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This pathway shows you how to apply for a Skills Assessment Outcome so that you can register and work as a pharmacist in Australia. It applies if you completed your pharmacy qualification in any country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA.
You'll need this outcome issued to:
Please do not provide personal documents or make payments for our services or exams outside of the APC Candidate portal. The only way to apply for an eligibility check or to book an exam is via the candidate portal on the APC website.
If you plan to use a migration agent for assistance, please ensure they are registered with OMARA (Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority). If you are unsure, please contact us directly at info@pharmacycouncil.org.au or call +61 2 6188 4288.
This process applies if you completed a pharmacy qualification in any country that is not:
Your qualification needs to incorporate the knowledge of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences that form the foundation of the pathway to general registration in Australia.
The qualification must also be the equivalent of either:
As well as holding a pharmacy qualification, you must be either:
If any of the above criteria are not true for you, this pathway does not apply to you. See Skills assessments.
Skills Assessment structure
The process for requesting a Skills Assessment Outcome has 2 parts:
There is no expiry on the eligibility check.
Time frames
Make sure you lodge your application at least 8 weeks prior to the registration closing date.
Cost:
These are the documents you will need for your Eligibility Check application.
Before you start, translate any non-English documents into English. It must be a translation of the full document.
We will not accept an extract translation of the document unless it is provided from an Australian Government Department, such as the Department of Home Affairs.
You must use a translator who is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). We will not accept documents that have been translated by anyone else.
You will need to submit both original and English-translated documents.
When you apply for an Eligibility Check in the Candidate Portal, you will include the following:
You need to upload the following documents. If you leave out any documents or provide incorrect information, the process will take longer than usual.
You do not need to have any documents certified or show proof of English competency.
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Passport |
If you do not have a current passport, you can complete your application with an alternative Australian or New Zealand identification document. The only accepted alternatives include:
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Official photo-bearing document |
We require an official ID as proof of identity. This must be an ID document issued by an overseas or Australian authority. It must include your photo. |
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Birth certificate |
We require a birth certificate as proof of identity. If you do not have a birth certificate you can provide a second photo-bearing document (see above). |
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Qualification certificate or letter of completion |
You must include your qualification certificate or letter of completion if your certificate has not yet been issued.
If you have more than one qualification, please combine them into one file. |
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Academic transcript |
The academic transcript issued by the education provider must:
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Evidence of registration |
You must provide evidence that you're eligible to register as a pharmacist in the country you completed your qualification. Provide one of the following:
To obtain this evidence, contact your pharmacy registration authority, not your university. If the document is to show ‘eligibility to commence the registration process’, it must refer to both you and your university by name. |
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Agent authorisation form (optional) |
If you want to nominate someone to communicate with us on your behalf, upload the original APC Agent Authorisation Form. Both you and your agent must sign the agent’s authority. |
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Evidence of name change (optional) |
Your name must appear the same way on all your documents. If you have changed your name, you need to upload proof of any name change in the portal. If your name is spelt incorrectly in any of your documents, you will need to have them corrected by the organisation who originally issued them. Documents that prove a change of name include:
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We are currently improving this process to better align with and support your career prospects. We therefore are not currently accepting work experience applications.
You may be able to provide evidence of your work experience directly to the Department of Home Affairs
For more information on the criteria that your qualification needs to meet, see our Assessment Standards.
For specific details about the required documents, see our Skills Assessment Documents Policy.
The eligibility check is the first step in your journey to receiving a Skills Assessment Outcome and becoming a pharmacist in Australia.
Cost: AU$810
Timeframe: We aim to process and respond to all applications within 5 working days upon receipt of all required documentation. However please allow up to 4 weeks for any unforeseen circumstances.
Step 1
You must have completed a pharmacy qualification in any country that is not:
Your qualification needs to incorporate the knowledge of pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences that form the foundation of the pathway to general registration in Australia. We'll assess it to check that it does. If it doesn't, we cannot accept it.
