Oman is one of the safest countries for pharmacists from around the world. With the country's welcoming community, cultural richness, and growth prospects, Oman is rapidly moving to the top of the list of best countries for global pharmacists. There are thousands of job openings with handsome salaries. In Oman, pharmacists generally come across a lower cost of living accompanied by a higher standard of living. Another huge advantage of Oman is that the registration process for pharmacists is quite smooth compared to most countries.
In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about the pharmacist registration exam in Oman, the Omani Examination for Pharmacists (OPE).
Omani Examination for Pharmacists: An Overview
The content areas assessed in this exam RS follows:
- Basic Biomedical Sciences
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Social/Behavioural/Administrative Sciences
- Clinical Sciences
Who is Eligible for the Omani Examination for Pharmacists?
There are certain requirements that you need to meet to become eligible to take the OPE exam. The eligibility criteria for the OPE exam are as follows:
- A pharmacy degree (BPharm, PharmD, MPharm).
- Registration as a pharmacist in your home country.
- Work experience of a minimum of three years in a hospital or retail pharmacy without any gap.
What is the Exam Pattern of OPE?
The Omani Examination for Pharmacists (OPE) consists of multiple-choice questions. The duration of this exam is three hours. There will be a total of 150 multiple-choice questions. The distribution of content will be as follows:
- Basic Biomedical Sciences - 15 questions
- Pharmaceutical Sciences - 53 questions
- Social/Behavioural/Administrative Sciences - 30 questions
- Clinical Sciences - 52 questions
What is the OPE Passing Score?
The Minimum score required to pass the Oman Prometric Examination is 60%. This means that out of the 150 multiple-choice questions, you should get 90 of them correct.
What are the Steps to Becoming a Registered Pharmacist in Oman?
There are four primary steps that you should take to complete your registration process as a pharmacist in Oman.
Document Verification by Dataflow
This is the first step in pharmacist registration. During this stage, you should undergo a primary source verification by the dataflow group. This is a mandatory process. This process will determine your eligibility to appear for the OPE exam. Your documents will be validated by the OMSB.
Oman Prometric Exam (OPE)
After your documents are verified, you will receive an eligibility number. Using this eligibility number, you have to schedule your OPE exam online. Clear the exam with the required passing score.
Visa Filing
Once you are done with your OPE exam, you can start your job search. The job hunting process can be done from your home country. When you find a job in Oman, get all the necessary documents attested by the Oman Embassy in your home country. By doing so, you will be able to obtain your Visa.
Viva Exam
After obtaining your visa, you can travel to Oman and your employer will provide you free accommodation. You can prepare for your viva exam and upon succeeding you will gain registration in Oman.
What is the Salary of a Pharmacist in Oman?
The average monthly salary of a registered pharmacist in Oman ranges from OMR 600 to OMR 1000. The biggest advantage of the salary that you earn in Oman is that there is no personal income tax in the country. This means that you can save a lot of money that you earn and still have a good standard of living. Apart from the great salary that you receive in Oman, you can also get free accommodation sponsored by your employer close to the place where you work. Most organisations in Oman also give paid holidays to employees.
What are the Language Requirements for Working in Oman?
Oman is not an English-speaking country. Usually for overseas pharmacist registration, there will be an English language requirement imposed by the regulatory body. But most Gulf countries including Oman do not require you to demonstrate your English proficiency. This makes the process easier and less challenging for people who are not proficient in English. You need not take tests such as the IELTS, PTE, OET, etc.
Omani Pharmacist Examination Preparation
To prepare for the Omani Pharmacist Examination, it is best to take up a good preparation course. On choosing the right course and top mentors, you can finish your preparation in just 14 weeks.
Academically is a digital destination that offers a comprehensive preparation course for aspirants who want to clear the Omani Pharmacist Examination on their first attempt.
With this course, you can receive a lot of things, including but not limited to:
- Training by industry experts
- Top-quality study materials
- Personalised feedback sessions
- Mock exams and practice tests
- Opportunities to connect with pharmacists who work in Oman
Conclusion
If you are a qualified pharmacist and dream of setting up your pharmacy practice abroad but wish to do it on a budget, Oman is the perfect destination for you. Compared to countries like the US, UK, Australia, etc, the cost involved in becoming a registered pharmacist in Oman is very low. The registration process is also quite easy to tackle.
Oman has incredible opportunities and a great quality of life for pharmacists. By preparing the right way, you can easily crack the OPE exam on your first attempt. To know more about your possibilities abroad, contact our experts at Academically and get a free consultation.
