5 Things to Know About the OPRA Exam for Pharmacists


In the past few years, the OPRA exam has gained continuous momentum amid the global pharmaceutical industry. Why? Because it serves as an exceptional pathway for global pharmacists to migrate, settle and practice in Australia. The Australian government is on the lookout for talented overseas-trained pharmacists who can contribute to their healthcare setup. For this, the Australian Pharmacy Council has launched the OPRA exam, which pharmacy professionals can crack in their home countries. 


If you, too are aspiring to set up your pharmacy career in Australia, the OPRA exam can be the right choice for you. So here we bring 5 important things about the OPRA exam that you must be aware of. Let’s dive in. 

OPRA Exam Full Form

The OPRA exam stands for Overseas Pharmacists Registration Assessment. It is an international assessment for global pharmacists who want to register and work in Australia. The exam is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council to test the experience and expertise of foreign-trained pharmacists before offering them registration and a chance to work in Australia. 

OPRA Exam Syllabus 

The syllabus of the OPRA exam consists of 5 major facets of pharmaceutical sciences. It tests your comprehension of global pharmaceutical knowledge and your ability to practice in a well-developed healthcare environment. 

OPRA is a written exam, but it focuses on the practical application of pharmaceutical sciences and its principles in an established healthcare setup. Here’s the OPRA exam syllabus with the percentage. 



Content area


Percentage of questions allocated

Biomedical sciences

20%

Medicinal chemistry and biopharmaceutics

10%

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

10%

Pharmacology and toxicology

15%

Therapeutics and patient care

45%


You can also download the OPRA exam syllabus pdf from the Australian Pharmacy Council’s website or here. 

OPRA Exam Fees

Despite being an international exam that offers global recognition, the OPRA exam fee is quite low. This makes it an affordable option for global pharmacists to set up their careers abroad. The low fees also make it a better alternative to pharmacy PG courses in Australia and other countries, which are heavy on your pockets and time-consuming as well. Here’s the fee breakup for all steps of the ORPA exam process. 


  • Eligibility Check: AU$810 per request

  • Skills Assessment Outcome: AU$300 per request

  • Updated Skills Assessment Request: AU$610

  • OPRA Exam: AU$2190


The third factor in the above-mentioned list (Updated Skills Assessment Request) is optional, and not every applicant has to pay it. 



OPRA Testing Centres

Australian Pharmacy Council offers the flexibility to prepare for and take the OPRA exam in your home country. OPRA testing centres are present in different parts of the world, and you can take this exam in your nearest testing centre, most probably in your home country. Here’s the list of cities with testing centres around the globe. 



COUNTRY


CITY

Australia

Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Townsville

Argentina

Buenos Aires

Botswana

Gaborone

Canada

Toronto

Egypt

Cairo, Giza

Fiji

Suva

Finland

Espoo, Helsinki

Ghana

Legon

Greece

Athens

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong

Jamaica

Kingston

Kenya

Nairobi

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Nepal

Birtamode

New Zealand

Auckland, Wellington

Oman

Muscat

Pakistan

Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi

Peru

Lima

Philippines

Manila

Poland

Krakow

Qatar

Doha

Saudi Arabia

Dammam, Jeddah, Riyadh

Singapore

Singapore

Spain

Madrid

South Africa

Johannesburg, Cape Town

Sri Lanka

Colombo

Taiwan

Kaohsiung, Taipei City

Thailand

Bangkok

Türkiye

Istanbul

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

United Kingdom

London

Zimbabwe

Harare


If you are a resident of India, you might have an OPRA testing centre quite near to your home. Here’s a list of the cities containing OPRA testing centres in India- 


  • Bangalore

  • Chandigarh

  • Chennai

  • Hyderabad

  • Jalandhar

  • Ludhiana

  • Mumbai

  • New Delhi

  • Pune

  • Noida

OPRA Exam Dates 2025

The OPRA exam is conducted thrice a year, offering multiple chances for candidates to take the exam and set on their journey to move abroad. Moreover, there is no limit on the number of OPRA attempts you can take. 


You must be aware of the important dates, such as the registration period so that you can register for the exam and schedule the exam beforehand. The table below contains the OPRA exam dates for the year 2025. 


Exam dates

Registration period

Results released

3 - 5 March 2025

9 January - 31 January 2025

1 April 2025

14 - 16 July 2025

8 April - 16 June 2025

12 August 2025

24 - 26 November 2025

19 August - 27 October 2025

22 December 2025

OPRA Exam Sample Paper

Merely understanding the syllabus and preparing for the topic is not enough. For robust OPRA preparation, you must know the format and type of questions you can experience in the exam and prepare as many mock tests and OPRA exam sample papers as possible. 

Here are a few sample questions that you can get in your OPRA exam. 


  1. What is the mode of action of allopurinol?


  1. To increase renal excretion of uric acid

  2. To inhibit the formation of uric acid

  3. To inhibit the absorption of dietary purines

  4. To inhibit prostaglandin synthesis


  1. Which ONE of the following can be used to separate an enantiomer from its racemate?


  1. Acid-base reaction

  2. Boiling point

  3. Chromatography

  4. Infrared spectrometry


  1. After initial immunisation with tetanus toxoid, how often should booster injections be given?


  1. Every 2 years

  2. Every 3 years

  3. Every 5 years

  4. Every 10 years


  1. Which drug is the MOST useful for the management of metastatic bone pain?


  1. Meloxicam

  2. Fentanyl

  3. Amitriptyline

  4. Carbamazepine

Conclusion

Seeking expert help for OPRA preparation can be highly beneficial for positive results. While exploring all resources and preparing without any support may seem fine, it may reduce your chances of success on the first attempt. Instead, if you partner with experts who guide you in every step and provide you with the necessary materials, you can heighten your chances at success. 

With a proven OPRA preparation course, you can prepare for the exam in 4-6 months without leaving your full-time job. Prepare yourself for this outstanding exam and chart your path to pharmacy success. All the best! 


Also Read: How to pass the OPRA exam

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to Register and Prepare for the OPRA Exam

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Crack OPRA Exam in First Attempt