Steps to Become a Pharmacist in New Zealand: A Complete Guide for Overseas Professionals

How to Become a Pharmacist in New Zealand

To practice in New Zealand as a foreign pharmacist, you first need to register with the New Zealand Pharmacy Council. After this, you can obtain your license to practice. 

The steps to become registered as a pharmacist in New Zealand vary depending on the candidate. It depends on your degree, country of registration, experience, and other factors. 

Based on this, there are 4 different routes you can take. These have different requirements, fees, and time taken. 

Let's understand the different pathways available for registering as a pharmacist in New Zealand for overseas pharmacists.

Pathway 1: Pharmacy Degree from New Zealand or Australia

The process is simple for pharmacy degree holders from New Zealand or Australia. These candidates are eligible to register directly as pharmacists without taking any additional exams. 

This is because the education they have received already meets the country’s standards. 

Pathway 2: Through the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement 

The TTMRA agreement is a trade and cooperation agreement between New Zealand and Australia. Through this, pharmacists who have a license to practice in Australia can work in New Zealand. They do not need any additional assessment. 

This facilitates the ease of movement of skilled workers between the two countries. 

These two routes are for pharmacy graduates from New Zealand and Australia. Let us see what options are available to you as an overseas pharmacist.

How to Be a Foreign Pharmacist in New Zealand?

For pharmacists from countries other than New Zealand and Australia, two pathways are available to register.

Let us understand these routes.

Pathway 3: Recognized Equivalent Qualification Route 

Registered pharmacists from a few countries have it easy, too. These countries are:

• Canada
• Ireland
• The UK
• The USA 

They can use the Recognised Equivalent Qualification (REQ) pathway to register in New Zealand. Through this pathway, the degree and qualifications are recognized by the New Zealand authorities. Due to the matching education standards of these countries, the process becomes simplified. 

Pathway 4: Non-Recognized Equivalent Qualification Route (Non-REQR)

Candidates who are registered in countries other than those mentioned in the REQR route can register through this route. A few countries covered under this are India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Pakistan, among others. The following steps are involved in registering in New Zealand:

1. Submit Application for Initial Consideration 

This step requires submitting proof of your pharmacy qualifications, such as degrees and mark sheets. This will be checked to determine if it meets the required qualification. 

Pharmacist in New Zealand- Eligibility:

There are specific prerequisites for becoming a registered pharmacist in New Zealand. 

• Be a registered pharmacist in the home country.
• Have at least a 4-year bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm, PharmD, etc.)
• Have at least 1 year of work experience in a hospital or community pharmacy

. Clear the OPRA Exam 

To proceed, you must schedule and take New Zealand’s Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) exam. You are allowed two attempts at this exam. The third attempt is permitted only under specific conditions, such as exam errors. The exam consists of a single paper, which has 120 questions. The exam is 2.5 hours long.

This exam is held in March and November. You can learn more about the OPRA Exam New Zealand on our blog. 

3. New Zealand Pharmacy Legislation Course

After clearing your OPRA examination, you must enrol in and complete the New Zealand Pharmacy Legislation course. Successfully passing the exam for this course will prove your understanding of New Zealand’s pharmacy norms and regulations.

4. Registration in the Intern Pharmacist Scope of Practice

Once you complete the legislation course, apply for an internship. This can be done through the Intern Pharmacist Scope of Practice. During the internship, candidates work under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The internship helps to gain work experience, skills, and knowledge.

5. The Intern Training Program 

After passing the OPRA exam and NZ Pharmacy Legislation course, submit an application for Intern Pharmacist registration with proof of passing both exams and paying the fees. Then, enrol in the 1 year EVOLVE internship program. This program includes:

• Practical training
• Assessments
• Workshops
• Mentorship from a registered pharmacist. 

6. Registration with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand

Pharmacist in New Zealand- Requirements

Now that you are familiar with the various pathways, let’s review the requirements to become a pharmacist in New Zealand.

1. Recognized Pharmacy degree ( 4-year course, minimum)
2. Internship experience (for NZ, Australia) or work experience (India, Sri Lanka, etc.)
3. Recognition of pharmacy  qualifications (For US, UK, Canada, Ireland)
4. Passing the NZ OPRA exam, completing the legislation course, and fulfilling the internship period (for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, etc.).
5. Registration with the Pharmacy Board of New Zealand

Pharmacist in New Zealand: Salary

Now that the registration is complete, let’s move on to the interesting part: the salary. In New Zealand, the average salary for a pharmacist is approximately $85,000 NZD (approximately 43 lakhs INR). This goes up significantly with experience. 

With 3-5 years of experience, you can earn approximately $100,000 NZD per year. This is about 51 lakh INR. 

This salary varies with location, experience, and the role. 

Conclusion

Becoming a registered pharmacist in New Zealand can seem intimidating. The multiple pathways with different sets of requirements can be stressful. Knowing what fits you best is the most important first step. For this, you need guidance from experts and people who have been through this. 

At Academically, we support and guide you every step of the way. Whether it’s OPRA exam preparation or understanding the registration process, our experts can make it all easy. 

If you are in the process of applying for the exam, consider our OPRA Exam Preparation Courses as a launchpad for your success.

Got questions or need personalised advice? Contact us for counselling, insights, and guidance. Your dream of working as a pharmacist in New Zealand is within reach. 

We also have expert consultation sessions for the visa process and immigration. Book one for yourself now.