Do you want to immigrate to the US as a pharmacist? The immigration process might be intimidating, but with the correct knowledge and help, you can make it a seamless move. Pharmacists have a decent chance of obtaining work and living in the United States since their profession is in great demand.
VisaLibrary lead you through the stages of how to immigrate to the US as a pharmacist, including the essential credentials, visa requirements, and career possibilities, in this guide. Thus, whether you’re a fresh graduate or a seasoned pharmacist, keep reading to find out how you may make your American dream a reality and learn about pharmacist migration to the USA.
Are Pharmacists in Demand in the US?
Certainly, pharmacists are in great demand in the United States. The demand for pharmacists has grown as more individuals seek medicines and specialized health care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacist employment is expected to expand by 3 percent between 2020 and 2030, which is approximately the same as the average for all occupations. This implies numerous work prospects for prospective pharmacists in the United States. If you want to work in the pharmaceutical industry, you have a bright future ahead of you.
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Immigrate to the US as a Pharmacist
What Do Pharmacists Do?
Pharmacists deliver prescription medications and educate patients about the meds and how to utilize them. They also counsel physicians and other healthcare professionals on pharmaceutical selection, dosage, interactions, and adverse effects. In addition, they may assist patients with their general health by performing tasks like vaccines.
To fill and deliver prescription drugs, pharmacists confirm physician instructions. Pharmacists employ standard pharmaceutical company doses for numerous medications. Compounding allows pharmacists to manufacture bespoke drugs by combining components themselves.
Pharmacists typically do a range of additional tasks. For example, in addition to answering patients’ inquiries concerning their prescriptions, pharmacists may provide general health advice or assistance with administering over-the-counter drugs. Pharmacists may also undertake administrative duties such as keeping records and managing inventories.
What Are the Duties of Pharmacists in the US?
Pharmacists often do the following tasks:
- Fill medicines to the correct amount following the doctor’s recommendations.
- Examine the patient’s allergies, medical problems, and previous medications to verify that the newly given medication does not produce an unpleasant response.
- Educate patients on correct medication usage, adverse effects, and storage.
- Provide vaccinations, such as flu injections.
- Educate patients on general health themes like exercise and stress management, as well as specific concerns, including what equipment or supplies are needed to address a health condition.
- Resolve billing concerns with insurance companies.
- Oversee the work of pharmacy technicians and trainee pharmacists (interns)
- Keep patient and pharmaceutical records.
- Inform other healthcare professionals on appropriate pharmaceutical therapy for patients.
Important Qualities of Pharmacists in the US
- Analytical abilities. Pharmacists must assess prescription medications’ content and side effects to ensure that patients can use them safely.
- Communication abilities. Pharmacists frequently have to explain to patients how to take medicine and what potential adverse effects there may be. They may also be required to communicate information to pharmacy technicians, interns, and other healthcare personnel.
- Compassion. Pharmacists frequently work with individuals who have health problems. They must be understanding of their patients’ issues and needs.
- Detail oriented. Pharmacists are charged with providing the correct medicine to each patient.
- Interpersonal abilities. Pharmacists spend most of their time working with patients and organizing patient care as part of a healthcare team.
- Management abilities. Pharmacists, especially those who oversee a retail pharmacy, must be strong leaders. These abilities include the capacity to manage inventories and lead workers.
Types of Pharmacy Degrees
Your degree will vary depending on your role. For example, there are different options for pharmacy assistants and technicians, but all pharmacists must earn a doctoral degree.
- Pharmacy assistants. These roles require a high school diploma or GED. Some pharmacies might also hire high school students to work part-time in a pharmacy assistant role.
- Pharmacy technician. These roles require a high school diploma, certificate, or associate’s degree. Having formal training from a certificate or associate’s program is preferred by many employers. Pharmacy technicians can also pursue specialty training certifications in areas such as IV medications.
- Pharmacists. These roles require a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree. All aspiring pharmacists must complete an accredited PharmD program to become licensed.
Job Opportunities for Pharmacists in the USA
To service its consumers, a pharmacy requires a large number of specialists. While these job titles appear to be the same, they need various degrees of education and training, and each post has its own set of responsibilities.
