What is the OPRA Exam?
November 2024 is the last time the KAPS exam will be conducted.
While KAPS assessed whether international pharmacists had the necessary skills and knowledge to practise in Australia, the OPRA exam evaluates their understanding of the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences specific to Australian pharmacy practice.
What is the OPRA Exam Pattern?
The OPRA™ exam is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice question exam. Here’s what you should know about the exam:
- Number of papers: One single paper
- Number of Questions: 120
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Breaks: No break
- Cost: AUD 2190
- Testing Methodology: Rasch’s methodology
- Result: Within 4 weeks of the exam
What is the OPRA Exam Syllabus?
The content of the OPRA™ exam is similar to the KAPS, but it includes more questions focused on therapeutics and the application of knowledge to reflect the evolving pharmacy practice in Australia. This approach offers a modern and thorough evaluation of your knowledge and skills, determining your readiness to begin an internship in Australia. Knowing the OPRA Exam syllabus is important for the OPRA Exam preparation.
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the OPRA exam syllabus:
Biomedical Sciences - 20%
- Physiological processes and normal bodily function for all systems
- Pathophysiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Immunology
- Disorders affecting bodily fluids
- Symptoms and physiological values of disease states and disorders
Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics - 10%
- Physicochemical properties of drugs
- Formulations for the delivery of drugs
- Drug and chemical stability
- Solubility
- Drug formulation
- Pharmaceutical microbiology
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics - 10%
- Drug metabolism
- Principles of pharmacokinetics
- Factors affecting drug impacts
- Evaluation of pharmacokinetic data
- Using pharmacokinetic data in treating patients
- Drug metabolism
Pharmacology and Toxicology - 15%
- Impact of drugs on the body
- Receptor theory
- Mechanisms of action of drugs
- Adverse drug reactions
- Drug interactions
- Drug toxicity and treatment
- Factors causing changes in the pharmacology and toxicity of drugs
Therapeutics and Patient Care - 45%
- Screening
- Dose calculations
- Primary health care
- Safe and effective use of medicines in populations requiring extended consideration
- Safe and effective use of medicines
- Harm minimisation
- Health promotion and disease prevention
- Confidentiality
What are the Steps for Registration for OPRA?
1. Verify your eligibility
- To take the exam, ensure you have:
- Completed your Eligibility Check with the APC.
- Received an email confirming your eligibility to sit for the OPRA™ exam.
2. Register for the OPRA Exam
- Registrations open at 9 am and close at 5 pm AEDT/AEST. Use a time zone converter to check these times in your local zone. Registration closes approximately one month before the exam date, and late registrations are not accepted.
3. Upload a Photo
- You will need to upload a recent headshot, which can be a selfie.
4. Pay the Registration Fee
- The registration fee must be paid at the time of registration. If payment is not received, your seat will be released.
Where and When can I take the OPRA Exam?
Here's everything you need to find a test centre near you and check available dates.
OPRA Exam Dates
Registration Period | Exam Dates | Results |
9 January - 3 February 2025 | 3 - 5 March 2025 | 1 April 2025 |
8 April - 16 June 2025 | 14 - 16 July 2025 | 12 August 2025 |
24 - 26 November 2025 | 19 August - 27 October 2025 | 22 December 2025 |
OPRA Exam Test Centres
In India
There are 10 test centres in India, which include:
- Bangalore
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Hyderabad
- Jalandhar
- Ludhiana
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
- Pune
- Noida
Other Countries
Country | City |
| Australia | Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires |
| Botswana | Gaborone |
| Canada | Toronto |
| Egypt | Cairo and surrounding areas, Giza |
| Fiji | Suva |
| Finland | Espoo, Helsinki |
| Ghana | Legon |
| Greece | Athens |
| Hong Kong SAR | Hong Kong |
| Jamaica | Kingston |
| Kenya | Nairobi |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur |
| Nepal | Birtamode |
| New Zealand | Auckland, Wellington |
| Oman | Muscat |
| Pakistan | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and surrounding areas |
| Peru | Lima |
| Philippines | Manila |
| Poland | Krakow |
| Qatar | Doha |
| Saudi Arabia | Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh |
| Singapore | Singapore |
| Spain | Madrid |
| South Africa | Johannesburg, Cape Town |
| Sri Lanka | Colombo, Western Province |
| Taiwan | Kaohsiung, Taipei City |
| Thailand | Bangkok |
| Türkiye | Istanbul |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai and surrounding areas |
| United Kingdom | London |
| Zimbabwe | Harare |
Who is this OPRA Exam For?
The OPRA Exam is for pharmacists who:
- Have a Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, including mark sheets and degree certificates.
- Are actively registered with the state pharmacy council in their home country as a practising pharmacist.
Final Words
The OPRA exam, introduced by the APC to replace the KAPS exam, represents a crucial step for international pharmacists aiming to practice in Australia. Understanding the exam’s details and requirements is vital for effective preparation and confident performance.
To streamline your preparation, consider enrolling in an OPRA Exam Preparation Course. These courses provide comprehensive study materials and practice questions tailored to the new exam pattern.
For further information and personalised assistance, please fill out this form to schedule a free one-on-one consultation with our expert.
