How to Find Pharmacy Internships in Australia After Passing the OPRA Exam

Pursuing a career in pharmacy in Australia can be both an exciting and rewarding journey for people. However, for international pharmacists, it requires a few additional but essential steps.

If you are an international pharmacist who has successfully passed the Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) Exam, you are already well on your way to registering as a pharmacist in Australia. But the next important question is - How can you find internship opportunities after passing the OPRA Exam?

Finding your way through this process might be complex and overwhelming, but with constant support and expert guidance from Elite Expertise, you can easily find your way seamlessly through the entire process.

Irrespective of that fact, whether you are an overseas-trained pharmacist or an aspiring pharmacy student who someday wishes to have a blooming career in Australia, here is a step-by-step, detailed guide that will help you navigate your way through the internship application process, along with the eligibility criteria and the necessary documents required for the entire process once you clear the OPRA exam. So, are you ready for this life-changing journey?

What is the OPRA Exam?

The Overseas Pharmacist Readiness Assessment (OPRA) exam is an exam that has been designed to assess and evaluate the readiness of overseas-trained pharmacists to practice in New Zealand and Australia. In simple words, it helps determine whether you are competent enough to start your pharmacy practice in Australia or not.

After passing the OPRA exam, the successful candidate is granted a provisional registration, which allows them to start their period of supervised practice. This stage is very important as it equips the foreign pharmacists with the experience that is necessary to transition into general registration and to work independently as a pharmacist in the future.

💡 Related Read:

Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Examination – Everything You Need to Know

What Is Provisional Registration, And How Does It Relate To Internship Opportunities?

Once a candidate has appeared and successfully cleared the OPRA exam, they are granted a status of provisional registration. Once this is done, the candidate can practice pharmacy under supervision while at the same time completing their internship. It is during this duration that the candidate is required to complete a supervised internship program, which lasts for a year.

This internship program is a mandatory program of the process before the candidate can apply for general registration as a pharmacist in Australia. This internship is supposed to be completed under the guidance of a qualified pharmacist and only from a Pharmacy Board of Australia approved site.

How to Find Internship Opportunities After Passing the OPRA Exam

Your journey to become a fully registered pharmacist in Australia requires finding appropriate internship opportunities that meet your needs.

Elite Expertise provides customized support and guidance that will help you obtain top internships. Here are some steps that will guide your initial internship search:

Research Internship Opportunities

You can start by researching and looking for pharmacy practice internships located in Australia. Many healthcare facilities and pharmacies across the country offer intern placements. Additionally, platforms such as Raven’s Recruitment, SEEK, Indeed, and Advanced Pharmacy Australia serve as popular job search and recruitment platforms that regularly list internship opportunities for international pharmacists. Additionally, you can search for positions that are approved by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Australian Pharmacy Council.

Check Eligibility Criteria

However, before you start applying for an internship, it is best if you have an eye on the eligibility criteria beforehand to avoid any confusion later. This criterion includes:

• OPRA Exam results: You must have successfully cleared the OPRA Exam to apply for an internship. The documented proof must be shown wherever needed.
  
  

• Required documents: You must have all the necessary documents at-hand, and be ready to provide documents such as your identification papers, proof of your pharmacy degree, and transcripts.
  
  

• Visa status: Depending on your visa options and your home country, you may need a specific visa to undertake an internship in Australia. Visa-related requirements are managed by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Some internationally trained pharmacists may be eligible to apply for a Training Visa (Subclass 407) or a Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) depending on their specific requirements.

Reach Out to the Pharmacy Board of Australia

The Pharmacy Board of Australia is a regulatory body that covers all pharmacists within the country. It is very important to remain in touch with the Pharmacy Board of Australia throughout your internship period. They have a detailed insight regarding the entire journey, and will also help shed light on certain topics, such as internship approval, while ensuring that the internship meets the necessary criteria for supervised practice in the future.

