Australia is a dream country for many overseas pharmacists, and to become a pharmacist here, there are certain requirements that have been established by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), which is a national accreditation authority for pharmacy education and training. Passing the OPRA exam (Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment) for overseas pharmacy candidates from nations including India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, etc. is required to meet the standards of the Australian Healthcare. Knowing the criteria for eligibility, paperwork needed, tests to be taken, the registration process, and so on will help the trip go smoothly.
So let’s quickly understand the steps involved:
What is the OPRA Exam?
So, the very first question that comes to everyone starting this path is, what are the exams and documents that are required in this process, and why has it replaced the KAPS exam?
Let’s try to break it down:
- As the name suggests, the Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Exam also known as OPRA—is a test to determine whether the applicant qualifies to work under Australian Healthcare Standards.
- The first ever OPRA exam was carried out in March 2025, replacing the “Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences or KAPS exam.”
- OPRA exam tests the knowledge, skills, and competencies of an overseas pharmacist making them ready to be safe and effectively practice in Australia.
Who Needs to Apply for OPRA?
- This exam is the gateway to becoming a pharmacist in Australia or New Zealand for individuals who have completed a four-year degree from an accredited college of pharmacy in a country other than Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
- This will guide them to the Knowledge stream in turn, so following the route to the OPRA exam.
- In order to be eligible for the OPRA exam, the candidate must be registered as a pharmacist in the country of pharmacy education or be eligible to practise as a pharmacist in that country.
Step-by-Step OPRA Process
1. Check Your Eligibility
The APC has set a few standards to be eligible for the process, and the first step is the Skills assessment process, which involves two main criteria:
- Document evaluation and
- OPRA exam
The first step is to gather all your documents, submit them to APC, and get them approved by APC.
Here is the list of documents required:Y our valid passport, a photo ID, birth certificate, your qualification certificate (like a B. Pharmacy degree), Academic transcripts, and proof of registration as a pharmacist from the country of qualification or eligibility to practise as a pharmacist
2. OPRA Exam:
This is a Computer-based, closed-book exam with 120 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in a single section only. These MCQs are to be answered in 150 minutes or 2.5 hours, with no negative marking for the wrong answers given. The OPRA exam follows the Rasch method of scoring.
The content Areas include Biomedical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Therapeutics and Patient Care.
3. Apply for Provisional Registration
- The successful clearance of the OPRA exam allows you to apply for a visa and migrate to Australia.
- Once you pass the exam, you become eligible to apply for a provisional registration as a pharmacist with AHPRA.
- The next step is to find an internship and meet the standards specified by the APC under the supervision of a registered preceptor.
- This internship will make a path for you to understand the Australian standards better and is more of a learning process.
4. Apply for General Registration:
- Once 75% of the supervised practice hours or internship is completed you become eligible for the Intern written and Oral exams.
- Passing these two exams will make you eligible to the final step of registration with Ahpra, and thereby giving you the rights to practise independently as a fully registered pharmacist.
How Long Does the OPRA Process Take?
The OPRA process timeline can vary depending on individual situation, but just to have an average idea of how long it could take, let’s:
- Eligibility assessment or skills assessment takes 2-3 months
- The time required to prepare and pass the OPRA exam may take around 3-6 months or longer, depending on the candidate.
- Exam results will be announced approximately a month after.
- After passing the OPRA exam, apply for a provisional visa and migrate to Australia.
- Finish your internship and Intern written and Oral exams, which could take a year.
- The general registration process may take approximately a month.
In total, it may take 2 to 3 years to complete the entire process, depending on preparation time, application processing, and availability of exam dates.
NOTE: This is an approximate time which depends on various factors and this information is projected to give you a brief idea of how long the process could take so beware to check for
timelines as it could be different for every candidate.
Tips to Make the Process Easier
- Before starting the process, have a clear plan.
- Understand the pathway and the exam formats clearly.
- Create a study planner with the toughest topics to cover first and have enough time for revision.
- Focus on Australian pharmacy laws and guidelines: These are often different from those in your home country.
- Practise calculations as much as possible, as this is one of the difficult areas for the candidates preparing for the OPRA exam.
- Practice clinical scenarios and case studies.
- Approach for guidance or mentorship, as the syllabus is vast to cover, and you may be lost in deciding what topics to cover and which ones to let go.
- Join study groups, which will encourage you to clear your doubts and motivate you to study hard.
- Consider enrolling in a professional OPRA preparation course for structured learning and guidance.
- Talk to seniors who have travelled this path to success and get their guidance on registration processes.
- Build a network and do not wait until you pass the exam to create intern opportunities that could save time.
How Elite Expertise Provides OPRA Exam Courses to Become a Pharmacist in Australia
At Elite Expertise, we specialise in helping internationally qualified pharmacists navigate the OPRA Exam Preparation pathway with confidence.
Our OPRA preparation course includes:
- Curated study materials and handouts tailored to OPRA exam standards.
- Live interactive classes make the subject easy to understand
- Recorded lectures to learn at your own pace.
- Specially curated Mock tests and practice exams to simulate real OPRA assessment conditions.
- Strengthening your weak areas by collaboratively working on them based on the internal assessments and scores.
- One-on-one mentorship and personalised feedback.
- Guidance on Skills assessment and registration requirements.
- Not just OPRA, we extend our services to the Intern Written and Oral exams too.
- On request of many students we also provide the PTE test coaching to train students with their English language proficiency which is a mandate for the process.
Conclusion
We know this journey can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone; we are here to help you. With a proven success rate and helping overseas pharmacists succeed in their Australian dream, Elite Expertise makes sure that you are well-prepared for every step of the OPRA journey. The OPRA pathway is an important step for overseas-qualified pharmacists aiming to work in Australia. While the process may seem challenging, with the right preparation, guidance, and support, it becomes a structured and achievable goal. Let’s work together on your weaknesses and strengthen them to build a higher level of confidence to attempt your OPRA, intern-written, and oral exams. Our team is available 24*7 and understands your needs, and why waiting is not a good idea. Join us and fulfill your dream in an Australian career.
