Australian Pharmacists Skills Assessment 2024-2025

A skills assessment is essential for overseas-trained pharmacists aiming to work in Australia, verifying qualifications and readiness for local practice through the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). Keep scrolling to learn more about the requirements, process, and fees for Australian Pharmacists Skills Assessment, and get expert tips on how to prepare and succeed!

Skills Assessment for Pharmacists in Australia

A skills assessment for Pharmacists is a comprehensive evaluation of your qualifications, work experience, and English language proficiency. It’s designed to ensure that international pharmacists meet the required standards to practice in Australia.

Generally, all Pharmacists who wish to work and settle in Australia are required to have a skills assessment outcome to:

• Help you apply for a visa from the Department of Home Affairs.
• Get provisional registration to practice in Australia from the Pharmacy Board of Australia.

Visa types that require Pharmacists to have a Skills Assessment 

If you’re looking to move to Australia, there are many Skilled Visas for Pharmacists that you can apply for, including:

• Subclass 189 – Skilled (Independent) visa
• Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa
• Subclass 190 – Skilled (Nominated) visa
• Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (Medium Term Stream)
• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (Employer-sponsored stream)
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (State or Territory nominated)
• Subclass 407 – Training visa.

To apply for any of these Australian skilled visas, Pharmacists must have a successful skills assessment from an approved assessing authority. Therefore, applicants should carefully consider their qualifications, experience, and the specific visa requirements to choose the right skills assessment and visa type.

Where can Pharmacists get a Skills Assessment?

Currently, the two most popular Assessing Authorities for Pharmacists are the Australian Pharmacy Council (APharmC) and the Vocational Education and Training Assessment Service (VETASSESS).

The table below will show detailed registration information for Pharmacist occupations:

Table 1. Pharmacy Occupations List 2024.

APharmC Skills Assessment

APharmC General Process

There are currently four streams available for pharmacists through APharmC Skills Assessment. Generally, the process of acquiring an APharmC Pharmacists Skills Assessment involves the following steps:

• Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

The APharmC offers the Competency Stream and Knowledge Stream skills assessment, which are commonly chosen by international pharmacists seeking to work and live in Australia.

• Step 2: Gather Required Documentation

Once you’ve identified the appropriate stream, compile all the documents specified by the APharmC. Given the potentially lengthy processing time for certain documents, plan ahead to ensure a timely skills assessment.

• Step 3: Apply for an Eligibility Check

Submit a formal application to the APharmC, including the necessary supporting documents. The APharmC will review your application to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria. A fee may be associated with this process.

• Step 4: Await Eligibility Check Results

Typically, the APharmC will take 8-12 weeks to process your application. Delays may occur if your application is incomplete or contains inaccuracies.

• Step 5: Register for the Exam

After receiving the notification about the successful eligibility check, applicants log in to the APharmC candidate portal to register for the exam corresponding to your chosen stream. Select your preferred exam format (online or in-person at an APharmC center in Australia) and complete the registration process by paying the required fee.

• Step 6: Take the Exam

Attend the exam at the scheduled time and location you chose.

The results of the exam will be announced by the APharmC according to the time frame you registered in step 5. Results are typically announced one month after the exam.

• Step 7: Request Your Skills Assessment Letter

If you need an official Pharmacists Skills Assessment letter for visa purposes or other requirements, request it from the APharmC and pay the associated fee.

APharmC Skills Assessment Requirements

Pathway 1: Competency Stream

The Competency Stream for Pharmacists Skills Assessment is designed for international pharmacists who have completed their pharmacy qualification in Anglosphere countries. Therefore,  Pharmacists who choose this pathway must meet the following requirements:

• Approved Pharmacy Qualification: Applicants must have completed an approved pharmacy qualification or adjudication process in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States of America (USA).
• Current Registration: Applicants must be currently registered as a pharmacist in one of the specified countries (Canada, Ireland, UK, or USA).
• Qualification Recognition: The completed qualification must be recognized by the relevant pharmacy regulatory body in the country where it was obtained.
• Academic Study Duration: The qualification should be equivalent to:

• • Four years of full-time academic study (for qualifications completed after January 1, 2006).
  • Three years of full-time academic study (for qualifications completed before January 1, 2006).

Applicants choosing the Competency Stream will need to complete a two-stage Pharmacists Skills Assessment.

• Eligibility Check: This stage verifies that the applicant fulfills the basic eligibility criteria for the Competency Stream.
• CAOP (Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists) Exam: This exam assesses the applicant’s pharmacy knowledge and skills.

Pathway 2: Knowledge Stream

The Knowledge Stream for Pharmacists Skills Assessment is designed for international pharmacists who have completed their pharmacy qualification in any country other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States of America (USA).

Therefore, Pharmacists who want to be eligible for the Knowledge Stream must meet these requirements:

• Incorporate the fundamental knowledge of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences required for general registration in Australia.
• Be equivalent to either:

• • Four years of full-time academic study (completed after January 1, 2006).
  • Three years of full-time academic study (completed before January 1, 2006).

• English language qualifications:

• • IELTS Academic: Overall score 7.5 and a minimum of 7.0 in each skill.
  • OET : A or B grades in all four sub-tests.

