CAOP exam for New Zealand candidates

To register for the New Zealand CAOP exam, you'll need to upload an image of a recent, passport-sized photo.

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.

If you'd like to request special accommodation, you'll need a medical certificate from a recognised healthcare worker. This certificate must be issued within 12 months before your exam date. It must include:

• a date of issue
• 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.

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

Choose where you'll sit the exam

You can choose to sit either:

• an exam in a test centre
• an OnVUE online proctored exam (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.

Test centre exam
If you want to sit your exam in a test centre you can sit in any of the listed cities on the exams dates and centres page.

OnVUE online proctored exam
If you want to sit the online proctored exam via OnVUE you can sit it anywhere that has:

• a reliable device with a webcam that meets the system requirements
• a strong internet connection, AND
• a private room where you will not be disturbed for the duration of the exam

Candidates sitting the online proctored exam will also need a smart phone to verify their identification and to be contacted by the remote proctor in case of a technical issue.

Sign in to your Candidate Portal account

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

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

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

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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Get help with your registration if you want to

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.

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

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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 info@pharmacycouncil.org.au for us to assess.

We'll review your documents. If we approve your request, we'll email you extra information before the exam date. If we decline it, we'll email you to let you know.

Register for the exam

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

To register for the test centre exam:

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. Upload a recent, passport-sized photograph.
5. Select your preferred exam centre, date and time.
6. Click 'Proceed to checkout'.
7. Confirm your details.
8. Agree to our policies.
9. Review the exam booking summary page.
10. Submit your order.

Learn more about the online proctored 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.

To register for the online proctored exam:

1. Check system requirements for the online delivery platform OnVUE
2. Run the OnVUE system test prior to registering for the exam with the device you intend to use on the exam day
3. Once registrations open, sign in to our Candidate Portal.
4. Use the drop-down menu at the top of the Candidate Portal to go to My Dashboard.
5. Go to Section 2: 'Register and Complete the CAOP Examination’, then click on 'Book an exam'.
6. Upload a recent, passport-sized photograph.
7. Select “At a home or office”.
8. Select your preferred date and time.
9. Click 'Proceed to checkout'.
10. Confirm your details.
11. Agree to our policies.
12. Review the exam booking summary page.
13. Submit your order.

Learn more about the online proctored 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. Click on 'Return to APC website'.
2. Click 'Pay now'.
3. Pay the registration fee online.
4. 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.
 

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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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:

• what you need to know about the exam
• a reminder to check your confirmation email from Pearson VUE
• what time you need to arrive
• how to access practice papers
• what to bring
• what not to bring
• when to expect your results

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

Check what to take to the exam centre

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

Reference books

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

• a calculator that is not internet-capable
• 1 copy of each of the approved reference books
• anything on the pre-approved 'Comfort Aid' list

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.

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.

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 info@pharmacycouncil.org.au and provide your:

• full name
• 6-digit candidate reference number

Each candidate receives a results certificate indicating the pass or an unsuccessful outcome.

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 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.

Rules regarding appeals against APC processes can be found in our Appeals Policy.