Being an Australian Registered pharmacist is every dream of a UIC B.S. Pharmacy student. How to become one was always asked. How to get there was the greatest problem. Which track to take to end as one was left unanswered not until Ms. Aileen B. Hong visited UIC last November 23, 2913.
It was sometime in 2011, when this UIC graduate visited Dean Ma. Eva C. San Juan and requested some papers to be accomplished as a requirement for her to go to Australia and hopefully work her way to become a registered Australian Pharmacist. Amazingly, lo and behold, the once she dreamt of has come to reality.
Ms. Aileen B. Hong considered as an overseas qualified pharmacist seeking general registration in Australia as a Pharmacist, was required to pass an examination conducted under the auspices of the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) in Manila Philippines. After successfully passing the exam, she was required to complete a period of supervised practice assigned to her by the Pharmacy Board of Australia. After completion of at least 75% of supervised pharmacy practice hours, she undertook an oral legislation assessment, which she successfully passed. With these oral legislation assessment and assigned supervised practice hours, she was given eligibility to apply for general registration and currently is a full pledge Australian Pharmacist.
It seems the track she took was easy, but as she claimed she hurdled it with sweat and blood. She stressed how one needs to be able to show the pane that she was really knowledgeable and confident how it will be if she becomes and Australian registered pharmacist. Not to mention the ability to speak the English language in the native “twang.”
Ms. Aileen Hong’s visit has shed light and inspiration to the rest of the UIC Pharmacy Faculty and Students. She has initiated the beginning of this opportunity. Now we can add another career track for UIC Pharmacy graduates as Australia will be another foreign country they can venture to.
Written by: Dean Ma. Eva C. San Juan, MSPharm, MSBiomed, Ed.D