Last reviewed: November 2026 by Dr. Farrukh Mehmood, Ph.D., 16+ years in pharmaceutical QC/QA
Key takeaways
- If your pharmacy degree is from Pakistan (or any country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA), you follow the Australian Pharmacy Council’s Knowledge Stream.
- The OPRA exam replaced KAPS in March 2025: 120 questions in 2.5 hours, computer-delivered, AU$2,245 per attempt. You can sit it in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi.
- Before OPRA you pass an eligibility check (AU$810). It never expires, and you do not need proof of English or registration at this stage.
- After OPRA you need provisional registration, 1,575 hours of supervised practice in Australia (the Board’s current, temporarily reduced requirement), and the Pharmacy Board’s written and oral registration exams.
- You can re-sit OPRA as many times as you need, and you will need an English test result for registration.
On Australia’s route, you can sit the first licensing exam at home in Pakistan, in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi. This guide explains the full route as it works in 2026–2027, using the Australian Pharmacy Council’s (APC) and the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s own pages: who the Knowledge Stream is for, the eligibility check, the OPRA exam and its 2027 dates, what it costs, and what happens after you pass. New Zealand’s Pharmacy Council also refers to OPRA for overseas pharmacists.
Which APC pathway applies to you?
| Where you qualified | APC pathway | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan, India, the Gulf and any country other than those below | Knowledge Stream | OPRA |
| Canada, Ireland, UK or USA (with registration there) | Competency Stream | CAOP |
| New Zealand or an Australian university | Separate arrangements | Check with APC |
This guide covers the Knowledge Stream, which applies to pharmacists who qualified in Pakistan.
Step by step: from Pakistan to Australian registration
1. APC eligibility check
Your pharmacy qualification must cover the pharmaceutical sciences that underpin practice in Australia and be equivalent to four years of full-time study if completed after 1 January 2006 (three years if completed before). A five-year Pakistani Pharm-D meets the length rule. You apply only through APC’s Candidate Portal and upload:
- Passport (uncropped, including top and bottom pages), an official photo ID and your birth certificate
- Your degree certificate (or completion letter) and the full academic transcript with every subject and result
- A course syllabus with subject descriptions, if you can provide it
- Proof of any name change; your name must appear the same way on every document
- Full translations of any non-English documents by a NAATI-accredited translator
You do not need certified copies, proof of English or evidence of registration at this stage. APC aims to respond within 5 working days but asks you to allow up to 4 weeks, and recommends lodging at least 8 weeks before the exam registration closes. The eligibility check does not expire.
Beware of scams. APC says the only way to apply for an eligibility check or book an exam is through its Candidate Portal. Do not send documents or payments anywhere else, and if you use a migration agent, check that they are registered with OMARA.
2. The OPRA exam
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Computer-delivered, multiple-choice questions |
| Questions and time | 120 questions in 2.5 hours |
| What it tests | The biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical sciences underlying pharmacy practice in Australia |
| Fee | AU$2,245 per attempt |
| Where in Pakistan | Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi (seats vary by session) |
| Result | Pass or Unsuccessful only; APC does not release scores |
| Re-sits | As many as you need, in the next exam period, paying the full fee again |
OPRA dates for 2027
| Registration period | Exam dates | Results released |
|---|---|---|
| 19 January – 22 February 2027 | 22–24 March 2027 | 6 May 2027 |
| 11 May – 28 June 2027 | 26–28 July 2027 | 9 September 2027 |
| 14 September – 11 October 2027 | 8–10 November 2027 | 23 December 2027 |
Registration opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm Australian Eastern time, about one month before the exam, and APC does not accept late registrations. For the March 2027 sitting, lodge your eligibility check by late December 2026.
3. Skills Assessment Outcome and visa
After you pass, you can request a Skills Assessment Outcome (AU$300) in the Candidate Portal. You use it to support a visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, which sets how long the outcome is valid for visa purposes. Immigration is a separate process from registration: check Home Affairs or speak to a registered migration agent.
