Pharmacist Licensure by Examination for Non-U.S. Graduates


Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Helpful Forms and Links, and Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Pharmacist Licensure by Examination for Non-U.S. Graduates.

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Requirements

To be licensed as Pharmacist in Florida, you must have met the following requirements pursuant to Section 465.007, Florida Statutes:

  1. 500 FLORIDA INTERSHIP HOURS: A total of 500 internship hours completed as a Florida Pharmacy Intern Non-U.S. Graduate under an approved preceptor. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED YOUR FLORIDA INTERNSHIP, PLEASE FIRST APPLY AS A PHARMACY INTERN NON-U.S. GRADUATE.
  2. FORM B/INTERNSHIP OR WORK EXPERIENCE: A total of 2080 hours of an internship program approved by the Board—500 Florida internship hours registered as a Pharmacy Intern Non-U.S. Graduate plus 1580 hours of internship or work experience hours. Form B must document the completion of 1580 internship or work experience hours. The hours documented on Form B may not overlap with the 500 Florida internship hours.
    1. If you are self-employed as a pharmacist, please submit a notarized statement with your Form B attesting to your ownership of the pharmacy.
    2. If you are the supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager, you cannot sign Form B. You must have a hiring manager, supervisor or human resource representative verify years/hours of work experience and employment.
    3. If you choose to complete more than 500 hours in the State of Florida, you must continue those hours under an approved preceptor. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the hours.
  3. NON-U.S. GRADUATE: A graduate of a 4-year undergraduate pharmacy program of a school or college of pharmacy located outside the United States must demonstrate proficiency in English pursuant to Section 465.007(2), F.S. and Rule 64B16-2.031, F.A.C. by successfully passing the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination and the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT).
    1. English proficiency can be met in one (1) of two (2) of the following pathways:
      PathwayPathway 2
      FPGEEFPGEC Certification
      TOEFL ibt
    2. EXAM: Passing scores on both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) (also referred to as the “Florida law exam”).
      1. The board is a participant in the NAPLEX Score Transfer Program. If you elect to transfer your NAPLEX score to Florida, the score is valid for three (3) years from the date you took the examination.
      2. If you passed the NAPLEX examination, please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement to see if you qualify by this method.
    3. LICENSE VERIFICATION: This form is required for applicants who hold or have ever held a license in another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country. Please have the office that issued the license or certification complete the License Verification Form. A license verification is required for all applicants. Online license verifications will be accepted as long as they are current and display discipline history.

Applicants with Discipline History

Applicants with prior disciplinary actions are required to submit the following:

Board Actions – Certified copies of document(s), i.e. Final Order and Administrative Complaint, relative to any disciplinary action taken against any license. The documents must come from the agency that took the disciplinary action and must be certified by that agency.

Self-Explanation – A detailed description of the circumstances surrounding your disciplinary action and a thorough description of the rehabilitative changes in your lifestyle since the time of the disciplinary action which would enable you to avoid future occurrences. It would be helpful to include factors in your life, which you feel may have contributed to your disciplinary action, what you have learned about yourself since that time, and the changes you have made that support your rehabilitation.

Applicants with Health History

If a “Yes” response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a licensed health care practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with Criminal History

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following:

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in their own words describing the circumstances of the offense. Include in your letter the date of the original offense, the charge, and the jurisdiction where it occurred.

To review the conviction record guidelines adopted by the Board, click here.

Health Care Fraud; Disqualification for License, Certificate, or Registration

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

  1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
    1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
  2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
  3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
  4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
  5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. The section above does not apply to candidates or applicants for initial licensure or certification who were enrolled in an educational or training program on or before July 1, 2009, which was recognized by a board or, if there is no board, recognized by the department, and who applied for licensure after July 1, 2012.

Process

The following steps apply to individuals who have less than 2 years of active practice experience, may have not yet taken the NAPLEX examination, and are a Non-U.S. graduate. NOTE: The board is a participant in the NAPLEX Score Transfer Program. If you elect to transfer your NAPLEX score to Florida, the score is valid for three (3) years from the date you took the examination. If you have already passed the NAPLEX, you will not have to take the NAPLEX again. If you passed the NAPLEX examination more than 3 years ago, please review the requirements for licensure by endorsement to see if you qualify by this method.