Pharmacy Assistant
In most cases, pharmacy assistants just need a high school diploma and on-the-job training. They have less responsibility than other pharmacy professionals since they have less education and experience.
What They Do
The duties of a pharmacy assistant may vary based on your work environment and state restrictions, but common responsibilities may include the following:
- Keeping track of drugs given out
- Keeping supplies and items on hand
- Taking care of the cash register
Salary of Pharmacy Assistant: $29,930 on average
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians are healthcare workers that have undergone specific training to help pharmacists. Several jurisdictions and organizations require pharmacy technicians to get the Certified Pharmacy Technician certificate (CPhT). Furthermore, many pharmacy technicians finish a formal education program leading to a certificate or associate’s degree. In most cases, pharmacy technicians must also pass background checks and drug tests.
What They Do
Pharmaceutical technicians are responsible for numerous important tasks at a pharmacy or hospital. Customer service is one of pharmacy technicians’ most crucial components. A pharmacy technician is frequently the first person with whom a patient, doctor, or other medical professional speaks regarding prescriptions. In recent years, pharmacy technicians have taken on more tasks, including those traditionally undertaken solely by pharmacists. This tendency is expected to continue as pharmacists’ and pharmacies’ responsibilities develop.
Pharmacy technicians commonly perform the following tasks:
- Obtaining information from clients to fill prescriptions
- Measuring the correct dosage of medicine
- Prescription packaging and labeling
- Keeping inventory organized
- Insurance claim and payment processing
- Entering consumer data into databases
- Answering phones and conversing with consumers
- Making arrangements for clients to talk with the pharmacist when needed
- Refilling medications by calling doctors’ offices
- Running medicine dispensing machinery
- Putting together intravenous medicines
Certain technician responsibilities differ based on your state. Only select states, for instance, allow pharmacy staff to phone doctors’ offices for medicine refills.
Salary of Pharmacy Technician: $36,740 on average
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are skilled experts who have the last say in a pharmacy. Most states require them to review overall prescriptions completed by pharmacy technicians to guarantee correctness. They are also in charge of patient safety and education.
What They Do
Pharmacists are responsible for much more than just filling prescriptions. Their duties may differ depending on whether they work in a retail pharmacy, a hospital, or another location. Several pharmacists also run their pharmacies and are involved in business management.
Additional key job responsibilities might include:
- Vaccinating people against the flu and other diseases
- Ensuring that medicines do not interfere with a customer’s other drugs
- Verifying that the consumer has no allergies that might jeopardize medicine safety.
- Training clients about appropriate medicine administration
- Consulting with additional specialists regarding the appropriate medical plan for a consumer
- Supervising pharmacy technicians and assistants
- Conducting community health and wellness screenings
- Working with insurance companies to ensure that clients receive their medicine
- Customer blood sugar or cholesterol testing
As healthcare evolves over the next few years, pharmacists’ roles may expand and alter.
Salary of Pharmacist: $128,570 on average
Similar Occupations to Pharmacists in the US
This listing includes jobs with job obligations similar to those of pharmacists.
Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Job duties: Biochemists and biophysicists investigate the chemical and physical principles underlying living things and biological processes.
- Entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Median pay: $102,270
Medical Scientists
- Job duties: Medical scientists perform research to improve human health in general.
- Entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Median pay: $95,310
Pharmacy Technicians
- Job duties: Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing prescription medicines to clients or health care providers.
- Entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent
- Median pay: $36,740
Physicians and Surgeons
- Job duties: Doctors and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries and diseases and provide health care.
- Entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Median pay: This salary is equivalent to or above $208,000 per year.
Registered Nurses
- Job duties: Registered nurses (RNs) offer and organize medical care and educate patients and the general public about various health issues.
- Entry-level education: Bachelor’s degree
- Median pay: $77,600
Where Can Pharmacists Work in the US?
Pharmacists can find work in a variety of settings. Several of them may also employ pharmacy techs and assistants. Among the most prevalent employers are:
Retail pharmacies
Retail pharmacies hire pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants. This includes mail-ordering pharmacies, independent pharmacies, and pharmacies in groceries and drugstores, which collectively employ most pharmacy personnel.
