Gone are those days when you had to refill your pens in between exams. The OPRA exam is a computer-based, closed-book assessment. The paper consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, each with a single choice of answer. Candidates are allotted 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to complete the exam. Each exam session has multiple live versions, with questions presented in no particular order.
Before the exam, there is a 5-minute non-disclosure agreement and a 10-minute tutorial to help the students get used to the exam process and software handling. After the exam, a 5-minute feedback survey is provided.
Please note that these activities before and after the exams are not counted towards the actual exam time.
The OPRA exam is assessed based on the following metrics laid by the APC:
Cognitive/ Ability Level | Definition | Approximate percentage distribution of questions in the exam |
Definition/medical terminologies | The ability to recall or recognise specific information, such as remembering a concept, fact, or principle, is crucial for healthcare professionals. They must commit vast amounts of knowledge to memory, including interactions, protocols, and medical terminology | 30% |
Conceptual understanding | Healthcare professionals should be able to effectively communicate medical concepts and principles to others. This includes the ability to explain information in a clear and concise manner, as well as the ability to categorise and compare items based on their similarities and differences. | 25% |
Practical-based knowledge | The most important area. As a pharmacist in Australia, you need to communicate with patients seamlessly, understand their pain points, strengths, and ailments, and provide them with solutions and prescribe medicines based on their current health condition. The revised OPRA exam puts maximum emphasis on assessing your practical knowledge on dealing with real-life situations | 45% |
The OPRA exam difficulty level is comparatively less than its former version, KAPS. You don’t have to attempt two different papers here, which takes your maximum time and effort. While the exam's duration is shorter, the content areas have been revised to focus more on therapeutics and the practical application of knowledge. Candidates who adopt a strategic approach to preparation will surely excel in this exam on the first attempt itself.
Read our blog to understand the comparison between OPRA and KAPS.
They say, the power of words can change the thoughts, minds, and actions of an individual. Truly so; we have listed the best books for OPRA exam preparation below. Ensure you DO NOT memorise them by heart. Instead, read and understand the concept behind it and apply your knowledge during exams accordingly:
Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics by Roger Walker and Cate Whittlesea - this book is invaluable for understanding therapeutics and patient care, which constitute a significant portion of the OPRA exam.
Aulton's Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture of Medicines by Michael E. Aulton and Kevin Taylor - this book is essential for grasping pharmaceutics principles, drug delivery, and quality control
Rang & Dale's Pharmacology by James M. Ritter et al. - provides comprehensive coverage of pharmacology and toxicology topics
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: Current Problems by Malcolm Rowland and Thomas N. Tozer - offers insights into drug action and movement within the body.
The OPRA exam syllabus consists of five content areas, each with a specific weightage. Understanding the weightage to each sphere will help you in preparing for the exam effectively:
Therapeutics and Patient Care (45%): Earlier during KAPS days, this was a completely separate paper altogether.
However in the OPRA exam, as of March 2025, has a revised format that puts maximum emphasis on therapeutics and the application of knowledge of pharmacy. The exam now lays a greater focus on real-world clinical scenarios and patient safety, requiring the candidates to demonstrate decision-making skills and an understanding of drug interactions, adverse effects and medication management.
This helps you with a comprehensive assessment of your knowledge and skills, and assessing your readiness to get a pharmacist license in Australia.
Biomedical Sciences (20%): This covers extensive concepts about body functions or metabolism, pathophysiology, medical microbiology, immunology, and related topics.
Pharmacology and Toxicology (15%): This area addresses drug effects on biological systems and the toxicological aspects of substances.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics (10%): This talks about drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and mechanisms of action.
Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics (10%): This area focuses on drug design, development, and factors influencing drug formulation and delivery.
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) offers an official sample paper with questions from all content areas to help candidates have a fair idea about what kind of questions they can expect in the OPRA examination. It is recommended to practice with these sample questions under exam conditions by answering all 120 questions within 150 minutes.
Sourced from the official website of APC:
1. Gemfibrozil is used to treat which condition?
A. Hyperlipidaemia
B. Hyperglycaemia
C. Hyperaldosteronism
D. Hypertension
2. What is the usual range of hydrochlorothiazide daily dose for an adult?
A. 0.5 - 1 mg
B. 2 - 5 mg
C. 6.25 - 25 mg
D. 50 - 100 mg
3. A 30 kg child is to be administered 250 mg of metronidazole every 8 hours. Each mL of a 500 mg/500 mL ampoule of metronidazole contains 0.135 millimol/mL of sodium. What is the amount of sodium the child will receive in 24 hours?
A. 33.8 millimol
B. 101.3 millimol
C. 202.5 millimol
D. 1852 millimol
4. What amount of chlorinated lime (available chlorine = 30% w/w) is required to obtain a chlorine concentration of 1.5 ppm in an animal drenching facility of 6000 L?
A. 3 g
B. 27 g
C. 30 g
D. 270 g
5. Where are alpha-1 adrenoreceptors primarily located?
A. Arterioles
B. Bronchioles
C. Atria
D. Cardiac ventricles
Question Number | Correct Response |
1 | A |
2 | C |
3 | B |
4 | C |
5 | A |
Best OPRA training institute in India: Your gateway to work as a Pharmacist in Australia
The OPRA exam, which stands for Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment, evaluates the knowledge and skills of pharmacists who received their training outside of Australia and New Zealand. It helps determine if they are prepared to practice pharmacy in these countries.
Therapeutics and Patient Care accounts for 45% of the exam, so it should be more focused. It’s no longer KAPS, so rote learning won’t really work. Adopting a strategic method to clear the exams, such as applying practical knowledge, studying case-based scenarios, prescription analysis, and drug application, would be of great use.
Yes, you can access many resources available online. However, we’d recommend staying updated with the communications at the official website of the Australian Pharmacy Council.
You can apply for the OPRA exam as many times as you want if you do not clear it on the first attempt. Ensure that each exam carries a fee, and it needs to be paid to appear for the particular exam.
There’s no passing mark for the OPRA exam as it follows a Rasch model of assessment. This allows for reviewing the students based on their capabilities instead of the traditional marking system.
To effectively prepare for the OPRA exam, it is important to focus on high-weightage areas such as the “Therapeutics and patient care” section. Additionally, practicing with sample questions will get you acquainted with the exam format. Using the best available books and resources will ensure complete coverage of all necessary topics. Taking mock exams under timed conditions is also highly recommended, as it allows you to assess your knowledge and improve time management skills.
OPRA is a computer-based test (CBT) which makes it easier for candidates to manage their precious time, especially on a busy schedule.
OPRA exam will not be tough for those who adopt a strategic way of preparation. If you have a knack for understanding practical concepts and learning through case studies and real-world scenarios, it will be easy for you to attempt the exam. However, it may be tough for those who solely rely on theoretical knowledge/memorisation.
OPRA exam is a closed book assessment consisting of 1 paper that needs to be completed in 2.5 hours.
Good time management skills will help you finish the exam on time. You need to practice mock tests regularly to get used to attempting questions at a stipulated time.
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