Competency Stream (CAOP) skills assessment letter

When you apply for an eligibility check, you need to include your:

• proof of identity
• academic qualifications
• evidence of registration status
• work history

You do not need to:

• have any documents certified
• show proof of English competency.

If you leave out any documents or provide incorrect information, the process will take longer than usual.

To avoid delays please ensure:

• you have all the correct documents
• your name is consistent in all of your documents
• you submit all of the required documentation.

Proof of your identity

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

We cannot accept scans of an expired passport.

Academic qualifications

To apply using this process, you must have graduated with a degree in either Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA. To show this, include scans of:

• your degree certificate OR letter of completion if your degree has not yet been issued
• your academic transcript, with all pages saved as 1 PDF file.

If you completed your degree in another country but are now registered in either Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA you will still need to include scans of:

• your degree certificate/s.
• your academic transcript/s, with all pages saved as 1 PDF file
• evidence of completing an approved adjudication process in Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA.

Registration status

You must be fully registered as a pharmacist in the country where you completed your degree. To show this, arrange for the registering authority to send us a scan of:

• your Certificate of Current Professional Status or Letter of Good Standing from each professional body you have been registered with during the past 10 years.

Ask the registering authority to email these directly to us at assessments@pharmacycouncil.org.au 

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Work history (optional)

You do not need to have worked as a pharmacist to apply for an eligibility check.

However, if you've selected the option for us to comment on your work history, we'll need to see evidence of your work experience.

We can only consider your work experience if you've worked:

• as a fully registered retail or hospital pharmacist (not as an intern)
• for more than 20 hours per week
• for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.

If this applies to you, and you want us to comment on your work history, include scans of:

• original work references for all your jobs as a fully registered pharmacist, using the Work Experience Reference template
• an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) that shows start and finish dates for all your jobs as a fully registered pharmacist
• evidence of registration during periods of employment.

You can find further details in the Work Experience Reference template.

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Show your correct name

Your name must appear the same way on all your scanned documents as it does on your passport.

Send us proof of any name change. Documents that prove a change of name include:

• a marriage or divorce certificate
• a deed poll
• change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant authority outside Australia
• documents that show other formal names you've been known by

Get translations

Have all non-English documents translated into English. An extract translation of the document/s will not be accepted.

You must use a translator who is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).

Include scans of the original non-English document and the original translated document in 1 file.

Create files

Scan all original documents (English and non-English) in colour. We will not accept scans of a copy, even if you get it certified. We also cannot accept scans of laminated documents.

The images must be clear enough for us to read the file, so scan them in high resolution. Include all edges, corners and images from the original document.

If a document has more than 1 page, save all pages in 1 file.

Name each file in English with a descriptive title, for example:

• Marriage-certificate.png
• Passport.pdf
• Registration.jpg

Do not send us hard copy documents via post or courier. We cannot ensure that they will be delivered to us in a timely manner, and this may delay your eligibility check.

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Registering for the exam

Once you've passed the eligibility check you can register for the CAOP exam. You'll need to upload a scan of a recent, passport-sized photo.

Special accommodation

If you have a disability or health-related needs, you may request extra support or an adjustment on the day of the exam. We call this type of support special accommodation.

Examples of special accommodation requests might include:

• more time to complete the exam
• being able to leave the exam room for breaks
• more leg room at your exam desk if you're injured

You'll need to provide evidence to justify your request.

Asking for special accommodation

If you've asked for special accommodation, you'll need a scan of a medical certificate from a recognised healthcare worker. This certificate must include:

• a date of issue that's no more than 12 months before the exam date
• your name and date of birth
• the recognised healthcare worker's name, profession and contact details
• the specific help you're seeking on the day of the exam

For details on what we require when you apply, see our Special Accommodation Policy.

Identification (ID) documents

If you have an issue with any of your ID documents, email us on exams@pharmacycouncil.org.au now for advice.

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Before you apply

Check that you're eligible to apply

You must:

• have completed a pharmacy degree in Canada, Ireland, the UK or the USA
• be currently registered as a pharmacist in the country where you completed your degree
• hold certificates of good standing in all jurisdictions where you've been registered at any time in the last 10 years
• now want to register as a pharmacist in Australia.

If any of these conditions are not true for you, this pathway does not apply to you. See Skills Assessments page.

Gather your documents

You'll need to provide us with documents to:

• show that you meet the eligibility criteria
• support the claims you make in your application.

You'll also need to ask your registering authority to send scans of your registration documents directly to us.

Get help with your application if you want to

Anyone can help you fill out forms or give you general help with your application.

But you may want us to correspond with another person, such as a migration agent or family member, instead of you.

If you want to nominate someone else to work with us, download and fill in our Agent Authorisation form. Both you and your nominated agent must sign it.

Please note that your nominated agent must use a different email address to yours.

You'll need to scan and upload the completed form in your application where it says 'If you use an agent'.

If you nominate someone else, we'll only talk to your authorised agent about your application.

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When you apply

Sign in to our Candidate Portal

Create an account in our Candidate Portal using your name and address.

In the portal, you will:

• set up a candidate profile
• request an eligibility check.

