About the Examining Committee
Candidates should read this information
carefully.
Overview |
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Recognition of skills for
migration purposes
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Determining competency to
practise as a pharmacist in Australia, and
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Development and administration
of examinations.
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The skills recognition processes
The APC skills recognition process was
devised to enable overseas trained pharmacists to demonstrate their
competence to practise according to professional standards in Australia.
Following a review of its
examination processes in 2006, the Examining Committee introduced an alternative
examination process for overseas trained pharmacists from certain
countries that are recognised by the APC as having educational processes,
practice competencies and structures that are substantially comparable
with those in Australia. Pharmacists that have both trained and
registered in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada or the United States of
America are eligible to apply for this alternative process. These
pharmacists may demonstrate their competence to practise according to
Australian standards through a process known as Stream B. For all other
pharmacists with overseas qualifications the examination procedure is
known as Stream A.
Both pathways aim to ensure
pharmacists are appropriately qualified and equipped with the necessary
knowledge for Australian pharmacy practice. Most applicants will be
required to undertake the Stream A process. Applicants should be aware
that the APC will determine as part of its eligibility assessment process
whether they are eligible to undertake either Stream A or Stream B
process – they do not determine which path they take themselves.
Under Australian migration
legislation the Australian Pharmacy Council also provides skills
assessments for pharmacists who obtain their pharmacy qualifications in
Australia and then seek to migrate to Australia. These Australian trained
pharmacists are not required to complete either of the APC examination
processes (Stream A or Stream B), but must be provided with a skills
assessment to submit to Australian migration authorities as part of their
migration application. The APC eligibility assessment serves this
purpose for this category of applicant.
Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual
Recognition Agreement pharmacists who are registered to practise pharmacy
in New Zealand may apply for registration in Australia. Applicants who
are not intending to migrate to Australia, may apply directly to the
Australian pharmacy registering authorities for registration. Those
applying for skilled migration to Australia must be provided with a skills
assessment to submit to Australian migration authorities as part of their
migration application. The APC eligibility assessment serves this
purpose for this category of applicant.
The APC also provides assessment
tools (ie examinations) for use by other jurisdictions as part of their
recognition processes.
Click for a flowchart of the APC
Process.
Candidates are encouraged to
regularly check the APC Whats New page for any changes to the skills
recognition process which may affect their application.
Applicants applying for migration to Australia
The APC recommends that
applicants contact Australian migration authorities about the
requirements for skilled migration to Australia, as the skills assessment
provided by the APC is only one component of a migration application. The
website for the Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Citizenship
will be a helpful first point of contact for enquiries about migration
matters. The address is www.immi.gov.au.
For more information about the
Australian Government's Skilled Migration programme click here.
Click on the links below for
information about the skills recognition process which applies for each
of these groups of applicant. Other relevant information can be found on
the Whats New and FAQs pages on this website.
Australia and New Zealand Trained Applicants
Candidates sitting APC Examinations for other
Jurisdictions
Candidates
must hold an appropriate visa which allows them to work under supervision
in a training position. Candidates should contact their nearest migration
office for further information on visas.
APC Appeals Policy
The APC has developed an appeals
policy for its assessments and examinations. The
policy provides for appeals to be made against the initial assessment
that establishes an applicant’s eligibility to undertake the APC
examination process and as a result of the examination process. A
counselling and review process for examination results is also available
for candidates who are resident in Australia.
