Us Visa For Pharmacist
Are you from a foreign country? If so, then this is the blog post for you. Whether earning a degree in pharmacy or becoming a pharmacist in the United States of America, an international student may need to acquire a visa to study and work by getting an F-1 Visa. Acquiring an F-1 Visa can be complex. Professional Pharmacy Services LLC understands this and can help you obtain your F-1 Visa today.
It is a well-known fact that online pharmacy has become immensely popular. But would you believe me if I said the US pharmacist visa can be easily acquired by average folk like you? The numbers do not lie, the rates of online purchasing are surging ahead of traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies. A simple reason behind this trend is that people are gravitating towards lower prices offered by online pharmacy portals than high incomes on prescription medications purchased from community pharmacies.
Us Visa For Pharmacist
Pharmacist is the best profession. Pharmacists are responsible for dispensing drugs to patients, checking their prescriptions and preparing the drugs for them. Pharmacists also give advice on how to stay healthy and prevent diseases.
Pharmacist has a wide variety of options available when it comes to career choices. It is possible to become a pharmacist in different ways: via pharmacy school or a doctorate program, through an online pharmacy school or even by getting a certificate from an online pharmacy school.
For many people, the idea of becoming a pharmacist may seem like an unattainable goal because of the high cost associated with obtaining an education in this field. However, there are several ways that you can go about paying for your education without having to worry about taking out loans or incurring debt.
The first step towards becoming a pharmacist is deciding what type of career path you want to follow once you have completed your training program(s). The most common types include hospital-based positions, retail positions and clinical research positions; however there are many other options available if these do not appeal to you specifically (i.e., government jobs).
Once you have decided what type of job environment interests you most then next step would be finding out where all those jobs exist geographically.
A pharmacist is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions, advise patients about their medications, and make sure that drugs are safe. Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies or hospitals, although some work for the government as inspectors.
In order to become a pharmacist in the United States, you must first be accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited university. Once you have completed your education and training, you will need to pass a certification exam called the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX). It is also recommended that you complete an internship before applying for jobs.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities for pharmacists will grow by 14% between 2014 and 2024, which is faster than average growth rate across all occupations (7%). This means there are more jobs than qualified candidates so if you want to become a pharmacist then now is the best time!
H-1B for Pharmacists
Representing Health Care Professionals
Foreign pharmacists who wish to practice in the United States are best suited under the H-1B visa category. The H-1B visa for a foreign pharmacist can be acquired for internship programs as well as for licensed pharmacist positions. Foreign school graduates or pharmacists with foreign degrees must meet the general state board pharmacy rules to obtain an H-1B visa. As of January 2003, foreign-educated pharmacists can only apply for the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification if he or she has earned a professional degree from a five-year curriculum program. This requirement is mandated by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
Like other health care workers hoping to immigrate to the United States on the H-1B visa, foreign-educated pharmacists must take the appropriate examinations and meet several licensing requirements. If you are a foreign pharmacist and wish to have your H-1B visa or permanent residence processed, contact the Columbus immigration lawyers at The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates for a consultation.
You can reach us at (800) 625-3404.
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Requirements
A foreign pharmacist wishing to obtain an H-1B visa must show that he or she has the equivalent education of U.S. pharmacy graduates. Also, the employer who files the visa on behalf of the foreign pharmacist must show that the employee is qualified for the job and that the foreign degree is equivalent to a B.S. degree in pharmacy or PharmD degree. This can be done by completing the FPGEC Certification. Additionally, because the pharmacist is required to be licensed in the state in which he or she practices, the employer must show that the pharmacist is actually licensed in that particular state. H-1B Visas
Special Requirements: FPGEC, FPGEE, TOEFL &TSE
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) administers the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification. Although this certification is not a license to practice pharmacy, it does confirm that the foreign pharmacy school graduates have the equivalent education as that of U.S. pharmacy graduates. Part of the certification requires the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE). This measures the foreign pharmacist’s knowledge of certain subjects like chemistry, which is required of all pharmacists in the United States. Further, the foreign pharmacist must score at least a 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based exam, or at least a 213 on the computer-based TOEFL. Also, the Test of Spoken English (TSE) must be taken and the foreign pharmacist must attain a score of at least 50.
State Requirements
Graduate Degree in Pharmacy
Most state boards require that the pharmacist is a graduate from pharmacy schools or programs that are accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE). However, no foreign schools are accredited by ACPE.
North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX)
The foreign pharmacist must pass the NAPLEX. Although reciprocity requirements differ from state to state, the NAPLEX score may be transferred from one state to another.
Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE)
Most states do not recognize MPJE scores from other states because it is a test of both federal and state law. Therefore, the foreign pharmacist would be required to take the MPJE again in whichever state he or she wishes to practice.
Internship
Many states require a number of internship hours that must be completed prior to taking the NAPLEX or before licensing. Some of these hours may be completed while the applicant is still in school. Generally, the individual must provide an affidavit about fulfilling hours of pharmacy practice. Foreign pharmacists will have the internship after the FPGEC certification but prior to the licensing exams. Nevertheless, internship programs for foreign pharmacists may qualify them to receive an H-1B visa.
Reciprocity or License Transfer
Some states accept reciprocity or license transfer. This could also include NAPLEX score transfers. However, the majority of states require that the other state have similar licensing requirements and use a license transfer system or NAPLEX score transfer system. These states then also require the transferring pharmacist to pass that state’s MPJE exam because of the different state laws the transferring pharmacist must now know. Typically, the pharmacist will not need to re-take the NAPLEX.
Overall, pharmacists are like other health care workers hoping to immigrate to the United States on the H-1B visa. Foreign-educated pharmacists must take the appropriate examinations and meet several licensing requirements.
Conclusion
If you don’t have a family member or close relative in the US as a sponsor then it is not possible to get a US visa without employer’s sponsorship. This is because US employer would need to file a labor certification petition and later an I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker on your behalf to get the green card.
Pharmacists do more than just fill prescriptions. Pharmacists are members of the health care team who provide valuable advice and education to patients, using their expertise to help patients, families and doctors access quality, safe and effective medications.
