Some success stories take years in the making. The story of Shan Mohanan is an example of grit, hard work, and consistency.
The morning at Academically started a bit earlier than usual. And with good reasons. Our inbox was inundated with messages from students who had cracked the OPRA exam 2025. Many, on their maiden attempt.
And with the feeling of pride, there was also the feeling of awe at the determination of our students.
Shan Mohanan was taking an exam after nearly one and a half decades! Even for a person with a solid academia background such as Shan, the task was daunting.
But the result showing “Pass” dissolved any lingering doubt.
A Journey 15 Years in The Making
Shan Mohanan is not new to Australia. It was there that he completed his PhD after teaching for 9 years in India. What started as a desire to get a degree outside India went on to become a career decision that would change his life. In his words, Shan says, “My aim was to do a Ph.D abroad, because all my degrees were from India”.
Sometimes, even the smallest motivation snowballs into the best decisions.
Being no stranger to hard work, Shan connected with numerous Professors, faced multiple rejections, but finally got into his desired PhD program.
After this, he continued with his postdoc. But the desire to do something different was already growing. It also had to do with the fact that academia jobs in Australia are competitive and the difficulties in getting PR as a Post Doc.
“I had already applied for PR as a University Lecturer, but the cut-off points were very high at nearly 95.”
Why Take the OPRA Exam?
For the unversed, the OPRA exam is the registration exam for overseas pharmacists in Australia. It is the Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment. It has replaced the KAPS exam.
As is clear from the name, it is a way for the APC to assess if you are competent enough to practice in Australia. And as it stands, it’s more about the practical aspect than just memorization of terms.
He was advised to take the OPRA exam and register as a pharmacist to facilitate a smoother PR process. Another motivator was the job of a pharmacist in Australia, which is very hands-on with the patient.
Shan says that the patient aspect of the job and the chance to help people make the pharmacy profeoprassion in Australia something to aspire for.
And the final push came with the promise of a permanent pharmacist job. With the high demand and short supply, job security as a pharmacist was guaranteed.
How Did He Get to Know About Academically?
How Shan got to know about Academically is another example of the lasting legacy and success the organization has in the OPRA exam.
As he discussed his plans to take the OPRA exam, his friend suggested Academically. As it turns out, she had also passed the KAPS exam on her first attempt last year.
And her helping hand was the KAPS Preparation Course.
And since there’s no better motivator than success, Shan enrolled in the OPRA Exam Preparation Course With AI Grand Test.
Managing Work, Life and OPRA Preparation
Working full-time, having a family and managing OPRA preparation was a challenge. But Shan managed to fit in his studies in the evenings and late nights.
His academia background helped, but so did the course. His approach?
- Focus on mock exams and practice questions, and
- Consistent study
- Don’t forget the simple topics, they are most commonly asked
Also Read: From Turkey to Sydney: Zeynep’s Success Story to Clear the OPRA Exam
How Difficult Was The OPRA Exam?
The OPRA exam level of difficulty depends entirely on whether you excel in memorization or understanding. For Shan, the exam was moderately difficult. The reason, his background in pharmaceutics. And the OPRA exam focuses more on pharmacy practice.
But his background also helped in solving many calculation-based questions easily.
As per his preparation strategy, taking mock exams regularly is a foolproof way of ensuring success in the exam.
Takeaway from Shan’s Success Story
When asked by Dr. Akram what he would like to tell aspiring OPRA candidates, Shan had some really useful tips to give:
- Focus on the actual work of pharmacists, patient counselling, and drug dispensing.
- Practice with mock exams to get an understanding of the actual test.
- What we consider simple are often the most important parts.
- Learn about vaccines and disease management.
The Path Ahead for Shan Mohanan
With newfound confidence after the successful first attempt at OPRA, Shan is now gearing up for the internship. He plans to reach out to pharmacies in the area to secure an internship position.
The first step is obviously, the provisional registration with AHPRA. But the path is now cut out for him.
We wish Shan all the best for his future endeavours.
Australia has gained an exceptionally talented and hardworking individual into its healthcare system.
