This is a guide for beginners who want to understand what the OPRA exam is, and let Elite Expertise break it down for you. Our guide helps you in your OPRA exam preparation.
What is the OPRA exam?
The Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment or OPRA exam is an Overseas pharmacist licensure exam for someone who wants to practice as a pharmacist in Australia. This exam is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to check if the candidates meet the Australian Healthcare standards.
OPRA exam eligibility:
All the candidates who have:
- Completed a 4-year pharmacy degree in their home country, and
- Is registered as a pharmacist in their home country, or is eligible to practice in the country of qualification other than Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and the US, are eligible for the OPRA exam
- Candidate must complete the skills assessment, where all their documents are checked by the APC
OPRA exam format:
- The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions
- Conducted for a duration of 2.5 hours
- It is a computer-based closed-book exam, meaning no reference books are allowed in the exam center.
- With no negative marking for the wrong answers given
- And scored on the basis of Rasch methodology.
OPRA Exam Validity:
The OPRA exam is valid for 3 years from the date of the results released.
When is the next OPRA exam or OPRA exam dates?
The next OPRA exam is in July, and now is the right time to prepare for the exam, so start immediately.
| Registration Period | Exam Dates | Results Released |
|---|---|---|
| 9 January - 31 January 2025 | 3 - 5 March 2025 | 1 April 2025 |
| 8 April - 16 June 2025 | 14 - 16 July 2025 | 12 August 2025 |
| 19 August - 27 October 2025 | 24 - 26 November 2025 | 22 December 2025 |
Where can I take the OPRA exam?
The OPRA exam can be written in various countries globally. Here is a list. Please check if your city is mentioned here, or you can move to the nearest city to take the exam.
Number of attempts for the OPRA exam:
If a candidate fails the OPRA exam, then they can retake the exam as many times as necessary until they pass the exam, according to APC. But it is always better to pass on the first attempt, as there is a fee of AUD 2190 involved for every attempt.
OPRA exam age limit:
There is no age limit for giving the OPRA exam, and you are free to give the exam at any age.
Next Steps After OPRA Exam:
Once done with the OPRA exam, you need to get yourself provisionally registered with the AHPRA and apply for a visa. Once the visa is approved, you migrate to Australia and find an internship which is a mandate under a registered pharmacist or a preceptor. Once 75% of the internship is done, there are two more exams to be covered: the Australian Intern written and Oral exams. Once these are done, you can register yourself as a pharmacist in Australia and practice without any further supervision.
Conclusion:
It is a lengthy process, and the exams may be stressful, but with proper planning and guidance, your path will be made easy by Elite Expertise. Elite Expertise provides service at every step from skills assessment, to OPRA exam, and Internship exams, to AHPRA registration. So, choose wisely and start your global career with us!