So you’ve spent years studying pharmacology and building your career, and now Australia is calling. Honestly? Smart move. Australia has a consistent demand for qualified pharmacists, and the PR pathways are more accessible than most people realise.
But here’s the thing: the process has changed recently, so let's get you acquainted with that.
Do Pharmacists Qualify for PR in Australia?
Yes. Pharmacists appear on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List. This means you can apply through a points system for migration. Your ANZSCO code will typically fall under 2515 - Pharmacists. The authority that assesses your skills depends on what you specialise in as a Pharmacist.
| Pharmacist Type | Assessing Authority |
| Retail / Hospital Pharmacist | Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) |
| Industrial Pharmacist | VETASSESS |
| Pharmacy Technician | VETASSESS |
Step 1 - Sit the OPRA Exam
If you’ve been reading older articles mentioning the KAPS exam - stop. That exam no longer exists. The last KAPS session was in November 2024. From March 2025, all internationally qualified pharmacists must sit the OPRA (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment) exam administered by APC.
To be eligible to sit for the OPRA, you need:
- A completed pharmacy degree (BPharm or equivalent) recognised by the APC
- Current registration as a pharmacist in at least one country, not necessarily your home country, but you must hold active registration somewhere
Step 2 - Proof of Your English Proficiency Score
For the visa itself, most subclasses require a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 across all bands. But as mentioned, OPRA eligibility demands 7.5 overall. So aim for 7.5; it satisfies both requirements and earns you more points toward your PR score.
Accepted tests include IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, OET, and TOEFL iBT.
Step 3 - Choose Your Visa Pathway
This is where most people get overwhelmed. Here’s a simplified breakdown:
| Visa Subclass | Type | Sponsorship Needed? | Leads to PR? |
| 190 | State nominated | State govt. | Yes (direct PR) |
| 491 | Regional provisional | State/relative | After 3 yrs via 191 |
| 482 | Employer-sponsored (temp) | Employer | Via 186 visa |
| 494 | Regional employer-sponsored | Regional employer | Via 191 visa |
For most pharmacists, 189 or 190 is the cleanest route. The 190 adds 5 bonus points to your score and is worth pursuing if a state is actively nominating pharmacists in your occupation.
Step 4 - Score Enough Points
Australia’s skilled migration runs on a points-based system. You need at least 65 points to be eligible, but realistically, invitations in recent rounds have gone to candidates scoring 80–90+.
| Factor | Points Available |
| Age 25–32 | 30 pts |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15 pts |
| 8+ years skilled work experience | 20 pts |
| Competent English (IELTS 7.0) | 10 pts |
| Superior English (IELTS 8.0) | 20 pts |
| State nomination (190) | +5 pts |
| Partner skills | Up to 10 pts |
Run your own points calculation at the official SkillSelect portal before lodging anything.
Step 5 - Lodge Your EOI and Wait
When you finish your skills assessment and you get your score, you need to submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect.
If you want a state nomination, like the 190 or the 491, you have to apply to the state. Each state has its nomination rounds and its own rules, so you have to do that separately.
You have to remember that the state nomination is a process, so you have to apply for the Expression of Interest and the state nomination at the same time, but they are different things.
The Expression of Interest is done through SkillSelect. The state nomination is done directly with the state. When you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to lodge your full visa application. Don’t miss that window.
Step 6 - Health, Police Checks, and AHPRA Registration
Your visa application will require a medical examination through an approved panel physician, plus police clearances from every country you’ve lived in for 12+ months over the past decade.
When you have a Visa, you can not start working as a pharmacist until you are registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia through AHPRA.
There is something you should know about this process: after you pass the OPRA exam, you will get provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia first. Then you have to do an internship that lasts for 1,575 hours. After you finish this internship and pass the intern pharmacist written and oral exam, you can qualify for full registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia.
Final Words
Moving to a country is a really big deal. All the paperwork can be pretty overwhelming. Australia really needs pharmacists, not just in the cities but also in the regional areas.
You should start getting ready for your OPRA. Make sure you keep all your documents in order.
You’ve already done the hard part, building your career. This is just the next chapter. If you need more information, just talk to our experts at Academically.