Introduction
Australia has risen as one of the prime destinations for healthcare professionals, specifically pharmacists. Australia offers great opportunities for international pharmacists due to its high education standards and healthcare system. You need to get AHPRA registration to work as a pharmacist in Australia.
This blog guides you through the step-by-step process of AHPRA registration for pharmacists. Learn about the OPRA ( formerly called KAPS) exam, its eligibility criteria and registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
What is AHPRA?
AHPRA is the regulatory body responsible for the oversight of health professions, such as pharmacists, with the support of 15 national boards.
For pharmacists, AHPRA collaborates with the Pharmacy Board of Australia, guaranteeing that only competent and qualified people practice. A national Register of Pharmacists, in which all authorised practitioners are required to be listed, is kept by the board.
What is OPRA?
OPRA is the short form of Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment, which was earlier referred to as the KAPS Exam. Administered by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), it is the principal tool to assess the knowledge of pharmacists from abroad.
Who Needs AHPRA Registration?
If you have obtained your pharmacy education outside Australia and New Zealand, you will require:
Get your qualifications evaluated by APC
Complete the OPRA/KAPS exam
Do internships in Australia
Register with AHPRA as a registered pharmacist.
How to Be Registered as an Australian Pharmacist
Step 1: Qualification Testing
Register through the Australian Pharmacy Council to check your educational qualifications. You will require:
Degree certificate
Transcript
English language skills (IELTS/PTE/OET)
Step 2: Study for the OPRA Exam
Use the official OPRA exam syllabus, take coaching, and study from OPRA exam prep books.
Step 3: Sit for the OPRA (KAPS) Exam
The exam is conducted several times a year at various centres all around the world, including India.
Step 4: Work Experience in Australia
Upon passing the exam, you will have to finish a supervised pharmacy internship.
Step 5: Final AHPRA Registration
Upon internship success, submit to register as a pharmacist with AHPRA.
Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) Exam
Key Facts:
Test Mode: Online (Computer-based)
Sections: 2 (Pharmaceutical Science and Practice of Pharmacy)
Marks: 100 per paper
Passing Marks: 50 per paper (OPRA passing score)
Type of Question: MCQ, Based on RASCH methodology
Summary of Examination Content
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Pharmaceutics
Clinical Pharmacy
Pharmacology
OPRA Exam 2025: Important Dates and How to Register
Tentative OPRA/KAPS Exam Dates for 2025
March 2025
June 2025
September 2025
December 2025
Visit the official APC website to obtain the exact OPRA exam schedule 2025, deadlines for applications, and eligibility requirements.
How to Register for OPRA
Sign up for APC's Candidate Portal
Present the documents needed
Pay the exam and documentation fees.
Select your OPRA exam centre in India or elsewhere.
OPRA Examination Fees (In INR & AUD)
OPRA/KAPS Examination Fees (2025)
| Description | Fee (AUD) | Fee in INR (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| KAPS Exam | 2100 | ₹1,15,000–₹1,30,000 |
| Document Review | 1200 | ₹66,000–₹72,000 |
Note: Conversion rates are variable. Check current rates.
OPRA Syllabus and Format
The Australia OPRA exam syllabus is segmented into:
Paper 1: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology
Paper 2: Clinical Pharmacy, Therapeutics, Pharmacy Practice
OPRA Exam Duration
Each paper is 2 hours long
Held in two sessions (Morning and Afternoon)
Top Books and Study Materials for the OPRA Exam
Recommended OPRA Examination Books
Pharmaceutical Calculations by Howard C. Ansel
Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology by James M. Ritter
OPRA Exam Preparation Tips
Develop a thorough 3–6 month OPRA exam preparation schedule.
Solve previous OPRA exam questions.
Enrol in a well-known OPRA coaching centre
Understand the OPRA exam eligibility requirements.
Practice the OPRA test online through mock papers.
Australia Intern Training Program
Once you've passed the OPRA exam, you must then finish a pharmacy internship:
Duration: 1 year (full-time)
Done under the authority of a registered pharmacist
Needs enrollment in an Intern Training Program (ITP)
Comprises a written exam and an oral exam
This is a prerequisite for pharmacy registration in Australia.
Final registration with AHPRA
Upon finishing the internship:
Register with general registration under AHPRA
Present your training records and proof of having passed the intern exam
Get your licence as a registered pharmacist in Australia
AHPRA Final Checklist for Registration:
Pass certificate for the OPRA/KAPS exam
Internship Completion Letter
English proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/OET)
APC-approved documents
New Zealand and Other Countries' Pharmacy Registration Paths
If you are relocating to New Zealand, much of the OPRA exam New Zealand route is the same. Contact the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand for specific eligibility. AU and NZ mainly have the same criteria, but they have different regulatory bodies.