Hospital pharmacies
Hospitals employ pharmacists to prepare medicine for present patients. In these environments, pharmacists may confer with doctors and nurses, prepare injections or IV bags, and assure drug dosing accuracy. This is normally done with the help of pharmacy technicians. Several hospitals may also hire pharmacy technicians.
Military and government facilities
Pharmacists are employed at military establishments for a variety of reasons. For example, a government-employed pharmacist may lead community wellness initiatives that educate people about conditions like elevated blood pressure or diabetes. Pharmacists may also be employed in military hospitals or veterans’ care facilities to manage drugs. Several facilities also hire pharmacy technicians.
Research labs
Pharmacists with specialized expertise are employed in labs to investigate the efficacy of drugs and create novel therapeutic strategies. For a laboratory position, pharmacists may require extra qualifications.
Clinics and other patient-care facilities
Clinics can hire pharmacists to conduct a variety of tasks, including patient education, cholesterol testing, and vaccines. As a result, clinics are projected to become more prevalent employers of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the future.
Other potential employers
Some pharmacists also consult with other healthcare practitioners. These positions are frequently performed in private practice. Another alternative function for pharmacists is to instruct pharmacy technician students.
How to Immigrate to the US as a Pharmacist?
“How to Become a Pharmacist in America?” That’s the million-dollar question. The NABP, or National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, is the organization in charge of pharmacist registration and licensure in the United States. Only PharmD-qualified applicants are eligible for registration.
Steps to immigrate to the US as a pharmacist:
After completing these procedures, you can register as a Pharmacist in the United States.
- Credential Verification, in which all of your documents are verified to determine your eligibility.
- Pass the FPGEE exam.
- Finish the TOEFL exam.
- Consider a Pharmacy Technician Internship (1500 hrs).
- Complete the NAPLEX as well as the MPJE.
Recognition of Credential Verification
To immigrate to the US as a pharmacist, you must apply to Education Credential Evaluators (ECE) for a review of your international credentials and approval to sit the equivalence examinations. The following documents must be submitted in duplicate to the ECE:
- Postgraduate qualification (if applicable)
- Official transcript from the university
- Proof of degree. If you have A levels and a 4-year MPharm, this is commonly seen as equivalent to a 5-year American program.
- Evidence of A-Levels (or equivalent). The primary distinction between US and UK pharmacy programs is a six-year (doctoral) degree vs. a five-year (master’s) degree in the UK. A-Levels (or equivalent) are comparable to various foundation-year college courses in the United States.
FPGEE Exam
One of the tests necessary for the FPGEC Certification Program is the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination or FPGEE. Before taking the FPGEE test, one must pass the FPGEC evaluation procedure.
To immigrate to the US as a pharmacist, you must first be certified by the FPGEC. The FPGEC is a National Association of Boards of Pharmacy committee that evaluates a pharmacist’s readiness to work in the US. Candidates must be graduates of an accredited pharmacy program in their native jurisdiction and hold a valid license to be qualified. All candidates must also be fluent English speakers. In addition, you will be required to show verification of your degree.
Applicants who have examined the qualifying standards and believe they are qualified must undergo an extensive application procedure. Documentation of the candidate’s education and licensure, as well as two passport-sized pictures, must be included with the application form.
These documents will be verified by the FPGEC, which might take several weeks. To show fluency and understanding, all candidates from outside the US, even those whose native language is English, must complete the online NABP TOEFL test. In addition, applicants must pay the FPGEC’s current application costs and pass a certification examination.
The FPGEE test shows that the knowledge and training of a foreign-trained pharmacist are equal to those of a U.S.-trained pharmacist. This exam has 250 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in 5 and a half hours. Clinical sciences, administrative and behavioral subjects, pharmaceutical sciences, and fundamental biological sciences are covered in the questions. Applicants may take the FPGEE up to five times.
This test is designed to assess knowledge in four key pharmacy curriculum areas:
- Basic Biomedical Science: 10%
- Social, Administrative, Behavioral Pharmacy Science: 22%
- Pharmaceutical Science: 33%
- Clinical Sciences: 35%
Applicants may take the tests a maximum of five times. The FPGEE score report will be valid five years from the exam date. The tests are held twice a year, in April and October.
