Thinking about becoming a pharmacist in Australia? If you're an Indian pharmacy graduate, the OPRA exam is your golden ticket to work and settle in Australia. But before you get there, there’s one big question everyone has:
“What is the OPRA exam fee in India in 2025?”
Whether you're calculating your budget, figuring out your eligibility, or just starting your research, this blog has everything you need: the latest fees, hidden costs, the OPRA exam syllabus 2025, preparation tips, recommended books, registration steps, and even a career outlook in Australia. We’ve simplified it all, especially for Indian candidates, and yes! This guide has it all.
OPRA stands for Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment. This exam assesses your skills as a pharmacist in an Australian healthcare setting. The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) regulates this exam. In order to appear for this exam in your home country, you can register with Pearson VUE to book your seat at the desired centre.
Let’s break down the complete OPRA exam cost for Indian candidates in 2025. This includes the eligibility assessment, exam fees, and any additional steps.
Fee (AUD) | Fee (USD) | Fee (INR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Eligibility Check | $810 | $520 | ₹44,100 |
Skills Assessment Outcome | $300 | $190 | ₹16,100 |
Updated Skills Assessment (Optional) | $610 | $390 | ₹33,100 |
OPRA Exam | $2,190 | $1,410 | ₹1,19,000 |
Total (without optional update) | $3,300 | $2,130 | ₹1,81,500 |
Note: INR values are based on the 2025 exchange rate of 1 AUD ≈ ₹54 and 1 USD ≈ ₹84. Rates fluctuate, so confirm before making payments.
No, there aren’t any hidden costs. The OPRA exam team is very transparent about the hard-earned money you spend. The OPRA exam fees listed above are official. But there are some additional expenses that everyone ends up facing. Here's the full picture:
Other Expenses | Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
English Test (IELTS, PTE, OET) | ₹15,000 to ₹17,000 |
Document Translation & Courier | ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 |
OPRA Exam Coaching (Optional but recommended) | ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000 |
Travel & Accommodation (for in-person exam) | ₹40,000 to ₹1,20,000 |
Consultant Support (Application Help) | ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 |
Tip: Plan a total budget of around ₹2.5 to ₹3 lakhs to cover all stages of your OPRA exam journey comfortably.
This isn’t your regular rote learning session. Here, you have to understand the concepts and put them into a real-world setting. Here’s a breakdown of the updated OPRA exam syllabus 2025 that’d help you put emphasis accordingly:
Therapeutics & Patient Care (45%)
Case-based patient scenarios, drug interactions, patient safety and medication management
Biomedical Sciences (20%)
Pathophysiology, microbiology, immunology and metabolism
Pharmacology & Toxicology (15%)
Drug mechanisms, adverse effects and toxicological aspects
Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics (10%)
Absorption, metabolism and action mechanisms
Medicinal Chemistry & Biopharmaceutics (10%)
Drug formulation, delivery systems and drug design
This is why OPRA exam coaching is so helpful, it's not about memorising, but understanding how and why things work.
Do not be late in applying. Here is the official OPRA exam schedule 2025:Session
Session | Application Window | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
March 2025 | Jan 9 – Feb 3, 2025 | March 5, 2025 |
July 2025 | April 8 – June 16, 2025 | July 16, 2025 |
November 2025 | Aug 19 – Oct 27, 2025 | Nov 26, 2025 |
If you’ve heard of the KAPS exam, here’s how it compares to the new OPRA exam for pharmacists:
Feature | KAPS Exam | OPRA Exam 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Focus | Theoretical Knowledge | Clinical Competency |
Format | 2 Papers | 1 Integrated Case-Based Test |
Cost | ₹2.5–₹3 lakhs | ₹1.8–₹2 lakhs |
Global Recognition | Limited | Accepted across APAC |
Assessment | Static MCQs | Adaptive AI-based Case Scenarios and questions based on students’ individual skills |
Looking for the right OPRA exam books? Start with these expert-recommended titles:
Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology by James Ritter
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics by Roger Walker
Pharmaceutical Calculations by Howard Ansel
Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics
Aulton’s Pharmaceutics by Michael Aulton
Need help with preparing for the OPRA exam 2025? Join the best OPRA exam training institute for a coaching programme that includes AI-moderated mock exams, weekly study plans, and 1-on-1 mentorship.
Let’s talk ROI. We all spend our hard-earned money, but where is it all going? Keep reading below.
According to SEEK, the average pharmacist's salary in Australia in 2025 is $90,000 to $110,000, which is equivalent to 49 LPA to 60 LPA in Indian rupees.
Want to apply for the OPRA exam? Here’s how:
Create a Candidate Account at the APC portal
Submit Eligibility Check Documents (degree, transcripts, passport, etc.)
Pay for Skills Assessment
Receive Outcome: if successful, proceed to registration.
Pay the OPRA exam fee.
Choose Exam Date & Location
Prepare & Appear for the Test
Tip: Always keep a copy of your eligibility proof, English test scores, and internship certificate handy.
