Registered pharmacists in your home country but looking for a career switch abroad? Puzzled about which could be the best choice for you? Then here it is, Australia is a career destination that most Overseas pharmacists are looking for career opportunities abroad. Before jumping into the process, understanding the timelines and financial aspects is better to see if this dream fits the candidate’s budget.
Also, understanding the latest changes to the process, if any, and decoding them helps us understand what Australia expects from candidates who want to practice in the country. So, let’s quickly understand the costs or expenditures involved and the latest updates from the KAPS exam to the OPRA exam.
How Much Does the OPRA Exam Cost?
First, let’s get to know what the OPRA exam is for beginners who have no clue. OPRA exam or Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment is an entry exam for pharmacists’ dreams in Australia. The pharmacy field standards globally are different for different countries. To maintain uniformity among the Australian standards for practise in the country, the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) has set a few criteria to check if the overseas pharmacist is eligible to practise in Australia. For the same, APC conducts the OPRA exam to check for the skills and competencies of the applicants.
Now that we understand what the OPRA exam is, let’s get into the recent changes, the process of replacing the Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KAPS) exam with the OPRA exam, and the costs involved in both these exams, also keeping an eye on how it impacts the fresh candidates appearing for the exam.
From March 2025, the KAPS exam has been replaced by the OPRA exam. This change is to keep the exam more current, meet Australia’s current standards, and ensure that pharmacists are not just theoretically ready but practically competent for the Australian Healthcare field.
Time for understanding the costs involved to become a pharmacist in Australia. The OPRA exam has a structured fee system that includes multiple components. Here’s a breakdown for the OPRA exam:
| Fee Type | Cost (AUD) |
| Eligibility Check | $810 per request |
| Skills Assessment Outcome | $300 per request |
| OPRA Exam | $2190 per attempt |
Comparison with KAPS Fees
Fee Comparison Table: OPRA vs KAPS
| Assessment | Fee in AUD |
| KAPS Exam | $2,290 |
| OPRA Exam | $2,190 |
The table above shows that fees have been reduced since the shift of KAPS to the OPRA exam. The difference is AUD 100, with the OPRA exam costing less than the KAPS exam.
Benefits of Reduced Costs with OPRA
The transition from the KAPS exam to the OPRA exam brings a very small change in the fee amount of AUD 100. Though the change might be small, it might slightly decrease the burden for those who are not very financially well-off, and it is indicative of the positive gesture from APC trying to encourage many students to attempt the exam.
Conclusion
The switch from KAPS to OPRA exam indicates a positive change for pharmacists abroad aspiring to practise in Australia. The reduction in the exam fee and streamlined exam process not only decrease financial stress but also make the registration pathway more accessible and manageable.
Having a better idea of the financials and budgeting your journey will ease the stress that could creep in later stages of your pathway, impacting your exam preparation. Considering the vast portions, the OPRA exam is easy to crack without proper guidance. So, reach out for help from platforms offering crash courses like Elite Expertise, which offers an OPRA exam preparatory course on a budget—and here is the twist: unlimited access until you pass the exam.
So, hurry up! Attain your dreams of becoming an Australian-registered pharmacist, start today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the total cost of the OPRA process?
The total cost, including:
Eligibility check= AUD 810,
Skills assessment outcome= AUD 300, and
The OPRA exam= AUD 2190, which totals up to approximately AUD 3300.
- What is the cost of the OPRA exam compared to the KAPS exam?
OPRA exam fee= AUD 2190 per attempt
KAPS exam fee= AUD 2290 per attempt
The difference in the fees comes to about AUD 100 per attempt
- Are there any limits on OPRA exam attempts?
There is no limit to the number of attempts for the OPRA exam. However, it is always better to clear the exam in the very first attempt, as there are costs associated with every effort.
- What is the salary of a pharmacist in Australia?
The salary of a pharmacist in Australia might range from AUD $70,000 to $100,000 per year. This is not constant and changes with experience, specialization, sector, and location of work.
- How much are the initial skills assessment fees for the OPRA exam?
The Eligibility Check or the document evaluation is AUD $810, and the Skills Assessment Outcome fee is AUD $300.
- What is the validity of the OPRA exam?
According to the Australian Pharmacy Council, the OPRA exam result or outcome is valid for 3 years from the date the results are released.
- What is the age limit for the OPRA exam?
As per the APC or the Australian Pharmacy Council, there is no age limit to attempt the OPRA exam.
