Welcome to the Australian Pharmacy Council Website
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) is the independent accreditation authority for Australian pharmacy under assignment from the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA). The APC assists the PBA to protect the public by performing accreditation and assessment activities that result in the optimisation of health outcomes and contribute to public and governmental confidence in the delivery of competent pharmacy services. It has the following functions:
- - Accrediting pharmacy schools and programs, intern training programs, and organisations that accredit continuing professional development activities
- - Conducting written internship examinations on behalf of the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA) that must be passed prior to sitting the final oral competency assessment.
- - Assessing the qualifications and skills of overseas trained pharmacists and international students graduating from an Australian pharmacy program to determine their eligibility to apply to commence the registration process with the PBA
Current members of the APC include Australian pharmacy professional bodies, academic bodies, the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand, and other members of the Australian pharmacy profession.
In all of its activities, the APC strives to maintain:
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- high ethical standards
- - honesty and transparency in everything that it does
- - accountability to its clients and stakeholders
- - evidence-based decision making
- - high quality business processes and outcomes
- - continuous improvement
- - collaborative models of leadership.
FACT SHEET - APC's Accreditation Standards and Processes
This fact sheet details the review of the Accreditation Standards for Degree Programs that the APC undertook between February to December 2009. The application of the Standards commenced in 2010.
Now Available - Pharmacy in Australia Online Orientation
Topic 1 - Introduction to Pharmacy in Australia
Topic 2 - Registration to Practise in Australia
Topic 3 - Preparation for Australian Entry Examinations
Topic 4 - Intern Training Program and Supervised Practice
Topic 5 - Examination Techniques for APC Assessments
Important Skilled Migration Notice
As of 1 July 2011 the occupations of Hospital Pharmacist and Retail Pharmacist have been returned to the Skilled Occupation List by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). This means that overseas trained pharmacists seeking to live and work in Australia can apply for independent skilled migration.
Further information can be obtained from DIAC via their website: www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/whats-new.htm.
IMPORTANT
Assessment Process for Overseas Trained Pharmacists
Since 1 July 2010, pharmacists are nationally registered to practise pharmacy in any state or territory in Australia by the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PBA).
Overseas trained pharmacists seeking registration in Australia will be required to undertake the following assessments:
- 1. Assessment of qualifications to determine comparability with an Australian pharmacy qualification, and
- 2. Assessment of Knowledge of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KAPS), or Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists (CAOP).
Following satisfactory completion of the English language requirements and the two assessments, candidates will need to complete the following to be eligible for full registration, which will include:
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- a period of supervised practice in a pharmacy in Australia
- - an intern training program
- - a current Australian senior First aid certificate Level 2
- - a written competency examination
- - an oral examination
- - satisfactory English language test result obtained at the one sitting
All interns completing the necessary process will undergo criminal history checks prior to being registered.
The APC is not involved with candidates beyond the two initial assessments. All enquiries regarding the registration process for pharmacists in Australia should be directed to www.pharmacyboard.gov.au.
