FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What are the steps for New Zealand KAPS?

For New Zealand at first the overseas pharmacists must undergo for an initial skills assessment. During the initial skills assessment candidates need to show their English language test score and work experience along with submitting all the other mandatory documents. Once the case officer assess all the documents they will give the eligibility to sit for the KAPS exam.

What is the overseas career pathway after B Pharmacy?

The best career for pharmacist after b pharmacy is to work as a pharmacist in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or UK. These are the western countries which accept the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from overseas to practice as a pharmacist.

What is the average pharmacist salary per hour in Australia?

In Australia, on average a pharmacist will be paid between $40 to $60 per hour depending on their managing skills and experience.

How much does a pharmacy manager earn in Australia?

To reach the manager level a pharmacist must have good experience and skills. Depending on their manager skills they can get between $120000 to $140000 per annum.

What is the average salary per hour for a pharmacist in USA?

In US a pharmacist can earn between USD $45 to $70 per hour. The salary depends mainly on their qualification, experience and managing skills.

Frequently asked questions

Does USA accept B pharmacy degree?

No. To sit for NAPLEX exam a candidate must have pharm D.

How much does a pharmacist get per month in USA?

In US on average a pharmacist can earn up to $10000 per month.

In which city does a pharmacist get highly paid in Australia?

All the major cities in Australia like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra pay almost the same and their average salary will be $45 to $50 per hour. If you are interested in working in rural Australia then your average salary will be $55 to $60 per hour.

How many hours does a pharmacist work in Australia?

A pharmacist can work up to 40 hours per week, including weekend and public holiday shifts.

Does a pharmacist allowed to do extra shifts in Australia?

Yes, a pharmacist can pick the extra shifts when needed and they will get paid more for those shifts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a pharmacist internship position in Australia?

The first step is to list out all the pharmacies in a particular city or region. Then send emails to the managers of individual stores. Below is the list of top community pharmacies in Australia 1. Chemist warehouse 2. Discount Chemist 3. Priceline pharmacy 4. Terrywhite pharmacy 5. Amcal Pharmacy 6. Blooms chemist 7. Pharmasave 8. Capital chemist 9. Pharmacy4less 10. Direct chemist outlet and many more

How to approach the pharmacies for an internship position in Australia?

The first step is to list out all the pharmacies in a particular city or region. Then send emails to the managers of individual stores. In the email you need to attach your CV and cover letter. Make sure to include all the information in the CV and it should not exceed more than 4 pages and the cover letter should contain all the details in a single page.

Is it easy to get an internship position in Australia after passing the KAPS?

Getting a pharmacist internship position in Australia is not a difficult task. However, there will be few challenges for which you must be ready to face. For instance, you might prefer to live in cities like Melbourne, Sydney but the pharmacist internship position will be 300km away from where you prefer to live. In such scenario, you must be ready to move to start your internship.

How much does a pharmacist earn during internship in Australia?

During internship a pharmacist will get around $27 per hour.

How to work as a pharmacist in Australia after b pharmacy/ pharm D?

To work as a pharmacist in Australia at first all the overseas candidates need to pass an exam known as KAPS. This exam will be conducted by the Australian pharmacy council (APC). Once after clearing this exam you need to do internship in Australia and also need to clear 2 more exams during internship.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the pharmacist salary in Australia?

In Australia on average a retail pharmacist can make $80000 to $110000 per annum. Whereas a hospital pharmacist can make $80000 to $130000 per annum based on their experience.

Which country is best for pharmacist jobs?

The below countries are considered as the best for pharmacist as they provide job satisfaction (pharmacist can work clinically and gets rewarded). United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland.

How much does a community pharmacist earn in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand?

In US on average a pharmacist can make between USD $90000 to $140000 per annum. In Canada a pharmacist can make between CAD $85000 to $115000 per annum. In Australia the salary ranges between AUD $80000 to $110000 per annum and in New Zealand it would be NZD $70000 TO $100000 per annum.

*while comparing the salaries we also need to keep in consideration of the tax and cost of living in those countries.

