NABP to accept OET for internationally educated pharmacists from 2027
OET NEWS
There’s significant news for internationally educated pharmacists looking to develop their careers in the United States: the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) has announced that it will accept the Occupational English Test (OET) as an English language assessment for Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee (FPGEC) Certification.
From 11 January 2027, eligible candidates will be able to choose OET or TOEFL iBT to meet the English language proficiency requirement for FPGEC Certification.
What is changing?
Pharmacists educated outside the United States are required to achieve FPGEC Certification before they can apply for a pharmacy licensure examination or state board of pharmacy licence.
English language proficiency forms part of this process. Until now, candidates have been required to meet the TOEFL iBT requirements.
NABP has now confirmed that OET will become an accepted alternative from 11 January 2027, giving internationally educated pharmacists another route to demonstrate their English communication skills.
Importantly, OET is not replacing TOEFL iBT. Candidates will be able to choose between the two tests.
NABP has also stated that OET results from tests taken before 11 January 2027 will not be accepted for FPGEC Certification.
Why is this important for pharmacists?
Unlike general or academic English tests, OET is specifically designed around communication in healthcare.
The test assesses the four core language skills — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — using healthcare-related contexts and tasks. This means pharmacists preparing for OET are developing English skills closely connected to the professional environments in which they work.
The decision follows a review by NABP’s Task Force examining the use of TOEFL iBT for FPGEC Certification. As part of its review, the Task Force considered alternative English language assessments and highlighted OET’s focus on the English used by medical and healthcare professionals.
For internationally educated pharmacists, the change therefore provides an important new option on the pathway towards practising pharmacy in the United States.
What scores will pharmacists need?
The required OET scores for FPGEC Certification have not yet been announced.
NABP has said that standard setting for OET will take place before the scores are confirmed, with further details to be added to its FPGEC Candidate Application Bulletin.
Candidates planning to use OET should therefore check the latest NABP requirements carefully before booking or taking their test.
Preparing pharmacists for OET
At Specialist Language Courses (SLC), we’ve specialised in English for healthcare professionals for many years and are an official OET Premium Preparation Provider.
Our OET preparation combines test-focused training with the healthcare communication skills candidates need to perform confidently in professional contexts.
For pharmacists considering the US pathway, the NABP announcement represents an exciting development — and another example of the growing recognition of profession-specific English assessment within international healthcare.
We look forward to supporting pharmacists preparing for this new route when OET becomes accepted by NABP in 2027.
Prepare for OET Pharmacy with SLC
For pharmacists planning to take OET, SLC offers specialist OET 1:1 Coaching and Online Preparation for Pharmacy.
Choose from 5, 10 or 15 hours of private coaching with an OET specialist teacher, alongside online study materials, weekly live OET lessons and profession-specific preparation.
As an OET Premium Preparation Partner, SLC has extensive experience helping international healthcare professionals prepare for OET and communicate confidently in their careers.
About SLC
Specialist Language Courses (SLC) is the UK’s leading provider of Medical English training, working with healthcare employers, education providers and individual learners in over 75 countries.