Note: You must have finished a five-year program if you graduated after January 1, 2003. To be qualified for FPGEC entrance as a UK pharmacy graduate, you must have the following qualifications:
- Two years of “A”-Levels, equivalent to high school level work in the United States, plus one year of undergraduate study/pre-pharmacy courses performed at the university level as part of entry into the institution’s pharmacy program.
- Four-year MPharm, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in the United States.
English Language Requirements (The TOEFL exam)
The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Council accepts only the TOEFL IBT as an English Language testing certificate (FPGEC). Therefore, the following should be the minimum score for each section of the tests:
- Listening: 18
- Reading: 21
- Writing: 24
- Speaking: 26
These minimal marks must be achieved in a single official score report.
Internship
You will earn the FPGEE certification after passing both the FPGEE and the TOEFL IBT and submitting all required documentation to the FPGEC. Virtually many states recognize FPGEE certification as a prerequisite for getting a pharmacy license. In addition, each state may have its requirements for pharmacy internship hours. But, before applying for the next stage toward becoming a Pharmacist, you must complete 1500 hours of internship.
NAPLEX
You must pass the NAPLEX once your internship is authorized and before you may become a licensed pharmacist in the United States. This is the same test that American pharmacy graduates take. The NAPLEX exam includes 250 multiple-choice questions and lasts 4 hours and 15 minutes.
To assess your knowledge, judgment, and skill, the NAPLEX questions are separated into two categories:
- Assure Safe and Effective Pharmacotherapy and Health Outcomes: 67%
- Preparation, dispensing, administration, and compounding of medications, as well as the provision of health care products – 33%
MJP Exam
After passing the NAPLEX, you will take the MPJE or Multi-State Jurisprudence Exam. This exam assesses your understanding of pharmacy based on state criteria.
Over 40 states need the Multi-State Jurisprudence test, although certain, more popular destinations, including California, require a state-specific exam, such as the CPJ Exam.”
The MPJE consists of 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and lasts four hours.
The questions are organized into three sections to examine three major areas:
- Pharmacy Practice: 83%
- Licensing, operational, registration, and certification requirements: 15%
- General Regulatory Procedures: 2%
What is Reciprocity or License Transfer?
Several states permit license transfers or reciprocity. This might involve NAPLEX score transfers as well. The majority of states, however, demand that the other state have comparable licensing standards and employ a license transfer system or NAPLEX score transfer system. Because of the multiple state rules that the moving pharmacist must now understand, many states require the transferring pharmacist to pass that state’s MPJE test. In most cases, the pharmacist will not have to repeat the NAPLEX.
In general, pharmacists are similar to other healthcare employees who want to immigrate to the United States. Foreign-educated pharmacists must pass the necessary exams and fulfill several license standards.
Immigrate to the US as a Pharmacists Using an H-1B Visa
Foreign pharmacists who want to work in the US should apply for US visa, H-1B visa. A foreign pharmacist can get an H-1B visa for internship programs and licensed pharmacist positions.
To get an H-1B visa, international school graduates or pharmacists with foreign degrees must fulfill the basic state board pharmacy requirements. In addition, foreign-educated pharmacists can only apply for the FPGEC Certification if they have acquired a professional degree from a five-year curriculum program as of January 2003. The NABP has this requirement.
Foreign-educated pharmacists must take the proper tests and complete certain licensing criteria, much like other healthcare workers wishing to move to the United States on an H-1B visa.
Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Requirements for H1B Visa
A foreign pharmacist seeking an H-1B visa must demonstrate they have the same level of education as a US pharmacy graduate. Moreover, the employer who files the visa on the employee’s behalf must demonstrate that the individual is qualified for the work and that the foreign degree is equal to a BS degree in pharmacy or a PharmD degree. This is accomplished by completing the FPGEC Certification.
Furthermore, because the pharmacist needs to be licensed in the state where they operate, the employer must demonstrate that the pharmacist is indeed licensed in that jurisdiction.