Frequently asked questions

What are the courses offered by Elite Expertise?

Elite Expertise offers KAPS exam essentials course for Australia and New Zealand, Australian pharmacist intern written and oral exam prep course. Soon we are launching licencing exam preparation courses for other countries like USA, Canada, UK and Ireland.

How can I register for the KAPS or Australian intern pharmacist prep course

You can easily register through our website eliteexpertise.com.au. You may also call or send a message on the WhatsApp number provided, one of the team members will assist you.

Do you conduct online classes for KAPS?

Yes, all our classes at Elite Expertise will be online. A candidate can attend the class from any part of the world.

Do you provide recorded videos for all the KAPS classes?

Yes, once after finishing the live class all the recorded videos will be available in Elite Expertise app. You can access them from the app and watch it unlimited times.

If I fail in one of the papers in the KAPS exam, do I need to pay the tuition fees again to Elite Expertise to get access to my preparation?

No, you need not to pay any further amount. Once you pay the tuition fees its our responsibility to make sure you pass the KAPS exam, and you will get unlimited access until you clear both the papers.

Frequently asked questions

Do you take live lectures at Elite Expertise?

Yes all of them are live lectures. All the lectures will be taken by the directors who are the consultant and clinical pharmacists working in well reputable hospitals in Melbourne.

What sort of support does Elite Expertise provides to candidates after KAPS exam?

We provide the complete career guidance to candidates once they clear their KAPS exam. For all the candidates who successfully clear their KAPS, we conduct few live sessions where we explain them about further steps like visa processing, AHPRA registration and so on.

Does Elite Expertise help with AHPRA registration process?

Yes, we help all the candidates how to get registered with AHPRA. We conduct a live session and explain in detail about how to create AHPRA profile, submitting the documents and so on.

Do you charge any amount form the candidates for providing career guidance after KAPS?

No, we don’t charge any amount form the candidates who are already enrolled with us for KAPS training. Our support will be with even after clearing their KAPS.

How many live classes do you take every week?

At the beginning of the course, we will take 10 hours of live classes every week but a month before the exam (during revision sessions) it will go up to 25 to 30 hours per week.

Frequently asked questions

How many months training do you provide for KAPS exam?

It’s a 3 months training, where we teach all the topics of the KAPS in a comprehensive way.

What extra books do I need to refer for KAPS?

Once you enrol with Elite Expertise, we don’t recommend you refer any further books. All the material that we provide including handouts, assignments, concepts in the live lectures, practise questions through our mocks is more than enough to pass the KAPS exam.

Frequently asked questions

How long is KAPS exam result valid?

The KAPS exam result is valid for 3 years

How many times KAPS exam is held in a year?

KAPS exam is held 3 times in a year. In the month of March, July and November

Can I sit for KAPS exam in overseas?

Yes, KAPS exam is conducted by Pearson VUE on behalf of Australian Pharmacy Council and a candidate can sit for this exam from overseas.

Is there a KAPS exam centre in India?

Below is the list of KAPS exam centers in India: Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Pune, Noida.

Do I need to clear English language test to sit for the KAPS exam?

No, Australian Pharmacy Council doesn’t require any English language score to sit for the KAPS exam. However, a valid English language score is required to get registered with AHPRA after clearing the KAPS exam.

Frequently asked questions

What is the English language score required for an overseas pharmacist to get registered with AHPRA?

Pharmacy Board of Australia (AHPRA) registration for pharmacist requires an IELTS score of 7 bands in each module (Listening-7, Reading-7, Writing-7 and speaking-7) or a PTE score of 65 in each module (listening-65, reading-65, writing-65 and speaking-65) or OET grade-B in each component.

Which English language test is acceptable for overseas pharmacist to get registered in Australia?

AHPRA accepts IELTS, OET and PTE

Does Australia recognize overseas pharmacist work experience?

Yes, Australia will recognize overseas pharmacist work experience. Overseas pharmacists need to show their work experience to the department of home affairs to claim their points for immigration.

What is the payrate for pharmacist in Australia?