Criteria | Self-Study | Coaching |
|---|---|---|
Cost | Low | Medium |
Flexibility | High | Moderate |
Success Rate | Depends | High(est) |
Includes Mock Tests | No | Yes, and that too, just like a real-time exam |
Study Plan | DIY | Guided with 1-on-1 mentorship |
Expert Feedback | No | Yes |
For serious aspirants, OPRA exam coaching in India offers a better success rate, especially if you're balancing a job or other commitments.
Before you invest any money, ask yourself:
Do you have a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy?
Was your degree taught in English?
Do you have a valid passport?
Can you clear an English language test (IELTS, OET, etc.)?
Do you have an internship completion certificate?
If yes, you likely meet the OPRA exam eligibility. Still unsure? Request an initial eligibility check before paying the full OPRA exam fee.
Passing OPRA is a big milestone, but it’s not the last.
Here’s your full journey:
Pass the OPRA Exam
Complete a 6-month supervised internship in Australia.
Apply for General Registration
Get listed as a Registered Pharmacist in Australia
Once registered, you’re free to work in hospitals, retail pharmacies, research labs, and more.
Affordable compared to UK/US licensure
Global recognition, especially in APAC
Clear career path with high demand
Digital application & AI-based assessment model
Shorter path: Only 1 main exam and internship
Looking for expert guidance on how to register as a pharmacist in Australia? Whether it's understanding the OPRA exam, accessing top-rated resources such as study materials and books, or joining expert-led coaching, we’re here to help.
Get in touch with the OPRA Exam team today to explore flexible, affordable training programmes tailored for international students.
Pharmacy Jobs in Australia: Your 2025 Career Guide to Work, Earn & Settle Abroad
The OPRA exam, short for Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment, is basically your pathway if you're dreaming of working as a pharmacist in Australia. It’s a must-do step for anyone who earned their pharmacy degree outside Australia. For Indian pharmacists, this exam opens the door to register legally and start practising down under. Without it, you can't get licensed.
The OPRA exam doesn’t come cheap. If you convert it to Indian rupees using today’s rates, the main exam alone costs about ₹1,19,000. That’s just the fee for the test itself; it doesn’t include the extras like eligibility checks or other paperwork.
Now here’s the part most people don’t tell you. Between the exam fee, English tests, document verification, travel, and coaching (if you opt for it), the full journey can cost somewhere around ₹2.5 to ₹3 lakhs. It's best to save a bit more than you think you’ll need.
Nope, unfortunately not. The Australian Pharmacy Council only accepts payments in Australian Dollars (AUD). You'll need to make the payment online through an international payment method, and your bank may charge a small fee for currency conversion, too.
There aren't really hidden costs, but there are a bunch of things candidates often forget to budget for. For example, English language test fees, getting your documents translated or notarised, couriering papers, or travelling to the test centre; all these things can quietly inflate your total expense. Hence, always budget your expenses to avoid last-minute surprises.
In 2025, the exam focuses mostly on real-life pharmacy practice. You’ll see a lot of case-based questions that test your understanding of:
Therapeutics & patient care
Biomedical sciences
Pharmacology and toxicology
Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics
And a bit of medicinal chemistry
Absolutely. The KAPS exam was all about bookish, theoretical stuff. OPRA, on the other hand, leans heavily into practical knowledge, like how you’d react in real-world patient care situations. There’s just one integrated paper instead of two, and it uses AI-driven assessment models. It’s much more in tune with today’s healthcare world.
There are three windows for the OPRA exam this year:
March 5, 2025
July 16, 2025
November 26, 2025
Each has its application deadline, so don’t wait till the last minute to register.
That depends on how comfortable you are with clinical topics. Some students clear it through self-study, but many find coaching useful because it gives structure. Mock tests, study plans, and expert guidance; they all help you prepare smarter and faster. If you’re juggling work or studies, coaching can be a big time-saver, providing maximised results.
No, and that’s where the travel costs sneak in. The OPRA exam is held at selected international test centres, places as Singapore, UAE, or the UK. So if you're based in India, you’ll need to travel abroad to sit for the test. That’s why budgeting for flights and accommodation is important too.
There’s no official booklist, but these are student favourites:
Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology
Goodman & Gilman’s Therapeutics
Walker’s Clinical Pharmacy
Aulton’s Pharmaceutics
And for calculations, Ansel’s book is great.
Don’t try to study everything. Focus on your weak areas and case-based practice.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Go to the APC candidate portal and make an account.
Submit your documents for eligibility assessment.
Pay the skills assessment fees.
If approved, book your exam slot and pay the OPRA fee.
Once scheduled, start preparing for the big day.
Keep all your documents handy. It saves a lot of last-minute panic.
Pretty solid, actually. In 2025, most pharmacists earn around AU$ 95,000 per year. That’s close to ₹52 lakhs annually. Even if you’re just starting, the salary usually begins at AU$ 70,000 and climbs as you gain experience. So yeah, the effort definitely pays off.
In many cases, yes. But it’s best to double-check with New Zealand's pharmacy council. The OPRA exam is widely recognised across the Asia-Pacific region and is much more aligned with international standards than the old KAPS. Still, each country has its own set of rules, so check their registration process first.
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