As well as holding a pharmacy qualification, you must also be either:
If any of the information above is not true for you, this process does not apply to you. See Skills Assessments.
Step 2
You'll need to provide us with documents to:
Ensure that your name is displayed the same across all documents. If you have changed your name you will need to provide evidence of this in your application.
See your document checklist in the tab above.
You may want us to communicate with another person, such as a migration agent or family member, instead of you. This is not required - it is optional if you choose.
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.
Your nominated agent must use a different email address to yours.
You'll need upload the completed form in the Candidate Portal.
If you nominate someone else, we'll only talk to your authorised agent about your application.
Step 3
We cannot guarantee that your application will be assessed in time to register for your preferred exam. It may help if you lodge your application at least 8 weeks prior the registration closing date.
Your card must be issued by a bank in your country of residence. If you have payment issues please contact us.
Step 4
It will take us a few days to complete your eligibility check.
If you provide the wrong documents or leave any out, the process will take longer than usual.
We may email you to tell you we need more information.
If we ask for more information, you have 6 months (180 days) to get this to us.
If we do not receive the correct information from you within 6 months, our system will close your application. If this happens, you'll need to re-apply and pay the fee again.
We'll tell you (or your agent) by email whether or not you can sit the OPRA® exam.
The Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA®) exam assesses whether candidates have the necessary knowledge and understanding of the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences underlying the practice of pharmacy in Australia. It ensures that pharmacists trained overseas who wish to practise as registered pharmacists in Australia meet Australian standards.
It is an important step in the process of provisional registration as a pharmacist in Australia. The OPRA® exam is a computer-delivered, multiple choice question exam.
Duration of exam: 2.5 hours, 120 questions in total.
Cost: AU$2190 - Learn more about exam fees.
Eligibility: Ensure you are eligible to sit the exam by applying for an Eligibility Check.
Step 1
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Registration period |
Exam Dates |
Results released |
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8 April - 16 June 2025 |
14 - 16 July 2025 |
12 August 2025 |
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19 August - 27 October 2025 |
24 - 26 November 2025 |
22 December 2025 |
You can sit our exams in the following cities.
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Country |
City |
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Australia |
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Alice Springs, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville |
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Argentina |
Buenos Aires |
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Botswana |
Gaborone |
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Canada |
Toronto, Alberta |
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Egypt |
Giza, Cairo and surrounding areas |
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Fiji |
Suva |
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Finland |
Espoo, Helsinki |
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Ghana |
Legon |
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Greece |
Athens |
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Hong Kong SAR |
Wan Chai |
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India |
Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, and surrounding areas. |
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Jamaica |
Kingston |
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Kenya |
Nairobi |
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Kuwait |
Salmiya |
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Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur |
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Nepal |
Itahari |
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New Zealand |
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch |
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Oman |
Muscat |
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Pakistan |
Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and surrounding areas |
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Peru |
Lima |
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Philippines |
Manila |
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Poland |
Krakow |
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Qatar |
Doha |
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Saudi Arabia |
Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh |
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Singapore |
Singapore |
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Spain |
Madrid |
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South Africa |
Johannesburg, Cape Town |
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Sri Lanka |
Colombo |
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Taiwan |
Taipei City |
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Thailand |
Bangkok |
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Türkiye |
Istanbul |
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United Arab Emirates |
Dubai and surrounding areas |
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United Kingdom |
London |
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Zimbabwe |
Harare |
Seats may become available due to cancellations from other candidates. You can reschedule your exam in the candidate portal if your preferred test centre becomes available.
Step 2
To sit the exam, you must have:
Need some help? To determine the correct pathway for you, see I want to sit the CAOP® or OPRA® examination.
Registrations open at 9am and close at 5pm AEDT/AEST. Check these times in your local time zone with a time zone converter. They close about one month before exam day.
We cannot accept any late registrations.
