How Long Does It Take to Become a Pharmacist in Australia?

If you're considering pursuing a pharmacist career in Australia, you might be curious about how many years of study it will take. Becoming a licensed pharmacist in Australia involves a series of steps. But the timeline? That can vary depending on your path, experiences, and the time you can commit to learning and practice. Four years? Five? Seven, if you're coming from overseas? There's a lot of confusing info out there.

That's why we've broken down the steps for you to become a pharmacist in Australia. In this guide, we've covered everything from education and exams to internships and pharmacist registration. By the end, you'll have a complete picture of what it takes, step by step, to become a qualified pharmacist in Australia.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Pharmacist in Australia?

Becoming a pharmacist in Australia takes 4 to 6 years of study. Here's what that timeline typically looks like:

1. Education: 4 to 5 years

2. OPRA exam prep (for international graduates): 6-12 months

3. Internship year: 12 months

4. Registration and career entry

Let's walk through each step in detail.

Step 1: Your Education – 4 to 5 Years

The first step in your pharmacy career is obtaining a recognised pharmacy degree. In Australia, this typically involves:

• Completing a BPharm or PharmD program from an accredited universities offering comprehensive pharmacy education

• Studying a curriculum that covers crucial areas like:

1. Pharmaceutical Chemistry

2. Pharmacology

3. Clinical pharmacy practices

4. Medication management

5. Healthcare system understanding

Most pharmacy programs in Australia take four to five years to complete. They provide a solid foundation in pharmaceutical sciences and healthcare practices and include supervised clinical placements throughout the degree.

However, if you completed your pharmacy studies overseas (any country except Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand), you must verify them through the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). This is important to assess your eligibility for the OPRA exam preparation and complete other steps of the pharmacist requirements for Australia.

To check the eligibility criteria, you need:

• Identity documents, i.e., national ID, passport, birth certificate

• A valid degree in pharmacy from an APC-recognised university

• Active registration or eligibility for registration with the state pharmacy council in your Country.

• Fee: AUD 810 per request

Step 2: OPRA Exam Preparation (3.5 months)

If you're an internationally qualified pharmacist and want to practice in Australia, you must pass the Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA). It evaluates whether your practical pharmacy knowledge meets Australian standards through 120 multiple-choice, scenario-based questions.

OPRA Exam Format (2025)

• Mode: Computer-based MCQ exam

• Duration: 2.5 hours (150 minutes)

• Total Questions: 120 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

• Papers: 1 (Unlike KAPS, which has two papers)

• Cost: AUD 2,190 per attempt

How Long Does the OPRA Exam Preparation Take?

That depends on your background and how much time you can commit to studying. Often, students underestimate the application of theoretical knowledge in practical settings. Therefore, early preparations will help you ace the exam on your first attempt. Some valuable resources for the OPRA Exam preparations are:

• Online preparation training

• Refer to practice exams and mock tests

• Self-study using comprehensive review materials

• Focusing on Australian pharmacy standards and regulations

• Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) for drug therapy guidelines

• Structured OPRA preparation courses are designed to guide you through the entire syllabus with live classes, notes, practice tests, and mentoring.

If you're an international pharmacy graduate gearing up for the OPRA exam, the Elite Expertise OPRA Exam Preparation Course is a standout choice. This highly rated program lasts about 3.5 months and covers the entire OPRA syllabus in depth, including mock exams to simulate real test conditions.

You'll be guided by experienced OPRA tutors Arief Mohammad and Harika Bheemavarapu. Both are KAPS-qualified accredited consultant clinical pharmacists with strong hospital-focused pharmacy practice expertise. They will train you through successful OPRA exam preparation.

Furthermore, you'll get access to 300+ hours of live lectures and recordings, comprehensive OPRA course materials and practice exams, online mentorship, and regular progress checks. Many course graduates say this boosts their confidence and helps them perform much better on exam day.

Self-study is also an option, especially if you're already confident in the material, but most candidates spend 3 to 6 months preparing either way.

Step 3: The Internship Year – 1,575 Hours of Practical Experience

After your studies and passing the OPRA exam, the next big step is to get provisional registration, followed by a full-time, supervised internship.

Provisional registration is done via AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority) and may take 1-2 months. To apply for your registration, you must provide:

1. Certified copies of ID and academic qualifications

2. English Language Proficiency Test results

3. Complete the application form and registration fee payment

Once completed, you are officially eligible to start your Intern Training Program and Supervised Practice in Australia. The internship usually lasts 1 year (full-time) or 1,575 hours, usually at a community pharmacy or hospital pharmacy.

