Age Never Matters- Success Story of Sijo Mathews

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Created On : Oct 10, 2023 Updated On : Jul 18, 2026 3 minutes

Life is like a giant storybook where we find tales that make us want to do great things, stories about people who never give up, and stories that show us that age is just a number. Sijo Mathews journey is one such narrative!

At 41, while working as a retail pharmacist in Oman, he pursued Australia's challenging Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KAPS) examination.

From Oman to Australia

Siju completed his diploma, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree in pharmacy in India. He came to Oman in 2013 and worked as a retail pharmacist for ten years.

Sijo aspired to become a registered pharmacist in Australia. This dream was fueled by a combination of factors, including the ease of the visa process, favourable family conditions, and a preference for Australia’s climate, which felt more akin to his home in India.

He weighed the options carefully and concluded that the Australian pharmacy exam- Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences  (KAPS) exam was the right path for him. 

OPRA Exam Preparation Course
OPRA Exam Preparation Course

Sijo understood this journey would be no walk in the park, but he was determined to make it happen.

Choosing Academically

Sijo had numerous choices for his exam preparation, but he opted for Academically. The decision wasn’t solely about convenience; it was also about value. Sijo considered the course's cost and duration, and Academically emerged as the right fit for him.

Path to Success

Studying for the KAPS exam while managing a full-time job and family responsibilities required unwavering determination and discipline. 

Sijo’s daily routine involved regularly watching both live and recorded classes, dedicating 4-to 5 hours to his studies, and meticulously reading the handouts provided by Academically. He created his notes, prepared questions, and reviewed his materials repeatedly.

Role of Academically

Sijo attributes much of his success to Academically. The mock tests provided by the institution proved invaluable, with nearly 70% of the actual exam questions feeling familiar due to his preparation with Academically’s materials. 

The clarity of concepts, assistance from dedicated staff, and the compilation of 10 years’ worth of question papers made Academically feel like a second home on his journey to success.

Words of Encouragement

For those who might perceive the KAPS exam as daunting, Sijo Mathews offers this heartfelt advice: “This is not a tough exam. All you need to do is follow the handouts, watch the live and recorded classes provided by Academically, and work hard.”

Conclusion

Sijo Mathews’ journey from Oman to becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia at 41 exemplifies the power of determination and hard work. 

His story is a testament to the idea that age should never deter us from pursuing our dreams, and with the proper guidance and relentless effort, success is always within reach. 

As Mark Twain said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

Despite the challenges, Sijo’s journey inspires us to keep pushing forward.

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Dr. Akram Ahmad

BPharm, PharmD, PhD (University of Sydney, Australia)

about the author

Dr. Akram Ahmad, PhD, is a clinical pharmacist, researcher and healthcare educator with more than 14 years of teaching and research experience across India, Malaysia and Australia. He completed his PhD at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, where his research focused on medication safety and health outcomes, and has authored over 110 peer-reviewed publications in international journals.

He is the founder and CEO of Academically Global, a healthcare education company that has supported more than 10,000 doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and physiotherapists across 88 countries, and of Jobslly, a healthcare careers platform. He is a TEDx speaker and has been featured on JioHotstar and Wikipedia, and has mentored healthcare professionals in both university and industry settings.

Dr. Ahmad writes and speaks on two areas in particular: international licensing pathways for healthcare professionals, including the AMC (Australia), USMLE (USA), OPRA (Australia and New Zealand), PEBC (Canada), PSI (Ireland) and DHA/MOH (Gulf) examinations, and non-clinical career transitions into pharmacovigilance, Medical Affairs/MSL, clinical research, medical writing and regulatory affairs.

His goal with every article is simple: to give healthcare professionals accurate, practical information about global career options that no one taught them in college.

Find him on:    Google Scholar · Wikipedia · ORCID · YouTube