The starting payrate for pharmacist in Australia will be $45 per hour but this payrate differs on the candidate’s experience. Pharmacists working in regional Australia may get even up to $55 to $60 per hour

Do I get paid during my pharmacy internship in Australia?

Yes, an intern pharmacist in Australia can earn up to $27 per hour. On average they work for 40 hours per week (40 x$27=1080 per week).

Frequently asked questions

Is KAPS exam easy to clear?

Yes, everyone can clear the KAPS exam with Elite Expertise but it needs a strong preparation. Understanding the exam format is most essential.

What is the average salary of community pharmacist in Australia?

On average a community pharmacist in Australia can earn $85000 to $111000 per annum depending on their work experience and managerial skills..

What is the average salary of clinical pharmacist in Australia?

The starting salary for a clinical pharmacist in Australia will be $75000 per annum, eventually it keeps on increasing every year as their grade increases and it may go up to $140000 per annum.

How to get a clinical pharmacist job in Australia?

Australia has got very limited clinical pharmacist jobs in the hospitals but if you have any previous hospital work experience or any credentials/certifications from SHPA then the chances will be higher.

Is there any recent fee change for initial eligibility check by Australian pharmacy council?

Yes, APC has reduced the up-front cost for the initial eligibility check. They divided the pharmacist initial eligibility check fee into separate services. If a candidate needs only eligibility check done, the fee is $810. Eligibility check with skills assessment outcome letter is $810 plus $300. If a candidate also needs to get his/her work experience assessed by APC then he/she needs to pay an extra $200.

Frequently asked questions

Can we practice in New Zealand after clearing Australian KAPS exam?

Yes, if you clear the KAPS exam you will be eligible to work as a pharmacist in both Australia and New Zealand.

How New Zealand KAPS exam is different from Australian KAPS exam?

There is no difference in the New Zealand and Australian KAPS exam. The pharmacist KAPS exam is same and it is conducted by Australian Pharmacy Council for both Australia and New Zealand. The only difference will be in the initial document’s evaluation.

What are the documents required for Australian KAPS exam eligibility?

In order to sit for KAPS exam you need to provide the following documents to APC. 1. A copy of your passport 2. Your academic transcripts 3. Home country pharmacist license (for example: Pharmacy council of India registration certificate).

How many attempts are allowed to clear Australian KAPS exam?

Australian KAPS exam has unlimited attempts.

How many attempts are allowed to clear New Zealand KAPS exam?

For New Zealand KAPS exam only 2 attempts are permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Does Australian pharmacy council recognize master of pharmacy (M. Pharmacy)?

Australian Pharmacy council will provide the skills assessment outcome only based on the bachelor of pharmacy (B. Pharmacy). It wont comment on the overseas master of pharmacy qualification.

How many points do I get in Australian immigration if I have a master of pharmacy (Pharmacy) qualification form India?

Australia won’t assess the overseas M. Pharmacy qualification. You will get 15 points based on your B. Pharmacy qualification.

What is the scope of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) in Australia?

Australia will consider the overseas Pharm D equivalent to the bachelor of pharmacy from Australian universities. However, Pharm D candidates will have a good scope to practice clinically in Australia in both community and hospital pharmacies.

Does a pharmacist without work experience is eligible to sit for Australian KAPS exam?

Yes, APC doesn’t require any work experience form the overseas pharmacists to sit for Australian KAPS exam.

Do we need to show work experience to sit for New Zealand KAPS exam?

Yes, New Zealand KAPS exam needs work experience to sit for the KAPS exam.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my overseas pharmacist work experience to get an Australian visa?

Based on your experience you can claim the points. If you have 3 years of overseas pharmacist work experience you can claim 5 points. If you have 5 years of overseas pharmacist work experience you can claim 10 points. If you have 8 years of overseas pharmacist work experience you can claim 15 points.

What are the different PR visa options available for pharmacists after clearing KAPS exam?

A pharmacist can migrate to Australia on visa subclass 190 skilled nominated visa (permanent resident visa), subclass 491 skilled regional visa (temporary resident visa requires to stay and work in regional Australia for 3 years. After 3 years you will get permanent resident visa)

What are the sponsorship visa options available for pharmacists after clearing the KAPS exam?

