Table of Contents
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What Is the OPRA Exam and Who Needs to Sit It?
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The Non-REQR Pathway: Your Route to New Zealand Registration
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What Are the OPRA Exam Dates in 2026?
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What Is the OPRA Exam Fee?
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How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the OPRA Exam?
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When to Register for the OPRA Exam?
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Where Can You Sit the OPRA Exam?
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What Happens After You Pass?
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Key Takeaways
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you trained as a pharmacist outside Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA, and you're looking to register and practise in New Zealand, the OPRA exam is one of the most important steps in your journey.
But before you begin preparing, you need to understand the full picture: when the exam runs, what everything costs, and how many times you're allowed to sit. This guide brings it all together using official information from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ).
What Is the OPRA Exam and Who Needs to Sit It?
The Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) is a computer-delivered, multiple-choice exam administered by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). It assesses whether internationally trained pharmacists have the knowledge and understanding of biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical sciences needed to practise pharmacy safely, and it forms a critical part of the Skills Assessment pathway for New Zealand registration.
Exam format at a glance:
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120 multiple-choice questions
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2.5 hours duration
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Computer-delivered at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide
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Pass or fail result, no scores or individual feedback provided
This pathway applies to you if your pharmacy qualification is from any country outside of:
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Australia
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Canada
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Ireland
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New Zealand
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United Kingdom
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United States of America
Your qualification must also be equivalent to at least 4 years of full-time academic study completed after 1 January 2006, or 3 years if completed before 1 January 2006.
Before registering for the OPRA exam, you must first pass an eligibility check through APC. There is no expiry on a successful eligibility check, once approved, that clearance remains valid.
The Non-REQR Pathway: Your Route to New Zealand Registration
For overseas-trained pharmacists, New Zealand registration follows a structured process known as the Non-REQR pathway, overseen by the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ). Understanding this pathway is essential before you even think about booking an exam date.
Why Pharmacy Practice in New Zealand Matters
Pharmacists in New Zealand play a central and hands-on role in the healthcare system. They work directly with patients, provide advice on medicines, answer health questions, and deliver services including vaccinations, blood pressure checks, emergency contraception, and medicine reviews.
Strong communication skills and clinical knowledge are both essential. Pharmacy degrees with a solid focus on clinical therapeutics, how medicines work, how they affect the body, and how they are used to treat real health conditions, are especially well-suited to New Zealand practice. Experience working directly with patients after gaining registration in your home country is also considered very valuable.
Step 1: Preliminary Review — Get Approval to Start
This is the first and most important step in the Non -REQR pathway. You cannot proceed with any other part of the process until this approval is granted.
You can apply for a Preliminary Review if you have:
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A pharmacy degree (BPharm, MPharm, PharmD or equivalent)
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Current registration as a pharmacist in the country where you earned your degree
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Relevant clinical work experience in a pharmacy setting as a registered pharmacist
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A passed Council-approved English language exam
What PCNZ assesses during the Preliminary Review:
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Your pharmacy degree and academic background
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Your registration status in your home country
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Your employment history and clinical experience
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A self-assessment of your knowledge, skills, and competencies
Important: The Preliminary Review does not lead to registration. It only confirms whether you are eligible to follow the Non-REQR pathway.
Documents you will need to provide:
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Identity documents
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Pharmacy degree certificate and transcripts
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Evidence of current registration
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Employment history
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Self-assessment of knowledge, experience, and skills (plus documents from your university or regulatory body)
PCNZ typically takes 8 weeks to review a complete application. If documents are missing or additional information is needed, this may take longer.
To apply, you need to create a Pharmacy Council online portal account and access the Preliminary Review Application form under 'My Forms'.
What Are the OPRA Exam Dates in 2026?
There are three OPRA exam sittings in 2026. Each has its own registration window and results release date.
| Registration Period | Exam Dates | Results Released |
|---|---|---|
| 6 January – 23 February 2026 | 23 – 25 March 2026 | 21 April 2026 |
| 28 April – 15 June 2026 | 13 – 15 July 2026 | 11 August 2026 |
| 18 August – 19 October 2026 | 23 – 25 November 2026 | 22 December 2026 |
Key points about these dates:
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Registration opens at 9am AEDT/AEST and closes at 5pm AEDT/AEST on the closing date
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Use a time zone converter if you are registering from New Zealand, India, the Middle East, or any other location outside Australia
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APC sends a reminder email approximately 5 days before your exam
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Results are released around 4 weeks after each sitting and are available to view and download from the Candidate Portal
What Is the OPRA Exam Fee?
The full cost of the Non-REQR and OPRA process involves several stages. Here is a complete breakdown of all fees you should plan for:
APC Fees (Australian Pharmacy Council):
| Stage | Fee (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Eligibility Check | AU$810 |
| Exam Registration | AU$2,245 |
| Skills Assessment Outcome | AU$300 |
PCNZ Fees (Pharmacy Council of New Zealand):
| Stage | Fee (NZD) |
|---|---|
| Application for Initial Consideration of Registration (Non-REQR) | NZ$950 |
All PCNZ fees are inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST) as per the Pharmacy Council Fees Notice 2025.