Immigrate to the US as a Pharmacists Using a TN Visa
A Pharmacist’s occupation is mentioned on the USMCA (NAFTA) professions list as one that qualifies for TN visa status. Suppose you are a Canadian or Mexican national with an offer of employment as a Pharmacist from a US business. In that case, you may be eligible to immigrate to the US as a pharmacist under TN Visa status. We examine the occupation of a Pharmacist and how to qualify for TN Visa status under the USMCA here.
How Do You Qualify for TN Visa Status as a Pharmacist?
If you satisfy the following basic standards, you may be eligible for TN Visa status as a Pharmacist:
- You are a Canadian or Mexican national (Permanent Residents are ineligible);
- You have got a job offer from a US company or are fulfilling a contract with a US customer;
- Under the OOH, you will be doing tasks similar to those of a Pharmacist.
- You hold a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura, as well as a State/Provincial License, and
- You can show that you have non-immigrant intent or intend to return to your home country at the end of your temporary job.
Is Licensure Required to Obtain TN Visa Status as a Pharmacist?
Pharmacists are licensed in every state. Although a license is necessary, getting a TN visa status as a Pharmacist is not essential.
The Top Pharmaceutical Schools in America
- University of Illinois, Chicago
- University of Kansas
- University of South Carolina
How to Find Pharmacist Jobs in the US?
There are various options for finding pharmacist jobs in the United States. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Look for jobs on internet job boards. There are several employment boards dedicated to healthcare workers, including pharmacists. Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are a few examples.
- Examine the company websites. Several healthcare institutions, hospitals, and pharmacies have job posting sections on their websites. You may also investigate organizations you want to work for and see if they have job openings on their websites.
- Interact with pharmacists. Networking with other pharmacists might help you find employment vacancies that aren’t publicly advertised. To broaden your network, attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with pharmacists on LinkedIn.
- Contact staffing agencies. Several staffing firms specialize in healthcare staffing, particularly pharmacist staffing. They may assist you in finding temporary or permanent work in the United States.
- Use social media. Platforms such as Twitter and Facebook may also be valuable sources of work leads. Follow industry leaders, healthcare organizations, and drugstore chains to remain up to speed on job vacancies and other news.
Note: Remember to personalize your CV and cover letter for each job you apply for, and be prepared for any interviews you may receive.
How Much is the Salary of Pharmacists in the US in 2024?
In the United States, a Pharmacist normally makes roughly 128,000 USD per year. However, wages vary from 64,100 USD to 199,000 USD.
The essential criterion in deciding salary is the amount of experience. Naturally, the more years of experience you have, the greater your salary.
- Pharmacists with less than two years of experience may earn around 76,900 USD annually.
- A pharmacist with two to five years of experience may expect to earn 102,000 USD per year.
- A salary of 136,000 USD per year is earned with five to 10 years of expertise.
- Pharmacists with ten to fifteen years of experience may expect to earn up to 162,000 USD per year.
- If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, the estimated annual salary is 175,000 USD.
- Pharmacists with over twenty years of experience earn an annual compensation of 188,000 USD.
We all know that better education leads to a greater wage, but how much more can a degree add to your earnings?
- The average wage for a Bachelor’s Degree holder is 110,000 USD per year.
- A pharmacist with a Master’s Degree earns 173,000 USD a year, which is 58% more than someone with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Immigrate to the US as a Pharmacist: Let’s Recap
Immigrating to the United States as a pharmacist needs considerable planning and preparation, but it is certainly doable. Considering the country’s strong need for pharmacists, there are several chances for experienced specialists.
You may successfully come to the United States and begin your new life as a pharmacist by taking the essential procedures, such as getting the right visas, meeting licensure criteria, and locating pharmacist work in the USA. Remember that being focused, persistent, and educated throughout the process is critical. Best wishes on your path to a fulfilling job in the United States!
FAQs
Yes. Pharmacists are required to be licensed in all states, although the qualifications differ. In addition, prospective pharmacists must normally pass two tests after completing their degree to obtain a license.
Before being licensed, pharmacists must acquire a doctorate and pass many tests.
Pharmacists with this qualification make +41.19% more than the average hourly wage of $57.67.
- Author
- Max-B.
- April 26, 2023