  1. Apply for licensure by EXAMINATION FOR NON-U.S. GRADUATES. Ensure that all fields are completed as instructed. An incomplete application shall expire after one (1) year. Applications submitted without fees will not be processed. Please make sure to include your Social Security Number (SSN) on your application. Your application will not be approved unless this information is included on your application. To apply, click here.
  2. Submit Work Activity Manual and Form B to the Board office.
    1. Work Activity Manuals must be submitted and reviewed by the Board office. The 500 internship hours must be performed under an approved preceptor in Florida during your Florida internship and must be submitted to the Board office for approval.
    2. Form B must document a minimum of at least 1580 internship or work experience hours to be completed by either the state board of pharmacy in the state you completed your internship or from your Employer. The 500 Florida internship hours cannot overlap with the other 1580 internship or work experience hours.
      1. If you are self-employed as a pharmacist, please submit a notarized statement with your Form B attesting to your ownership of the pharmacy.
      2. If you are the supervising pharmacist or pharmacy manager, you cannot sign Form B. You must have a hiring manager, supervisor or human resource representative verify years/hours of work experience and employment.
      3. If you choose to complete more than 500 hours in the State of Florida, you must continue those hours under an approved preceptor. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the hours.
  3. Submit proof of meeting English equivalency. Please submit certificate showing Non-U.S. Graduate Equivalency Committee (FPGEC) certification OR submit proof of passing the required English equivalency examinations in one (1) of the two (2) ways in the table below.
    Way 1Way 2
    FPGEEA minimum score of 75%FPGEEA minimum score of 75%
    TOEFL550 on pencil and paper test
    OR
    213 on computer-based test    		TOEFL ibtListening –18

    Reading –21

    Speaking –26

    Writing –24

    TSE50
  4. Submit examination requests for the NAPLEX and Florida MPJE through National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. If you have completed and passed the NAPLEX examination in another state in the past 3 years, please request an official score transfer from NABP. You will not need to retake the NAPLEX examination. However, you will still need to submit an examination request for the Florida MPJE. Please visit the NABP website to complete this process.
  5. Request Certification/License Verification. This form is required for applicants who hold or have ever held a license in another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country; no matter the status. Please have the office that issued the license or certification complete the Licensure Verification Form. Online license verifications will be accepted as long as they are current and display discipline history.

If you have not yet submitted your completed Work Activity Manual to the Board office, please do so at your earliest convenience. You must have your 500 Florida internship hours approved and verified by the Board office prior to receiving exam approval. Even if all other documentation has been received, you will not receive exam approval until the 500 Florida internship hours have been approved by the Board office. You may submit your completed Work Activity Manual to the Board office.

Please allow 30 days for initial review of new applications. All applications and document submissions are reviewed in the order they are received. After your application is reviewed, any deficiencies will be communicated to you in writing by our Board staff. To expedite processing, please submit all required supporting documentation with your application and the requisite fees. If you are having documentation submitted by another entity on your behalf, please verify the Board office’s mailing address to ensure delivery.

  • Department of Health
    Board of Pharmacy
    4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-04
    Tallahassee, FL 32399-3258

Once your application has been deemed complete, our office will notify the NABP that your application is complete. You will be sent an Authorization to Test number (ATT) by email from NABP. Your ATT is valid for one (1) year from the date our office received your application.

The NABP will provide test scores to the Board of Pharmacy. Applicants may view scores online via NABP’s website. After passing scores are received by the Board office, please allow for 14-16 business days for processing. If you have obtained passing scores on both the NAPLEX and Florida MPJE examinations, your Florida Pharmacist license will be issued.

If you did not pass the required examinations, your ATT will be valid for one (1) year from the date our office received your application. Should you not pass the NAPLEX and Florida MPJE examinations within the one-year timeframe, you will need submit a new application and the $295 fees to the Board office.

Fees

Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Florida Department of Health.

Application Fee$100.00 (non-refundable)
Initial Licensure Fee$190.00
Unlicensed Activity Fee$5.00
Total$295.00

If you do not pass the required examinations within one year of your application date, you must reapply and submit the application fee of $100 with your application as set forth in Rule 64B16-26.1001.

Please note examination fees for the NAPLEX and MPJE are paid directly to NABP, not the Board office. Examination fees are subject to change per the NABP’s discretion.

NAPLEX Fee$620.00
MPJE Fee$270.00

Statutes & Rules

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

Chapter 465: Pharmacy
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act
Chapter 499: Florida Drug and Cosmetic Act
Chapter 893: Drug Abuse Prevention and Control

Florida Administrative Code

Rules: Chapter 64B16: Board of Pharmacy