OPRA vs KAPS exam: What has changed?

Are you looking for a potential pharmacist job in Australia? Then you must have heard about the KAPS exam (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences). So far, KAPS has been the only qualifying exam for aspiring pharmacists in Australia. However, from March 2025, the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) has successfully replaced KAPS with the OPRA exam (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment), making the process simpler for candidates across the globe.

In this blog, we will make it easier for you to understand the key changes. We will discuss their fees, exam duration, syllabus, and preparation strategies. 

Read on to understand how they impact your journey to become a registered pharmacist in Australia.

When Was The OPRA Exam Introduced?

The OPRA Exam was introduced by the APC in March 2025. It was launched as a replacement for the earlier KAPS exam.

The OPRA exam was designed to better assess the 

• Clinical knowledge
• Decision-making ability
• Practice readiness 

of internationally qualified pharmacists seeking registration in Australia. 

Compared to KAPS, OPRA places a stronger emphasis on 

• Patient-centred care
• Clinical reasoning
• Contemporary Australian pharmacy practice 

It is more closely aligned with real-world professional expectations.

This change reflects Australia’s move toward ensuring that overseas pharmacists are well prepared for modern pharmacy roles, particularly in clinical and community healthcare settings.

OPRA vs KAPS Exam: How’s the Fees Structure Changed?

The OPRA exam fee is AU$2,190 (₹1,29,200), which is less than the KAPS exam fees AU$2,290 (₹1,35,110). Moreover, the streamlined assessment process provides a more affordable and accessible route.

Let us look at some of the other costs involved.

• APC Eligibility Check: about AUD 810 (INR 47,790)
• OPRA Exam Fee: around AUD 2,245  (₹1,32,455) 
• Skills Assessment Outcome Fee: around AUD 300 (INR 17,700)
• AHPRA Provisional Registration: roughly $160–240+ depending on the year (INR 9500- 14,160)
• English Proficiency Test (if required): OET (~$587), IELTS/PTE similar ranges (INR 34,800)
• Migration & PR fees: Government charges alone can be $4,000–5,000+ (INR 3 Lakhs+)
• Optional agent fees: Extra

Exam Syllabus Difference OPRA Vs KAPS

Unlike the KAPS exam, which focused mainly on theoretical knowledge, the structure of the OPRA exam syllabus includes multiple choice questions (MCQs), practical assessments and real-world scenarios to ensure pharmacists can effectively deal with patients in Australia.

The KAPS exam had two different papers with equal weightage to the following fields of study:

• Pharmaceutical chemistry​
• Pharmacology and physiology​
• ​Pharmaceutics
• Therapeutics

The OPRA exam, as of March 2025, has a revised format that emphasizes therapeutics and the application of knowledge. The exam now lays a greater focus on clinical scenarios and patient safety. It requires candidates to demonstrate decision-making skills and an understanding of drug interactions, adverse effects and medication management.

This helps you with a comprehensive assessment of your knowledge and skills, and assessing your readiness to get a pharmacist license in Australia.

Assessment Model- RASCH Model of Assessment

The Rasch model is a psychometric analysis that assesses a candidate's actual skill sets to ensure their score reflects their true ability, not just their performance on the test. It ensures fairness, focuses on ability assessment, and uses evidence-based standards. 

The APC communicates results as pass or fail, instead of traditional percentage or marks disclosure. The OPRA exam has 120 questions, with 90% scored and 10% unscored for testing purposes.

OPRA Vs KAPS: Exam Duration

The duration of the OPRA exam is considerably shorter than that of KAPS. Candidates will have 2 hours 30 minutes for 120 questions while attempting for OPRA, whereas on KAPS they had to attempt 200 questions for 4 hours. The shorter time will result in peace of mind among candidates owing to the fact that they have to attempt a single paper, unlike KAPS where there were two different papers.

OPRA Exam Dates 2026

KAPS exams were scheduled in 2024; however, from 2025,  the APC has remodelled KAPS to OPRA with a revised structure. Interested individuals can register themselves based on the OPRA exam dates 2025 schedule below:

How To Prepare For The OPRA Exam?

The KAPS exam has definitely transitioned to OPRA, but the preparation strategies would be more or less similar, with a few important tweaks that you should not miss:

• Understand the structure of the OPRA exam syllabus.
• Give more emphasis to the therapeutics and patient care section, as it has the most weightage.
• Read from APC-recommended books and resources that add value to your preparation.
• Keep solving the latest sample papers so that you get a hang of what to expect in the exam.
• Take the OPRA exam online preparation classes that provide a comprehensive and step-by-step learning guide. 
• Take mock tests that simulate the exam environment and build confidence to clear the exams.
• Use your precious time wisely. 
• Ensure you begin your preparations early, keeping in mind the time it takes to grasp difficult concepts.
•  In the process, do not neglect your mental health. Take breaks in between to fuel up.

Why Should You Choose OPRA?

Get practical knowledge of real-world scenarios

• The OPRA exam tests real-world skills with its revised paper structure. 
• It allows you to pursue a pharmacist job in Australia. 
• You get to learn beyond theoretical information with case-based questions that test your decision-making skills.

Allows you to understand the Australian work culture

• The OPRA exam includes instances from patient interactions and ethics.
• It not only prepares you to get used to the healthcare system but also secures a pharmacist's license in Australia.

Essential for permanent residency for you and your family

• The OPRA exam is a PR pathway for pharmacists looking for a job in Australia. 
• You can settle with your family with peace of mind knowing that your kids’ education will be absolutely free of cost. 
• You can lead a great life with top-notch facilities.

Start Your OPRA Preparation Today

According to a government report, the demand for pharmacists in Australia is increasing with an annual employee growth of 2300. This is the best time to become a pharmacist in Australia and lead a life with peace of mind.

The OPRA exam is your gateway to the Australian dream. This change from KAPS to OPR has made it even easier and cheaper for overseas pharmacists to start their careers in Australia. 

So, what are you waiting for? Get enrolled in our OPRA Exam Preparation Course With AI Grand Test and get ready for success.

See you on the other side!