What does it really take to clear one of the toughest pharmacist licensure exams in the Middle East? That too, while raising three young children, relocating across countries, and rebuilding a career from scratch?
The Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) is known for its vast clinical-based questionnaire, analytical thinking, and relentless consistency. Yet for Dr. Sara, success wasn’t built in perfect study conditions or uninterrupted preparation time. It was carved out between childcare responsibilities, international travel, and the everyday pressures. She represents thousands of globally trained pharmacists seeking recognition beyond borders.
In a tete-a-tete with Dr. Akram Ahmad (B.Pharm, Pharm.D, Ph.D in University of Sydney) Dr. Sara busts the myth about clearing SPLE. She stresses the need to decode the right strategy, structured preparation, and having an unwavering belief in one’s own future. Let’s read and get to know in detail.
Pharmacy Background You Need to Clear SPLE
Dr. Sara completed her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from Deccan School of Pharmacy. So it is quite clear that she is aware of which pharmacy degree in India is the best for her to take her career to a global level. She began her career as a clinical pharmacist in India. Like many pharmacists, she entered practice full of clinical knowledge but soon encountered familiar challenges:
- Extremely low salary
- Almost no recognition
- Long working hours
- Less to no career growth
- Undefined career pathways
Despite gaining valuable patient-care exposure during hospital rounds and emergency ward training, she realised:
“Clinical knowledge alone wasn’t enough. Global certification was the real gateway to growth.”
This is the very realisation that pushed her to find international opportunities.
Why Saudi Arabia Became the Turning Point
When Dr. Sara moved to Saudi Arabia, she discovered a completely different professional ecosystem for pharmacists.
Why SPLE Became Her Next Step
- Tax-free salary
- High demand for Pharm.D professionals
- Structured healthcare system
- Respected career life for pharmacists
- No IELTS or other English language proficiency requirement
The SPLE exam wasn’t just another test; it was the license to practice internationally. She decided to take the leap.
Understanding the SPLE Exam: Not Just Another Licensing Test
During the interview, Dr. Sara described SPLE as analytical rather than memory-based.
SPLE Exam Structure
- 210 MCQs (2 sessions)
- 4 hours total exam duration
- Passing score: 536/800 (~67%)
- Covers:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Patient Counselling & Therapeutics
The exam particularly focused on medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. The patient counselling questions were asked to showcase deep clinical reasoning skills. She says:
“Every option looked correct. The difficulty was choosing the best clinical answer.”
This itself speaks for the importance of practice. One needs to relentlessly practise under exam conditions to get used to SPLE. Remember, the exam speaks of the utmost importance of strategic preparation. So let’s see how Dr. Sara prepared for the exam.
Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE) Preparation Strategy 2026
Dr. Sara learned about Academically’s SPLE preparation course through colleagues and professional recommendations. Instead of random studying, she followed a structured roadmap laid out by the expert faculty members with 20+ years of clinical experience:
- Focused syllabus aligned with SCFHS guidelines
- Expert-curated study material
- AI-based mock examinations
- Continuous doubt-solving support
- Community learning via Telegram & Discord groups
Within one month, she completed most of the syllabus. But her journey didn’t stay smooth. There were challenges that she had to face in between.
Challenges that Pharmacists with a Family Often Face While Preparing for Licensure Exams
Dr. Sara faced a lot of difficulties that pretty much forced her to stop studying for nearly two months. There were family responsibilities, travel between countries, and personal disruptions that forced her. She restarted it yet. With disciplined preparation for just three focused months, she cleared SPLE successfully.
What makes her story extraordinary is this she prepared while raising three children under the age of three. Her message to pharmacists worldwide:
“If I could clear the exam with this schedule, anyone with consistent practice can do it.”
How structured SPLE coaching made the difference
Many pharmacists struggle not because SPLE is hard to pass. But it is because the preparation lacks direction. Academically’s approach focuses on exam intelligence, not information overload.
What helped candidates like Dr. Sara
- India’s first AI-based mock tests for licensure exams
- Questions simulated as per real exam conditions
- Updated curriculum based on SCFHS blueprint
- Skill assessment and registration guidance
- Career guidance even after exams
- Access to an international community of exam toppers and practising pharmacists in Gulf countries
The programme doesn’t stop at exam coaching; it supports candidates through career transition into Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system.
Is Saudi Arabia a safe place to work for women?
Dr. Sara says Saudi Arabia is one of the safest countries to move abroad. Here’s why Saudi Arabia stands out:
- Women professionals are highly respected
- Workplace safety standards are strong
- Professional independence is encouraged
- Healthcare environments are structured and supportive
She described Saudi Arabia as one of the safest environments she has worked in as a healthcare professional.
What happens after you pass the SPLE Exam?
After you pass SPLE, you get access to job opportunities many pharmacists never imagined. Here are some highlights:
- Pharmacists get paid an average salary around SAR 8,500+ (~₹2 lakh/month)
- Zero income tax
- Healthcare coverage
- Accommodation benefits
Medical and healthcare licensure exams are more than certification. It stands as the biggest career upgrade.
To conclude with…
Dr. Sara shared advice that resonates deeply. Don’t wait for the “perfect time. International exams always feel risky. Growth requires stepping outside comfort zones. Where there’s no risk, there’s no gain. Whether your goal is Saudi Arabia, UAE, Australia, Canada, or beyond, global pharmacy careers begin with the right licensure pathway.
The right preparation ecosystem can dramatically change your outcome. Because, as Dr. Sara’s journey entails the fact, “Success in SPLE isn’t reserved for extraordinary people.” It belongs to pharmacists who prepare intelligently and stay consistent. Behind every cleared licensure exam lies a human story of persistence, sacrifice, and belief.
Dr. Sara’s story reminds us that international success is not defined by where you start, but by how seriously you prepare for where you want to go next. Sometimes, one exam is all it takes to rewrite an entire career.