This page shows you how to register with us to sit the CAOP exam. Passing this exam is a step in the process to become a fully registered pharmacist in Fiji.

Overview

This pathway is for people in the process of registering as a pharmacist in Fiji with the Fiji Pharmacy Professions Board.

To be eligible to sit the CAOP exam you must have received confirmation from the Fiji Pharmaceutical & Biomedical Services Centre that you're eligible to sit the exam.

Key dates: see Exam dates and centres

Cost: AU$730 per attempt

Data we share with the Fiji Pharmacy Professions Board:

  • Registration data when registrations close
  • Results data prior to the release to candidates



Documents

You don't need any specific doucments for registration.

You'll need to show 2 forms of identification (ID) to enter the exam room and sit the exam on the day.

For details on what we require as ID, see exam candidate information.

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

Process

Step 1

Before you register

Sign in to your Candidate Portal account

If you're a first-time user, create an account in our Candidate Portal.

  1. Navigate to My Dashboard.
  2. Select "I want to apply to live or work in Fiji, not Australia. I am ready to sit the exam."
  3. Wait for an email from us confirming your eligibility.

If you're a returning user, sign in to your account with your username and password.

If you have trouble signing in...

If you cannot sign in, email us on info@pharmacycouncil.org.au. We'll help you to fix the issue.

Do not try to create another account with a different email address. Our system only allows you to have 1 account.

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Step 2

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.

Register for the exam

Once we confirm your eligibility and registrations are open, sign in to the Candidate Portal.

  1. Once registrations open, sign in to our Candidate Portal.
  2. Use the drop-down menu at the top of the Candidate Portal to go to My Dashboard.
  3. Go to Section 2: 'Register and Complete the CAOP Examination’, then click on 'Book an exam'.
  4. Select your preferred exam centre, date and time.
  5. Click 'Proceed to checkout'.
  6. Confirm your details.
  7. Agree to our policies.
  8. Review the exam booking summary page.
  9. Submit your order.

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:

  • If you do not complete your payment in time, our system will cancel your booking, and you'll need to start the process again.
  • 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.

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Step 3

After you register

Wait for your exam reminder

We'll send you a reminder email around 5 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:

Step 4

When you sit the exam

Check what to take to the exam centre

To enter the exam room, you'll need your ID documents.

At your desk, Pearson VUE will provide:

  • an online calculator
  • a whiteboard notebook
  • an erasable marker pen.

However, at your exam desk, you cannot have:

  • any written or reference materials
  • a wristwatch
  • a mobile phone, tablet or any other electronic device
  • pens or pencils.

Reference books

The CAOP exam is 'restricted open-book'. This means you can bring with you:

The approved reference books include any edition:

  • 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

The CAOP exam includes 70 multiple choice questions. Of these, 62 are scored questions, and 8 are unscored.

You'll have 2 hours to complete all 70 questions.

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 feedback 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.

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

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Step 5

After you sit the exam

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 at info@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.

Learn more about results in the CAOP Guide.

Next steps

Once you've passed the CAOP exam, you can use it to support your application to the the Fiji Pharmacy Professions Board for full registration. for full registration.

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