Upload your documents

Make sure you have all the correct documents, and that they're correctly prepared.

Pay the fee online

We can accept payment by credit or debit card. Your card must be issued by a bank in your country of residence.

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After you apply

We'll email you to let you know when we've received your application.

Wait to hear from us again

It will take us about 8 weeks to complete your eligibility check.

If you leave out any documents or send us incorrect information, it will take us longer.

Send us more information if we ask

We may email you to tell you we need more information.

If we ask for more information, you have 90 days to get this to us.

If we do not receive the correct information from you within 90 days, our system will close your application. If this happens, you'll need to re-apply and pay the fee again.

Receive your CAOP eligibility response

We'll tell you (or your agent) by email whether or not you can sit the CAOP exam.

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Before you register

Check that you're eligible to register

To register for the exam, you must have received confirmation from us that you're eligible to sit the exam.

Choose where you'll sit the exam

You can choose to sit either:

• an exam in a test centre
• an online proctored exam via OnVUE (eg. in your home or office).

You cannot change delivery mode after you've confirmed your appointment. Please see a comparison between test centre and online proctored exams for details.

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When you register

Check the date of your exam

Go to the Exam dates and centres page to find out where and when the next exam will be.

Make any special accommodation requests

If you'd like to ask for special accommodation, you'll need to email your supporting documents to us on exams@pharmacycouncil.org.au for us to assess.

We'll review your request and your documents. We'll then email you the outcome of your request.

Register for your exam

Our exam provider, Pearson VUE, will email you to confirm that they've temporarily reserved a seat for you. Paying your fee in the next step will secure your seat.

Pay the registration fee

Paying the fee secures your seat at the exam.

1. Agree to our policies again.
2. Click on 'Return to APC website'.
3. Click 'Pay now'.
4. Pay the registration fee online.
5. Click 'Confirm payment'.

Please note:

• We can only accept payment through credit or debit cards.
• Your credit card must be issued by a bank in your country of residence.

We'll email you a receipt for your payment after we process the order.

Rescheduling your exam

You cannot change delivery mode after you've confirmed your appointment. Please see a comparison between test centre and online proctored exams for details.

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After you register

Wait for your exam reminder

We'll send you a reminder email around 3 days before your exam.

Read this email carefully. It will include:

• your appointment details
• FAQs
• identification requirements
• the check-in process on exam day
• policies and procedures.

Prepare for the exam

We offer several resources that will help you prepare to sit the exam. These include:

• an exam guide and practice paper
• an online sample test to show you the exam software.

Step 3: Sit the exam

Before you sit the exam

Check what to take to the exam centre

Reference books
The CAOP exam is 'restricted open-book'.  This means you can bring with you 1 copy of each of the approved reference books including any edition of:

• Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) – an evidence-based independent medicines reference book
• Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary (APF) – an everyday guide to pharmacy practice
• British National Formulary (BNF) – which includes treatment summaries for all drugs commonly prescribed in the UK

Your reference books must not contain any annotations, handwritten notes or loose additional notes.

However, you may highlight or flag parts of the text before the exam.

Familiarise yourself with the exam

Exam structure

You'll have 2 hours to answer 70 questions.

Of these, 62 are scored questions, and 8 are unscored.

An additional 15 mins is allowed to familiarise yourself with the exam tutorial, and 5 minutes at the end of the exam to complete a survey.

Exam content

The CAOP exam covers 5 content areas:

• Develop a patient-centred, culturally responsive approach to education management.
• Implement the medication management strategy or plan.
• Monitor and evaluate medication management.
• Compound medicines.
• Promote health and well-being.

Exam scoring

The pass standard for the exam is set at a level that demonstrates competency. The pass standard also takes into account the performance of candidates in prior sittings. This analysis of results over previous years ensures fairness and equity over a period of time. The level of difficulty remains constant across time.

You will receive a results certificate indicating your outcome.

Learn more about what's in the exam in the CAOP Examination guide.

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Receive your results

We'll email you or your agent after your results are available. Expect this to be around 2 weeks after you sit the exam.

You'll be able to view and download your results certificate from the Candidate Portal.

If you do not see your results in the Candidate Portal, email us on exams@pharmacycouncil.org.au and provide your:

• full name
• 6-digit candidate reference number.

Each candidate receives a results certificate indicating their outcome.

We release all results as 'Pass' or 'Unsuccessful' only. We do not release the mark we calculated for your exam. The pass standard for the exam is set at a level that demonstrates competency. This is based on the performance of candidates in prior sittings and analysis of results over previous years.

Learn more about results in the CAOP Guide.

If you pass ...

Once we release the results, we'll email you a copy of your Skills Assessment letter within 5 to 10 business days.

Your letter will be valid for 3 years from the date we issue it.

If you are unsuccessful ...

You can see how you performed on a scale that displays the level required for a successful outcome. You can find this information in your Candidate Portal.

You can register to sit the exam again during the next exam period. You may only sit the CAOP exam 2 times. If you are unsuccessful the second time, you'll need go through the Knowledge Stream process to receive your Skills Assessment letter.

If you are unhappy with an APC decision, please see our Appeals policy.

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