’s hole, one down 3 to go, ToEFLibt was next and got lucky there. I would say that your internship experience is quite vital in the naplex exam. Your familiarity with brand/generic, compounding, drug forms and strengths, storage and key counseling points ofthe top200 drugs . for the Naplex exam, I used rxprep and apha for theory and prontopass math. Naplex q’s were random so I would say at least read through everything once, whatever reference you’re using. Lots of patient profile q’s , math q’s (loaded, nahimatay ako sa dami- tpn, flow rates), statistics , oncology, dm,know your lab values, htn. And to top it off, meron pang fill n the blank.. Innnaaayyy ko po… Took a 5 minute break para makahinga in the middle to the exam and to ask for divine intervention. Before I left for the break, I thought I was doing ok timewise because I only had 40q’s left with 2 hours to spare… Wwwrrroongg, 35 of those q’s were math so in the end I only had 5 minutes to spare at the end of the exam. It was like a mental marathon. Tough exam . So now the waiting game continues , hoping and praying for the best.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
hi everyone,I graduated last march 2003 and passed the licensure exam in the same year, I want to take the fpgee but since they made some changes with the 4 yr curriculum to 5 yrs , do you have any idea how can I be eligible with the criteria? is going to grad school can help? thanx a lot …
There are several post for this question, please read through this thread to find your answer. Thanks
may glut ng pharmacists sa suspect states its not like it was a few years ago and the current unemployment numbers should favor US citizens as some of you already are (fortunately!)
for the rest of us looking for sponsorships to do internship mahaba haba pang hintayan unless we have personal family referrals.
in the meantime, meron training dito sa manila beginning end-august to keep you abreast of developments and what to expect when you start internship.
if interested drop me a note patinghangin@yahoo.com
if you are in like situation (FPGECertified hoping for H1B) feel free to drop me a note anyway
salamat sa blog mo abby you continue to inspire your kababayans mabuhay ka
to fiona
it’s good enough you can get the hours to be able to sit for NAPLEX etc when you become RPh licensed you need not worry if you are a foreign graduate
to corerev
thanks for sharing your experience indeed what i hear is fpgee mas mahirap broad sciences while naplex is more clinical patient focus, a really good internship is key
Hello there,
It’s so nice to find this blog and mag-tsika-tsika. I am also a Thomasian, graduated 1990, so yes, almost 20 years ago, yakiiii, tanda na po ano? I passed FPGEE and finished my Internship. Now here’s the challenge….the NAPLEX!!! The first I took it, my preceptor told me that I don’t need to really study so much because I am already good on my counselling and said that NAPLEX is more on counselling… WRONG!!! If you don’t know your MATH, you wont make it. Got a 37 the first time. The second round, I studied, I read Apha and go through with MATH, ordered ProntoPass, and still, I failed with a score of 58. I am so mad at myself but being a fighter, and I don’t easily give up, I tried it the 3rd time, but I guess, this is not for me. A few week before my exam, my 3 year old twins was diagnosed of Autism. It breaks me. And with them on my mind, what will happened to their future, I just managed to get 63. Our state only allowed 3 chance. so I basically lose it all. After being accept the fact and realize that I need more to get this license to help my kids, I wrote a letter to the board to grant me last chance. After writing back and fourth I was allowed for another last chance. I told myself, this is it, I studied so hard. I went to a course in California, 1 week and I practice a lot of Math. I looked everywhere for Math questions to practice, time comes, I am ready. I schedule my test. 1 month before the exam, our landlord complains about my kids noises, and it bothers their other tenant, so on the weekend, where it was supposed to be my study schedule, we are busy looking for another place. Anyway, I should have postponed my exam, I am planning too, but then when I went to the website, I have to pay $50 for re-scheduling, and I don’t have any money, since I’ve been out of job for 8 months and with my husband’s salary, we are just living on a “pay-cheque- to paycheque” scenario. So, i said, okay, I will just do it. I got the result after 3 days… 74….. would you believe!!!!! Now, I don`t know what to do. I lost all my chances. Is it the end of my carreer
Is there anybody there with the same experience. Please advice.
Thanks everyone for helping Maria and helping each other out. I am planning to make it easier to read and share through our blog by putting together the topics or question that goes together after I’m done with NAPLEX. I am sorry if I haven’t been blogging much since I am studying for the test and trying hard to focus. I appreciate the time and effort of all who shares their stories and experiences to inspire and guide our fellow kababayans.
God bless us all!
@patinghangin
Share mo din your experience on both exams..
@Maria
Maybe you should check on a number of pharmacy state boards that doesn’t have a limit on passing the naplex such as Nevada .
@ Corerev, hi, thanks for your response. Does Nevada does not have any limit on how many times to take the NAPLEX? I will call the board. Thanks for the suggestion.