Visa subclass 482 (temporary skill shortage visa), needs an employer to be sponsored. With this visa, you can apply for PR after 3-4 years of stay in Australia.
Visa subclass 407 (training visa for 2 years), with this visa you can finish your pharmacist internship and apply for PR.

Does an industrial pharmacist (working in pharmaceutical companies) needs to clear KAPS exam?

Industrial pharmacists can get their skills assessment done through VETASSESS and it doesn’t require to clear KAPS exam. However, if an industrial pharmacist is planning to migrate to Australia as a community or hospital pharmacist, then he/she needs to clear the KAPS exam.

What documents are required to claim overseas pharmacist work experience from the Department of Home Affairs after clearing the KAPS exam?

To claim the points for work experience you must provide appropriate documents to the Department of home affairs. They will ask for your pay slips; bank statements and your previous employment job offer letter from your employer.

Frequently asked questions

How many points do I get for an Australian visa if I have 10 years of overseas pharmacist work experience after clearing the KAPS exam?

The maximum points that you can claim is 15 points. It is categorized as follows- for 3 years of work experience- 5 points, for 5 years- 10 points and for 8 years of work experience 15 points.

How long does the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) take to give eligibility to sit for the KAPS exam?

APC usually takes 6-8 weeks but it depends on how well you submit your documents. Few candidates got their eligibility within 2 weeks but it took more than 16 weeks for a few others as well. It all depends on the documents you submit and further requirements from the case officers.

How many papers are there in the KAPS exam?

The KAPS exam consists of 2 papers. Paper-I and paper-II. Both the papers will be held on the same day.

How many questions will be asked in the KAPS exam?

KAPS exam consist of 100 mcqs in paper-I and 100 mcqs in paper-II

How do I get my eligibility check done to sit for the KAPS exam?

You need to get it done through the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). Create an account in the candidate’s portal, submit the documents, and make the payment.

Frequently asked questions

Is there any negative marking in the KAPS exam?

No, the KAPS exam doesn’t have any negative markings.

What should I do if I fail in one of the papers in KAPS exam?

You need to reappear only for the paper which you lost. For example: If you have lost paper II, you need to reappear only for paper II

Who conducts the KAPS exam?

The KAPS exam will be conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Is there any test center for the KAPS exam in Pakistan?

Test centers for the KAPS exam are available in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and surrounding areas.

What is the passing score for the KAPS exam?

Candidate must get 50% in both paper I and paper-II to pass the KAPS exam.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a KAPS exam center in Nigeria?

Yes.

Is there a KAPS exam center in Nepal?

Yes, test centers for the KAPS exam are available in Birtamode.

How do I find an internship after clearing the KAPS?

Once after pass the KAPS first you need to apply for the visa and simultaneously you can start looking for internship positions. There are a lot of Australian job websites where that advertise for intern pharmacist positions like seek.com, raven’s recruitment, jora.com, and indeed.com. It is also recommended to contact the pharmacy managers directly via email or phone.

What are the conditions on subclass 491 visa for a pharmacist?

On a 491 visa, a pharmacist must stay and work only in the regional area for 3 years. After 3 years their visa gets converted to a permanent resident (PR) visa.

Is there a KAPS exam center in Oman?

Test centers for the KAPS exam are available in Muscat.

Frequently asked questions

What is the advantage of subclass 190 visa for a pharmacist

A Subclass 190 visa is considered as permanent resident (PR) visa. A pharmacist with 190 visa can stay and work in any area in Australia including metropolitan cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide.

What is the processing time for a pharmacist training 407 visa?

50% of the applications will be processed in 23 days and 90% will be processed in 90 days.

What is the next step after clearing the KAPS exam?

After passing the KAPS exam candidates need to clear their English language test if they haven’t done before. Once the KAPS exam and English test are done overseas pharmacists can lodge for Expression of interest and visa. Once they get the visa they can start working as an intern pharmacist.

How many hours of internship do we need to do after clearing the KAPS exam in Australia?

