Other News

NABP Launches Pre-FPGEE
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy recently launched a new practice examination for pharmacists preparing to take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination (FPGEE).  The pre-FPGEE is a web-based practice examination that will help FPGEE candidates familiarize themselves with the FPGEE test and assess whether or not their educational level is equivalent to United States' educational standards for pharmacists.  Students can access the 66-question exam at NABP's website (www.nabp.net) or www.pre-fpgee.com for a fee of $50.  Questions are previously scored and calibrated items that have been retired from the FPGEE.  After sitting for the practice exam, candidates receive an estimated scaled score and range similar to what they can expect to score on the FPGEE.  Candidates can take the pre-FPGEE up to two times.

The decision to develop the pre-FPGEE stems from the positive feedback NABP received about the pre-NAPLEX, their practice examination for the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination.


Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Issues Final Rule on Healthcare Visas
In July, 2003 the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services published final rules as required under Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996.  Under these rules, which became effective September 23, 2003, foreign-educated health care professionals seeking temporary or permanent occupational visas or NAFTA status must obtain a CGFNS/ICHP (Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools/International Commission on Healthcare Professions) VisaScreen Certificate as part of the visa process.  The regulations apply to nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physician assistants, medical technicians, medical laboratory technologists, speech language pathologists, and audiologists.  

Prior to receiving an occupational visa, healthcare professionals must successfully complete a screening program that includes assessment of an applicant's education to ensure that it is comparable to a US graduate in the profession; verification that the applicant's license is valid and unencumbered; successful completion of an English language examination; and, for nurses, verification that the nurse has earned a CGFNS certificate or passed the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses.  The final rule also outlines the process to be used by the BCIS in approving certifying organizations and expands the list of exams that can be used to fulfill the English language proficiency examination requirement.  The CGFNS VisaScreen Certificate is valid for five years.  Applications can be obtained from the CGFNS/ICHP website at www.cgfns.org.  View the full press release here.


NCSBN releases new reports
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing recently published two new reports: "Report of Findings, Exploring the Value of Continuing Education Mandates" which examines the link between mandatory continuing education and the development of professional competence, and "Report of Findings from the 2002 Job Analysis of Nurse Aides Employed in Nursing Homes, Home Health Agencies and Hospitals."

Next