@Maria
Yes Nevada does not have a limit on Naplex. I’m also a thomasian. If u have any q’s, send me a message @ rphondago@yahoo.com.
To Patinghangin:
Thanks for your response. Today there was a floater pharmacist supervising were i do my internship & he told me that CVS is no longer hiring new foreign grads. He was also a foreign grad and now works in CVS. It broke me so bad i’m feeling so depressed, I don’t know what to do.
Has anybody else heard something like that? or perhaps he is making it up?? I’m lost.
Please help. thanks
To Maria;
just keep breathing. When times are tough, we all feel like loosing it, like it’s over, like we are not going to make it ever. It has happened to all of us before. We have all been there.
What happened to you is because of the nature of NAPLEX administration. The computer records your answers and choses the next question based on how you did in previous ones. So if you do good in math, it will strat bring in other things. if you make a mistake in lets say counselling, it will start pulling more and more questions on that issue. That is why your preceptor said its all about counselling. Perhaps he/she experienced dificulty and therfore lots of counselling questions. Same thing happened to you on the math.
System does that, so that they can make sure you know enough of each section. The key is to have a balanced knowledge of everything…and you will make it, if you were able to go through FPGEE you will make it.
Keep breathing
Thanks Fiona for the encouragement. Don’t mind whatever your floater Pharmacist was telling you. Once you’ve got your license, no matter if you are a foreign pharmacist or a US graduate, you will get the job. Ang kawawa lang iyung mga kababayan natin na nasa Pinas pa o kaya iyung di pa nakakapag-start ng Internship. Kasi iyun ang mahirap, I think naka- tie up ang mga companies sa iba’t-ibang US Universities na bigyan ng priority ang US graduate/ student, syempre pa diba? Ang dami na kaya ngayong nag-eenrol ng Pharmacy, hay!!! Pero mga sa mga kababayan natin dyan sa Pinas, don’t loose hope, kasi marami pa rin naman akong naririnig na nagi-sponsor, medyo humina lang ngayon because of recession.
@ ABBY, thanks for starting out this blog. And goodluck on your exam. Know the MOA of common drugs, double check the profile and the pharmacist notes. And syempre, practice Math, hehehehe.
@ Corerev, thank you for your response. I will send you an email.
Goodluck to us all who are still working out their license to be a pharmacist in the US. God Bless.
Please pm me naman at jabolante@yahoo.com
My FPGEC certificate na din ako at canadian citizen na kaya lang hirap pa rin humanap ng internship.please pm me and give me your number guys… baka pwede ako magapply sa pinagiinternan nyo. I just need a letter of employment no sponsorship kasi TN1 visa na lang kailangan ko…thanks…please pm me asa;p…
please pm me at jabolante@yahoo.com
foreighn grad din ako pero canadian citizen…naghahanap din ako ng mapagiinternan…kaya please help naman…pm nyo ako para makapagtsika tsika…wala talaga ako makita…baka meron kayo alam at pwedeng magapply dyan sa inaplyan nyo…
Hi collegue, thank you so much for your words of encouragement.It inspires me more to take my FPGEE on April 2011.I already applied for my FPGEE last 2008 however i was indecisive pursuing it due to the recession last 2008.I went back to the philippines and practice as a Physician.But I came back last 2009 and decisively pursue my dream of taking FPGEE.Actually I am a Physician and Pharmacist back in our country.However to start my life here, I want to practice initially as a pharmacist prior taking my USMLE later if given a chance.
I have some classmates (BS pharmacy) who has been practicing as a pharmacist now.However i feel so inferior in terms of knowledge in pharmacy practice.
Im not sure if we as Filipinos are capable enough passing the FPGEE.Im asking from our Filipino collegues on the tips of passing the FPGEE.For me, Im not so confident to take the exam since i only practiced as a pharmacist for 3 yrs and after which i proceed to medicine.Some of my friends suggested some review books like “Comprehensive Pharmacy review by Leon Shargel”.And I bought Pharmacolgy book by Katzung to supplement my knowledge in Pharmacology.At this point of time, I dont have directions on what to concentrate on since I dont have the idea on the approach of the examination.I hope,there will be some of our Filipino collegues who will have the kind heart to guide me on what to study.Im looking for a female study partner too…you can call me on my cp number 267-439-8932.Im waiting for somebody who’ll acknowledge this letter.God bless us all…and More power to all our collegues out there!
Jemimah
Hi Jemimahh, we are very much alike. Physician/pharmacist din ako sa PHI but unlike you I did not even get a chance to practice as a pharmacist. It was really though to take FPGEE kasi you have to know the basics again, from computations to structures and chemistry. Just give it time and the books that you mentioned are sufficient enough. I hope you read my review regarding the books that I used so in a way it can guide you. It is my plan to take USMLE too later but if it will be fulfilling enough and less stress being a pharmacist with more time for my family then I will be content with it. Good luck to you.