4. Provisional registration and supervised practice
To practise as an intern you apply to the Pharmacy Board of Australia, through Ahpra, for provisional registration and approval of your supervised practice (form APRO-60 for overseas graduates other than New Zealand). Supervised practice can only start once your provisional registration and supervision arrangements are recorded on the public register. The Board currently requires 1,575 hours of approved supervised practice for general registration (a temporary reduction from 1,824 hours that may change), and overseas pharmacists completing a full internship also complete an accredited intern training program.
5. Registration exams and general registration
After completing at least 75% of your supervised practice hours, you sit the Board’s registration examination: a written exam run by APC and an oral exam run by Ahpra. When you have passed both and your hours are signed off, you apply for general registration and can practise without supervision.
What it costs
| APC fee | AU$ |
|---|---|
| Eligibility check | 810 |
| OPRA exam (per attempt) | 2,245 |
| Skills Assessment Outcome | 300 |
| Total APC fees for one OPRA attempt | 3,355 |
Also budget for NAATI translations, an English test, your visa, travel and living costs during the internship, the intern training program, the registration exams and Ahpra registration fees.
English language requirement
You do not need an English test for the APC eligibility check, but you do for registration with the Pharmacy Board. The English language skills registration standard accepts IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic and TOEFL iBT, as well as pathways based on your education. The revised standard, in effect since 2025, lowered the writing requirement to IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. Minimum scores for the accepted tests were updated again on 23 April 2026, so check Ahpra’s table for the date you sit your test before you book.
How to prepare for OPRA
- Start with APC’s free OPRA exam guide and sample paper, which explains the content areas and question style.
- Shift your study towards Australian practice: Australian therapeutic guidance, medicine names and patient counselling.
- Practise pacing: 120 questions in 150 minutes is about 75 seconds per question.
- Keep your basics sharp with our free Pharmacology Quiz, Pharmaceutical Calculations Quiz and Medicinal Chemistry Quiz.
- Optional courses on Australian pharmacy are offered by the Australasian College of Pharmacy and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia; APC notes they are not required.
Checklist for Pakistani pharmacists
- Pharm-D degree certificate and the complete transcript for every year
- Course syllabus or subject descriptions from your university
- Passport, a second photo ID such as your CNIC, and birth certificate
- NAATI translations of any documents not in English
- Matching name spelling on every document, or proof of name change
- An English test plan for the registration stage
Frequently asked questions
Is the KAPS exam still held?
No. The Australian Pharmacy Council replaced KAPS with OPRA from March 2025. The Pharmacy Board still recognises earlier KAPS passes for provisional registration.
Can I take OPRA in Pakistan?
Yes. APC lists test centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Seats vary by session, so register as soon as the window opens.
Do I need work experience?
Work experience is not part of the Knowledge Stream eligibility criteria. APC is currently not accepting work experience verification applications; you may be able to provide experience evidence directly to the Department of Home Affairs for visa purposes.
How many times can I take OPRA?
As many times as you need. You register again in the next exam period and pay the full fee each time.
What is the pass mark?
APC does not publish a percentage and does not release scores; results are reported as Pass or Unsuccessful.
Related guides
- Working abroad as a pharmacist: every licensing route compared
- How to become a pharmacist in Canada: PEBC’s new pathway
- How to become a pharmacist in the UK: OSPAP and GPhC
References
- Australian Pharmacy Council. Knowledge Stream skills assessment outcome – OPRA exam (eligibility, documents, fees, 2026–2027 dates, test centres, results).
- Australian Pharmacy Council. OPRA exam guide and sample paper.
- Pharmacy Board of Australia. Registration examination; Internships; Provisional to general registration; Overseas practitioner registration.
- Ahpra and National Boards. Registration standard: English language skills (revised 2025).
This guide is for information. APC, the Pharmacy Board of Australia, Ahpra and the Department of Home Affairs set the requirements and can change them; always confirm on their websites before you apply or pay.