Moreover, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Be currently registered as a pharmacist in their country of graduation.
• Be eligible for registration as a pharmacist in their country of graduation.
• Be eligible to commence the registration process in their country of graduation.
• Be registered as a pharmacist in a country whose registering authority is recognized by the APharmC.

Applicants selecting the Knowledge Stream will need to complete a two-stage Pharmacists Skills Assessment:

• Eligibility Check: This stage verifies that the applicant meets the basic eligibility requirements for the Knowledge Stream.
• KAPS/OPRA™ Exam: This exam assesses the applicant’s pharmacy knowledge and skills.

However, please note that APharmC will discontinue the KAPS exam from November 2024. Starting from March 2025, the OPRA™ exam will replace KAPS to ensure ongoing relevance and suitability. Candidates are advised to stay informed about the latest updates regarding the exam format and prepare thoroughly.

APharmC skills assessment Checklist

Before embarking on the APharmC Pharmacists Skills Assessment, applicants have to ensure that all their documents are in English. Therefore, all non-English documents must be translated into English in their entirety. Only translations by NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) accredited translators will be accepted.

In addition, applicants need to submit both the original document and its English translation. Once your documents are in order, you’ll need to gather the following for your APharmC eligibility check application:

• Valid Passport,
• Official Photo-Bearing Document,
• Birth Certificate,
• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy,
• Qualification Certificate or Letter of Completion,
• Academic Transcript,
• Evidence of Registration,
• Agent Authorization Form (Optional),
• Evidence of Name Change (Optional).

If you need assistance with your Pharmacists Skills Assessment or visa paperwork, VEM is here to help!  With over 10 years of experience, our registered migration agent, Mr. Peter Cao (MARN: MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648), can guide you through the process.

VETASSESS  skills assessment

General Skills Assessment Process

VETASSESS assesses over 360 occupations and applies a common assessment process for all of its occupations.

Step 1: Identify Your Occupation

Currently, VETASSESS conducts Pharmacists Skills Assessment for Pharmacists with 2 occupations including Industrial Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technician. That’s why the first step is to determine the VETASSESS occupation that best aligns with your qualifications and work experience.

Step 2: Understand the Requirements

Once you’ve identified your occupation, carefully review the specific requirements for your chosen field. This includes qualifications, work experience, and other relevant criteria.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

Before applying for the skills assessment, the applicant should gather all necessary documents, such as academic transcripts, work experience certificates, and language proficiency test results. You have to ensure your application is complete and accurate.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Once you’ve had all the documents prepared, you can continue to submit your application online through the VETASSESS portal and pay the required application fee.

Step 5: Assessment Process

VETASSESS will assess your qualifications and work experience against the Australian standards for Pharmacists.

Step 6: Assessment Outcome

You will receive a notification of the assessment outcome. A positive assessment confirms that your skills and experience meet the required standards for a Pharmacist in Australia.

Skills Assessment Requirements

A positive Pharmacists Skills Assessment outcome requires a successful assessment of both qualifications and employment.

Qualification Requirements

To be eligible for a positive skills assessment for the occupation of Industrial Pharmacist VETASSESS, applicants must hold a qualification assessed as comparable to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree level or higher, such as:

• AQF Bachelor degree
• AQF Master degree
• AQF Doctoral degree
• AQF Diploma
• AQF Advanced Diploma
• AQF Associate Degree
• AQF Graduate Diploma

Therefore, the qualification has to be in highly relevant fields of study for Industrial Pharmacists including Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy, and Pharmaceutical Science.

Employment Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate at least one year of post-qualification, full-time (20 hours or more per week) employment in a role highly relevant to the occupation of Industrial Pharmacist. This work experience must have been gained within the last five years before the skills assessment application date.

Pharmacy Skills Assessment fees

The most recent VETASSESS and ApharmC Pharmacists Skills Assessment fees for Pharmacists in 2024 are detailed in the table below:

Table 2. VETASSESS and ApharmC skills assessment fees for Pharmacists 2024.

Tips for Pharmacists when undertaking a Skills Assessment

Navigating the Pharmacists Skills Assessment process can be complex, but with careful preparation, you can increase your chances of a successful outcome. Here are some essential tips:

Document Accuracy and Consistency

Applicants must ensure that all documents submitted are accurate and consistent. Any discrepancies can lead to delays or rejection. In addition, applicants should verify that your name is identical on all documents to avoid potential issues.

Early Application for Knowledge Stream

If you’re applying for the Knowledge stream of the APharmC skills assessment, plan ahead. Submit your application at least eight weeks before the registration closing date to allow ample time for the assessment process.

Understanding Assessment Criteria

Applicants should carefully read the guidebook from VETASSESS or APharmC to get to know better about the detailed criteria for the skills assessment and the exam.

Seek Professional Guidance

Applicants can consider seeking guidance from immigration or education consultants who specialize in skills assessments.

Contact VEM today for personalized guidance about skills assessment for Pharmacists and visa applications! Our registered migration agent (MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648) will assist you with tailored advice to navigate your immigration journey successfully.

By: Peter Phong D Cao – Registered migration agent.

(MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648)