OPRA vs Other Pharmacy Exams: A Detailed Analysis

Overview of the OPRA exam

The Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment (OPRA) is the exam that offers licensure and registration in Australia. Foreign-trained pharmacists who aspire to work and settle in Australia need to clear this exam. The assessment is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council, which is also responsible for offering registration to pharmacists. Here are the details about the OPRA examination. 

• Format- The exam consists of 120 MCQs that have to be completed in a single session of 2.5 hours. 
• Test Method- OPRA uses the Rasch methodology of testing, which is an adaptive testing method ensuring fair assessment. 
• Eligibility- B.Pharm graduates (or higher) can take the exam, and no experience is required to be eligible. 
• Cost- The exam costs AUD 2,190 (apart from other fees included in the process). 
• Exam Syllabus- The OPRA exam focuses on Therapeutics, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacodynamics, and Medicinal Chemistry. 
• Duration- The process takes about 1-1.5 years to complete

Musk check: OPRA Exam Preparation Course

PEBC Exam (Canada)

The next very famous global pharmacy exam is the PEBC exam conducted by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. This exam, unlike the OPRA exam, involves two critical phases of testing: the Evaluating Exam (EE) and the Qualifying Exam (QE). Here are more details about the exam. 

• Format- The EE exam consists of 140 MCQs, which candidates need to complete in 3.25 hours. You need 60% or more to pass the exam. The QE again consists of two parts: Part 1, which is an MCQ exam, and Part 2, which is an OSCE exam conducted in person in Canada. 
• Eligibility- B.Pharm or Pharm.D graduates with registration in their home country are eligible to take this exam. 
• Attempts allowed- Only 3 (and a 4th attempt can be allowed after an appeal with the PEBC)
• Exam Fee- The exam fee for the PEBC exams is as follows- 
  • Evaluating Examination- CAD 910
  • Qualifying Examination - Part I (MCQ)- CAD 855
  • Qualifying Examination - Part II (OSCE)- CAD 1,915
• Duration- The entire process can take 2 years or more to complete. 

PSI Equivalence Exam (Ireland)

Next, we are going to talk about the PSI Equivalence Examination, which is Ireland’s registration exam for pharmacists trained outside Ireland and the European Union. It is a rigorous assessment and a gateway for global pharmacists to enter the healthcare setup of Europe. Here’s more about this exam- 

• Format- The PSI written exam consists of 80 MCQ-style questions. Some candidates may also need to take the OSCE, which is a two-day exam consisting of a Written and Verbal OSCE. 
• Eligibility- A 5-year continuous pharmacy degree (PharmD in case of India) along with registration in the home country is required to be eligible for this exam. 
• Cost- The overall PSI process comes with a total cost of €1500, which is the application cost of the process. 
• Duration- The process may take 1.5 to 2 years to complete. 

NAPLEX (USA)

The NAPLEX is a very famous yet hard pharmacy assessment for global pharmacists who want to work and settle in the USA. Here are the features of this examination- 

• Format- The exam consists of 225 questions, out of which 200 are scored. It is a computer-based test that candidates need to clear in 6 hours. 
• Eligibility- You need a PharmD from an ACPE-accredited or evaluated foreign pharmacy program to be eligible for this exam. Foreign graduates may also need to clear the MPJE and the FPGEC to be eligible. 
• Cost- The exam costs USD 520, and there is an additional application fee of USD 100, which makes the total USD 620. 
• Attempts- Candidates are allowed to take up to 5 attempts for the exam. However, this limit varies from state to state. 
• Testing and Scoring- The exam is scored on a scale of 75, and the result is offered as pass or fail. 

DHA Exam (Dubai)

Let us talk about a Gulf country, and a very famous one for that matter. All healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, are excited about working and living in Dubai. But to register here, you need to take the Dubai Health Authority Exam. Here are the details of this exam-

• Format- There are 150 MCQs to be completed in 165 minutes. A score of 60% is considered passing marks. 
• Eligibility- Any pharmacy professional with a B.Pharm, M.Pharm or PharmD + 2 years of experience, and registration in the home country or state can take the DHA exam. 
• Attempts- Candidates can take a maximum of 3 attempts, and once cleared, the DHA result and licence are valid for one year. The validity of the license has to be renewed after one year. 
• Exam Centres- The DHA exam is conducted in several Prometric centres across India and globally. 

Also Read: OPRA vs CAOP: Become a Registered Pharmacist in Australia

Comparison Table

After analysing the details of all the pharmacy exams around the world, let us outline the comparison in the form of a table. 

Conclusion

After a careful study of all factors, when talking about OPRA vs other pharmacy exams, OPRA stands out as a clear winner. Let us tell you why. 

1. Compared to PEBC, OPRA is an easier, single-paper examination that does not involve a lengthy process consisting of multiple exams. 
2. In comparison to NAPLEX, OPRA is easy and can be completed in much less time, with much less effort. 
3. Compared to PSI, OPRA is easy and offers a better prospect of working in an English-speaking environment. 
4. When compared to DHA, OPRA is a better choice as the DHA license must be renewed regularly, and Dubai doesn’t offer PR to citizens. 

Still got your doubts? Book a free consultation with Academically’s experts to understand which exam is better for your pharmacy career advancement goals.