3.2 Reciprocity & Foreign Pharmacy Graduates

3.2 Reciprocity & Foreign Pharmacy Graduates

Core Principle: Whether entering Oklahoma practice through interstate license transfer (reciprocity) or after completing an international pharmacy curriculum, all applicants must establish educational equivalency, satisfactory background clearance, and proven mastery of Oklahoma pharmacy jurisprudence.

Oklahoma recognizes two alternative pathways for individuals seeking pharmacist licensure who did not pursue standard initial licensure as new graduates of an ACPE-accredited domestic school: Licensure by Reciprocity (License Transfer) and the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Pathway.

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Licensure by Reciprocity (License Transfer)

Under 59 O.S. § 353.12 and OAC 535:10-5, the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy may grant a pharmacist license without requiring the applicant to retake the NAPLEX clinical examination, provided the applicant is currently licensed by examination in another state or territory of the United States.

1. The Principle of Reciprocity

Reciprocity is grounded in interstate parity. Oklahoma will grant reciprocal licensure to a pharmacist from another jurisdiction only if that jurisdiction affords similar reciprocal licensing privileges to Oklahoma pharmacists. Furthermore, the applicant must have met all minimum educational and examination qualifications required in Oklahoma at the date of their original licensure.

2. The NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (ELTP)

All reciprocity applications must be initiated through the NABP Electronic Licensure Transfer Program (ELTP):

1. NABP Application: The pharmacist submits an official License Transfer Application to NABP.
2. Primary-Source Verification: NABP performs comprehensive primary-source verification of the applicant's educational credentials, initial licensure by examination, license standing in all states ever licensed, and checks for past disciplinary actions or sanctions.
3. Transmission of Official Dossier: NABP transmits the verified official application dossier to the Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy.
4. Oklahoma Board Application & Fees: The candidate submits the official Oklahoma reciprocity application form, background check fingerprint cards, and required state fees to the Board office.

3. Reciprocity Requirements Checklist

• Active License in Good Standing: The applicant must possess an active, unrestricted license in their original state of licensure and have no pending disciplinary investigations or revocations in any jurisdiction.
• Criminal Background Clearance: Must submit OSBI and FBI fingerprint cards for background evaluation.
• Passing the Oklahoma MPJE: Reciprocity candidates are exempt from retaking the NAPLEX, but they MUST take and pass the Oklahoma Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). There is no score transfer for the MPJE, so a passing MPJE result from the candidate's original state does not carry into Oklahoma — the Oklahoma edition must be taken and passed on its own.
• Personal Appearance: The Board reserves statutory authority to require an applicant to appear in person before the Board if questions arise regarding past practice history or disciplinary disclosures.

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Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Licensure Pathway

Graduates of foreign pharmacy schools located outside the United States and its territories (whose curricula are not accredited by the ACPE) must fulfill specialized federal and state equivalency requirements codified in OAC 535:10-3-1.2 before they can become licensed in Oklahoma.

+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                             FOREIGN PHARMACY GRADUATE PATHWAY                                     |
+---------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step 1: ECE Review  | Educational Credential Evaluators validates foreign degree equivalency     |
| Step 2: FPGEE       | Pass Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (scaled score >= 75) |
| Step 3: TOEFL iBT   | Demonstrate English proficiency with required minimum scores in each domain |
| Step 4: FPGEC Cert  | Receive official NABP FPGEC Certification Certificate                       |
| Step 5: OK Intern   | Apply for Oklahoma Pharmacy Intern License; complete 1,500 intern hours     |
| Step 6: Exams       | Pass NAPLEX (>= 75) and Oklahoma MPJE (>= 75)                               |
+---------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

1. NABP FPGEC Certification

The prerequisite foundation for all foreign pharmacy graduates is obtaining the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certificate issued by NABP. Achieving FPGEC certification requires:

• Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE): A comprehensive paper-and-pencil or computerized examination testing basic biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, social/behavioral/administrative pharmacy sciences, and clinical sciences. The FPGEE is reported as Pass or Fail.
• English Language Proficiency (TOEFL iBT): Candidates must pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) meeting specific minimum scaled scores across four essential domains:
  • Speaking: Minimum score of 26
  • Listening: Minimum score of 21
  • Reading: Minimum score of 22
  • Writing: Minimum score of 24

2. Accruing 1,500 Board-Approved Internship Hours

Once the applicant receives official FPGEC certification, they are eligible to apply for an Oklahoma Pharmacy Intern License. Unlike domestic PharmD graduates who complete experiential hours during school:

• Foreign graduates must complete 1,500 clock hours of Board-approved practical internship in a licensed US pharmacy under an approved preceptor after obtaining FPGEC certification.
• All 1,500 hours must be registered with the Board and documented on official Board progress logs.
• Experience gained outside the United States cannot be counted toward this 1,500-hour requirement.

3. Licensing Examinations for Foreign Graduates

Following verified completion and Board certification of the 1,500 internship hours, the foreign graduate receives Authorization to Test (ATT) for:

1. NAPLEX: Must pass (reported as Pass/Fail).
2. Oklahoma MPJE: Must pass (reported as Pass/Fail; no score transfer available).

Comparative Summary: Licensure Pathways

Exam Watchout: A common examination trap involves whether reciprocity applicants must take the NAPLEX again. Remember: Reciprocity applicants never retake the NAPLEX (provided their initial license is in good standing), but they must always take and pass the Oklahoma MPJE.