Key Takeaways
- OPRA runs three sessions in 2027 March, July, and November each with its own registration window.
- OPRA has run three sessions a year since 2025, so 2027 is expected to follow the same March–July–November pattern.
- OPRA replaced KAPS in March 2025, moving from 2 exam papers to a single paper, at a slightly lower fee.
- APC has directly confirmed there's no change to exam difficulty — OPRA isn't a "harder" version of KAPS.
- Several other APC service fees from the KAPS era — like updated skills assessments and appeals still sit within the same Skills Assessment framework today.
- Structured coaching like Elite Expertise's Pharmacist in Australia Exam Preparation course, can help you prepare for OPRA whenever your session lands.
Quick Summary
Wondering what OPRA in 2027 will look like, and how it stacks up against the old KAPS exam? This blog compares the two exams directly format, fees, and difficulty using APC's own confirmed facts, so you know what to realistically expect.
Table of Contents
- What Is the OPRA Exam and What's Known About 2027?
- How Does OPRA Compare to the Old KAPS Exam?
- What Other APC Fees Applied Under KAPS That May Still Apply Today?
- What Should Pharmacists Expect When Preparing for OPRA?
- How Does Elite Expertise's Pharmacist in Australia Exam Preparation Help You Prepare?
- Final Words
What Is the OPRA Exam and What's Known About 2027?
The official OPRA exam dates for 2027 are 22–24 March, 26–28 July, and 8–10 November. APC has published the registration window and result date for each session on its website.
| 2027 Session | Registration Period | Exam Dates | Results Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1 | 19 January – 22 February 2027 | 22 – 24 March 2027 | 6 May 2027 |
| Session 2 | 11 May – 28 June 2027 | 26 – 28 July 2027 | 9 September 2027 |
| Session 3 | 14 September – 11 October 2027 | 8 – 10 November 2027 | 23 December 2027 |
Here are a few things to remember:
- Registration opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm AEDT/AEST.
- Registration closes about one month before exam day.
- APC cannot accept late registrations.
- The next session before 2027 is November 2026. Registration for it runs 18 August to 19 October 2026, and the exam is on 23–25 November 2026
How Does OPRA Compare to the Old KAPS Exam?
OPRA replaced KAPS in March 2025, moving from a 2-paper exam to a single paper, at a fee AU$2,245 compare to KAPs AU$2,290 with APC confirming no change to exam difficulty. The eligibility check and Skills Assessment Outcome fees stayed the same across both
| Point | KAPS (old) | OPRA (current) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of papers | 2 papers | 1 single paper |
| Exam fee | $2,290 | $2,245 |
| Eligibility check | $810 | $810 (unchanged) |
| Skills Assessment Outcome | $300 | $300 (unchanged) |
| Scoring model | Different methodology | Rasch model (used since 2020 in other APC exams) |
| Content focus | Broader theoretical knowledge | More questions on therapeutics and applied knowledge |
| Exam difficulty | — | No change, confirmed by APC |
So heading into 2027, pharmacists should expect the same OPRA format that's been running since 2025 — not a return to the old KAPS structure, and not a harder version of it either.
What Other APC Fees Applied Under KAPS That May Still Apply Today?
Beyond the core exam fee, several APC service fees from the KAPS era like updated skills assessments, appeals, and work experience references sit within the same Skills Assessment framework and generally still apply today. These are optional, situational fees, not part of every candidate's journey.
| Service | Cost (AUD) | When You'd Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Updated skills assessment request | $610 | If your qualifications or experience changed since your last assessment |
| Work experience reference | $200 (optional) | For visa or migration applications only for International Student Stream or NZ Registered Pharmacist Stream candidates |
| Appeal fee | $450 | To formally appeal an accreditation, exam, or eligibility decision |
Refund rules also carried a similar structure: a full refund for cancellations 5+ days before the exam, and a partial refund for cancellations within 5 days before up to 4 weeks after all subject to APC's approval and a cancellation fee.
What Should Pharmacists Expect When Preparing for OPRA?
Pharmacists preparing for OPRA — in 2027 or any future session should expect a single 120-question paper, heavy emphasis on therapeutics, and no leniency on difficulty just because the exam is newer than KAPS. Planning your preparation around these realities matters more than guessing at future changes.
What to realistically expect:
- Therapeutics and patient care will likely keep carrying the largest content weightage (45% under the current syllabus).
- No fixed pass percentage OPRA uses Rasch scoring, so understanding matters more than chasing a score.
- Resits cost the full exam fee again, so thorough first-attempt preparation protects your budget.
- Fee reviews happen periodically, so always check APC's current fee page rather than assuming today's numbers carry forward unchanged.
How Does Elite Expertise's Pharmacist in Australia Exam Preparation Help You Prepare?
Elite Expertise's Pharmacist in Australia Exam Preparation course is a 3.5-month program built around the current OPRA format, helping you prepare properly whichever session you eventually sit. Since the exam format has been stable since 2025, this preparation approach isn't likely to become outdated soon.
Course details at a glance:
| Course Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3.5 months (15 weeks) |
| Lectures | 300+ hours, live + recorded |
| Lessons | 150+ |
| Practice questions | 3,000+ |
| Access | Unlimited, until you pass |
Who teaches the course:
- Mr. Arief Mohammad – Director & Co-Founder, Elite Expertise. KAPS-qualified, AACP-accredited consultant pharmacist and clinical pharmacist at Northern Health Hospital, Melbourne. Over 10 years of experience, having taught 5,600+ students.
- Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu – Director & Co-Founder, Elite Expertise. KAPS-qualified, AACP-accredited consultant pharmacist, and clinical pharmacist and educator at Monash Health Hospital, Melbourne. Over 10 years of experience having taught 4,900+ students.
Their teaching includes weekly, system-by-system modules, 3,000+ exam-style practice questions, one-on-one mentor support, and post-exam pathway guidance, so you're prepared for both the exam and what comes next.
Elite Expertise is an independent training provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC).
Final Words
Until APC officially confirms the 2027 OPRA schedule, the safest approach is to plan around the established March, July, November pattern and the exam format that's been stable since KAPS was replaced in 2025. OPRA isn't harder than KAPS it's shorter, uses one paper instead of two, and costs slightly less but it still demands genuine understanding, especially in therapeutics. A structured course like Elite Expertise's Pharmacist in Australia Exam Preparation program can help you get ready, whichever session you end up sitting.
Reference
- https://www.eliteexpertise.com.au/blogs/comprehensive-guide-to-kaps-exam-fees-and-refunds-for-foreign-pharmacists-in-australia
- https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/resources/opra-exam-guide-and-sample-content/
- https://www.pharmacycouncil.org.au/
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