Updated APC Skills Assessment outcome

This page shows you how to ask us to update your Skills Assessment Outcome. It only applies if you already have a Skills Assessment Outcome from us, but something significant has changed since we issued it.

The updated Skills Assessment Outcome may help you to get a visa to start or continue working in Australia.

Overview

This process applies if you already have a Skills Assessment outcome from us, but since we issued it, you've either:

  • gained general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia/Ahpra, OR
  • completed work experience that the APC has not previously assessed, OR
  • completed a PhD qualification from an Australian university in the area of pharmacy.

You will need to provide details of your changed circumstances which might include:

  • updated registration status
  • additional work experience as a pharmacist
  • a PhD qualification from an Australian university.

If you're asking for an update on work experience, we can only consider it if you've worked:

  • as a hospital or retail pharmacist
  • for more than 20 hours per week
  • for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.

Processing time: 4 weeks

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

Cost: AU$610

How to apply: To begin the process, send an email to assessments@pharmacycouncil.org.au to let us know you want an updated skills assessment. We'll then discuss your needs with you.

Documents

Once you've talked with us about your needs, we will ask you to provide the following documents.

  1. You will need to provide your proof of your identity
  2. Depending on your circumstances you may also need to provide:

Proof of identity

Passport

Make sure the image is not cropped. It must include top and bottom pages.


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:

  • Australian / New Zealand Drivers Licence
  • Australian federal, state or territory government issued identity card
  • Australian government issued ImmiCard.

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.

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).

Registration status

If you have gained general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia/Ahpra, provide:

Evidence of general registration

This includes your current registration certificate

Additional academic qualifications

If you have completed a PhD qualification from an Australian university in the area of pharmacy, provide:

Degree certificate

We require your qualification certificate or letter of completion if your certificate has not yet been issued.

You must provide an image of your original pharmacy qualification document. It must:

  • be a PhD qualification
  • include details for the full qualification (not a provisional or temporary certificate/letter)
  • include the issuing date.

Academic transcript

The academic transcript issued by the education provider must:

  • include all pages in a single document
  • show all subjects/units and examination results for every semester of the program.

Thesis title and abstract

The official document issued by your university that includes the thesis title and abstract for your completed PhD.

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Work history information

We can only look at your work experience if you 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 you have previously submitted the work experience to APC and the documents have not been accepted by us, we will not be able to include them in an updated Skills Assessment Outcome.

Please note that submission of Work Experience does NOT guarantee that we will be able to reference work experience claims on your Skills Assessment Outcome.

If you have completed work experience that the APC has not previously assessed, provide:

A completed Work Experience Reference form

Use this form to provide original work references for all your jobs you want us to assess as a fully registered pharmacist.

Combine it with secondary evidence such as a payslip, income tax statement or Government issued letter.

You will need to complete one template per employer.

Save all pages as one PDF file.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Provide an up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae (CV).

It must include:

  • all periods of work undertaken as a registered pharmacist (with full/general registration)
  • employer's name of organisation, address and contact details
  • start and finish dates for all periods of work.

Evidence of registration for each period of work

This includes:

  • your initial registration
  • your current registration.

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Other documents

You may need to provide the following documents as well depending on your circumstances:

Translations of non-English documents (optional)

Translate any non-English documents into English. It should be a translation of the full document.

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.

Agent authorisation form (optional)

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.

You'll need to scan and send us the completed form with your application package.

We will only communicate directly with one person. If you nominate an agent, we will communicate only with the agent.

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:

  • 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.
 

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.

Process

Step 1

Before you apply

Check that you're eligible to apply

If you wish to apply for an Updated Skills Assessment Outcome, please send an email to assessments@pharmacycouncil.org.au.

We will let you know if you're eligible and provide further instructions via email.

The Department of Home Affairs sets the validity period for your Skills Assessment Outcome for visa purposes. Contact them to check how long it will be valid.

Get help with your application if you want to

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.

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

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Step 2

When you apply

We'll let you know if you're eligible to apply.

Prepare your application in the Candidate Portal

We'll provide instructions via email on how to apply via the Candidate Portal. Make sure you have all the correct documents. Your package should include:

  • proof of identity
  • all supporting documents that apply to you.

Do not crop any of your documents. You must provide a full image or scan.

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Step 3

After you apply

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

Wait to hear from us again

It will take us about 4 weeks to process your application.

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

Send us more information if we ask

We may contact you by email 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. If you're having issues getting your documents to us, please contact us to arrange an extension.

Receive your Updated Skills Assessment response

If your application is successful, we'll email you (or your agent) your updated Skills Assessment Outcome.

If it's unsuccessful, we'll tell you by email.

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Once you have an updated Skills Assessment Outcome from us, you can use it to support your application to the Department of Home Affairs for a visa application.

The Department of Home Affairs sets the validity period for your Skills Assessment Outcome for visa applications. Contact them to check how long your Outcome will be valid.

See also

Related content

Fees for Skills Assessments and appeals

Find out the fees that might apply for Skills Assessment checks and appeals

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Appeals Policy

Learn the options you have if you want to appeal a decision we've made

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Accredited pharmacy degree programs

Find out more about which pharmacy degree programs you can complete in New Zealand or Australia to update your Skills Assessment letter

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