Learn how NABP’s FPGEC verifies foreign pharmacists and why TOEFL English proficiency standards remain central to US patient safety.
In an interview with Pharmacy Times, Jasmina Bjegovic, PharmD, chief officer of exam services from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), outlines the mission and structure of the NABP’s Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) program and explains the critical role English language proficiency plays in protecting public health within the US pharmacy practice landscape.
Strong English communication skills are equally critical for the safe and effective practice of pharmacy in the US. Pharmacists need communication skills to participate in team-based care, ensure patient safety, prevent medication errors, build trust with patients, integrate with the care team, and perform clinical tasks. — Jasmina Bjegovic, PharmD
Bjegovic explains that the FPGEC program exists to document the educational equivalency of foreign pharmacy graduates seeking licensure in the US. As part of this process, candidates must verify their educational background and foreign licensure or registration and demonstrate English language proficiency—primarily through the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT). This standardized assessment serves as a baseline measure of linguistic ability before candidates advance to higher-stakes examinations, including the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination, the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, and state jurisprudence exams.
In 2025, a resolution at the NABP Annual Meeting prompted the formation of a task force to reevaluate the TOEFL iBT as an FPGEC requirement. The task force convened in November 2025 to assess whether the current requirements remain appropriate, consistent with the organization’s core mission of safeguarding public health.
Bjegovic emphasizes that the TOEFL iBT’s computerized, centrally scored format ensures uniformity and minimizes examiner bias—an important distinction from live interpersonal assessments. For pharmacists, this matters because communication is not merely a professional courtesy; it is a patient-safety imperative. Foreign pharmacy graduates entering US practice must be equipped to engage in team-based care, counsel patients, prevent medication errors, and integrate seamlessly within clinical environments, all of which depend on strong English communication skills.
