What is OPRA?

The OPRA exam is managed by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). It helps maintain high standards for pharmacy education and assessment in Australia. This exam is for pharmacists who have completed their training outside of Australia and New Zealand and want to practice in either of these countries. The OPRA (Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment) exam starts in March 2025 and will take over from the KAPS exam after its last session in November 2024.

What Does the OPRA Exam Do?

The OPRA exam checks if overseas-trained pharmacists have the knowledge and skills in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences needed to practice pharmacy in Australia. It helps ensure that these pharmacists meet Australian standards.

Why is OPRA Important?

Passing the OPRA exam is a key step to obtaining provisional pharmacist registration in Australia.

Exam Details

• Format: Computer-based, multiple-choice questions.

• Length: 2.5 hours, with 120 questions.

• Cost: $2190 (approx)

Eligibility

Before you can take the exam, you need to apply for an Eligibility Check to make sure you qualify.

To pass the OPRA exam, you need to show:

Strong Knowledge of Pharmaceutical Sciences: You should know about medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics (how drugs are made and used), pharmacokinetics (how drugs move through the body), pharmacodynamics (how drugs affect the body), pharmacology (the study of drugs), and toxicology (the study of harmful effects of drugs).

Applying Pharmaceutical Knowledge: You need to understand how this knowledge helps choose the right treatments, considering the patient’s overall health, clinical needs, and social and economic factors.

Monitoring and Managing Treatment: You should know how to use your knowledge to monitor patient outcomes, manage side effects, and prevent misuse of medicines.

Confidentiality and Professionalism: You must understand the basics of keeping patient information private and maintaining professionalism when handling medicines and patient records.

Note: The OPRA exam does not cover specific pharmacy practices in Australia or New Zealand, such as local laws or practice standards. These will be covered in later assessments during your internship as you work towards full registration.

OPRA Exam Structure

The OPRA exam is a closed-book, computer-based test held at approved test centers.

Format: It consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer. The answer chosen should be the best option.

Duration: You have 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to complete the exam.

Before the Exam: You will have 5 minutes to read and agree to a non-disclosure agreement and 10 minutes to complete a tutorial to familiarise yourself with the exam software.

After the Exam: You will have 5 minutes to complete a feedback survey. These pre- and post-exam activities do not count towards your 150-minute exam time. The exam timer starts when you begin answering questions.

OPRA Exam Content

The OPRA exam covers five main areas. Here’s how the questions are distributed:

Biomedical Sciences: 20%

Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics: 10%

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: 10%

Pharmacology and Toxicology: 15%

Therapeutics and Patient Care: 45%

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OPRA Exam Scoring

The OPRA exam uses a scaled scoring system to ensure fairness and consistency across different versions. The passing score is based on expert analysis to reflect the minimum level needed to apply for provisional registration as an intern pharmacist.

How You Pass: Your success depends on how well you perform compared to this standard, not on how you perform compared to other candidates. You must meet the passing standard for the specific version of the exam you took.

Scored vs. Unscored Questions: Out of 120 questions, 90% are scored and count towards your result. The remaining 10% are unscored, meaning they are used for testing purposes and don’t affect your score. These unscored questions are spread evenly across all content areas, but you won’t know which questions are scored and which are not.

OPRA Exam Results

Results Report: The Australian Pharmacy Council does not share specific questions, answers, or raw scores. Instead, you will receive a result report showing whether you passed or failed the exam overall. The report will also give you feedback on your performance in different content areas for general guidance.

Availability: Results are usually available within about four weeks of the exam. You will get an email notification with details on accessing your results. The release date for results is also posted on our website.

Retaking the Exam: If you do not pass, you can register for another session. You will need to pay the exam fee and retake the full exam.

FAQs

1. What is the OPRA Exam in Australia?

The OPRA exam, run by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), is for pharmacists who trained outside Australia and New Zealand and want to work in these countries. The exam checks that their education and skills meet Australian standards.

2. What’s the Difference Between OPRA and KAPS?

The OPRA™ exam is similar to the KAPS exam but focuses more on practical therapeutics and applying knowledge to fit current pharmacy practices in Australia.

3. What does KAPS stand for?

The KAPS (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences) exam checks your understanding of pharmaceutical sciences. Passing this exam proves you have the skills and knowledge to practice safely in Australia.

4. Who needs to take the OPRA exam?

Overseas pharmacists who have completed their pharmacy education outside Australia and New Zealand and wish to practice in Australia must take the OPRA exam.

5. What are the eligibility requirements for the OPRA exam?

To be eligible for the OPRA exam, you must have a pharmacy degree from a recognised institution outside Australia or New Zealand. You must also submit an application to the APC for assessment.

6. How can I apply for the OPRA exam?

You can apply for the OPRA exam by visiting the APC website, creating an account, and completing the application form. You must provide your qualifications and proof of experience and pay the exam fee.

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