“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory.”: Mahatma Gandhi
Pharmacy graduates in India are suffering badly from low wages, long working hours, no work life balance and the list is endless. In such a gruelling situation, what is the best career option left for pharmacists? Prepare for a license exam and get registered abroad. Why so? You get better pay, better work life balance, better respect for the job you are doing. This is the inspiring true story of one such pharmacist from Andhra Pradesh. Sailaja, a BPharm graduate refused to accept a mediocre career in India as her destiny. While working full-time in a hospital pharmacy, she prepared relentlessly for the OPRA exam and successfully cleared it, opening the doors to a registered pharmacist career in Australia. Let’s get to know more about her preparation strategy in this blog.
OPRA Exam 2026: All You Need to Know
The OPRA (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment) is a mandatory exam for overseas-qualified pharmacists who wish to practise as registered pharmacists in Australia in 2026. Conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council, this exam evaluates whether a candidate has the clinical knowledge and professional competence based on Australian quality standards.
Clearing OPRA is not merely an academic milestone. It is a gateway to high salary, respected career field and a healthier work-life balance. However, OPRA preparation presents a unique challenge for working professionals. Balancing full-time employment with intensive exam preparation demands extraordinary planning and perseverance.
The Harsh Reality of a Full Time Pharmacist in India
After completing her BPharm in June 2024, Sailaja began working in India, initially in a corporate healthcare role and later in a hospital pharmacy. Like many pharmacists, she quickly realised the gaps in the local job market.
She experienced:
- 9-hour shifts with minimal breaks
- Low salaries despite professional qualifications
- Limited weekends and family time
- High physical and mental fatigue
Despite working in healthcare, there was little sense of professional fulfilment or long-term stability. The question that kept recurring in her mind was simple yet powerful: Is this all my degree is worth? Rather than surrendering to frustration, she chose curiosity over complacence.
In a conversation with Dr. Akram Ahmad (B.Pharm, Pharm.D, Ph.D, University of Sydney), Sailaja tells us about her preparation journey, the challenges of low salary and long working hours in India and how a structured guidance helped her gain confidence and crack the OPRA exam.
What is an Overseas Pharmacist’s Easiest Pathway to Australia?
Unlike many candidates who learn about overseas opportunities through peers or seniors, Sailaja’s journey was self-driven. While still in her final year, she actively researched global opportunities for pharmacy graduates. She discovered Australia’s structured pathway for overseas pharmacists and came across Academically’s OPRA preparation course. What stood out immediately was clarity. She received all the eligibility details, preparation timelines, exam pattern and career guidance from the expert team. This transparency gave her confidence to commit fully. She enrolled in November 2024 and set her target for the November 2025 OPRA exam.
Preparing for OPRA While Working Full Time
One of the most inspiring aspects of Sailaja’s journey is how she structured her preparation around a demanding full-time job.
Daily Study Schedule
Despite working 8-hour shifts, she carved out 3 to 4 hours of focused study every single day.
- Morning session (2 hours): Attending live classes or watching recorded lectures
- Evening session (2 hours): Revision, note-making, and practice questions
OPRA aspirants should follow the routine consistently for nearly a year. She asserted:
“I did not treat weekends as rest days. Sundays were dedicated to revision, AI-mock tests and reinforcing weak areas. Festivals, family functions, and social commitments were consciously sacrificed.”
Her belief was unwavering: short-term sacrifice for long-term stability.
How to Remain Consistent for your Australian Pharmacist Registration Exam Preparation?
Contrary to popular belief, Sailaja did not study for extreme hours on random days. Instead, she focused on consistency. Even on exhausting workdays, she ensured she studied something, even if it felt slow. Over time, this discipline compounded into confidence.
She emphasises that OPRA is not an impossibly difficult exam. It is a medium-level assessment that rewards consistency more than marks/grade-based results. With 3 to 4 months of serious, structured preparation, many candidates clear OPRA exam successfully. Her longer preparation period was a personal choice, aimed at building confidence as a BPharm graduate with limited clinical exposure.
Important Topics OPRA Exam 2026
Focus on Core Subjects and High Yield Topics
Sailaja’s OPRA exam largely revolved around:
- Pharmacology and therapeutics
- Clinical pharmacy concepts
- Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions
- Patient counselling scenarios
- OTC versus prescription medicines
- Food and drug interactions
This reinforced the fact that OPRA tests practical readiness, not rote learning.
Practice Daily Calculations
Although her actual exam had only three to four calculation-based questions, she practised calculations daily for an entire year. Her rule was simple: “Never skip calculations, even for a day.” This consistency removed fear and ensured speed and accuracy during the exam.
Importance of AI-based Mock Tests
Academically’s AI-based Mock tests played a decisive role in her success. She attempted every mock test two to three times. These helped her:
- Understand question patterns as assessed via Rasch methodology
- Improve time management
- Analyse mistakes systematically
- Build exam temperament
According to her, real improvement happens only when concepts are tested under exam-like pressure.
How Academically can Help You for OPRA Exam Preparation in 2026?
Throughout her preparation, she credits Academically for simplifying a complex exam. Key aspects that helped her include:
- Clear explanation of therapeutics and clinical concepts
- Structured study plan suitable for working professionals
- Exam-oriented mock tests aligned with OPRA pattern
- End-to-end guidance from preparation to career clarity
How is the OPRA Exam Experience?
Like most candidates, the night before the result was filled with anxiety. Months of sacrifice rested on a single outcome. When the result finally arrived and Sailaja saw that she had passed, it felt like a long journey reaching a meaningful destination. Her reaction was not just happiness, but relief and validation. Every early morning, every missed celebration, and every exhausted evening had finally paid off.
Why Overseas Pharmacists Should Appear for OPRA Exam?
Reflecting on her journey, Sailaja believes OPRA transformed her perspective on what is possible for pharmacists. Compared to India, an Australian Pharmacist Registration offers:
- Structured working hours
- Better pay and benefits
- Professional respect
- Clear scope for growth
- Improved work-life balance
It was not an escape from India, but a step towards dignity, stability, and professional fulfilment.
Message for Working Pharmacists and Fresh Graduates
Sailaja says, “Do not underestimate your degree. Always look for global opportunities actively. Plan your preparation realistically and stay consistent instead of being overambitious. Enroll into a good coaching that provides structured guidance. Working full-time is not a disadvantage. With discipline and the right strategy, it can coexist with serious exam preparation.”
To Conclude with…
This success story is not extraordinary because of talent alone. It is extraordinary because it proves what is possible with consistency, sacrifice, and the courage to pursue better opportunities. For every pharmacist feeling stuck in long shifts and low pay, her journey sends a powerful message: your present situation does not define your future. With the right guidance and unwavering commitment, international pharmacy careers are not dreams. They are achievable milestones. If this story resonates with you, remember that transformation begins with a decision. Your pharmacy degree holds global value. The journey may be demanding, but as this success story proves, it is truly worth it.
