Format at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 120 multiple choice, one correct answer and 3 incorrect options (90% scored, 10% unscored) |
| Time | 150 minutes, about 75 seconds per question |
| Delivery | Closed book, computer-based, at Pearson VUE test centres in Australia and overseas |
| Fee | A$2,245 per attempt (plus a one-off A$810 eligibility check) |
| Pass mark | Not published; scaled score against a standard set by experts, reported as pass or fail |
| Results | About 4 weeks after the sitting |
The five content areas
- Therapeutics and patient care (45%): screening and dose calculations, primary health care, special populations (older people, children under 12, pregnancy, breastfeeding), monitoring, harm minimisation, health promotion and confidentiality.
- Biomedical sciences (20%): physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, immunology, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, blood disorders and lab tests.
- Pharmacology and toxicology (15%): mechanisms of action, receptor theory, adverse reactions, interactions, overdose and antidotes.
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (10%): ADME, clearance, half-life, steady state, protein binding, dose adjustment in kidney and liver disease.
- Medicinal chemistry and biopharmaceutics (10%): physicochemical properties, solubility, stability, formulation and pharmaceutical microbiology.
What the questions look like
APC's guide says 55% of questions test recall, 30% comprehension and 15% application. Drug names follow the TGA list of approved names, values are in SI units, and key words such as MOST, LEAST and NOT are in bold capitals. OPRA doesn't test Australian law or practice standards; those come later, in the intern exams.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free OPRA practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
Scoring and results
APC uses scaled scoring so that different versions of the exam are marked to the same standard. You get a pass or fail result with general feedback for each content area, but no raw score or percentage. Results aren't open to review, and if you don't pass you register, pay and sit the full exam again. There's no limit on attempts.
2027 sittings
Registration closes about a month before each sitting and late registrations aren't accepted. Dates are from the APC website in November 2026; always check the current table before you plan.
| Registration | Exam dates | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 19 January - 22 February 2027 | 22 - 24 March 2027 | 6 May 2027 |
| 11 May - 28 June 2027 | 26 - 28 July 2027 | 9 September 2027 |
| 14 September - 11 October 2027 | 8 - 10 November 2027 | 23 December 2027 |
Pacing
At 75 seconds a question, recall questions should take 30 to 40 seconds so you have time for calculations and patient cases. Flag anything over 2 minutes and come back to it. There's no negative marking, so never leave a question blank.
A 10-week plan
- Weeks 1-2: biomedical sciences and pharmacokinetics, with daily flashcards and formula drills.
- Weeks 3-4: pharmacology and toxicology, medicinal chemistry and biopharmaceutics.
- Weeks 5-7: therapeutics by body system (cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, infection, respiratory, CNS), using Australian references.
- Week 8: calculations and special populations; first full timed mock.
- Weeks 9-10: clear your mistakes bank, take a second full mock, then light review only in the last two days.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the OPRA exam?
120 multiple-choice questions in 150 minutes. 90% are scored and 10% are unscored questions used for calibration, and you can't tell which is which.
What is the OPRA pass mark?
APC doesn't publish one. It uses scaled scoring against a standard set by subject-matter experts and reports pass or fail only. Aim for 70% or more in timed practice before you sit.
Can I sit OPRA online from home?
No. OPRA is delivered at approved Pearson VUE test centres in Australia and many other countries.
Is OPRA harder than KAPS?
It's different. KAPS was two papers; OPRA is one 120-question paper with 45% of questions on therapeutics and patient care, so clinical knowledge matters more.
Does OPRA test Australian pharmacy law?
No. APC states that OPRA doesn't examine legislation or practice standards specific to Australia or New Zealand. Those are tested in the intern exams after you're provisionally registered.
Official sources
- Australian Pharmacy Council: OPRA exam guide and sample content
- Australian Pharmacy Council: Knowledge Stream skills assessment (OPRA exam)
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.
