How to work as a pharmacist in Australia: APC skills assessment and fees (2026)

Official fees: A$3,845plus 2 that vary
Steps: 5from degree to licence
Language: English: an accepted test (IELTS, OET, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic) at the scores set by Ahpra
Planning time: About 2–3 years to general registration
Our estimate, not official

Where did you qualify?

Outside the EU and English-speaking countries EU, EEA or Switzerland UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand

Most applicants take the Knowledge Stream and the OPRA® exam.

Step by step

Each fee links to the page we took it from.

1

Request an eligibility check
A$810

The APC decides which stream fits you: Knowledge Stream or Competency Stream. Source
2

Pass the OPRA® or CAOP® exam
A$2,245 (OPRA®)

Knowledge Stream: OPRA® exam, A$2,245 per attempt. Competency Stream: CAOP® exam, A$2,100. Source
3

Meet the English standard and register provisionally
Ahpra fees apply

With the Pharmacy Board of Australia through Ahpra, so you can start supervised practice. Source
4

Supervised practice and the Intern Written Exam
A$790

Work under a preceptor and pass the APC's Intern Written Exam. Source
5

Oral exam and general registration
Ahpra fees apply

The Pharmacy Board's final oral exam leads to general registration.

Not included: courses, translations, travel, visas and living costs.

Prepare with our apps

Our own apps, written for exactly these exams. One-time purchase, no subscription.

WPP

Wattle Pharmacy Prep

Practice questions for the APC knowledge exam for overseas-trained pharmacists (OPRA®). App in English. Free sample questions

App Store Google Play

Practise with someone who passed

One-to-one online sessions with pharmacists who sat these exams themselves – they know what the examiners want.

KAPS (pharmacists) tutors →APC Intern Written Exam (pharmacists) tutors →

Study materials

Official practice tests, books and courses for each exam, checked on the publisher's or exam body's own page.

KAPS (pharmacists) materials →APC Intern Written Exam (pharmacists) materials →

Stories from people who took this route

No story here yet. Took this route yourself? Share your story – it helps the next person more than any brochure.

Choose where to live

Compare Australia's 8 states and territories side by side: immigrant population, people from your country, recorded crime and, where official data exists, hate crime. Official figures only, no scores.

Compare regions of Australia →

Settling in Australia

Renting a home, using your driving licence and the paperwork of your first months – three short guides, every rule linked to the official page.

Renting a home →Driving licence →Everyday life →

Agencies that help with this route

No agency listed for this route yet.

Recruiter, school or consultant for pharmacists in Australia? List your agency.

Questions

What happened to KAPS?

The APC replaced the KAPS exam with the OPRA® exam in 2025.

Sources

Last checked 19 October 2026. Fees and rules change – always confirm with the regulator before you pay. PassPeers is independent and not affiliated with any regulator or exam provider.