J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2008;5:2.

Proposal of the Implementation of an International Pharmacy Graduate Preliminary Examination

• Kwon K
• Park JH
• Kim J
• Lee SK

Abstract

At present, graduates of international pharmacy schools can apply to take the Korean Pharmacist Licensing Examination after passing a review by the Accreditation Board of the Pharmacy Schools and Licenses. However, since the educational content of different schools and the roles of pharmacists differ from country to country, a preliminary examination might be necessary before the Pharmacist Licensing Examination. To prepare to implement a preliminary examination for foreign pharmacy graduates in Korea, we summarized the preliminary examinations used in four other countries and presented a proposal for a preliminary examination. Data were collected via the internet and through telephone interviews with appropriate persons. The proposal was revised after a public forum. There are preliminary examinations in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and these involve written, oral, practice, and English proficiency tests. We proposed that the Korean preliminary examination consist of a written test on basic pharmacy, a test in the Korean language, and an interview. The preliminary examination should include suitable items that effectively evaluate international graduates. Graduates of international pharmacy schools who have an ability equivalent to graduates of Korean pharmacy schools should be eligible to write the Korean Licensing Examination.

Keyword

International Graduates; Pharmacy Schools; Pharmacist Licensing Examination; Preliminary Examination; Evaluation

MeSH Terms

Accreditation
Australia
Canada
Great Britain
Humans
Internet
Interviews as Topic
Korea
Licensure
Pharmacists
Pharmacy
Schools, Pharmacy

Reference

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2. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Overseas Pharmacists Assessment Programme [Internet]. London (GB): Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain;c2008. [cited 2008 Nov 5]. Available from: http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/registrationandsupport/registration/ospap.html/.

3. Australian Pharmacy Examining Committee. Information for Candidates Sitting APC Examinations for Other Jurisdictions [Internet]. Canberra City (AU): Australian Pharmacy Examining Committee;c2008. [cited 2008 Nov 5]. Available from: http://apec.asn.au/APEC_sittingexams.html#APEC/.

4. The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. Qualifying Examination Information [Internet]. Toronto (CA): The Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada;c2008. [cited 2008 Nov 5]. Available from: http://www.pebc.ca/EnglishPages/QEX/QEXHomePage.html/.

5. National Health Personnel Licensing Board. Pharmacist Licensing Examination [Internet]. Seoul (KR): National Health Personnel Licensing Board;2008. [cited 2008 Nov 5]. Available from: http://kuksiwon.or.kr/.