How To Become A Retail Pharmacist In Australia As An Overseas Pharmacist

Retail Pharmacists in Australia

As per government reports, nearly 21,700 retail pharmacists work in the Australian healthcare system. 37% of these are part-time workers. With an abundance of job opportunities, it is ideal for a newly trained pharmacist. Foreign pharmacists make up a big chunk of the retail pharmacists population. 

As an overseas pharmacist, there are various steps in getting registered to work in retail in Australia. There are assessments to ensure you have the skills and qualifications that match the Australian standard of healthcare. One of the most important assessments is the registration exam,  the OPRA exam. Candidates wanting to work in Australia need to clear this exam. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to become a pharmacist in Australia as an overseas-trained professional.

Steps To Become a Retail Pharmacist in Australia

The process to become a retail pharmacist in Australia starts with checking the eligibility. If the candidate is eligible, they take the skill assessment exam. The exam is to test the candidate’s competence and knowledge. It ensures that the candidate can practice pharmacy in Australia safely and effectively.

Check Eligibility Criteria

The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) is responsible for assessing the qualifications of overseas-trained pharmacists. Only when the qualifications are deemed fit can the candidate sit for the OPRA exam. 

The eligibility criteria are:

• Having a B.Pharm or a PharmD degree from an APC-recognized institute.
• Having relevant documents, including marksheets and a degree certificate.
• Registration license with the country’s pharmacy council

Also Read: OPRA Exam Eligibility

Apply for the Initial Skills Assessment

The initial retail pharmacists skill assessment is simply the verification of qualifications and degrees. You are required to submit all the required documents through the APC portal and request verification. This assessment is done to ensure that everything that is submitted is true and can be verified. It also ensures that the candidate’s degree is comparable to the Australian degree. 

The documents that are required to be submitted for verification are:

• Degree: B Pharm/Pharm D or Provisional Degree
• Transcripts: B Pharm/Pharm D Transcripts/Consolidated Mark Sheet
• Registration: Registration as a pharmacist in your home country
• Identification: Passport, Government ID
• Work experience: Optional, documents (if available)

The verification of the documents can take between 1 to 4 weeks. Check the status of the verification through the candidate account.

Also Read: Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA): A Comprehensive Guide

Pass the Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment Exam

After the qualifications are approved, you can take the OPRA exam. The Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment is an essential requirement for overseas pharmacists. It evaluates your knowledge in:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Biopharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry
• Therapeutics and Patient Care

The exam particulars are as follows:

• Exam Duration: 2.5 Hrs
• Number of Questions: 120
• Mode of Exam: CAT MCQ (Online)
• Exam Fee: $2190 AUD (INR 120,450)
• Test Center: Worldwide 

Must Read: OPRA Exam Test Centers

You will be able to view your results 4 weeks after the exam.

With this provisional registration, you can apply for internship positions. The internship period is usually 6 months.

After completing 75% of the internship period, you can apply for the intern written exam.

On clearing the exam and completion of the internship, a final, oral assessment is conducted.

After this, apply for full registration with the PBA.

Demonstrate English Proficiency

The Pharmacy Board of Australia requires candidates to be proficient in English. Since the most commonly spoken language is English, this requirement is essential.  This can be done through IELTS or OET exams:

• IELTS: Overall 7.5 bands and above (minimum score of 7 in each section)
• OET:  Minimum score of 7 in each section 

Obtain a Visa for Australia

After you receive a full registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia, you can start the visa application. You may also be required to have a job offer in hand. 

There are several visa options for pharmacist immigration to Australia. These include:

If you are facing any difficulty in the visa application process or deciding what works best, reach out to us. Our experts are here to help you through this. Book a doubt-clearing session and find solutions to all your queries in one place.

Find Retail Pharmacy Jobs in Australia

With your visa and license in hand, you are ready for the job. The job market for pharmacists in Australia is excellent. More opportunities are found in the rural areas. They often come with added incentives, bonuses, etc. 

Networking is a great way of finding a job. At Academically, our peer groups and community of students and professionals can help you in this otherwise tedious process.

Highlight your experience and skill assessment score in your resume to make to more attractive.

Benefits of Becoming A Retail Pharmacist in Australia

A retail pharmacy career in Australia offers several advantages:

• Excellent Packages: The average annual income of retail pharmacists in Australia is around ₹40-50 lakhs. This provides financial security. It also serves as a great incentive to work in Australia. 
• Career Opportunities: Australia provides multiple opportunities for career growth for retail pharmacists. With a few years of experience you can move into management and leadership roles. 
• Work-Life Balance: A good work-life balance is very important in Australia. There are flexible work hours and labour laws to ensure this.
• High Job Demand: There are over 3,000 openings for registered pharmacist job openings.  The demand is distributed all over the country.
• Skilled Worker Visas: The introduction of new policies favoring immigration has made moving to Australia easier. The skilled worker visa is one such policy. It has made moving to Australia easier.
• Job Stability: Australia has a robust economy and high job security. These factors play into providing skilled workers like retail pharmacists with a stable job. 

Salary of a Retail Pharmacist in Australia

Now comes the most important aspect of working in Australia. Australian retail pharmacists draw high salaries across the country.

The average annual salary drawn by a retail pharmacist in Australia is around 85,000 AUD ( 46.7 lakh rupees). This increases with experience, and the location. 

Experienced retail pharmacists can draw as much as 125,000 AUD (68.75 lakh rupees), or even higher.

This salary is also topped up with extra time income, bonus and incentives. 

In Sydney and Melbourne, the average retail pharmacist salary is higher, at around 88,000 AUD (48.4 lakh rupees).

Role of a Retail Pharmacist

Retail pharmacists play an important role in the Australian healthcare system. They are involved in:

• Dispensing medications
• Providing expert health advice and counselling
• Assisting in managing chronic conditions and offering ongoing patient care

They primarily work in community pharmacies, acting as the first point of contact for patients seeking:

• Over-the-counter medications.
• Medical advice and support for common ailments.

Also Read: How To Become A Clinical Pharmacist In Australia

Final Thoughts

The path to becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia as an overseas pharmacist is very rewarding. The process has been much simplified over the years with many government incentives. 

A career as a retail pharmacist is both fulfilling and rewarding. The high salaries, great infrastructure, and lifestyle all make Australia the place to be.

If you’re looking to make a move to Australia, this is the right time.

Enroll into the OPRA Exam Preparation Course and clear the licensure exam in your first attempt. Fulfill your dream of becoming a retail pharmacist in Australia with Academically today.