Who this pathway is for
The Knowledge Stream applies if your pharmacy qualification is from a country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, and equals 4 years of full-time study (3 years if completed before 1 January 2006). Evidence of registration in your home country isn't required. Pharmacists from the other countries follow different APC pathways, so check APC's skills assessment pages first.
Step by step
- Apply for the eligibility check in the APC Candidate Portal (A$810). Upload your passport, ID, qualification and full transcript, with NAATI-accredited translations of anything not in English. Apply at least 8 weeks before the exam registration deadline you're aiming for.
- Register for the OPRA exam when registration opens (A$2,245 per attempt). Sittings run in March, July and November in 2027.
- Pass the OPRA exam: 120 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes at a Pearson VUE test centre.
- Request your Skills Assessment Outcome (A$300). You need it for a skilled visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Apply to the Pharmacy Board of Australia through Ahpra for provisional registration and approval of your supervised practice arrangements. You must also meet the Board's registration standards, including English language skills.
- Complete your internship: the required supervised practice hours (currently 1,575), an accredited Intern Training Program, the APC Intern Written Exam and the Pharmacy Board's oral exam.
- Apply for general registration.
What it costs
On top of these come translation costs, the Intern Training Program, Ahpra registration fees, the oral exam fee and visa costs. A failed OPRA attempt costs the full A$2,245 again, plus at least four months until the next sitting. Always check current fees on the APC and Ahpra websites.
| Item | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| APC eligibility check | A$810 |
| OPRA exam | A$2,245 per attempt |
| Skills Assessment Outcome | A$300 |
| Intern Written Exam | A$790 per attempt |
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free OPRA practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
The internship
After OPRA you work as an intern pharmacist under provisional registration. The Pharmacy Board currently requires 1,575 hours of supervised practice (reduced from 1,824 until a revised standard is approved). You can sit the APC Intern Written Exam once you've completed at least 75% of those hours. Unlike OPRA, the intern exams test Australian law, ethics and practice.
How to study for OPRA
- Start with the content-area weightings: therapeutics and patient care is 45%, so it should get close to half your time.
- Learn therapeutics the way Australian references present it: eTG, AMH, the Australian Asthma Handbook and current Australian guidelines.
- Drill calculations until they're automatic: creatinine clearance, BMI, doses by weight, dilutions, infusion rates and millimoles.
- Take at least two full timed mocks of 120 questions in 150 minutes before the real exam.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to become a pharmacist in Australia from overseas?
Usually 2 to 3 years: a few weeks for the eligibility check, up to four months to the next OPRA sitting plus about 4 weeks for results, then provisional registration and an internship of at least 1,575 hours (about a year full-time) with the intern exams at the end.
Do I need to pass an English test?
Not for the APC eligibility check or OPRA. The Pharmacy Board of Australia's English language skills registration standard applies when you apply for registration, so check it early.
Can I work as a pharmacist after passing OPRA?
Not independently. Passing OPRA lets you apply for provisional registration and work as an intern pharmacist under supervision until you gain general registration.
Is the eligibility check a one-off?
Yes. APC says the eligibility check doesn't expire, so you don't repeat it if you need more than one OPRA attempt.
Official sources
- Australian Pharmacy Council: Knowledge Stream skills assessment (OPRA exam)
- Australian Pharmacy Council: Organising supervised practice
- Australian Pharmacy Council: Australian Intern Written Exam
- Pharmacy Board of Australia
Practice tests for these certifications
This guide is general information, checked November 2026, not legal advice. the Australian Pharmacy Council rules change; confirm with the Australian Pharmacy Council before you apply.