Some locations fill up fast, so we suggest booking your exam as soon as possible when registrations open. You can choose an alternative test centre if your preferred centre is full.
Every test-taker is different. It is important we provide equitable access to testing. If needed, you can request special accommodation as part of the registration process. You must have a health practitioner complete and sign a Special Accommodation Request Formbefore you can register for your exam.
All relevant forms and detailed information about specific accommodations can be found in the Candidate Portal.
We will review your request and your documents. We will then email you the outcome of your request within two business days. If your request is approved, we will contact Pearson VUE to arrange the request details. Your appointment date and time may change to allow for your request.
Read more about special accommodation statement.
You will be prompted to upload a headshot. It can be 'selfie'.
Image generated by AI
Your headshot must be:
If you usually cover your head for religious reasons, or you wear facial jewellery, your photo can include these items.
You must pay the fee at the time of registration. If payment is not received your seat will be released.
Please note:
We'll send you a reminder email around 5 days before your exam.
Step 3
You can reschedule your exam in your Candidate Portal.
You can reschedule it to another date and time only during the registration period.
You can cancel and request a refund for any reason, however it is subject to our approval and will incur a cancellation fee. The amount you receive depends on when you cancel your exam.See partial refund amounts.
Read our refund policy carefully for details.
You will need to cancel your exam in your Candidate Portal.
Step 4
Familiarise yourself with the exam and be prepared for the day of your exam.
Step 5
We'll email you when your results are available. Refer to exam dates and locations for more information.
You'll be able to view and download your results from the Candidate Portal. Results will state whether you passed or were unsuccessful. No further details will be provided, as this is a registration exam.
Sometimes candidates need more than one attempt to pass the OPRA® Exam. Don't give up! Talk to your friends, colleagues and family and work out how best to prepare for the next exam.
You may re-sit as many times as you need to.
You can register to sit the exam again during the next exam period. When it opens register in Candidate Portal. You will need to pay the full registration fee again when you register.
APC offers an appeals process for matters other than the calculation of results. The process is to ensure no candidate is disadvantaged by matters outside their control. Please read about our Appeals Policy before sitting the exam. The policy tells you about the scope of an appeal. Learn more about our appeals process.
When you pass the OPRA® exam, you can then request a copy of your Skills Assessment Outcome in the Candidate Portal.
Once you have a Skills Assessment Outcome from us, you can use it to:
Your outcome will be valid for 3 years from the date we release exam results.
The Department of Home Affairs sets the validity period for your Skills Assessment outcome for visa applications. APC is unable to change the validity period.
Request a Skills Assessment Outcome
If something significant changes after we issue your Skills Assessment outcome, you can ask us for an updated Skills Assessment.
When you pass the OPRA® exam, you can apply to the Pharmacy Board of Australia (PharmBA) for provisional registration and approval of supervised practice.
After you’ve completed 75% of your supervised practice hours, you will then sit the Board registration exams: Intern Written Exam (with APC), Oral Exam (with PharmBA).
Some candidates contact professional organisations, family contacts, or extended networks to understand what opportunities exist at that time to find a supervised practice setting. Others may already have an offer to work in a pharmacy.
In any case, you must have your registration and arrangements approved by PharmBA before enrolling in and beginning supervised practice.
We suggest calling Ahpra to chat about your particular circumstances and goals.
The Australasian College of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia provide learning courses that are designed to help overseas trained pharmacists prepare for a career in Australian pharmacy and understand the Australian pharmacy context.
These courses are not a requirement as part of registration. They are not mandatory. This means it is your choice, only if you would like the extra support.
Foundations of Australian Community Pharmacy
The Australasian College of Pharmacy
Introduction to pharmacy in Australia
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
These courses are run by organisations that are not affiliated with APC.
Learn about other pathways to getting your pharmacy qualification recognised so you can migrate to, or register as a pharmacist in, Australia
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