Key Takeaways
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OPRA has 120 multiple-choice questions. It is a closed-book test on a computer, done at test centers like Pearson VUE.
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The exam is 2 hours and 30 minutes long. There are no breaks.
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OPRA uses Rasch scoring. This means you get a "successful" or "unsuccessful" result, not a percentage score.
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Therapeutics and patient care is the biggest topic. It makes up about 45% of the exam.
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Our advice: spend most of your study time on the biggest topics first.
Are you an overseas-trained pharmacist getting ready for the OPRA exam? This guide gives you two study plans: an 8-week plan and a 3-month plan. Both plans follow the real exam topics. You will also see how Elite Expertise's classes fit into each plan.
What Is the OPRA Exam?
OPRA stands for Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment. It is a required exam for pharmacists trained outside Australia and New Zealand. According to the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC), OPRA is a closed-book test with 120 multiple-choice questions. You take it at an approved test center, such as Pearson VUE. The test runs for 150 minutes, with no breaks. OPRA Exam replaced the older KAPS exam.
The exam uses Rasch scoring. This gives you a simple result: "Successful" or "Unsuccessful." There is no fixed pass percentage.
A study plan helps because time is tight. With 120 questions in 150 minutes, you have about 75 seconds per question. A good plan helps you focus on the topics that matter most, instead of spending too much time on small topics.
What Topics Does the OPRA Exam Cover?
The OPRA exam checks your clinical knowledge. Here is how the topics are weighted:
| Topic | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| Therapeutics and Patient Care | ~45% |
| Biomedical Sciences | ~20% |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | ~15% |
| Medicinal Chemistry and Biopharmaceutics | ~10% |
| Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics | ~10% |
Source: Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) OPRA exam guide
Our advice: since Therapeutics and Patient Care is almost half the exam, give it almost half of your study time too.
How Long Should You Study for OPRA?
There is no official study length set by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). Study length depends on you. Here is a simple way to think about it:
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If you have recent hospital or community pharmacy work and can study full-time, 8 weeks may be enough.
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If you work full-time or have not practiced pharmacy in a while, 3 months may work better.
Our advice: be honest about where you are starting from. It is better to take more time and be ready than to rush and feel unprepared.
8-Week OPRA Study Plan
This plan is for full-time, focused study. It follows the same topic weights as the real exam.
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Therapeutics basics: heart, lungs, and kidney conditions |
| Weeks 3–4 | More Therapeutics (hormones, stomach, infections) + Biomedical Sciences |
| Week 5 | Pharmacology and Toxicology |
| Week 6 | Medicinal Chemistry, Biopharmaceutics, and Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics |
| Week 7 | Full timed mock exams (120 questions, 150 minutes) + fixing weak areas |
| Week 8 | Final review, focus on therapeutics, and rest before the exam. |
Source: Elite Expertise internal planning—not an official APC document
This plan moves fast. Our advice: do not skip live classes or full timed mock exams. Do not try to study everything alone.
3-Month OPRA Study Plan
This plan spreads the same topics over about 12–15 weeks. It is good if you work full-time or need more time to review.
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | Therapeutics: heart, lungs, kidney, hormones, stomach |
| Month 2 | More Therapeutics (infections, brain, mental health) + Biomedical Sciences + Pharmacology and Toxicology |
| Month 3 | Medicinal Chemistry, Biopharmaceutics, Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics, full mock exams, and review weeks |
Source: Elite Expertise internal planning—not an official APC document
This plan matches Elite Expertise's own 15-week course. The course also moves step by step, from basic topics to a full review.
8-Week vs. 3-Month Plan: Which One Is Right for You?
| Factor | 8-Week Plan | 3-Month Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Recent clinical work, full-time study | Working candidates, longer gap from practice |
| Study Hours Per Day | High (6–8+ hours) | Medium (2–4 hours) |
| Timed Mock Exams | Mostly in Week 7 | Spread across Month 3 |
| Risk If Behind Schedule | Higher — less extra time | Lower — more time to adjust |
Source: Elite Expertise coaching experience—not an official APC recommendation
Our advice: choose the 3-month plan unless you have strong, recent clinical experience and can study full-time for two months.