Important fee details:
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APC exam registration payment must be made at the time of registration, if payment is not received, your seat will be released
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APC accepts Visa or Mastercard only, credit or debit cards issued from a bank in your country of residence
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If you cancel your exam, a cancellation fee applies, the refund amount depends on how early you cancel
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If you need to resit the exam, you must pay the full AU$2,245 registration fee again
Planning your finances across both APC and PCNZ fees early is important. At Elite Expertise, candidates receive clear guidance on every stage of this administrative and financial journey so nothing comes as a surprise. Founded by Mr. Arief Mohammad and Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu, both practising clinical pharmacists and accredited consultant pharmacists in Australia, Elite Expertise brings genuine on-the-ground expertise that very few preparation providers can offer.
How Many Attempts Are Allowed for the OPRA Exam?
This is one of the most critical things to understand before you sit.
You are allowed 2 attempts to pass the OPRA exam. Any attempts beyond two are entirely at the discretion of the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand (PCNZ), there is no guaranteed right to a third sitting.
If you are unsuccessful on your first attempt:
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You can register for the next available sitting when the registration window opens via the Candidate Portal
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Your eligibility check remains valid, no need to reapply or pay for that again
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You will pay the full exam registration fee (AU$2,245) again
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Results state pass or fail only, APC does not provide scores, percentages, or feedback on performance
If you are unsuccessful on your second attempt:
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Further attempts are solely at the discretion of PCNZ
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There is no automatic right to sit again
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This makes thorough, structured preparation before each attempt absolutely essential
The guidance at Elite Expertise, led by working pharmacists who understand both the exam and what clinical pharmacy in Australia and New Zealand actually looks like, is built around one goal: helping candidates pass on their first attempt. When you only have two guaranteed chances, preparation quality matters more than speed.
When to Register for the OPRA Exam?
Timing your registration correctly means working backwards from your target exam date. Here is a realistic, step-by-step timeline:
8+ weeks before the registration closing date:
Lodge your eligibility check with APC. Processing takes up to 4 weeks officially, don't cut this close.
After eligibility is confirmed (Non-REQR pathway candidates):
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Email your PCNZ completion of initial consideration to info@pharmacycouncil.org.au
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Wait for APC to confirm your eligibility before registering
When registration opens, register on day one:
Popular test centres fill up quickly, especially in India, the UAE, Singapore, and the UK
You can choose an alternative centre if your preferred location is full
At registration — have these ready:
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Visa or Mastercard (issued from a bank in your country of residence)
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A recent headshot, full head and shoulders, in colour, taken within the last 6 months, high quality
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Completed Special Accommodation Request Form (if applicable, must be signed by a health practitioner before registration)
5 days before your exam: APC will send a reminder email with your exam details.
Where Can You Sit the OPRA Exam?
The OPRA exam is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres worldwide. Here are key locations most relevant to New Zealand-pathway candidates:
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New Zealand: Auckland, Wellington
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Australia: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville
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India: Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, Pune
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Middle East: Dubai, Muscat, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam
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Southeast Asia: Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City
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Other locations: London, Toronto, Cairo, Colombo, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Athens, Istanbul, and more
If your preferred city is full, select an alternative early, don't leave it until the last week of the registration window.
What Happens After You Pass?
Passing the OPRA exam is a significant milestone. Here is what comes next on your path to New Zealand registration:
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Request your Skills Assessment Outcome (AU$300) through APC
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Use this outcome to support your application to PCNZ for registration
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Download your results from the Candidate Portal, APC does not forward results directly to PCNZ
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Continue with the remaining steps of the Non-REQR pathway as directed by PCNZ
Passing the OPRA exam confirms that your knowledge meets the standards required for pharmacy practice in Australia and New Zealand, and it opens the door to the next stage of your registration journey.
Key Points
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There are 3 OPRA exam sittings in 2026: March, July, and November, each with a fixed registration window that cannot be extended.
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The full cost across APC fees (eligibility, exam, and skills assessment outcome) totals approximately AU$3,355, plus NZ$950 for the PCNZ Initial Consideration of Registration fee.
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You have only 2 guaranteed attempts to pass the OPRA exam, further sittings require PCNZ discretion, so thorough preparation before every attempt is non-negotiable.
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Eligibility check approval must come before registration, lodge your application at least 8 weeks before the registration closing date of your target sitting.
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The Preliminary Review with PCNZ is the mandatory first step in the Non-REQR pathway, no other steps can proceed without this approval.
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Candidates who follow a structured, expert-led preparation program are significantly better placed to pass on their first attempt than those who self-study without a clear framework.
Conclusion
The path to New Zealand pharmacy registration as an overseas-trained pharmacist is absolutely achievable, but it rewards those who plan ahead.
Between the PCNZ Preliminary Review, the APC eligibility check, and the OPRA exam itself, there are multiple steps that each take time, cost money, and have firm deadlines. Missing any one of them can set your timeline back by months.
The good news? Every step is predictable. The 2026 OPRA exam dates are published, the fees are fixed, and the process is clear, if you know where to look.
Here is what it comes down to:
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Start your Preliminary Review and eligibility check early
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Choose your target sitting based on realistic preparation time, not just the nearest available date
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Register the moment the window opens
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Give yourself the structured preparation your two attempts deserve
At Elite Expertise, founded by practising clinical pharmacists and accredited consultant pharmacists Mr. Arief Mohammad and Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu, candidates are supported through every stage of this journey, from understanding the pathway to walking into the exam room prepared and confident.
Your registration goal is within reach. The right preparation makes all the difference.