Once the internship has been completed, the Pharmacy Board of Australia will also assist you with the registration process and guide you on how to proceed with your general registration application.

Consider OPRA Preparation Courses

If you have not already considered that, enrolling in an OPRA exam preparation course from an authentic and trusted place can automatically help increase your chances of passing the exam itself. Certain courses provide in-depth knowledge while also helping practice for the exam through their mock exam sessions, which helps ensure that a candidate is well-prepared for their OPRA exam.

Elite Expertise is a well-known name that offers OPRA preparation courses that have been tailored to meet the specific needs of candidates who are applying as international pharmacists. With expert guidance and mentoring sessions, you can easily consider yourself on board with all the necessary high-quality resources that help a candidate clear the OPRA exam and pursue internship opportunities confidently.

Networking Within the Pharmaceutical Community

Networking is considered to be a vital asset when it comes to landing yourself some great internship opportunities. It is best to join local pharmaceutical societies, attend relevant conferences, and participate in community events that are related to pharmacy practice.

Networking with other pharmacists in Australia can itself help educate you on several topics related to the field, along with informing you about internships, job opportunities, and other insights related to pharmacy practice in Australia.

Additionally, becoming a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia can also open doors to career guidance, internship listings, and other resources for overseas pharmacists seeking internship placements.

Where Do Most Interns Get Placed?

To make it more clear for you, here are some examples of actual internship settings where overseas-trained pharmacists have worked as interns:

• Chemist Warehouse (community pharmacy chain)

• Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (hospital setting)

• Amcal Pharmacy (retail pharmacy)

• TerryWhite Chemmart (retail chains with training programs)

Quick Guide: Internship Search After the OPRA Exam

The Role of Elite Expertise in Your Journey

Elite Expertise delivers complete support services to international pharmacists during their internship experience.

Helping combat uncertainties about the OPRA exam through their program includes actual case discussions and practice tests that increase your knowledge and comfort level.

The service provides individualized reviews of your documents as well as assistance in creating CVs to make your application more compelling.

Elite Expertise provides mentoring connections with past successful international interns to assist you in securing supervised practice opportunities.

Meet the Experts Behind Elite Expertise

• Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu: Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu serves as a Clinical Pharmacist at Monash Health Hospital, where she shares her extensive experience in both hospital pharmacy operations and patient-oriented medical care.
  
  The wealth of knowledge Mrs. Harika conveys about supervised practice and internships directly benefits overseas pharmacists attempting to launch careers in Australia and New Zealand.
  
  

• Mr. Arief Mohammad: Mr. Arief Mohammad provides exceptional support to pharmacists seeking provisional registration through his expertise in helping overseas pharmacists prepare for OPRA. Through his mentorship, he has enabled dozens of foreign-trained pharmacists to fulfill their Australian and New Zealand professional goals as fully registered professionals.

Key Takeaways for Securing Internship Opportunities

• Start your search early and in advance by utilizing job boards with networking contacts, along with professional organizations, to discover available internships.
  
  

• The internship experience must include appropriate supervised practice that meets all the eligibility criteria for general registration.
  

Make sure you present all the required documents for your internship application, including documented proof of passing the OPRA exam and professional pharmacy qualifications.

Conclusion

Success in the OPRA exam brings you closer to an Australian or New Zealand pharmacist registration by leading you to find suitable internship positions for yourself.

The combination of valuable strategies and complete preparation, together with Elite Expertise's professional assistance, lets you get selected for an internship program delivering the required practical skills needed for supervised practice.

Elite Expertise is dedicated to assisting candidates through their internship search while securing supervised practice placements on the path to achieving pharmacist general registration. Elite Expertise stands ready to help you conduct OPRA exam preparation as well as assist you in your search for your initial pharmacy position.

This blog is for informational purposes only and reflects our own views and interpretations. While we strive for accuracy, guidelines and requirements may change. Readers are advised to verify information with official sources such as the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) and Ahpra before making any decisions. We do not take responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided.

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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