After passing the KAPS exam candidates must work as an intern pharmacist under the supervision of a fully licensed Australian pharmacist for 1575 hours.

Do we need to have a job offer letter (sponsorship) for a subclass 407 visa?

To apply for a 407 visa a pharmacist must have a job offer letter (sponsorship) from the employer.

Frequently asked questions

Who conducts the Australian pharmacist KAPS exam?

The KAPS exam is conducted by the Australian pharmacy council.

What documents do I need to carry on the day of KAPS exam?

Primary document- passport, secondary/supportive documents- driver's license or National ID card or credit card with full name or bank statement with full name.

What is meant by the Australian Pharmacy Council Skills Assessment Outcome letter?

All the candidates who pass the KAPS exam will receive a letter from APC (skills assessment outcome). This letter helps you to apply for immigration and to register as an intern pharmacist with AHPRA.

Does the Australian Pharmacy Council comment on overseas pharmacist work experience?

No, most of the time APC won't comment on overseas work experience. Candidates need to show and claim their work experience with the Department of Home Affairs.

What is the total cost of becoming a pharmacist in Australia?

The estimated total cost to become a pharmacist in Australia is divided as

initial eligibility check fees of $1310
KAPS exam fees of $2230
Intern pharmacist written exam fees of $730
Intern pharmacist oral exam fees of $415
Intern pharmacist training program fees approx. $1800

Frequently asked questions

What is meant by a one- and same-person letter/certificate asked by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to KAPS candidates?

APC asks to provide one- and same-person letter when the candidate has a name discrepancy (for example if your name on university transcripts/pharmacy license is Rebecca Mathew but, on your passport, if it is Rebecca Mathew George; here George is an additional family name George in the passport).

How many exams do an overseas pharmacist need to clear to become a pharmacist in Australia?

The first exam is KAPS and during the internship, there are 2 more exams intern pharmacist written and oral exams.

What is the fee for the KAPS exam?

The current fees for KAPS exam is $2290

How many hours do I need to study to pass the KAPS exam?

It is recommended that a candidate spend at least 2 hours daily for 3 months to pass the KAPS exam.

From where do I need to get a one- and same-person letter to submit to APC?

You need to get your one- and same-person certificate from your state pharmacy council in your home country where you got registered as a pharmacist.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best resources for KAPS exam preparation?

Comprehensive pharmacy review by Leon Shargel, Lippincott’s pharmacology, Australian Medicine Handbook (AMH)

Do we need the training to pass the KAPS exam?

The KAPS exam is a bit tricky, it covers a vast range of pharmacy syllabus. If a candidate is planning to do a self-study it takes at least 10-12 months to collect all the content and prepare a proper note. Elite Expertise helps the candidates to crack the KAPS exam in just 3 months.

Do I need to visit Australia to sit for the KAPS exam?

No, you need not to visit Australia, there are many Pearson exam centers all over the world that conducts the KAPS exam.

Do we need to get registered as a pharmacist in my home country to sit for the KAPS exam?

APC will ask you to provide your home country registration license. In case you haven’t registered in your home country, you can also provide an eligible registration letter from your state pharmacy council.

Are there any free sample questions available for the KAPS exam?

You can find free sample papers in the official website of Australian pharmacy council (APC)

Frequently asked questions

How many years of internship do I need to do in Australia after clearing KAPS exam?

You must work for 1575 hours (approximately 12 months) under the supervision of a fully licenced Australian pharmacist during your internship.

When should we write the Australian intern pharmacist written and oral exam?

Intern pharmacist written and oral exams should be booked once you finish 75% of your intern hours.

Who conducts the Australian intern pharmacist oral exam?

The intern pharmacist oral exam will be conducted by AHPRA.

How often Australian intern pharmacist oral exam is held?

No, to write the intern written and oral exams, the candidate must be in Australia working as an intern pharmacist and must have completed 75% of supervised practice hours.

Who conducts the Australian intern pharmacist written exam?

Intern pharmacist written exam will be conducted by Australian Pharmacy Council (APC).