How Does Elite Expertise Teach Its Students?
Elite Expertise's OPRA course is led by KAPS-qualified clinical pharmacists:
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Mr. Arief Mohammad: Clinical Pharmacist, Northern Health Melbourne, 10+ years' experience.
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Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu: Clinical Pharmacist and Educator, Monash Health Melbourne, 10+ years' experience.
Here is how the course works:
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300+ hours Live and recorded classes (live classes are conducted three days a week)
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A 3-month course. It moves step by step, from basic pharmacology to full review.
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Recorded lecture. You can watch them anytime, for life.
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Real mock exams with the trainers, in the same format as the real test.
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A WhatsApp group for quick questions.
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Regular assignments with personal feedback.
Elite Expertise reports a 95%+ pass rate for candidates across every OPRA exam sitting. You can see the full breakdown of these results, including how they are tracked, on the Elite Expertise OPRA results page.
Our recommendation is to review the source data yourself before relying on this figure, since pass-rate claims can vary depending on the batch size and time period measured.
What Do Elite Expertise Students Say About OPRA Exam Coaching?
Real student reviews give a clear picture of what studying with Elite Expertise is like:
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Vidhi Patel (Read the full review) joined after a friend's recommendation and a demo lecture. She says the trainers use different but effective teaching styles; one repeats key points often to build confidence, while the other explains topics so clearly that she couldn't grasp them in four years of B. Pharm became clear within three months. She also credits the support team for being available almost around the clock.
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Avneesh Ranjan, (Read the full review) a working professional, says Elite Expertise gave him a clear, structured strategy for OPRA. He found it hard to restart studying alongside work but calls their support "manageable and efficient." He recommends Elite Expertise to anyone preparing for OPRA.
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Anusha (Read the full review) joined through a friend's recommendation and says the mentorship from Harika and Arief gave her clarity when she felt stuck. She points to the structured video lessons and mock tests as what kept her consistent and says she passed OPRA on her first attempt.
Source: Google Maps reviews for Elite Expertise.
Want to learn more? Check out our guides on OPRA Eligibility Criteria and OPRA Exam Format Explained.
What Study Tools Do You Need to Pass the OPRA Exam?
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The official OPRA exam guide from the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) website
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A trusted Australian clinical guide, such as Therapeutic Guidelines (this is our tip, not an APC rule).
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A large set of practice questions that match the real exam's topics and weights.
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A full course that covers every topic, not just random questions.
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A simple tracker or app to record your scores by topic after each mock exam.
How to Plan Your Study Week Before Attempting the OPRA Exam?
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Give more time to bigger topics. Therapeutics and Patient Care should get almost half your study time.
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Treat live classes like fixed appointments. Do not skip them.
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If you miss a live class, watch the recording. Do not skip the topic.
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Once you are halfway through your plan, do one full timed mock exam every week (120 questions, 150 minutes).
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Use your WhatsApp group or study group to clear doubts quickly. Do not let small questions pile up.
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In your last 1–2 weeks, only review and take mock exams. Do not learn new topics this late.
Conclusion
Passing the OPRA exam comes down to two things: knowing what the exam actually tests and giving yourself enough time to cover it properly. Whether you choose the 8-week plan or the 3-month plan, the key is to match your study time to the exam's real weighting, with Therapeutics and Patient Care taking up almost half your effort, rather than studying every topic equally.
If you have recent clinical experience and can study full-time, the 8-week plan can get you exam-ready. If you're working or returning to pharmacy after a gap, the 3-month plan gives you a steadier, more sustainable path. Either way, structured live classes, regular timed mock exams, and consistent revision matter more than the total number of hours you put in.\
With the right plan and the right support, OPRA is very achievable, as the experiences of past Elite Expertise students show.
Whichever Plan You Choose, Study With the Right Support
Elite Expertise's structured 15-week course mirrors this exact study plan — live classes, timed mock exams, and expert guidance from practising Australian clinical pharmacists, with a 95%+ first-attempt pass rate.
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