U.S. Career Navigator
Choose where you trained and follow the path that applies to you. Pharmacist licensure runs through NABP and your state board; scientists follow a degree-and-fellowship route with no licensure exam. Every licensure step below links to its official source.
If you trained as a pharmacist outside the United States, this is the route to U.S. licensure. It commonly takes one to three years depending on exam scheduling, your state's intern-hour rules and how quickly you complete each step.
Confirm your eligibility
You must be a graduate of a recognised pharmacy school outside the U.S. (a 4-year curriculum if you graduated before 2003, or a 5-year curriculum if 2003 or later) and hold an unrestricted pharmacy license or registration in your home country.
Pass the English proficiency test (TOEFL iBT)
For tests taken on or after 21 January 2026 the minimum section scores are Reading 4, Listening 5, Writing 4.5 and Speaking 5, all completed in one testing session. Remote-proctored or at-home formats and MyBest scores are not accepted.
Pass the FPGEE and earn FPGEC certification
The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE) has a minimum passing score of 75. FPGEC certification combines an education review, the English test and the FPGEE. Note: FPGEC certification is not a license. It confirms your education is comparable to a U.S. pharmacy graduate's.
Choose a state and apply to its board of pharmacy
Licensure is granted by individual state boards, and requirements vary, including required intern or practical-experience hours. Contact the board of pharmacy in the state where you want to be licensed to confirm its exact steps.
Pass the NAPLEX
The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) is the competency exam that tests your ability to practise safely and effectively. You sit it once your state board confirms your eligibility.
Pass the MPJE or your state law exam
The Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) tests pharmacy law for a specific state. Most states use the MPJE; a few use their own jurisprudence exam. Take the version your chosen state requires.
Get licensed and start practising
Complete any remaining state requirements and receive your pharmacist license. You can then take a community, hospital, ambulatory, managed-care, industry or specialty role.
If you earned an ACPE-accredited PharmD in the United States, you are eligible to sit the NAPLEX and MPJE once you meet your state's intern-hour requirement. From there you choose the practice setting that fits you.
Get licensed
Pass the NAPLEX (competency) and the MPJE (state law) after completing your intern hours, then apply to your state board.
NABP examinations →Residency (PGY1 / PGY2)
Accelerate into clinical and specialty roles through an ASHP-matched residency. Prepare your CV and interviews first.
Application Studio →Explore every setting
Community, hospital, ambulatory, managed care, industry, specialty and more, with a realistic route for each.
Career Pathway Explorer →Find live roles
Jobs, residencies, fellowships and scholarships across the U.S. market.
Opportunity Engine →Close your skill gaps
See what stands between you and a target role, then build the missing skills.
Skills Gap Engine →Pharmaceutical scientists do not need pharmacist licensure to work in the United States. Your route runs through degrees, internships and fellowships into industry, research and regulatory roles.
Industry and R&D
Formulation, drug delivery and product development, usually entered with a BSc, MSc or PhD plus lab experience.
Explore science tracks →Regulatory, safety and quality
Regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and GMP quality roles, entered with a science degree plus focused certification.
Skills Gap Engine →Research and data
Clinical research, biostatistics and real-world-evidence roles, increasingly central to industry.
Career Pathway Explorer →Fellowships and jobs
Industry fellowships, post-docs and research posts across the sector.
Opportunity Engine →Salary and market
What roles pay and where the market is moving, with named, dated sources.
Career Intelligence →