As part of our mission to maintain standards of pharmacy education and training in Australia, we offer several examinations. Our exams include the:
These exams assess the knowledge and competencies of pharmacists who want to register to practise in Australia.
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During the pandemic, you must bring and wear your own face mask while you’re at the test center and throughout your exam. Read the latest health & safety requirements at Pearson VUE-owned test centers.
For recent updates relating to COVID-19 see APC's Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response.
Back to topIf you're in Australia, you can sit our exams in:
You can also sit the IWE in Townsville if numbers allow.
If you're outside of Australia, check the specific exam details below for test centre locations.
Different test centres will have different dates for exam sessions. Please finish registering before you arrange your travel.
The IWE assesses your ability to practise pharmacy in Australia. You can sit it if you:
|
Registrations Open |
Registrations Close |
Exam Dates |
|
12 January 2021 |
25 January 2021 |
22 February 2021 |
|
11 May 2021 |
24 May 2021 |
21 June 2021 |
|
7 September 2021 |
20 September 2021 |
18-20 October 2021 |
For details on how to register, see the Intern Written Exam step-by-guide
Learn more about the OnVUE exam process.
Scheduled dates and exam availability may vary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you're in Australia, see our list of Australian test centres.
If you're outside of Australia, you'll need to travel to an Australian test centre, as you cannot currently sit the IWE in other countries.
In case you're not sure which delivery mode to choose, we've compared the two options to help you decide.
Please note you cannot change your delivery mode after your booking has been confirmed.
|
Event-based exam delivered in a test centre |
Online proctored exam delivered by OnVUE |
|
|
Registration Period |
12 - 25 January 2021 |
12 - 25 January 2021 |
|
Exam dates |
22 February 2021 |
22 February 2021 |
|
Availability |
1 session per day |
24 hours a day |
|
Registration steps |
Select “at a local Test Centre” |
Select “at home or office” Run pre-check to ensure your device meets the system requirements for OnVUE |
|
Changes to booking |
Changes to test centre appointments can only be made during the registration period. Changes are subject to seat availability, and cannot be made after registrations close. |
Changes to OnVUE appointments can be made up to 1 hour before your scheduled exam time. This is subject to availability of the session. |
|
Refunds |
Same – see refund policy |
Same – see refund policy |
|
Special accommodation |
Some limitations – see special accommodation table |
Some limitations – see special accommodation table |
|
Identification Documents (ID) |
2 IDs required – refer to your confirmation email |
1 ID required – refer to your confirmation email |
|
Bathroom breaks |
Permitted |
Not permitted |
|
Permitted Resources |
Any reference books |
Any reference books |
|
Items allowed on your desk |
Calculator Any item on the Comfort Aid list You will be provided a whiteboard notebook and pen |
Calculator Any item on the Comfort Aid list A glass of water Your mobile phone (in case you experience technical issues) Reference books |
|
Online tools |
Calculator |
Calculator Online whiteboard tool and scratch pad |
|
Arrival time |
45 min prior to the exam |
30 min prior to the exam - no later than 15 min prior to the exam |
|
Invigilator |
Test Centre invigilators |
Artificial intelligence, greeters, and online remote proctors |
|
Support during the exam |
Test Centre invigilators |
Online chat tool with your online remote proctor |
|
Result release date |
TBA |
TBA |
The KAPS exam tests your knowledge of basic pharmaceutical sciences as they relate to practising in Australia. You can sit this exam if you've:
|
Registrations Open |
Registrations Close |
Exam Dates |
|
27 January 2021 |
8 February 2021 |
14-16 March 2021 |
|
31 May 2021 |
14 June 2021 |
18-20 July 2021 |
|
24 August 2021 |
6 September 2021 |
24-26 October 2021 |
The KAPS exam includes 2 papers. If you're registering for both papers, you'll need to sit them on the same date.
For details, see the Knowledge Stream (Stream A) step-by-step guide.
Scheduled dates may vary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you're in Australia, see our list of Australian test centres.
If you're outside of Australia, you can sit your KAPS exam in the following cities:
|
Country |
City |
|
Argentina |
Buenos Aires |
|
Egypt |
Cairo and surrounding areas |
|
Greece |
Athens |
|
Hong Kong SAR |
Hong Kong |
|
India |
Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Mumbai |
|
Kenya |
Nairobi |
|
New Zealand |
Auckland and Wellington |
|
Oman |
Muscat |
|
Pakistan |
Islamabad (limited seats due to COVID-19) |
|
Peru |
Lima |
|
Philippines |
Manila |
|
Qatar |
Doha |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Riyadh |
|
Singapore |
Singapore |
|
South Africa |
Johannesburg |
|
United Arab Emirates |
Dubai and surrounding areas |
|
United Kingdom |
London (limited seats due to COVID-19) |
|
Zimbabwe |
Harare |
The CAOP exam assesses your ability to apply pharmaceutical knowledge and your competence to practise in Australia. You can sit this exam if you:
For more information, see the Competency Stream (Stream B) step-by-step guide.
| Registrations Open | Registrations Close | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
|
9 March 2021 |
22 March 2021 |
17-18 April 2021 |
|
13 July 2021 |
26 July 2021 |
21-22 August 2021 |
|
19 October 2021 |
1 November 2021 |
27-28 November 2021 |
Scheduled dates may vary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you're in Australia, see our list of Australian test centres.
If you're outside of Australia, you can sit your CAOP exam in the following cities:
|
Country |
City |
|
New Zealand |
Auckland and Wellington |
|
United Kingdom |
London |
If you are sitting an online proctored IWE exam, please see the OnVUE exam candidate information.
Registrations open at 9am and close at 5pm AEDT/AEST. Check these times in your local time zone with a time zone converter.
We reserve exam seats on a first-come first-served basis. When an exam schedule is full, we close registration for that session. We cannot accept any late registrations.
Some locations fill up fast, so we suggest booking your exam as soon as possible after registration opens.
You can choose a different test centre if it's available. However, you cannot make any changes after registration closes.
If you have any trouble booking your exam, email us on exams@pharmacycouncil.org.au for help.
You'll receive a confirmation email from our exam provider, Pearson VUE, once you've finished selecting your exam session. Read this email carefully because it will contain details on the exam venue, date and time. Ensure that you:
If you arrive at the venue after the exam starts, you will not be able to enter the room.
If you have a disability or health-related needs, you may ask for extra support or an adjustment to complete the exam. We call this type of support 'special accommodation'.
Examples of special accommodation requests might include:
You'll need to provide evidence to justify your request.
For details, see our Special Accommodation policy.
You'll need to show 2 forms of identity (ID) to enter the exam room and sit the exam. At least one form must be an acceptable form of primary ID from the list below. They must also be original (not a photocopy or digital ID) and valid (unexpired).
Usually, both documents would be issued by the country where you're sitting the exam.
If you do not have an acceptable primary ID from that country, use an international travel passport from your country of citizenship as your primary ID.
Online proctored exams have different ID requirements. If you are sitting the exam remotely, please see OnVUE exam candidate information.
|
Primary ID |
This ID document must be issued by your government and contain:
Types of acceptable primary ID include:
|
|
Secondary ID |
This ID document must either contain:
Types of acceptable secondary ID include:
|
|
ID requirements |
|
|
Other items |
Other items that you can and cannot bring into the exam room with you will vary between exams. For details, see the step-by-step page guide for your specific exam: |
If you need to withdraw from an exam, see our APC Refund of Fees for Examination Cancellation Guidelines policy.
This policy also applies if you're ill, or if personal circumstances prevent you from sitting the exam on the day.