During this period, you'll gain hands-on experience in various pharmacy settings and apply your academic knowledge in real-world scenarios, such as dispensing medicines, counselling patients, handling prescriptions, etc. This experience also helps you develop critical professional skills.

Intern Exam:

Toward the end of your internship (75% or 1,181 Hours of internship completed, you'll sit the intern exams and a registration assessment to prove you're ready for independent practice. This exam evaluates your clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge and your understanding of Australian laws, ethics, and pharmacy practice standards.

Also Read: How to Find Internships in Australia After Passing the OPRA Exam

The intern exams consist of two tests:

• The Intern Written Examination assesses your applied pharmaceutical knowledge. It ensures you can confidently apply theoretical knowledge to real-life/practical scenarios. The test lasts about 2 hours and contains 75 questions.

Cost: AU$770 per attempt

Intern Oral Examination (OSCE - Objective Structured Clinical Examination) evaluates your clinical and legal knowledge, communication skills, and ability to handle real-world scenarios through simulated patient interactions.

Step 4: Registration and Starting Your Career

Once you've completed the OPRA Exam and fulfilled internship requirements, it's time to apply for general registration with the Pharmacy Board of Australia through AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). You must provide:

• Completion of the ITP certificate

• Internship completion certificate

• Oral and written exam results

• Updated identity documents

• Final police clearance

You must also meet English language proficiency standards.

As you've fulfilled all requirements, you're officially a registered pharmacist in Australia and can start working independently. You can also pursue higher studies/specialisations. This will significantly boost your earning potential up to AUD 120,000 annually for an experienced pharmacist.

Also Read: Complete Guide to Pharmacist Registration in Australia for Overseas Candidates

The complete process to become a registered pharmacist in Australia can take anywhere from five to six years. While the core process remains the same, international grads should budget a few additional months for document evaluation, skill assessment, visa processing, and OPRA scheduling.

OPRA Exam Dates, Syllabus, & Preparations

The OPRA exam is held three times yearly (March, July, and November). Here's a detailed breakdown of registration, exam, and result dates.

The syllabus aligns with the National Competency Standards Framework and reflects expectations from practising Australian pharmacists. Here's a breakdown of the OPRA exam scoring criteria by % weightage of the subjects:

Almost half the exam focuses on therapeutics, patient safety, clinical scenarios, and ethical considerations, mirroring real-life responsibilities in Australian practice.

OPRA is NOT a memory test. It tests your critical thinking and application skills in a healthcare setting. There is also no negative marking.

What Comes Next? Career Paths, Salaries & Future Outlook

Once you're qualified, pharmacy is anything but a dead-end job. Here are some of the diverse career options available for you as a pharmacist in Australia.

• Community pharmacists

• Hospital pharmacists

• Consultant pharmacist

• Drug safety officer

• Research/Academia

• Pharmaceutical Industries

• General (non-dispensing) pharmacist

• Government and NGO sector as an advisor or policy developer

Pharmacist Salary Expectations in Australia

Your income will vary based on your setting and experience. Here's a rough breakdown:

• Starting salary (interns): Around AUD 55,000– AUD 65,000/year

• Early career (1–3 years): Around AUD 80,000– AUD 95,000/year

• Experienced: Can go over AUD 110,000/year, especially in management or hospital roles

• Pharmacists in rural/remote areas may earn even more due to demand and incentives.

Pharmacies are coming into their own after COVID changed everything. You'll see pharmacists doing more than before – vaccination, health checks, sitting down to review your meds. As a result, job growth is steady, and demand remains strong, particularly in regional Australia.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a pharmacist in Australia typically takes 6-7 years, including education, exam preparation, and internship. While the path requires dedication and hard work, it offers a rewarding career with a significant impact on healthcare.

For international students and graduates, careful planning, thorough preparation, and a commitment to continuous learning are key to completing the Australian pharmacy registration process.

This blog is for informational purposes only and represents the views and interpretations of Elite Expertise regarding career opportunities in pharmacy. While we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date insights, pharmacy licensing requirements, immigration policies, and healthcare regulations may vary by country and are subject to change.EliteExpertise does not accept responsibility for any decisions made based on the information provided in this article.

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About the Author

Sahana Rao

Sahana Chinthapatla is renowned for her expertise in scientific and medical writing, backed by an MPharm in Pharmacology and years of experience in research analysis and scientific writing.

As the Head Business Writer at Elite Expertise, she provides insightful and well-researched content on KAPS, OPRA, PEBC, PSI and global pharmacy pathways, guiding aspiring pharmacists in their professional journeys.

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Head Business Writer | Elite Expertise