Last reviewed: November 2026 by Dr. Farrukh Mehmood, Ph.D., 16+ years in pharmaceutical QC/QA
Key takeaways
- Every country has its own regulator and its own exam. A pass in one country rarely counts in another, so choose your destination before you start studying.
- Gulf countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) are the quickest route to work: document verification plus one computer-based exam.
- The UK, USA, Canada and Australia take longer and cost more, but lead to settled careers. Expect an English test, supervised practice and more than one exam.
- Recent changes: Qatar now calls its exam the National Pharmacist Qualifying Exam; Australia replaced KAPS with OPRA in March 2025; and from January 2027 Canada drops its Evaluating Examination.
- Almost every route starts with the same documents: degree and transcripts, pharmacy council registration, a Good Standing Certificate and experience letters, all in exactly the same name.
Every year many pharmacists from Pakistan and the region apply to work abroad, and the first question is always the same: where should I go, and which exam do I need? This page compares the licensing routes pharmacists use most, explains what each involves, and links to a detailed AskPharmaTutor guide where one exists. Use it to choose a route, then follow that country’s official regulator for the final word, because rules and fees change often.
All routes at a glance
| Country | Regulator | Licensing exam | Exam delivered by | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | SCFHS (via Mumaris+) | SPLE: 200 questions, pass 536/800 | Prometric | SPLE guide |
| UAE: Abu Dhabi | DOH (via TAMM) | DOH pharmacist exam | Pearson VUE | DOH guide |
| UAE: Dubai | DHA (via Sheryan) | DHA pharmacist exam | Prometric | Coming soon |
| UAE: other emirates | MOHAP | MOHAP pharmacist exam | Prometric | Coming soon |
| Qatar | DHP (formerly QCHP) | National Pharmacist Qualifying Exam: 150 questions, 3 hours, pass 60% | Prometric | Coming soon |
| Bahrain | NHRA | Bahrain licensure exam, pass 60% | Prometric | Coming soon |
| Kuwait | Ministry of Health | MOH licensing exam | Prometric | Coming soon |
| Oman | OMSB / Ministry of Health | OMSB licensing exam | Check with OMSB | Coming soon |
| United Kingdom | GPhC | OSPAP diploma, then the Common Registration Assessment | GPhC | UK guide |
| United States | NABP, then a state board | FPGEE, then NAPLEX and MPJE | NABP (in the US) | USA guide |
| Canada | PEBC, then a provincial regulator | Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ) and Part II (OSCE) | PEBC | Coming soon |
| Australia | APC, then the Pharmacy Board of Australia | OPRA, then the registration exam | APC | Coming soon |
Gulf countries: the quickest route to work
The Gulf routes have the same shape: you check your eligibility with the health authority, your documents are verified at the source (usually by DataFlow), you pass one computer-based exam, and your licence is activated when you have an employer. Each exam has its own blueprint: in Saudi Arabia, for example, about a fifth of the SPLE covers social and administrative pharmacy, including Saudi law.
Saudi Arabia (SCFHS)
SCFHS licenses all healthcare practitioners and runs the Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination (SPLE): 200 questions in two parts of 120 minutes, with a pass score of 536 on a 200–800 scale. You can sit it up to four times a year at approved Prometric centres, including outside Saudi Arabia.
Read next
Saudi pharmacist licence (SPLE) guide: eligibility, Mumaris+, DataFlow, the exam blueprint and a 12-week study plan.
United Arab Emirates (DOH, DHA, MOHAP)
The UAE has three licensing authorities: the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (formerly HAAD), Dubai Health Authority, and the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention for the other emirates. They share the same qualification rules: for the Pharmacist title you need a BSc in Pharmacy or Pharm-D plus two years of post-qualification experience. You get three exam attempts in total across all UAE authorities, not three per authority.
Read next
DOH (HAAD) exam for pharmacists: eligibility under the 2025 qualification rules, DataFlow, TAMM, the Pearson VUE exam and exemptions.
Qatar (DHP)
Qatar’s Department of Healthcare Professions (DHP), formerly QCHP, requires a qualifying exam for pharmacists: 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, with a pass mark of 60%, delivered by Prometric. Its content and references were updated from 1 May 2025, so older question banks may be out of date. DHP also publishes a list of qualifications that exempt you from the exam (Circular DHP/2025/19).
Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman
These are smaller markets with their own exams. Bahrain’s NHRA uses Prometric and sets the pass grade at 60% for its licensure exams. Kuwait’s Ministry of Health exam is also delivered by Prometric. Oman’s exam is run by the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB). Check the current requirements directly with each regulator.
United Kingdom
With a non-UK degree you apply to the GPhC for eligibility, complete the one-year OSPAP diploma at a UK university, finish 52 weeks of foundation training, pass the Common Registration Assessment and then register. Expect about two to two-and-a-half years. Tuition is the largest cost.
Read next
How to become a pharmacist in the UK: the OSPAP route step by step, costs, timeline and visas.
United States
Foreign graduates need FPGEC certification from NABP, which means passing TOEFL iBT and the FPGEE, both taken in the US, plus a credential evaluation. A state board then licenses you after internship hours, the NAPLEX and a state law exam. Allow two to three years or more, and plan for a US visa just to sit the exams.
Read next
How to become a pharmacist in the USA: the five FPGEC steps, what changed in 2026, costs and visas.
Canada: a big change in January 2027
PEBC certifies pharmacists for Canada’s provincial regulators. From January 2027, international pharmacy graduates no longer need the Pharmacist Evaluating Examination: with a valid Document Evaluation (valid for five years) you go straight to the Qualifying Examination Part I (MCQ), and after passing it you can apply for Part II (OSCE). October 2026 was the last Evaluating Examination. You have up to four attempts at each part.
Australia and New Zealand
The Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) assesses overseas-trained pharmacists. From March 2025 its knowledge exam is the Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA), which replaced KAPS. After a successful assessment you apply for provisional registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia, complete supervised practice and sit the registration exam. New Zealand’s Pharmacy Council also now refers to OPRA in place of KAPS.
Which route fits you?
| If your priority is… | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Earning abroad quickly | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar | One exam plus verification; you can often apply while still working at home |
| Settling permanently with your family | Canada, Australia, UK | Clear routes to long-term residence, but longer and more expensive |
| US-level salaries and clinical roles | USA | The longest route; exams must be taken in the US |
| Keeping options open | Start with a Gulf licence | Gulf experience strengthens later applications elsewhere |
Documents almost every route asks for
- Pharmacy degree and full transcripts
- Registration certificate from your pharmacy council (for Pakistan, the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan or your provincial council)
- A Good Standing Certificate: most regulators want one issued within the last few months
- Experience letters on letterhead with your title, dates and duties
- Passport, with your name spelled exactly as on every other document
- An English language test result for the UK, USA, Canada and Australia
The biggest avoidable delay is a name spelled differently across documents. Fix any mismatch with your university or council before you apply anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Can one exam let me work in several Gulf countries?
Generally no. Each authority runs its own exam. Inside the UAE the three authorities share qualification rules and a combined limit of three attempts, but each authority issues its own licence, so a licence for one emirate does not automatically let you work in another.
Which country is easiest for a Pakistani pharmacist?
For speed, the Gulf routes are the most straightforward because they need verification and one exam. Check experience requirements first: the UAE asks for two years of post-qualification experience for the Pharmacist title.
Does a UK or US licence help elsewhere?
Often, yes. The UAE may exempt pharmacists licensed in recognised countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland from its exam, and Qatar publishes its own list of exempting qualifications.
References
- Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. SPLE Applicant Guide (September 2025).
- Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (April 2025).
- Qatar Ministry of Public Health, Department of Healthcare Professions. Qualifying examination page and Circular DHP/2025/19.
- National Health Regulatory Authority, Bahrain. Licensure examination information (Prometric).
- General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Overseas pharmacists’ assessment programme (OSPAP).
- National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. FPGEC certification.
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. New Certification Pathway for International Pharmacy Graduates (updated 10 August 2026).
- Pharmacy Board of Australia. Registration examination; Australian Pharmacy Council. OPRA.
This page is for information and comparison. Licensing rules, fees and exam formats are set by each regulator and change often; always confirm with the official regulator before you apply or pay.