@ corerev, wala p ko intern license so fpgee pa lang napasa ko.
@ fiona, again, agree with maria, don’t let it pull you down, once you become licensed level playing field na.
@ same situation as I am: oktubre na, there should be feelers from the big 6 (cvs, walgreens’s, etc) kung may budget for interns next year. eyes always open, the US is so huge. to my awareness, 1 pinoy lang kilala ko nasponsor this year, waltermart na, sa mid-west pa. only God knows what’s for each of us if we keep asking and we all know He knows best!
Congratulations !!! Abby. You’ve finally made it. Just one more CPJE then you’ll be a licenced pharmacist. TAKE GOOD CARE BECAUSE GOD CARES.
I have passed the TOEFL iBT!!!
Congrats, I know that one is a tricky endeavor but at least one obstacle down. I hope you will be dropping by soon to share the good news and your experience about TOEFL and FPGEE. I wish you the best. Keep us posted
graduate po ba kayo after 2003?
Graduated Pharmacy in 1997
Graduated Medicine in 2001
hi abby,
many thanks! you made this blog..it helps a lot sa mga kagaya ko n confused din and maraming tanong when it comes to fpgee…i supposed to take my fpgee last 2007 but it was postponed i got t my official transcript and proof of degree but not yet submitted to ECE neither i did not apply yet…now i decided to take it this coming september 2011….but as i read the blogs of some our collegues that almost of the chain drugstores there are not accepting foreign grads instead they are giving priority to their own parang nagdadalawang isip ako kasi di ba mahirap pag may family n esp.when it terms to money talk..of course abby when i take the fpgee and toefl(and hopefully passed it) then eventually i will take my internship kaya lang kung ganon nga po n hindi n nag aaccept ng foreign grad parang masasayang lang po di ba?one more question po abby ung toefl po ba do i need to take it there in the US or puede naman dito sa phil.?alin po ang unang dapat itake ung fpgee or toefl?maraming salamat po abby…GODBLESS YOU ALWAYS!
Thanks for visiting our site. I know right now even for us immigrants the incentives has changed, it used to be better couple of years ago. I am hoping more opportunities/better salary will come after the Obama health care bill will take in effect by 2014 meaning everybody will have insurance. By this more health care professionals will be needed to meet the demands of the public. The decision is up to you it is hard to predict what will really happen once this bill take in effect but I think it is a risk for you to take which may benefit you later on. Ganun siguro talaga medyo mahal yung mga fees pero kailangan talaga sumugal kasi if ever na kailangan talaga later on ng maraming pharmacist and if you have the license na then you can take advantage of this opportunity. However, base din sa survey dumami na rin sa mga citizen dito studying pharma so that will be another competition.
With regards to TOEFL, you can take it from there. Correct me if I am wrong but if TOEFL doesn’t have expiration then you can pick either of the two. Kasi before 2 yrs lang TOEFL validity once you passed kaya I advise to take the FPGEE first kasi syang kung within 2 yrs di pa nakakapasa ng FPGEE and you have to retake TOEFL again.
God bless and best of luck to you.
Mayron po sana akong tanong sa inyo mga pharmacist. Incoming freshman po ako sa pharmacy at may tanong po ako sa inyo:
1. Bago po makakuha ng FPGEE ay kailangan munang graduate ng isang “specific school” like UST, CEU etc.? I heard na magbubukas daw ang lasalle sa Dasmarinas ng pharmacy school pero I am not sure kung pwede akong magtake ng exam kung sa lasalle ako papasok.
2. Natanggap din po ako sa isang university sa maynila pero 4 yrs lang ang pharmacy nila, alam ko po kasi na kailangang 5 yrs ang requirement nila. Kung dito ako papasok, paano po ang approach na gagawin ko para makakuha ng FPGEE?
Salamat po ng marami sa guidance nyo at sanay makapasa kayo lahat sa mga examinations ninyo.
Hi, if you will read the previous post you will be informed that since 2003 the 5 yr curriculum is needed. There are some universities which I am not familiar with that offer a 5 yr program however this is not a guarantee that you will be able to seat i for the test. I know this because I had a companion who graduated after 2003 and finished a 5 yr program but was denied for the test and was advised to take some units in a university here for $18,000 back in 2007.
Hi abby,just want to ask how many weeks before NABP release the FPGEC?yun na lang kasi kulang ko to register for NAPLEX sa NY…I guess I have the worst condition because Im on B-2 visa at nobody seems to give sponsorship nowadays…
Thanks…
It took around two weeks for me here in CA.