OPRA Exam Eligibility Criteria and Fees: Complete Details
Key Takeaways
Know the eligibility criteria for the OPRA exam and understand who can apply for the exam.
Learn about the English proficiency requirements for the OPRA exam and the process to register as a pharmacist in Australia.
Get complete details about the fees involved in taking the OPRA exam.
Introduction
Becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia is super easy– and the eligibility criteria is very straightforward. It all starts by clearing the OPRA or the Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment, which is the first step, and a very crucial one for that matter.
Managed by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), the OPRA exam is a mandatory requirement, but fortunately, the eligibility for the OPRA exam in Australia is simple and inclusive, allowing global pharmacy graduates to have a chance at working in the outstanding healthcare setup of Australia. In today’s post, we will get a complete overview of the eligibility for the OPRA exam, along with a required document checklist and expert tips to help you sail through the eligibility check process smoothly. Let’s dig in!
Who can Apply for the OPRA Exam?
The APC makes sure that talented pharmacists from all parts of the global are able to access the OPRA exam and the opportunities that lie afterwards. If you are a pharmacy graduate, you are likely eligible for this pharmacy assessment. Here’s the basic eligibility criteria-
A four-year undergraduate pharmacy degree (B.Pharm) or higher, obtained from a university recognised by the ECFMG and listed under the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDoMS).
Active pharmacy registration in your home country or which the state pharmacy council of the place where you are practicing.
Note: You do not need to be registered in Australia to be eligible for the OPRA exam.
Bonus: No experience is required to be eligible for the OPRA exam!
English Proficiency Requirements for the OPRA Exam
English proficiency is mandatory if you want to work as a pharmacist in Australia, to avoid language barriers. However, it is not mandatory to clear the English language proficiency test for Australia before taking the OPRA exam. This means that it is not a prerequisite, and thus, you can clear your English proficiency test after clearing the OPRA exam.
Accepted English tests and scores for pharmacy registration in Australia are-
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic: An overall band score of 7.5, with no section below 7.0
OET (Occupational English Test): B grade in all four components
PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English): A score of 350 out of 500
Required Documents
To prove that you are eligible to work as a pharmacist in Australia, you will need to go through the eligibility check conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council. Only after passing it successfully can you take the OPRA examination. Here are the documents that you will be asked to produce-
Pharmacy Degree Certificate
Official Academic Transcript (mandatory—degree alone is not sufficient)
Birth Certificate
Valid Passport
Government-Issued ID Proof
Passport-Sized Photograph
Pharmacist Registration Certificate from your home or practicing country
Tip: Missing transcripts or documents in any language other than English can delay your eligibility approval. It is thus advised to keep all these documents ready in good quality and translated into English, if required.
OPRA Exam Eligibility Check Fees
Let us now discuss the fees involved in the skill assessment or eligibility check procedure for the OPRA exam.
Service | Eligibility / Purpose | Availability | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
Eligibility Check | This step is mandatory for foreign-trained pharmacists who want to work in Australia after registration with the APC and the AHPRA | Available for all listed candidates. | $810 |
Skills Assessment Outcome | This is an important step to get the result of your skills assessment, which you can present to the APC to complete the further process. | For candidates who have already passed the OPRA exam. | $300 |
Updated Skills Assessment | This is not a mandatory step, and only candidates who need to update documents or information in their skills assessment can take it up. | Available for all streams that had a prior skills assessment. | $610 |
Work Experience Reference | This is again optional for the candidates who want the APC to assess their work experience. | Not available for candidates applying through the Competency Stream. | $200 |
The fee conversions in INR are as follows-
Eligibility Check- ₹44,550
Skills Assessment Outcome- ₹16,500
Updated Skills Assessment (if needed)- ₹33,550
Work Experience Reference- ₹11,000
Pro Tips for a Successful Eligibility Check
Do you fulfill the eligibility requirements for the OPRA exam for pharmacists? If yes, then all you need to do is prepare for a successful eligibility check procedure so that you can be eligible to apply for the OPRA exam. Here are some pro tips to help you-
Start Early- Even if you are not ready to take the OPRA exam, start with the skill assessment process. Start collecting your paperwork early to avoid delays.
Keep Documents Safe and Organised- Poor quality documents may lead to a rejection in the skill assessment process. Ensure they are of the best quality, and scan and store them without compromising their quality.
Use Translations- If your original documents are not in Hindi, ensure you get an English-translated copy of the documents from the concerned authority. Also, make sure you have the transcript of your degree from your university/institute.
Stay Updated- To ensure that you adhere to the APC guidelines and do not miss any updates, visit the Australian Pharmacy Council website regularly
Pro Tip: Join OPRA forums, communities of aspirants, and expert groups for a smooth eligibility check process.
Final Thoughts
The Australian Pharmacy Council wanted to make the OPRA exam accessible to all skilled pharmacists, so that they do not have to worry about a lengthy process in order to prove their competence. The OPRA exam is a comprehensive assessment of your pharmacy skills and knowledge, and thus, you should not spend much time on the other steps of the process. Get expert help in case you have any troubles or more doubts about the eligibility for the OPRA exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any individual with a Bachelor’s or a higher degree in pharmacy (B.Pharm, M.Pharm, or Pharm.D) from a recognised university can take the OPRA exam.
No, you can clear the English proficiency exam after you take the OPRA exam. It is not mandatory for the OPRA exam, but it is needed for the registration process.
The documents needed for the skills assessment conducted by the APC include your Degree certificate, Academic transcript, Valid passport, Government-issued ID proof, Birth certificate, Passport-sized photograph, and Pharmacist registration certificate from your home country.
The OPRA exam eligibility check procedure costs AUD 810 or around ₹44,550 per request.
The OPRA exam costs Rs. 1,20,000 or around one lakh twenty thousand rupees for one attempt.
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