Updated Skills Assessment requests

This page shows you how to request your Skills Assessment Outcome (SAO). It applies if you have already been issued a SAO from us but you:

need a new SAO, OR
have new skills to add to it.

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

Overview

You can request a new SAO if the issue date has expired and the SAO is no longer considered valid by an external organisation.

You can request an updated SAO if something significant has changed since we issued your SAO.

For an updated SAO, significant changes include:

gaining general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia/Ahpra, OR
completing work experience that the APC has not previously assessed, OR
completing 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 in Australia
for more than 20 hours per week
for at least 12 months in the last 10 years.

Processing time: 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.

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

Fees: Visit our Fees and payment page

Documents

When you create a new application, you will be prompted to upload documents relevant to your request.

You will need to provide your proof of your identity

Depending on your circumstances you may also need to provide:

evidence of registration
academic qualifications
work experience information
other documents

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/The Pharmacy Board, 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.

Work history information

We can only look at your work experience if you worked in Australia:

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.

Process

Step 1

Before you apply

Check that you're eligible to apply

Visit the candidate portal and answer a series of questions which will determine what type of Skills Assessment Outcome you require.

Prepare your documents

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.

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.

Step 2

When you apply

Prepare your application in the Candidate Portal

Proceed to upload the listed documents and complete payment to submit the request.

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 a few days 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 before making a final decision on your application.

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.

Receive your Skills Assessment response

If your application is successful, we'll email you (or your agent) when your updated Skills Assessment Outcome is available to download in the candidate portal.

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

Once you have a 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.

Updated APC Skills Assessment outcome