OPRA Exam for Pharmacists, conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), requires candidates to complete an eligibility check by submitting verified academic, identification, and qualification documents before registering for the assessment.
What is the OPRA Exam?
OPRA Exam (full form: Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment) is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), and is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of overseas-qualified pharmacists seeking registration in Australia. Basically, Passing OPRA leads to pharmacist registration in Australia, making it an essential step in the qualification pathway for international candidates.
Who needs OPRA – Qualification pathway and streams
If you are an overseas pharmacist (i.e., you obtained your pharmacy qualification in a country other than Australia or New Zealand, and you now want to work in Australia), then you enter the Knowledge Stream of the APC skills-assessment programme. This means the OPRA exam qualification process is for overseas pharmacists—so the OPRA Exam Qualification pathway for Australian pharmacy jobs and OPRA Exam Qualification for overseas pharmacists come into play. If you qualified in Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Ireland or Canada, you may have a different stream (Competency Stream) and different exam (e.g., CAOP)
OPRA Exam Eligibility Criteria every candidate must know
Before you can register for the OPRA exam, you must pass an OPRA Exam eligibility check via APC.
● You must have completed a pharmacy qualification (degree) in a country other than Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada or Ireland.
● You must either be registered as a pharmacist in the country where you graduated OR be registered as a pharmacist in another country where the registering authority is recognised by APC.
● General documents required: a. You must upload a valid passport, including the top and bottom pages showing your full name and date of birth. If you do not have a current passport, you can provide another official photo-bearing ID, such as a driver’s licence, government ID card, or Immi Card.
b. A birth certificate or equivalent document is required as proof of your date of birth; if unavailable, a second photo ID may be accepted.
c. You need to submit your pharmacy qualification certificate (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Pharm.D) or a letter of completion from your university if the degree certificate has not yet been issued.
d. An official academic transcript showing all subjects, units, and final results for your pharmacy qualification must be included.
e. You may optionally provide evidence of pharmacist registration from your home country to support your eligibility.
f. If your name appears differently on any document, you must upload evidence of name change, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll.
g. All documents that are not in English must be fully translated, as partial translations or extracts are not accepted.
h. All documents must be uploaded directly through the APC Candidate Portal, and you should ensure that your name is spelled consistently across every document.
These criteria constitute the OPRA Exam Eligibility Check which is the first step before you can “Register for the OPRA exam through the
Australian Pharmacy Council”.
Why the eligibility check matters
This eligibility check ensures that you meet the baseline requirements to be able to sit the OPRA exam. APC emphasises you must apply at least 8 weeks before your preferred OPRA exam registration closing date. If you don’t meet eligibility, you cannot proceed to sit the OPRA exam, and that means you cannot move forward to pharmacist registration in Australia. So clearing OPRA Exam is essential for pharmacist registration.
OPRA Exam Dates: March, July & November every year
According to APC information:
● OPRA exam dates: March, July & November every year. As per the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), the exam is conducted three times annually, giving overseas pharmacists multiple opportunities to qualify for registration in Australia.
How to Register for OPRA Exam through Australian Pharmacy Council
Once your eligibility check is passed:
1. Log into the Candidate Portal of APC. Upload the required documents. Pay the eligibility check fee at the eligibility step.
2. After eligibility is confirmed, you then register for the OPRA exam and choose your exam date and test centre.
3. Sit the exam (computer-delivered, multiple choice). Hence the pathway: Check eligibility → Register for OPRA exam → Sit exam → Pass exam → progress toward registration.
OPRA Exam Syllabus by Australian Pharmacy Council & Latest version The OPRA exam syllabus is clearly outlined by APC: It covers five content areas:
● Biomedical sciences – ~20% of questions
● Medicinal chemistry & biopharmaceutics – ~10%
● Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics – ~10%
● Pharmacology & toxicology – ~15%
● Therapeutics & patient care – ~45%
The official OPRA Exam Guide also clarifies structure: closed-book, computer-based, 120 multiple choice questions, 150 minutes (2.5 hours) to complete.
Since this is the latest version from APC (May 2025 Version 1.1) reflects the latest OPRA Exam syllabus by the Australian Pharmacy Council”. Why Passing OPRA Exam for Pharmacist Unlocks Career in Australia Passing the OPRA exam is essential in the pathway to pharmacist registration. Once you pass the OPRA exam and receive your Skills Assessment Outcome letter from APC, you can apply for provisional/intern registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia (through Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency – AHPRA) and then progress to full registration.
In short: Clearing OPRA Exam is essential for pharmacist registration in Australia — it opens the door to work, career, and migration. Next Step after OPRA Exam After passing the OPRA exam, you must still meet the English language requirement to register with AHPRA. AHPRA accepts tests like OET, PTE Academic with specific minimum scores. The results must be valid within two years at the time of registration. Candidates educated for five years or more in English-speaking countries may be exempted from testing. Without meeting the English requirement, AHPRA will not grant pharmacist registration, even if OPRA is passed.
Final Word
For overseas-qualified pharmacists, the OPRA exam is a major milestone in pursuing a pharmacy career in Australia. By fulfilling the eligibility requirements, registering via the APC, preparing with the correct syllabus, and passing the exam, you are well on your way. Remember: Register for OPRA exam through the Australian Pharmacy Council, and once you pass the OPRA Exam for Pharmacist, you unlock your career in Australia.
