NABP weighs OET and best-section scoring to ease FPGEE path while boosting pass rates and safeguarding patient care.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jasmina Bjegovic, PharmD, chief officer of exam services from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), continued her conversation, detailing the task force's key recommendations emerging from its review of the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) English language proficiency requirements—and explaining the measurable outcomes that underscore why these standards matter for patient safety and the pharmacy workforce.
Effective communication is the cornerstone of safe and high-quality health care delivered by pharmacists. — Jasmina Bjegovic, PharmD
Among the most significant recommendations is a shift away from requiring a single cumulative passing score across all 4 Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) sections. Instead, candidates would be permitted to use their best section score from across multiple testing sessions within a rolling two-year period. Bjegovic notes that this approach supports a more comprehensive assessment of demonstrated proficiency while reducing barriers to licensure without compromising the integrity of the requirement.
The task force also recommended accepting scores from the Occupational English Test (OET), a healthcare-specific English proficiency exam that assesses language skills within a clinical context rather than an academic one. Offering this alternative gives FPGEC applicants greater flexibility while ensuring that the proficiency standard itself remains rigorous and relevant to pharmacy practice.
Bjegovic acknowledges the ongoing tension between maintaining high standards and addressing pharmacist workforce shortages. While limiting licensure to qualified candidates may reduce the pool of available practitioners, she is clear that only those who meet all requirements are eligible for licensure — with employers ultimately responsible for evaluating an individual's communication fit within their specific practice setting.
The data reinforces the value of these standards: since NABP began requiring TOEFL iBT passage before the FPGEE in 2020, pass rates on the FPGEE climbed from 74% to 91% by 2025. Bjegovic frames effective communication not as a barrier but as the cornerstone of safe, high-quality pharmaceutical care.
