EASY STEPS TO PASS KAPS EXAM/OPRA EXAM

Quick Summary

KAPS is replaced by the OPRA exam in March 2026. So, now, anyone who wants to become a registered pharmacist in Australia and New Zealand has to pass the OPRA exam. You can not apply for the OPRA exam before completing your eligibility check. It is the most important thing to do. A structured study plan helps you with proper OPRA exam preparation.

What is the OPRA Exam, and Why Did It Replace the KAPS Exam?

In March 2025, OPRA replaced the KAPS exam. KAPS stands for Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and OPRA stands for Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment. In 2026, the OPRA exam will be taken by international pharmacists who want to practice as registered pharmacists in Australia or New Zealand. The Australian Pharmacy Council administers this exam to assess candidates' pharmacy knowledge against the country's standards.

Let’s understand the major differences areence between the KAPS and OPRA next. 

KAPS vs OPRA: What Actually Changed

The core purpose stayed the same, but the structure and focus shifted significantly. OPRA moved away from pure memorization and now leans heavily on applied clinical reasoning. It uses fewer, more integrated questions rather than many isolated, recall-based ones.

Who Needs to Sit the OPRA Exam?

Not every overseas pharmacist needs OPRA, so check your pathway carefully before applying. This pathway applies only if your pharmacy degree came from outside a specific list of countries.

• You qualified outside Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA

• Your degree equals four years of full-time study if completed after January 2006

• Your degree equals three years of full-time study if completed before January 2006

• You want a Skills Assessment Outcome to support an Australian visa application

Graduates from Canada, Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, or the USA usually follow the CAOP pathway instead. New Zealand also uses an OPRA-branded exam through the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand, but its process differs. In New Zealand, OPRA is the first step before the EVOLVE internship and a separate OSCE exam.

What are the Easy Steps to Pass the OPRA Exam?

Passing OPRA requires consistent preparation rather than studying everything randomly. Follow a structured approach from the beginning.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility Early

Before the OPRA exam registration, apply for the eligibility check via the APC candidate portal. Because without an eligibility check, you can not proceed with the Exam registration. The eligibility check fee is AU$810 and typically takes about five working days to process. You have to submit your 

• passport

• qualification certificate

• academic transcript 

• Any required translations

Incomplete documents are the most common reason applications get delayed for weeks.

Step 2: Understand the Official Exam Guide

Start your preparation with the latest APC OPRA exam guide and sample content. The official guide explains the 

• exam structure

• content areas

• question format

• preparation resources

Do not rely solely on old KAPS notes, as the assessment has changed.

Start by:

• Reading the current OPRA exam guide.

• Understanding the five content areas.

• Reviewing sample questions.

• Checking the current exam format.

• Practicing with the official software resources.

This step prevents you from preparing for an outdated examination.

Step 3: Make a Realistic Study Plan

Want to pass your OPRA exam on your first attempt? If yes, then make a structured plan for the exam preparation. You must make a weekly plan and stick with it. Below, we are providing a table to help you with your preparation. Check it out.

A simple approach could look like this:

Step 4: Practice MCQs Every Day

MCQ practice should become part of your daily routine.

Start with untimed questions while learning new topics. Later, introduce timed practice to improve your speed.

After every practice session, review your incorrect answers carefully.

Create an error notebook containing:

• Incorrect questions.

• Correct answers.

• Reasons for your mistakes.

• Important concepts.

• Topics requiring further revision.

Your mistakes can become one of your best revision resources.

Step 4: Practice Under Exam Conditions

See, on the OPRA exam, you will have only 150 minutes for 120 questions. That means you can give only 75 seconds per question. That’s why it is essential that you prepare at home within the given time so that in the exam you attempt every single question easily. 

During mock exams:

• Sit without unnecessary distractions

• Follow the complete time limit

• Try not to check notes during the test

• Attempt every question

• Check your performance afterward

Step 6: Learn How to Handle Difficult Questions

You will not necessarily know every answer during the examination. When a question seems difficult, avoid spending too much time on it.

Instead:

1. Read the question carefully.

2. Identify the main clinical information.

3. Eliminate clearly incorrect options.

4. Compare the remaining choices.

5. Select the best answer.

6. Move forward if you remain uncertain.

Good question management can prevent one difficult question from affecting your entire examination.

Step 7: Revise Regularly

Do not wait until the final week before revising your entire syllabus. Use short, repeated revision sessions throughout your preparation.

You can divide revision into three stages:

Keep your final revision focused rather than starting completely new resources. 

Step 8: Join a Structured Study or Coaching Group

Many candidates join coaching programs for proper OPRA exam preparation. So, they can learn with experts and get the right guidance, learning resources, and confidence to crack the OPRA exam on the first attempt. 

Step 9: Prepare Your Documents and Logistics Early

Prepare all required documents before registering for the OPRA exam. Because the registration window closes one month before the exam. And APC does not accept late registration. You can choose your center at the time of registration, so apply as soon as possible to get the right center.

Conclusion

OPRA replaced KAPS in 2025. So international pharmacists now have to prepare for the OPRA exam. Passing the OPRA exam on the first attempt is quite hard without structured preparation. 

Join the Elite Expertise, one of the best institutes for the OPRA exam preparation. Here we have a 95% success rate every year, and most importantly, our trainer is himself a KAPS passout and is practicing as a clinical pharmacist in Australia. So, you will learn from an experienced person. 

Key Takeaways

• KAPS was officially retired in March 2025 and fully replaced by the OPRA exam

• Understand major difference between the KAPS and OPRA

• OPRA focuses on applied clinical reasoning, not theoretical recall like old KAPS

• An international pharmacist can take this exam. Knowledge stream student for Australia and Non-REQR follower for New Zealand. 

• To take this exam, first you must pass an eligibility check before you can register for the exam

• There is no limit on resits, but the full fee applies to every attempt

• For syllabus information, always refer to the official website.